Racist stickers found along pilgrimage trail

Racist stickers found along pilgrimage trail

TAKAMATSU, Japan - Photo taken April 10, 2014, in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, shows a rest station along the 88-temple pilgrimage course known as Shikoku Henro, on Shikoku Island, western Japan, where an anti-Korean sticker has been posted. The messages found there and other rest stations call on hikers to "Protect our precious pilgrimage route from Korean hands," the stations' managers said.

Hut with roof like straw hat for Awa Odori dance

Hut with roof like straw hat for Awa Odori dance

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - People in this undated photo take a break under a hut, built in the city of Tokushima, with a roof designed to look like a straw hat worn by women dancers in the local Awa Odori Festival. The hut was designed by architect Ichiyo Uta who designs rest huts for people taking part in "Shikoku O-Henro," or the Shikoku Pilgrimage on Shikoku Island.

Tourism minister Ota explains 7 sightseeing routes in Japan

Tourism minister Ota explains 7 sightseeing routes in Japan

Japanese tourism minister Akihiro Ota explains Japan's seven designated sightseeing routes targeting foreign tourists at a press conference in the Diet building in Tokyo on June 12, 2015. The routes are "Hokkaido - Route to Asian Natural Treasures," "Exploration to the Deep North of Japan," "Shoryudo," "The Flower of Japan, Kansai," "The Inland Sea, Setouchi," "Spiritual Island ~Shikoku Henro~," and "Extensive sightseeing route of 'Onsen Island' Kyushu." (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Pop group members talk about pilgrimage route in Shikoku, west Japan

Pop group members talk about pilgrimage route in Shikoku, west Japan

Members of the popular Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48 hailing from the western Japanese main island of Shikoku talk about their experiences in the "henro" pilgrimage route during an event held at a temple in Zentsuji, Kagawa Prefecture, on March 31, 2015, to arouse public interest in a campaign to register the route as a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Pop group performs at temple to aid bid for UNESCO heritage campaign

Pop group performs at temple to aid bid for UNESCO heritage campaign

Members of the popular Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48 perform at a temple in Zentsuji, Kagawa Prefecture, on March 31, 2015, as part of an event to arouse public interest in a campaign to register the "henro" pilgrimage route on the western Japanese main island of Shikoku as a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Shikoku pilgrimage

Shikoku pilgrimage

Photo taken April 19, 2020, shows Okubo-ji temple in Sanuki, Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, one of the famed pilgrimage spots on the 88-temple "Shikoku Henro" route. Most of the temples in Shikoku island have stopped offering temple stamps, which pilgrims collect as proof of passage, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Shikoku pilgrimage

Shikoku pilgrimage

A woman chants sutras at Ichinomiya-ji temple in Takamastu in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, one of the famed pilgrimage spots on the 88-temple "Shikoku Henro" route, on April 18, 2020. Most of the temples in Shikoku island have stopped offering temple stamps, which pilgrims collect as proof of passage, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo