Getting Started

After reading an article in the New York Times (88 Temples, 750 Miles, Untold Gifts: Japan’s Shikoku Pilgrimage), I became interested in the Pilgrimage. However, it seemed daunting, as most YouTube videos featured young individuals completing it in a single 6-week trek with minimal planning and costs, which didn't align with my preferences.

It became clear to me that this Pilgrimage was freeform, totally up to the pilgrim's wishes. How you travel between temples, how long you take to complete it, in what order you visit the temples, was totally up to you. The only requirement to complete this Pilgrimage was to visit all 88 temples.

I decided to make four visits, walking interesting and scenic parts and using public transportation to minimize distances. I preferred private accommodations in hotels or ryokans over small family-run places. With the temples spread evenly across four Prefectures, this plan allowed me to split the Pilgrimage and align visits with Japan's four seasons: Spring, Fall, Winter, and Summer.

I then came across a Walk Japan (https://walkjapan.com/tour/self-guided-shikoku-wayfarer) self-guided tour of the Pilgrimage. This seemed a good way to start, so I signed up for the tour including a post-tour extension. I picked a tour of April 4 to April 11, aiming for the expected Sakura peak.

Walk Japan offered a 5-day self-guided walking tour of Tokushima's most interesting Pilgrimage temples, with accommodations, meals, luggage transfers, taxi transportation, and a detailed guidebook provided. An optional 3-day extension includes\d additional temples in Kagawa Prefecture and sightseeing in Iya Valley and Kotohira-gu shrine.