Let's make “HENRO” a world-wide known word!

Let us experience ShikokuHenro and transmit the appeal of our land, “Ohenro culture”.

　The December (2014)issue of the New York Times says that the news that Shikoku was chosen as one of the ｢52Places to Go in 2015｣appeared in many newspapers. On March 26, 2015, the governor Hamada of Kagawa prefecture proposed in “Shikoku Region Industry Competitiveness Council” collaboration to realize the registration of Ohenro as a world heritage. The same year on April 24, Shikoku Henro was recognized as a Japanese heritage, and on September 1, a friendship agreement was concluded between Shikoku Henro and Pilgrimage route of Spain.
　The same year on April 24, the Shikoku Henro was recognized as a special national Japanese heritage, and on September 1st, a friendship agreement was concluded between Shikoku Henro and the Pilgrimage route of Spain.
　The circumstance being as such, it is time to re-think about our Ohenro culture of 88 temples which has been inherited by us today since 1,200 years ago since the foundation of temples and also the significance of promoting the culture of Osettai to the world at the present time.
　We have formed a society called 「Shikoku Henro Friendship Society」to achieve the purposes stated below.

　Firstly, we re-recognize the appeal of the Shikoku Henro and try to widely advertise and develop the appeal Ohenro culture both at home and abroad. In particular, those who have actually experienced Ohenro should remember the spirit they had initially and deepen the love towards this region by participating the activity of promotion and spreading goodwill.

　Secondly, those who approve of the purposes of the society should cooperate and engage in the activities of planning and practicing programs mainly related to Shikoku Ohenro in which one learns the attractiveness of our land.

　Thirdly, through such activities, with the help and cooperation of our countrymen, foreign students and other foreigners willing to participate in the program, we try to make known the attractiveness of the Ohenro culture. Our final aim is to have the 88 pilgrimage temples and Ohenro culture registered as a World Heritage.

　We wish to make the Shikoku Henro well known not only in Japan but also all over the world. We wish many more people to come to know it.

Shikoku Henro Friendship Society
Eagle Bld.2F, 2306-3, Takamatsu-cho, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa, 761-0104, Japan