Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail

11 Days Excluding Flights From

11 Days from

£ 3129

Walking & Trekking

Activity Level

Moderate

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Ages :

Trip Code :

W10SH

Journey the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail

Shikoku is Japan’s fourth-largest island, home to some of the country’s most spectacular and undeveloped scenery. The island is also home to the ancient walking trail, Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage. The trail connects 88 Buddhist temples with the entire walk covering more than a thousand kilometres.

This spiritual journey follows in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi, also known as Kukai, who reached enlightenment in the isolated mountains and decided to devote his life to the Buddha. Following intense study of Buddhism and the creation of the temple complex on Mount Koya, he never forgot his home island of Shikoku and undertook a journey to visit all its 88 temples. Even today pilgrims from all over the world follow in his footsteps and visit the temples dressed in traditional garb, receiving blessings in the form of food and drinks from the locals.

We have selected the best walks and the best accommodations, including Shukubo pilgrims lodgings and fine inns in appealing cities such as Tokushima and Dogo Onsen near Matsuyama, which offer convenient transport to the trails.

Explore the fascinating city of Kyoto before beginning your Kumano Kodo journey and end with two nights in Osaka. Famous for its beautifully built Buddhist temples and traditional teahouses, Kyoto is a great introduction to your Japanese adventure. From here, you can visit the historical city of Nara, full of cultural treasures and tranquil gardens.

Osaka is known as the food capital of western Japan, inheriting its name in part from the fantastic Dotonbori area in the south of the city. Countless restaurants line the Dotonbori-gawa River offering dinner with views. The city is also home to Osaka-jo – a symbolic castle, re-built to its grand size after repeated fires.

Highlights

Walk the most beautiful parts of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage trail in Tokushima, Kagawa and Ehime
Climb the iconic ladder to the meditation spot used by Kobo Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism
Experience an authentic pilgrimage journey, staying in traditional Minshuku, Ryokan, and Shukubo temple lodging, with authentic Shojin-Ryori Buddhist vegetarian cuisine

What's Included

10 nights’ accommodation in hotels and Japanese-style inns (ryokan/minshuku/shukobu)
All breakfasts & 6 dinners
Management by your local Headwater appointed agent
Route directions and maps
Bus tickets from Kyoto to start of trail and from end of trail to Osaka
Pre booked and pre-paid taxis on days 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10

What's Not Included

Lunches
Luggage transfers
Travel insurance
Single supplements
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas and vaccinations

8 Days of Walking & Trekking

Day 3

6 km / 3.7 miles

Day 4

24 km / 14.9 miles

Day 5

8 km / 5 miles

Day 6

11 km / 6.8 miles

Day 7

4 km / 2.5 miles

Day 8

4 km / 2.5 miles

Day 9

11 km / 6.8 miles

Day 10

13 km / 8.1 miles

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

W10SH - Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail

Journey the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail

8 Days of Walking & Trekking

Sustainability and Impact

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Itinerary

Osaka Osaka London London

Essential Info

Vaccinations and Health

Japan

Visa

Japan

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Hotels, Shukubo, Ryokan & Minshuku

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