Western Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

     Western Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized as a copy pilgrimage of Eastern Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.  Of course, Eastern Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage had been organized as a copy pilgrimage of Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     Surprisingly enough, Awa Province had more 33 Kannon pilgrimages: Eastern Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, Awa Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, and Awa Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.  Those 3 sets of 33 Kannon Pilgrimages constituted Awa 100 Kannon Pilgrimage.  The Awa people must have loved Kannon pilgrimages.  No wonder, it was Yamamoto Raku (1845-1927), who was born, grew up, and worked in Awa Province, that newly organized the 33 Kannon pilgrimage all across Hokkaido in 1913, after she retired from her successful business.