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11 Days Excluding Flights
11 Days from
USD 5060
Incl. taxes Excl. flights
Walking & Trekking
Activity Level
Moderate See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Ways to Travel :
Self-Guided Holidays
Activity :
Walking & Trekking
Ages :
8+
Trip Code :
W10SH
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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

At Exodus, we thrive on travel, and we firmly believe our adventures should help destinations thrive too.

As a certified B Corp, we aim to take a ‘nature positive’ approach across our adventures, including carbon and waste reduction, animal welfare and support for rewilding and conservation. We also seek to contribute to local communities, providing economic opportunity and empowerment.

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Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail

11 Days Excluding Flights
11 Days from
USD 5060
Incl. taxes Excl. flights