This past weekend I visited temples 18-22 of the famed Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage. The highlight of these visits was my visit to Tairyuji, temple 21. Tairyuji is located high on top a mountain in southern Tokushima. For a fee, a ropeway is available to take you to the summit of the mountain and to the door steps of Tairyuji. However, for the dedicated pilgrim walking the 88 Temple path, an hour detour and an hour hike is necessary to reach the the top. Although my partner in crime, Nishiyama sensei and I drove the detour, we challenged ourselves to do the hike in the spirit of Kobo Daishi. As we climbed up the mountain along a narrow and ever changing steep path, I began to think how strong-willed one must have to be to walk the pilgrimage with challenges such as this. Along this path, we came across only 1 pilgrim hiking up the mountain.