Shikoku Self-Guided Pilgrim Hike

The Shikoku Pilgrim Hike follows sections of the ancient Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, a sacred route that circles Japan's Shikoku Island and has been walked by Buddhist pilgrims for more than 1,200 years. Connecting 88 temples associated with the revered monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi), the trail winds through tranquil forests, rural villages and coastal landscapes, offering a unique blend of cultural heritage, spiritual tradition and rewarding walking in one of Japan's most enduring pilgrimage destinations.

Visa requirements depend on your nationality, so check with your reservations consultant or the nearest Japanese embassy well before you travel, visa fees are not included. There are no vaccinations we can require of you, but we recommend consulting a travel vaccination specialist or travel doctor before departure.

Yes. You'll walk selected sections of the historic Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, visiting a number of temples associated with the revered monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi). The itinerary follows some of the pilgrimage's most scenic and spiritually significant stages and includes a stay in a traditional Buddhist temple lodging (shukubo), offering an authentic experience of one of Japan's most sacred walking routes.

Our Shikoku Self-Guided Pilgrim Hike follows carefully selected sections of the ancient Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, a sacred route that has been walked for more than 1,000 years in honour of the Buddhist monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi), founder of Shingon Buddhism. Rather than completing the full 1,000 km (620 mi) circuit, this itinerary visits some of the pilgrimage's most scenic and spiritually significant stages, walking between historic temples in Tokushima, Kagawa and Ehime prefectures through cedar forests, mountain trails and peaceful rural landscapes, while staying in traditional ryokans, a Buddhist temple lodging (shukubo) and relaxing onsen hot spring inns.

This is a self-guided walk; there is no leader with the group. You walk at your own pace with detailed route notes and maps, and a local English-language support number for the whole trip. Accommodation, luggage transfers and meals are arranged and booked for you.

A local English-language support number is included for the duration of your trip, and your route notes cover what to do if you are unwell, lost or need assistance. You are rarely far from help, and your pre-departure notes include local emergency contacts.

Rural Japan has fewer English speakers than the cities, but you are well supported. Your route notes, maps and arrival orientation are all in English, and a dedicated English-language support number is available throughout. Many ryokan hosts speak some English, and a translation app on your phone handles most day-to-day interactions comfortably.

Yes, self-guided walking suits solo travellers well, and the Shikuko Pilgrim Walk is a popular route to walk alone. Accommodation is arranged on a twin-share basis, so a single supplement applies where you cannot be matched with another solo traveller of the same gender. You will meet other walkers on the trail and at the inns.

The Shikoku Pilgrim Hike is less crowded than many of Japan's better-known walking trails, but we still recommend booking at least 3–6 months in advance. Accommodation along the pilgrimage route, particularly traditional ryokans, temple lodgings (shukubo) and onsen inns, is limited and can book out well ahead of time. Booking early gives you the best chance of securing your preferred departure dates and accommodation.

Luggage transfers are not included in the trip price, but they are easy to arrange using Japan's reliable Takkyubin luggage forwarding service. You'll carry a small overnight pack while walking, and your main luggage can be forwarded between selected accommodations for an additional local cost (approximately JPY 2,200 per bag, per transfer, depending on size and weight). Your accommodation will assist with arranging the transfers.

A daypack of around 25-30 litres holding what you need on the trail, water, a rain jacket, warm layer, camera, sunscreen and personal items. Your main bag goes ahead by luggage transfer, so pack a day’s essentials and nothing more. There is no vehicle following the route, so what you carry is what you have with you.

No specialist equipment is needed. Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes or lightweight boots and a daypack are the essentials, plus a waterproof jacket, as rain is possible in every season. A full gear list is provided once you book. If you bring trekking poles, they must have rubber tips rather than metal ones to protect the historic stone paths.

Your journey begins in Tokushima on Shikoku Island. The trip includes round-trip transportation from Kyoto or Osaka, making it easy to access the start of the walk.

Yes, a train and 5 prebooked taxi fares are included, and other days involve a short local bus or shuttle between the trail and your accommodation. These are inexpensive but need to be paid locally, so factor them into your spending money along with meals not listed as included.

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn with tatami-mat floors, futon bedding laid out in the evening, yukata robes and often an onsen bath. The Shukubo temple lodgings are similar. They have tatami-mat rooms, with futons laid out in the evening for sleeping. Just like a ryokan. Shukubo's do not have en suite bathrooms as they are in older traditional wooden buildings.

Yes, and they are part of why this walk is special rather than an add-on. This trip involves stays at four different onsen ryokans. Soaking after a day on the trail is the traditional end to a pilgrim’s day.

Meals at your inns are traditional Japanese, usually multi-course dinners built around local and seasonal ingredients, including river fish, mountain vegetables and regional specialities. Breakfasts are Japanese-style. Which meals are included varies by itinerary, so check the inclusions for the trip you are considering, meals not listed are at your own expense.

Both the Shikoku Self-Guided Pilgrim Hike and the Kumano Kodo are rewarding pilgrimage walks, but the Shikoku itinerary is generally more physically demanding. While both journeys feature forest trails, historic temples and mountain landscapes, the Shikoku Self-Guided Pilgrim Hike includes longer walking days, steeper ascents and a Moderate to Challenging grading. Some days involve up to 19 km (11.8 mi) of walking with significant elevation gain, whereas the Kumano Kodo offers a wider range of walking options and is generally considered more accessible for first-time multi-day walkers. If you're looking for a greater physical challenge combined with a deeper immersion into Japan's pilgrimage traditions, Shikoku is an excellent choice.

No. These walks are not suitable for people with limited mobility. You cover uneven forest trails and long flights of stone steps over several hours most days, walking independently between accommodation with no vehicle support along the route itself. Confident footing on rough ground is required throughout.

The best time to walk the Shikoku Pilgrim Hike is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when temperatures are mild and conditions are ideal for walking. Spring brings fresh greenery and blossoms, while autumn offers cooler weather and vibrant autumn foliage. The trip operates from 20 March to 20 November, avoiding the coldest winter conditions. From mid-June to mid-July, the region experiences a short rainy season, while midsummer can be hot and humid on the trail.

Yes, travel insurance is compulsory on our Kumano Kodo walks and is not included in the trip price, so it must be arranged separately. Because you are walking independently in a mountainous rural region, we recommend cover that includes medical treatment, emergency evacuation and trip cancellation.

This is a 8 day itinerary including 6 days of self-guided walking and 2 days of cutural touring in the local areas to immerse yourself in the Japanese culture.

This walk is graded Moderate to Challenging. You should be comfortable walking on for up to 5 hours a day on uneven ground with sustained ascents and descents and be in good health. We recommend about 45 minutes of aerobic exercise three to four times a week beforehand, ideally including hill walking.

Walking days on this itinerary run from around 6km / 3.7 mi to the longest day at 19km / 11.8mi, taking roughly between 3-9 hours at a steady pace with time to stop at shrines along the way. Distances are moderate, but the climbs and stone steps make the hours on your feet longer than the kilometres suggest.

Yes, the minimum age is 12. Walking days cover uneven forest paths and stone steps over several hours, so families travelling with younger teenagers should contact our team before booking to confirm the itinerary is a good fit for their group.

This is a self-guided walk, so you travel independently rather than in a group, there is no leader and no set group to keep pace with. The itinerary operates for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 travellers booked together, and private departures can be arranged for families or groups of friends.

This itinerary includes 4 nights in traditional onsen ryokans, 1 night in a local guesthouse, 1 night in temple lodging and 1 night in a western style hotel all on a twin-share basis. All the accommodation is comfortable and with character and the reason these walks book out well ahead in peak season.