Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage

A numbered circuit of 88 temples circling Shikoku in Japan, usually walked over weeks to months.

Time to Hike: 30-60 days on foot to cover about 1200 km if you walk the full route; many hikers break it into weeks or sections.

Best Time to Go: Spring and autumn offer the mildest weather and longest daylight; avoid the hottest months and peak typhoon season for safer walking.

Getting there: Start points cluster in Tokushima Prefecture with good rail and bus links; regional airports in Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Kochi provide alternative gateways and transfers to local buses.

Costs: No permit is required; budget depends on accommodation choices from guesthouses to business hotels and occasional temple lodgings, with small donations or fees at temples for stamps and services.

Difficulty: Long daily distances, frequent road walking and some steep mountain sections make the route physically demanding; expect heat and humidity in summer and heavy rain risks during typhoon season.

Shikokus pilgrimage links 88 temples historically associated with the monk Kukai and runs a rough loop around the island, threading coastal stretches, river valleys and forested interior passes. Highlights range from crowded seaside temples to silent rural sanctuaries where you can collect stamps in a nokyocho and observe daily rituals.

Accommodation along the way is a mix of small guesthouses, minshuku, business hotels and the occasional temple that offers simple overnight stays; wild camping is uncommon and often restricted. The route is notable for its living ritual element - many walkers travel as pilgrims, wearing white and following the numbered sequence rather than just hiking for scenery.

• Tokushima to Cape Muroto (km 0-250) - Begins around Tokushima with the first cluster of temples, then follows a mix of coastal roads and quieter rural lanes toward the Pacific. Expect a gentle start that gradually becomes more exposed as you near the cape.
• Cape Muroto to Kochi (km 250-430) - A long coastal stretch with regular town stops and sea views, broken up by short climbs over headlands. Approaching Kochi brings more urban walking and easier logistics.
• Kochi to Cape Ashizuri (km 430-600) - One of the more committing legs, with extended distances between services in places and a strong sense of remoteness as you arc toward Cape Ashizuri. The cape itself is a memorable milestone before the route turns inland again.
• Cape Ashizuri to Uwajima (km 600-760) - Alternates between coastal sections and inland detours, with more rolling terrain and a quieter, rural feel. This section often feels less travelled and can involve longer road walking.
• Uwajima to Matsuyama (km 760-910) - Easier day-to-day planning thanks to more frequent towns and transport options. The approach to Matsuyama becomes busier, with a mix of suburban walking and temple visits.
• Matsuyama to Kanonji (km 910-1040) - Cross-island travel away from the big Pacific coastline, typically on a blend of paved lanes and hillier interior routes. Expect more elevation change than the coastal legs, plus varied countryside.
• Kanonji to Zentsu-ji (km 1040-1130) - A more compact run of temples with shorter links between them in places, but still plenty of road kilometres. Highlights include the sense of closing in on the final prefecture.
• Zentsu-ji to Takamatsu (km 1130-1200) - The last push across northeastern Shikoku toward Takamatsu. Logistics are simplest here, with frequent accommodation and transport as you finish the circuit.

Shikoku is best walked in spring and autumn when temperatures are moderate and rain is less frequent; late March to early June and late September to November are popular windows. Summer brings intense heat and humidity, and July to September carries the highest risk of typhoons that can disrupt ferry and bus services.

No special permits are required, but book accommodation during busy holidays such as Golden Week and autumn festival periods. Be prepared for muddy mountain trails after heavy rain and for long stretches of road walking where traffic and heat are the main hazards.

Tokushima is the most common gateway for walkers who want to begin near Temple 1, while ferries and regional flights connect other access points around the island. Trains and intercity buses link the main cities to smaller towns close to the numbered temples, letting you start at any segment rather than completing the full loop in one trip.

Most people begin at Ryozenji in the Tokushima area and follow the temples in numeric order, though sections can be walked independently and both clockwise and counterclockwise directions are used by different pilgrims.

No hiking permit is required to walk the Shikoku pilgrimage route.

Most walkers carry an official pilgrim credential known as the nokyocho or osamefuda system for collecting temple stamps and calligraphy. At each temple you can request a stamp and inscription (typically for a fee), and many pilgrims also travel with a name slip to offer at the temple. Unlike some European pilgrimages, there is not a single universal end certificate that every pilgrim receives; completion recognition, if pursued, is generally handled through pilgrimage organisations and your recorded visits.

Accommodation is plentiful in and around bigger centres such as Tokushima, Kochi, Matsuyama and Takamatsu, with business hotels and guesthouses making it easy to tailor daily distances. In more rural stretches such as around Cape Muroto and Cape Ashizuri, options can thin out, so it helps to plan a day or two ahead.

Pilgrims commonly use a mix of minshuku (family-run guesthouses), simple inns, and temple lodging where available. Booking ahead is wise in smaller towns and during busy domestic travel periods, while in cities you can often find same-day availability. Wild camping is not a standard part of the pilgrimage and may be restricted or unwelcome in many places, so most walkers rely on paid accommodation or designated sites.