Ancient pilgrimage routes from Japan and Spain establish a link beyond religious beliefs

A historic pilgrimage route believed to be the oldest in Japan has formed a bond of friendship with the world-famous Routes of Santiago de Compostela, with the aim of increasing global name recognition of both through cooperation that transcends their different religions.

The Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage signed this Tuesday at the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo an official agreement with Santiago de Compostela, a World Heritage Site.

The 1,000-kilometre Saikoku route encompasses 33 Buddhist temples worshiping Kannon Bodhisattva and spans seven prefectures, including Osaka, Kyoto and Wakayama.

The Saikoku Trail has a history dating back 1,300 years and was designated a World Heritage Site of Japan in 2019.

The Caminos de Santiago start from various places in Europe and end at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The routes were designated a World Heritage Site in 1993. Santiago de Compostela is one of the three main pilgrimage sites of world Christianity along with Rome and Jerusalem.

The new association will be managed by a council made up of pilgrimage temples and local governments on the Japanese side and the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia, where the final destination of the Caminos de Santiago is located.

Negotiations for the new association were initiated by Hendo Okamura, the head priest of Kannonshoji Temple in Shiga Prefecture and temple No. 32 on the Saikoku route.

“I will work to make the Saikoku pilgrimage last for another 1,000 years,” Okamura said.

Special events are planned with the aim of also leading to physical improvements to the routes.