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Tour Code: GTD365303
Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail Walking & Hiking Tour: Spring 1 Reviews
13 days 12 nights
fromUSD $5175.00 (Limit to 13 guests)
currency
Single Supplement: USD $735.00
The price is per person, based on twin or triple room occupancy
A small-group guided walking & hiking tour to Sacred Mount Koya & The Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Trail.
Journey to Shikoku, the fourth largest island in Japan
and home to the 88 Temple Pilgrimage Trail. This
incredibly deep spiritual route has inspired pilgrims for
centuries, with very little being known about its origin,
the trail also has a mysterious connection with Kobo
Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism. Even today, it is
not a rare sight to see pilgrims around the island
wearing their distinctive attire and white cloaks. The
full pilgrimage route encompasses more than a
thousand kilometers around Shikoku and connects 88
Buddhist temples. Pilgrims traditionally would trek the
pilgrimage trail on foot over several weeks going from
temple to temple. During spring, the weather is
comfortable, allowing guests to easily hike the trails.
Join All Japan Tours as we take you through Shikoku,
exploring the stunning trails and ancient temples.
For this tour, we have selected the absolute best
walking trails that pass through charming landscapes
and explore the historic route. We will visit all four of
Shikoku’s prefectures – Tokushima in the east,
Kagawa in the north, Ehime in the west, and Kochi in
the south. Each prefecture has its own special
character, food, and scenery that we will be able to
enjoy. In addition to exploring the pilgrimage trail, our
journey will also take us to the isolated Iya Valley
located deep in the heart of Shikoku. Our pilgrimage
journey begins with a stay on Wakayama’s ‘Mount
Koya’, the hilltop temple complex on Honshu
established by Kobo Daishi, as well as an important
location for enthusiasts of the pilgrimage route. With
public transport being rather limited in the rural areas
of Shikoku, we will travel primarily by private vehicle.
However, we will still be able to enjoy traveling from
temple to temple through countryside and forest along
the ancient route. Our accommodations throughout
the route will be traditional country inns while we enjoy
the regional cuisine prepared from local ingredients
from the wondrous island. We will also be able to
rejuvenate and soak in natural hot springs, as well as
enjoy the superb hospitality, known as ‘omotenashi’ in
Japanese, of our lovely hosts.
For those looking to explore Japan's ancient culture,
history, and religion while exploring the countryside,
this tour is a wonderful choice. During spring, you may
have the chance to see different flowers, such as
cherry blossoms, along the scenic route. You will
explore hidden gems and enjoy the stunning scenery
as you hike the trails on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage
Route, as many pilgrims have done in the past and
still do today.
Note: this is an intense rated hiking trip with
some steady steep ascents and hikes over 4 hours.
Activity Level: Intense
Our Intense tours generally have dedicated days of
trail walking, with some days of over four hours and
with some ascent and/or descent.
Who is an Intense tour designed for?
- We recommend our Intense tours for anyone who
does regular walking or hiking, and is comfortable
walking a full day with some climbing and descending.
- If you do not exercise regularly, please practice
walking for three to four hours, about three to six
months prior to the tour in order to get the most out of
your trip.
Accommodations
This itinerary contains overnight stays at Western
Hotels, Ryokans, Minshukus, and Shukubo Temple
Lodgings. Ryokans and Minshukus are traditional
accommodations, with a more casual hospitality than
you will find at a hotel. At both a Ryokan and a
Minshuku, you will stay in a simply furnished room and
sleep on a futon, which is laid on a tatami mat. A
Shukubo is a lodging at a Buddhist temple, and, similar
to a Ryokan, rooms are simply laid with futon bedding.
Some Ryokans may have private bathrooms
attached to your room, but others only have public
bathrooms used by all the guests. At a Minshuku and
Shukubo, however, there are only public bathrooms –
meaning either a smaller bathroom used one guest at a
time, or larger bathrooms separated by gender (male &
female), and designed to be used by multiple guests at
once.
Tour Information
Dates & Price
2025
| Start Date | End Date | Twin/Triple | Start City | End City | Style | Save | Status |
|---|
Please Note:
All prices are per person, based on twin (double on
request) or triple occupancy.
International flights are
not included on our tours - this allows you the flexibility to
choose your own departure and get the best value for your
money!
We can arrange international flights for
US customers if needed, please ask for details.
Deposit
A 20% deposit is required to hold the space at time of booking and final payment is due 2 months prior to departure. At least 4 passengers minimum are required to guarantee the tour’s departure. Booked passengers will be informed 3 months before the starting date if the tour is not guaranteed, and they will have the option to either cancel and refund the amount already paid, or transfer the payment to another tour.
What's included
- • 12 nights in hotels and Japanese-style inns (Ryokan, Minshuku and Shukubo)
- • All transportation between tour locations
- • Forwarding of one item of luggage
- • Comprehensive escorted with AJT professional English speaking tour guide
- Meals
- • Breakfast everyday
- • 9 dinners
- Admission fees and activities
- • All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary
What's NOT included
- • International Airfares
- • Airport transfers
- • Meals that are not included in the itinerary
- • Travel Insurance
- • Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
- • Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
- • For single travelers, this tour has a single supplement. The Single Supplement for this tour only applies to Western-style hotels. For Ryokan / Minshuku / Temple Lodging, you will be paired with another traveler of the same gender.
Additional Information
Transport
Travel by private coach & public transportation between destinations.
Arrival Departure Airports
For arrivals at Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX), this tour starts in Osaka and ends in Kagawa, with departures at Takamatsu Airport (TAK) or Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX).
Meal Requests
Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged.
Meet and Greet
Airport meet and greet and arrival airport transfer are NOT included, but we will provide with full instructions in advance.
Itinerary In Brief
- Day1 Meet in Osaka
- Day2 Travel to Mount Koya and sightseeing
- Day3 Travel to Tokushima and walk Ryozenji Temple to Kosenji Temple
- Day4 Walk from Fujiidera Temple to Shosanji Temple
- Day5 Walk from Kakurinji Temple to Tairyuji Temple
- Day6 Walking Mount Tsurugi
- Day7 Travel to Kochi-shi and sightseeing
- Day8 Half day sightseeing in Kochi-shi and travel to Matsuyama
- Day9 Walk from Daihoji Temple to Iwayaji Temple
- Day10 Sightseeing in Matsuyama
- Day11 Walk from Kokubunji Temple, to Shiromineji Temple and then to Negoroji Temple
- Day12 Walk from Nagaoji Temple to Okuboji Temple
- Day13 Tour ends
Click here for detailed itinerary
Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice
Destinations
Mt Koya / Tokushima / Iya Valley / Kochi / Matsuyama / Kagawa
