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FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY: 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL 95
For 1,200 years, o-henro-san (pilgrims) have walked the 88-temple pil-
grimage route across Shikoku Island, following in the footsteps of the
great 8th century Buddhist saint Kobo Daishi, the most revered figure
in Japanese Buddhism. We’ve selected the most beautiful temples—
and hikes—to create our own unique journey across this legendary
isle. Arriving in Shikoku by boat, the way pilgrims did in centuries past,
we’ll hike trails between venerated temples, climb one of Shikoku’s
highest peaks, and discover the remote Iya Valley, a vestige of old
Japan with its kazura-bashi (vine bridges) and 300-year-old thatched
farmhouses. Cultural adventures abound, including meeting fellow
pilgrims, relaxing in the thousand-year-old Dogo Onsen (hot spring),
and staying overnight in a temple with a magical atmosphere.
Days 1-4 Osaka / Koyasan Monastery / Temple
Hikes At the Koyasan Monastery where Kobo Daishi
is buried, pilgrims traditionally come to ask for his
“support” before starting their hikes and we’ll do
the same. After getting our pilgrim’s passport (to be
stamped at each temple), we boat to Shikoku and
begin our pilgrimage at Ryozen-ji, the first temple on
the circuit. We also visit Kakurin-ji, a mountain
temple 1,500 feet above the sea, and a special temple
where pilgrims touch an ancient tree said to have
been planted by Kobo Daishi.
Days 5-10 Iya Valley / Kochi / Matsuyama / Dogo
Onsen In the Iya Valley, whose high peaks and deep
gorges made it a safe haven for the Heike Clan
during the civil wars of the 12th century, we hike up
sacred Tsurugi-san (6,412'). We also visit the famed
We’ll hike alongside Japanese pilgrims from all walks of life on our unique journey. PHOTO: CHRISTIAN GOUPI
TERRY ALLEN
YANNICK LUTHY
ACROSS A SACRED TEMPLE ROUTE IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF KOBO DAISHI
HIGHLIGHTS
• Hike pilgrim paths to the legendary
temples of Shikoku
• Explore the traditional Iya Valley, with its
thatched houses and vine bridges
• Meet pilgrims and hikers, sample
Shikoku’s delicious fresh seafood
• Visit atmospheric Matsuyama-jo, a feudal
castle completed in 1627 and still in its
original state
DETAILS
• 13-day trip begins and ends in Osaka
• 11 nights hotels, inns, and ryokans,
1 night temple lodging
• All meals included except 1 dinner
DATES
May 20-Jun 1, 2018
Oct 6-18
Nov 3-15
TRIP COST
$7395 (11-12 members)
$7795 (9-10 members)
$8195 (6-8 members)
Single supplement: $840
TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Easy to moderate hikes, 2-5 hours a
day on hiking days, walking tours, many
temple stairs
Taga-jinja fertility shrine, hike to cliff-perched Iwaya-ji
Temple, and enjoy seaside Kochi. In Matsuyama, we visit
its feudal-era castle and soak in Dogo Onsen hot springs,
one of the oldest public bath houses in Japan, dating
back a thousand years.
Days 11-13 Kompira-san / Okubo-ji / Awaji Island /
Osaka We visit Zentsu-ji Temple, where Kobo Daishi was
born, walk through an underground tunnel that pilgrims
must “feel” their way through, then climb the 1,368 steps to
the Shinto shrines of Kompira-san, dedicated to sailors and
seafarers. Our final stop is Okubo-ji, or Temple 88, the last
temple on the pilgrimage trail, known as the Temple of the
Completion of the Vow. The stone in front of this temple is
said to be where Kobo Daishi left his walking staff. After an
overnight on Awaji Island, known in Japanese folklore as
the birthplace of Japan, we depart on Day 13 via Osaka.