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Shikoku Pilgrimage Private Walking & Hiking Tour

 

Tour Code: GTQ5635465

Shikoku Pilgrimage Private Walking & Hiking Tour

71 Reviews

fromUSD $8990.00

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A private 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. 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. 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.

This itinerary can be customized based on your budget and interests. Please feel free to CONTACT US to plan your dream trip to Japan.

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Tour Information

Please Note:

● The price is per person with minimum 2 people, based on twin/double or triple room occupancy.
● The itinerary can be customized based on your interests and budget, please contact us to plan your perfect vacation to Japan.

Deposit

A 20% deposit is required to hold the space at time of booking and final payment is due 2 months prior to departure.

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

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

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