Impermanence: A Memoir of Adventure, Pilgrimage, and Self-Discovery in Japan
What begins as a long-distance walk becomes a life-changing adventure.
In Impermanence, writer and adventurer Larry Iles sets out on a remarkable 879-mile solo hiking journey across the island of Shikoku, Japan, following the ancient Eighty-Eight Temple Pilgrimage. Carrying little more than a backpack and the weight of a lifetime of memories, he steps onto the trail as a modern wanderer, embracing independent travel, backpacking, and the raw simplicity of budget travel.
What begins as a physical quest soon unfolds into a life-changing odyssey. Walking forests, seaside paths, and remote temple roads far off the beaten path, Iles enters a landscape shaped by centuries of pilgrimage. Along the way, he encounters the timeless rhythms of traditional Japan-quiet temples, steaming onsen, rural villages, and fellow travelers following the same sacred route.
Between moments of sightseeing and long stretches of wilderness, the road becomes a place of deep mindfulness, reflection, and self-discovery.
Blending immersive adventure nonfiction with spiritual reflection, Impermanence reveals the deeper meaning that emerges through long days on the trail. Walking through misted mountains, quiet fishing villages, and forested wilderness, Iles experiences the enduring traditions of rural Asia and the quiet rituals of a pilgrimage practiced for more than a thousand years.
Yet the journey becomes far more than solo travel or backpacking. News from home-both joyful and heartbreaking-arrives along the way, turning the walk into a profound quest for meaning and personal growth. The birth of a grandson, the death of a childhood friend, memories of family, and the long shadow of a complicated father surface with every step.
What follows is a deeply human true story of resilience and transformation. Through exhaustion, rain, solitude, and moments of unexpected kindness from strangers, Iles discovers that pilgrimage is not about reaching a destination-it is about learning how to live fully within each fleeting moment.
Part travel memoir, part spiritual odyssey, Impermanence captures the spirit of wanderlust, solo hiking, and the courage of stepping outside one's comfort zone. It is a story for travelers, seekers, and anyone drawn to the timeless call of the road.
For readers who love Japan, traditional pilgrimage routes, and unforgettable unique travel experiences, Impermanence offers an inspiring portrait of a man walking toward understanding-one temple, one mile, one breath at a time.
About the Author :
Larry Iles is a writer and freelance sports photographer whose creative life has been shaped by a deep fascination with movement-how bodies travel through space, how stories unfold across distance, and how a single step can reshape an inner world. For years, he has photographed professional and collegiate athletes, capturing not only the intensity of competition but the fleeting expressions of resolve, tenderness, and grace that often go unseen.Before turning to writing, Larry worked as an engineer and later as a mathematics teacher, paths that taught him how to pay careful attention: to patterns, to changes in light, to the quiet questions that linger beneath a well-worn routine. Those sensibilities now guide his work on the page, where he blends narrative, reflection, and spiritual inquiry.An avid skier, cyclist, and hiker, Larry is drawn to landscapes that ask something of him-places where weather, terrain, and effort reveal unexpected truths. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin, close to his children, grandchildren, and his partner, Kris, whose presence anchors his life with warmth and belonging.Impermanence is his debut memoir, an exploration of pilgrimage, loss, devotion, and the slow, transformative practice of paying attention to the world as it unfolds, step by step.
