On my morning jogs on Shiraishi Island, I pass many things: some scary (spiders and snakes), some interesting (what's been washed up on the beach overnight) and some spiritual. The other day I had to take a detour to avoid a Shinto priest and a procession of men climbing the stairs to Myoken Shrine for a special ceremony.

Much of my jogging route follows the ancient pilgrimage path modeled after the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Shikoku. The way of choosing 88 sites on the island was influenced by Shinto beliefs that the sacred can be found in natural phenomenon such as mountains, rivers, waterfalls and rocks. Shiraishi Island (which means "White Rock Island"), as you might guess, has lots of rocks. Big spiritual ones. Divine rocks are part of rock worship derived from ancient Japan.

Over 400 years ago when they created the replica pilgrimage here, small rock sculptures of Buddhist figures were placed around the perimeter of the island at predetermined sacred spots. While some of these 88 "shrines" are near the sea or on top of mountains overlooking the sea, most are located next to large rocks in the forest. Once spiritual places have now become super spiritual.