Henro Helper 4+

A new paradigm for pilgrims

Thank you for this app! Sadly I only learned of this app while already on the henro michi. After discovering this app I rarely consulted the guide book. Next pilgrimage I will only use guidebook for planning from home. Using this app fully replaces need to carry that book, especially as there are so many presumably abandoned copies to be found in lodgings along the route for reference.

Same for carrying Dunskas' hiking guide. Again, a book every pilgrim should own and study at home. But having this app made it unnecessary to carry the above mentioned books.

Suggestions to make this even better: Please allow for other base maps and or satellite imagery. I found I had to keep other mapping applications open as reference. This is especially the case for mountainous sections of the Henro Michi in that it would be helpful to see the proposed path on a proper contour map.

And how to contact the developer to report discrepancies and current conditions? The section between Tsukiyama jinja and Hotel Bellreaf is in a dangerous condition with some sections of the trail eroded away which required me to traverse near vertical wall using rock climbing technique. This section should be marked in purple and the level of danger advertised. Fortunately it is not on the regular henro michi and likely few people will use this route, but advance warning is in order. My next visit I will be sure to make notes at the pilgrim hut.

Along with the Henro.org interactive map showing lodgings and other sites of interest these two digital guides made my pilgrimage from November and December 2024 much easier to negotiate. Arigato gozaimasu!