Shikoku Pilgrimage

The Route

The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a 1,200-kilometer circuit of Japan’s Shikoku Island, linking eighty-eight temples associated with Kōbō Daishi and Shingon Buddhism. Pilgrims have walked the circuit since the Heian period, following a tradition shaped by the monk’s travels and the island’s temple network. The route crosses four prefectures, coastal plains, fishing towns, bamboo and cedar mountains, and riverside roads. A complete walk generally takes five to eight weeks, with spring and autumn offering the most common walking seasons. Days combine temple visits, prayers, long road sections, mountain climbs, and lodging reservations that shape the next meal. Convenience stores supply onigiri and baked goods between towns. Minshuku and ryokan commonly include dinner and breakfast, while temple lodgings may serve vegetarian meals. The regional food changes as the circuit proceeds: sudachi and ramen in Tokushima, bonito in Kochi, sea bream and jakoten in Ehime, and Sanuki udon in Kagawa. Osettai, freely offered food or drink, may appear along the way.

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