After many years of walking the Shikoku Pilgrimage, DON Weiss is setting out on his final journey in 2026. This path will be documented from DON's own perspective and shared with the world in multiple languages through OHENRO.ONLINE.
Each encounter, each prayer, and every step along the way will connect to those who aspire to undertake the pilgrimage in the future. We begin sharing that journey here.
There is someone who has long been sharing the appeal of the Shikoku Pilgrimage with the world.
OHENRO.When launching OHENRO.ONLINE, we wanted to understand what information is truly necessary for those abroad who wish to walk the pilgrimage, so we spoke with DON.
In addition to having walked Shikoku many times, DON has lived in Tokushima for many years, carefully building trusting relationships with temples, local communities, lodging providers, and those involved in sharing information.Through platforms such as Facebook, he continues to provide guidance to people overseas who are preparing to walk the pilgrimage, and his posts have become an important guidepost for many.
DON's extensive network also spans the globe.
From international pilgrim
communities and website operators focused on the pilgrimage, to group administrators
in various countries and the people supporting the pilgrimage on the ground in
Shikoku, his connections are wide-ranging. Many trust and support him, a testament to
the time and care he has devoted to communication.
What emerged from our interview with DON was not only the practical information that
overseas pilgrims seek.
It was also the atmosphere that cannot easily be conveyed
through photos or text——the time spent in prayer, relationships with local people, and
the very way of "how to walk" the pilgrimage.
Through this dialogue, we learned that DON would undertake his final Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage in the spring and autumn of 2026.This will be his eighth time, and he himself calls it his "Last Walk."
Rather than letting this remain a personal journey, we wanted to share it with people around the world who aspire to undertake the pilgrimage.With this in mind, OHENRO.ONLINE has begun an initiative to share DON's pilgrimage videos in multiple languages.
Based on footage recorded by DON in English, OHENRO.ONLINE plans to deliver content in eight languages, a defining feature of the site.This will allow DON's thoughts and experiences—previously difficult to access due to language barriers—to reach a much wider audience.
DON himself expressed great anticipation that this multilingual approach would allow his message to reach even more people.The years of accumulated experience and human connections are now encountering technology, transforming into a new form of sharing.
Furthermore, this pilgrimage has received words of support from the head priest Ebizuka, president of the Shikoku 88 Temple Association. Conversations with head priests at each temple, stays in various regions, and DON's own reflections will be shared in upcoming videos.
And on March 20, 2026, DON set out on his final pilgrimage, accompanied by the encouragement of many supporters.
While it is a journey that lies at the end of everything he has walked so far, it is also a journey for those who will follow in the future. We, too, recognize this quiet departure as a significant milestone.
Records of DON's pilgrimage will be released sequentially on OHENRO.ONLINE. Please look forward to it.
Before his departure, DON spoke about this pilgrimage as follows: