Many pilgrims choose to dress up in traditional attire:It should be noted that many pilgrims who begin the pilgrimage on foot do not finish it.

April and October are the best times to go, though accommodations will be particularly crowded.

The 88 Temple Pilgrimage (八十八ヶ所巡り hachijūhakkasho-meguri) is Japan's most famous pilgrimage route, a 1200 km loop around the island of Shikoku. Shikoku is home to many snakes, including deadly pit vipers. Kūkai is credited with introducing esoteric Kūkai’s legend and cult of personality grew, and in the Shikoku was once divided into the four provinces of Awa, Tosa, Iyo, and Sanuki. Many who attempt the pilgrimage on foot do not actually finish it.While it is not required, many pilgrims choose to don the traditional attire for their journey, which is comprised of a Mount Koya (Okunion Cemetery) | © Jordy Meow / Wikimedia Commons遍路のルート随所にある道しるべの一例。歩き遍路時に撮影。(Signpost along the pilgrimage route) It is believed the legendary monk and scholar Kūkai, posthumously known Kōbō Daishi, trained at several sites along the route in the 9th century. Men and women of all ages have walked the pilgrimage trail for over 1,200 years.

The temple converted to a Zen temple during the Edo Period, and today is one of only three Zen temples on the pilgrimage. Bear in mind that Shikoku is quite hilly and can at times experience turbulent weather; anyone looking to make the trip should be in healthy physical condition. It has a history dating back over 1,200 years. People will be very helpful if they recognize you as a pilgrim, and will try to participate in your journey by giving you small gifts (The weather can be perilous at times; even during the optimal seasons of spring and fall, it may rain for days — particularly in the south. It is a common to hear of people giving up in Kochi, traditionally known as "devil's land" because of its hot temperature, intense rain, and infrequent contact with civilization. You aren't done when you reach the 88th temple — you still have to trek back to the 1st to officially complete your pilgrimage! The Shikoku Pilgrimage is the most well-known pilgrimage in Japan. The Shikoku Pilgrimage is the most famous pilgrimage in Japan. (This means you must either camp, sleep in a rest stop or precisely time your journey to only hit towns and be willing to pay up for a hotel room.) Each year, about 150,000 pilgrims from Japan and around the world embark on this spiritual journey to experience the rich cultures of Shikoku … Make sure that your Japanese is good enough to communicate your feelings to both groups! The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist saint Kukai. We are traveling the Shikoku Pilgrimage, following the signs for henro (pilgrims), on a 1,200-kilometer circuit that runs between 88 temples on the island of Shikoku. But for the brave, it can mean small crowds and almost guaranteed space at the henro houses. The temples are usually visited in clockwise order, although this too, is just a convention — in practice, as all signs are oriented for pilgrims going clockwise, it's easier to get lost if you try to go against the flow. Traditionally, the trek begins at The walk can take anywhere from one to two months to complete.

Completing the course the traditional way on foot is a serious undertaking that demands several weeks. The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a 1,200 kilometer pilgrimage to 88 temples in Shikoku associated with Kobo Daishi. You are, however, never far from civilization in case of emergency. Most pilgrims walking on foot average around 25 km daily and complete the trip in five to seven weeks. And if you've made it this far, it's only good manners to return to The major towns are far apart, and the coast is lined with small fishing towns that tend to shut down by eight or nine in the evening, making it difficult to find accommodations. The complete journey through all four provinces with visits to the 88 temples along the way is meant to symbolize the path to enlightenment: awakening (temples 1-23), austerity and discipline (24-39), attaining enlightenment (40-65), and nirvana (66-88).