Shikoku pilgrimage (88 temples)

In short: Shikoku pilgrimage (88 temples): from Ryōzen-ji temple to Loop around Shikoku. Length: around 1,200 km, duration: 40 to 60 days. Best time: March to May, October and November.

Overview

The Shikoku pilgrimage is the best-known pilgrimage route in Japan. It runs in a large loop to 88 Buddhist temples associated with the monk Kōbō Daishi. On foot the loop takes 40 to 60 days, and many people do it in stages or by bus.

The pilgrims, called henro, traditionally wear a white jacket and a conical hat and carry a staff. At each temple they get calligraphy and a stamp in their pilgrim book. This is the closest relative of the pilgrim passport.

One lovely tradition is osettai: local people give pilgrims food, drinks or a place to sleep. Expect asphalt, as the route often runs along roads, along with summer heat and typhoons in late summer.

Main stops: Tokushima, Kochi, Ehime, Kagawa.

The loop through four prefectures

The 88 temples go back to the monk Kukai, who is venerated in Japan as Kobo Daishi. The route circles the island of Shikoku and passes through four prefectures. Traditionally it starts at Ryozen-ji temple in Tokushima and ends at Okubo-ji in Kagawa.

On foot, most people need 40 to 60 days. Many Japanese do the tour in sections or travel by bus and car. This counts there as an equally valid pilgrimage.

Henro clothing and osettai

Pilgrims here are called henro. Many wear a white vest and a straw hat and carry a staff, which stands for Kobo Daishi as a companion. You collect stamps and calligraphy in a book at each temple.

A special feature is the osettai tradition: local residents give pilgrims food, drinks or even a night's stay. You do not turn down such gifts.

Planning your stages

How long you need depends on your daily distance. The table works this out for 1200 kilometres, with one rest day a week.

Who is this route for?

With some hiking experience this route is very manageable. Expect climbs and keep your days from getting too long.

You can find more routes under Pilgrimage routes in Asia, Pilgrimage in Japan, sorted by religion under Buddhist pilgrimage routes.