Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail
- The highlights of Japan’s 88 Temple Pilgrimage route
- Beautiful trails and scenery of the island of Shikoku
- Stay in traditional Ryokan guesthouses and a Shukubo temple
- Fresh and beautifully presented Japanese cuisine
- The city of Kyoto, the former imperial capital and a UNESCO heritage site
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive KyotoArrive in Kyoto and check-in to your hotel or ryokan in central Kyoto. Kyoto is one of the world’s most culturally rich cities scattered with hundreds, if not thousands, of pockets of incredible beauty. The city has 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 1600 Buddhist temples, over 400 Shinto shrines and 24 museums.
As home to the Japanese Imperial family from 794 to 1868 it has been central to Japanese history and is a city that must be on your list.
This modern hotel is 3 km from both the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple and Nijō Castle. The air-conditioned rooms boast smooth colours, stylish lamps and a flat-screen TV. Each private bathroom features a spacious shower area with a bathtub. A fridge and an electric kettle with green tea are provided.
One of Kyoto's most popular hotels, as the location is second to none. Rooms are comfortable and modern, with western beds and bathrooms. Breakfast is served buffet style in the cafe on the 1st floor, while those wanting a traditional Japanese course meal are welcome to try the "hamatoku" restaurant on the 2nd floor.
A hotel that combines the best of Kyoto's stylish culture and Britain's traditional heritage. The design is based on the arts and crafts of Scotland, particularly Edinburgh, its ancient capital.
Explore the city today at your leisure. Discover the secret gardens, hidden courtyards and floating temples of Kyoto. We suggest visiting Kiyomizu Temple, Sanjusangendo Temple, and a walk along the Philosophers Path. Whatever you choose to visit today, you can’t go wrong in a city like Kyoto!
This modern hotel is 3 km from both the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple and Nijō Castle. The air-conditioned rooms boast smooth colours, stylish lamps and a flat-screen TV. Each private bathroom features a spacious shower area with a bathtub. A fridge and an electric kettle with green tea are provided.
One of Kyoto's most popular hotels, as the location is second to none. Rooms are comfortable and modern, with western beds and bathrooms. Breakfast is served buffet style in the cafe on the 1st floor, while those wanting a traditional Japanese course meal are welcome to try the "hamatoku" restaurant on the 2nd floor.
A hotel that combines the best of Kyoto's stylish culture and Britain's traditional heritage. The design is based on the arts and crafts of Scotland, particularly Edinburgh, its ancient capital.
Travel by comfortable bus direct from Kyoto to Tokushima Prefecture (approx 2.5hrs). Begin your pilgrimage with a gentle introduction to the walks on Shikoku through quiet neighbourhoods of Tokushima. Visit three of the most eye-catching temples on whole trail - Temple 1 Ryozen-ji, Temple 2 Gokuraku-ji and Temple 3 Konsen-ji. Spend your first night as all pilgrims should - with a stay in a Shukubo Temple Lodging.
Anrakuji Temple offers simple temple lodgings with tatami rooms. The meals are at fixed times, the breakfast being quite early, so that guests can attend ceremonies in the temple as part of the experience. However, it's not as austere as it may sound and beer and coffee and such is available from vending machines. The evening meal and breakfast are shojin ryori, Buddhist cuisine, and contain no meat or fish.
Travel south from your Shukubo pilgrim's lodging on a pre-booked/paid taxi (approx 25mins) to Temple 11 Fujii-dera, located at the bottom of a fascinating hillside temple complex. From Fujii-dera undertake a challenging hike to Temple 12 Shosan-ji. The full walk is one of the longest and most strenuous on the tour, but very rewarding with beautiful scenery. Walk onwards to Kamiyama Koko Mae where you board the bus for a 5 minute ride to the small Onsen village of Kamiyama and your inn for the evening.
You can reduce the walk to 5-6 hours (14.1km / 8.8 miles) and avoid the first half of the strenuous ascent up Mt. Shosan-ji. Simply pay locally to extend the taxi ride on the day - no need to decide in advance.
Ascent: 1185m / Descent: 1057m
Shiki no Sato is the main inn at Kamiyama Onsen with 14 Japanese-style rooms and 6 western-style. Since the inn is connected with the public bath house next door, you have access to the facilities of both buildings, including a communal Tatami rest area on the second floor of the bathhouse. You will also receive a ticket permitting one-time entry to the public baths (open until 8pm), but you may find the bath at the inn quieter, since this is open from when you check-in through to check-out the next morning. A coin-laundry service is located next to the inn baths. Wi-Fi is available throughout.
Travel by pre-paid taxi (approx 1hr) to one of the most beautiful and varied hikes on the entire 88 Pilgrimage route. From Temple 20 Kakurin-ji the trail descends to the hamlet of Anan, crosses the Nakagawa River and climbs again to Temple 21 Tairyu-ji. End the day with a stunning cable car ride (10mins) with wonderful views over a cedar forest and the small town below. An easy bus journey to Anan train station (approx 40mins) and then a train (50mins) takes you to the Toksuhima, where your accommodation is tonight.
Ascent: 983m / Descent: 963m
The hotel has a central positionin Tukyshima, Rooms are equipped with all the essentials, free wifi. The on-site restaurant is located just across the street. You will also be able to enjoy a Japanese bath in the hotel’s SPA.
From Tokushima you take the train (approx 50mins) to Takamatsu, and then the bus (30mins) to Negoro-guchi. Here the pre-booked/paid taxi meets you to take you (15mins) to the start of the walk at Temple 82. These journeys are an outstanding way of seeing the real Japan, the countryside and its people as you travel with them.
There is a fine selection of temples to visit today as you walk through lovely scenery. Temple 82– Negoro-ji, Temple 81—Shiromine-ji and finally Temple 80– Kokubun-ji. At the end of your walk you board a train (40mins) to the old hot spring town of Kotohira Spa for your overnight stay.
Ascent: 919m / Descent: 915m
This cosy inn has just six guest rooms and two Hinoki cypress baths; one larger and one smaller, which can both be used privately by guests in turn; showers are available in the morning. Wi-Fi is also available.
Take the morning to explore Kotohira spa. Visit the Shinto shrine of Konpira-dai-gongen. Located at an altitude of 521m, there are 785 steps to the main shrine and 1368 steps to the inner shrine. If you’d rather take it easy today, relax in the town and perhaps sample the local delicacy– thick, handmade Udon noodles. Board an afternoon train (approx 3 hours) to the port city of Osaka where you will be spending the night.
Hotel Vischio Osaka by Granvia is a newly opened hotel in the heart of Umeda Osaka. Located just 5 minutes’ walk from JR Osaka Station. Connecting you to the pulse of the city.
Conveniently located in Namba, central Osaka, Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is a modern hotel that held its grand opening back in the summer of 2009. There are many popular areas within walking distance of the hotel, which is also directly connected to Namba Station. The guest rooms, located on floors 24 through 31, are designed in the image of a British manor house / stately home.
Your tour ends today following breakfast. Spend the day exploring the city of Osaka; visit its famous aquarium, the Kaiyukan, one of the biggest in the world. Or browse the flashy shops in the Shinsaibashi shopping district before your onward travel. Alternatively, if you wish to extend your stay in Osaka we can book extra nights here for you.
This trip has a carbon score of 15kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 15kg is equivalent to 4.5 cheeseburgers. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Perfect for those wanting to experience the quiet and contemplation of a pilgrimage route through the Japanese countryside. There are some significant ascents meaning this tour is best suited to those with a good level of fitness. Stays in rural guesthouses and time in the cities of Kyoto and Osaka complete the experience.
Pilgrimages | For those looking to follow a path of self-discovery. Our Pilgrimage and Camino routes take you on a journey through diverse landscapes and local flavours, while meeting like-minded adventurers along the way.
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This tour is graded moderate with walks as long as 14km (with some longer options on most days) with some strenuous ascents and descents. You should be a regular walker in good shape to get the most from the trip. Terrain is varied with a mix of paved paths, woodland trails, stone steps and trails alongside paddy fields.
On this tour, you will stay in a mixture of Ryokan, Minshuku, Shukubo temples and western-style 3-star hotels.
The classic Japanese inn, Ryokan come in many styles, but are united by flawless service and exquisitely-prepared food. Ryokan may be in modern or traditional wooden buildings, but rooms are always Japanese style, with Tatami (straw mat) floors and futons for sleeping laid out in the evening by the Ryokan staff. Minshuku are similar to Ryokan but family-run and with less formal service. Rooms are more simply-furnished and guests typically lay out their own futons. Regardless if you have requested a double or a twin room you will get 2 separate futons to sleep on in your traditional Japanese room.
Ryokan rooms sometimes have private bathrooms. Minshuku offer toilet and bathing facilities ‘along the corridor’. Baths may be smaller rooms, used privately in turn by guests; or they may be larger communal bathing suites, one for men and one for women. As availability is limited we cannot guarantee or inform you in advance of booking which type of Japanese Inn you will overnight in.
Shukubo are pilgrim’s lodgings attached to the temples. They are similar to Ryokan and Minshuku but are a bit simpler and bathroom facilities are shared. There are several shared toilets and washbasins, and two rooms for communal bathing in natural thermal water, segregated by gender. The food is prepared in a similar style to Buddhist Shojin cuisine, but do include some meat and fish. It is a wonderful experience to stay in a shukubo and there is also the opportunity to join the early morning religious service.
We provide you with detailed information on the etiquette of staying in these beautiful traditional Japanese Inns.
In large cities like Kyoto, Tokushima, and Osaka, we use western-style hotels of a 3* standard.
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
This trip is available to solo walkers and a limited number of single rooms are available, although a single/solo supplement is payable.
Meals
Japanese cuisine is the highlight of many people’s visit to Japan and this is especially the case on the Shikoku trail. Your trip includes all breakfasts and 4 evening meals whilst on the trail, Most meals will be Japanese cuisine, though breakfast in western-style hotels usually includes more familiar choices. Dinner and breakfast in ryokan and minshuku are set meals, usually with a whole succession of different dishes which will delight you. Alcoholic and soft drinks are not included with meals. Tipping is not customary at hotels and restaurants in Japan.
The route is partly waymarked (in English and Japanese) and we provide detailed route notes and topographic maps so you should have no problem following the trail.
- 3 nights accommodation in Ryokan
- 3 nights in 3* standard hotels
- 1 night in a Shukubu pilgrim's lodging
- 7 breakfasts
- 3 evening meals (while on trail) - not included in Tokushima
- Bus (at start) from Osaka to Shikoku trail - train (at end) from Shikoku trail to Osaka
- Train tickets on day 5, day 6
- Private transfers on days 4, 5 & 6
- Local travel information, route notes, topographical maps and hints and tips
- Telephone support from our local, English speaking, representative
- International flights and travel to Kyoto/from Osaka
- Drinks with meals
- Lunches
- Evening meals in Kyoto, Tokushima & Osaka
- Local buses on Shikoku (paid locally)
- Baggage forwarding
- Travel insurance
- Additional nights on the trail or in Kyoto or Osaka (prices on request)
This trip is available from early April until the end of October. Accommodations are busy and may charge extra during the following Japanese holiday periods: New Year (29 December - 04 January), Golden Week (29 April - 05 May), and O-bon (13-15 August)
Time of Year
It is tough to beat the spring months of April and May but the autumn colours in October is also lovely. It can get quite hot and humid in July and August. Overall, the best months to travel are either April-June or September-October.
The best airport to arrive into is Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX). Or, you could fly into Tokyo Narita (NRT) and take an internal flight or the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto (3h30).
The West Japan Rail Company operates services between Kansai Airport and Osaka/Kyoto. Their website has timetables and route maps. The Airport Express HARUKA (Kansai Airport Line) takes approx 75 mins to Kyoto.
The best airport to depart from is Osaka Kansi Airport (KIX). Or you could take an internal flight or the shinkansen (bullet train) from Kyoto (3h30) to Tokyo and fly out of Tokyo Narita (NRT).
The West Japan Rail Company operates services between Kansai Airport and Osaka/Kyoto. The Airport Express HARUKA (Kansai Airport Line) takes approx 75 mins to Kyoto.
Luggage transfer is not included during your walk/hike as standard. You can use the Japanese Takkubin service to have access to your bag in the middle of your itinerary.
Takkubin (sometimes Takkyubin or Takuhaibin)
Takkubin is a luggage courier service which you can only book once you are in Japan. It is reliable and well-priced at approximately £15 per journey (you will have 2 on this itinerary). Your bags will not be moved each day. The price is based per bag under 25kg/55lbs.
On the Shikoku hike, you have access to your luggage only when in Tokushima. The other nights you have to carry your essentials with you. In the accommodation you are provided with robes and shoes to wear in the traditional houses, so you will only need to carry a light bag.
With Takkubin your Shikoku hiking itinerary would be:
- You send your luggage from Kyoto (or from wherever you are before you start your hike) to Tokushima. You travel by train & bus with your overnight things (and no heavy suitcase) to the Tokushima Prefecture and hike to Higashihara. No access to main bag.
- Hike/Travel to Kamiyama. No access to main bag.
- Hike/Travel to Tokushima. Access to main bag.
- Send your main bag to the destination after your hike (Osaka). You travel/hike to Kotohira No access to main bag.
- Kotohira. Train to Osaka (no heavy suitcase). Reunited with luggage at hotel at end of the day.
Exactly where you leave and collect your bags for Takkubin is clearly explained in your final information. It is a widely used and efficient service, with many tourists and locals using it every day.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Getting around
Your package includes train tickets from/to Kyoto or Osaka. The public transport system in Japan is world-class and your pre-departure information pack has detailed information on tickets, trains and how to use public transport easily.
Visas
Please check your visa requirements with the foreign office or the embassy in your country of residence before travelling to Japan.
British nationals wishing to visit Japan for three months or less for business, tourism or family purposes, etc (but not to work for a local employer) may do so without a visa. You must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket. Please visit www.fco.gov.uk for up to date information.
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, lightweight clothes, waterproofs and a day pack. lease be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes, and lightweight clothing for summer.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
The walk is graded moderate but it does involve some days with fairly steep ascents and descents.The terrain can also be quite tricky underfoot as wet tree roots can be quite slippy at times. Most days have a shorter and longer option to choose from so you can usually makes things a bit easier if you feel like an easy-going day.
The best airport to arrive at is Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX), which has flights from international destinations. You can also fly into Tokyo Narita (NRT) and take an internal flight or the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto (3h30).
Luggage transfer is not included during your walk as standard and you have a couple of options here. The first option is to arrange luggage transfers by a service called Takkyubin which is a courier service in Japan and can only be booked in Japan. This is cheap, reliable and costs approx £12 per day. With this service your bags will not be moved each day but instead will be waiting for you at your accommodation a couple of nights later. Our information pack has full details of how to use this service, which is really easy. Please contact us if you have any questions about this at all.
Yes, please just let us know at the time of booking. Most food during the walk is Japanese style. It is worth mentioning however that many dishes do contain the ubiquitous Japanese fish stock called dashi which is an ingredient in many soups and sauces so it is helpful if you are able to accept dishes containing this.
No, our detailed info pack and a little bit of effort on your part will get you by. Most signs are also in English. Our specialist Laura travelled to Japan in 2014 and you can read her experience of travelling in Japan with little language skills on the blog.
You will need good walking shoes/boots, comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack, warm clothing in the early/late part of the year and hats etc during the summer. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.
It is tough to beat the spring months of April and May but the autumn colours in October are also lovely. It can get quite hot and humid in July and August.Overall, the best months to travel are either April-June or September-October.
Many of the accommodations that we use are small and family run. They get booked up very quickly. You should therefore try to book as far in advance as possible. We strive to keep our availability as up to date as possible, but it can change from one day to the next. We will always do our best to accommodate your requirements, but a degree of flexibility with dates might be required.
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