Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage (Ohenro) 2027 Guide

The Shikoku Ohenro is Japan's longest living pilgrimage — 88 Shingon temples connected by 1,200 km of island road. Most Western visitors assume you need 60 days and strong knees. In practice, 70% of modern henro drive it, 20% bus-tour it, and 10% walk — any pace is accepted.

Quick facts: Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage 2027

History + what makes this pilgrimage special

The Shikoku 88 (四国八十八ヶ所) traces to Kukai (Kobo Daishi, 774-835), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, who was born in Zentsuji on Shikoku. By the 17th century, the loop of 88 temples he reportedly founded, trained at, or visited had crystalized into a devotional circuit. Today the pilgrims (henro, お遍路) wear white vests, carry a wooden walking stick representing Kukai himself, and chant the Heart Sutra at each temple. The route is one of only a few UNESCO-listed walking pilgrimages worldwide (via Shikoku's 'Cultural Landscapes' nomination process).

• ●Distance — ~1,200 km clockwise loop around Shikoku, including coastal and mountain segments.
• ●Elevation gain — 24,000-29,000 m total if walking (equivalent to 3× Everest).
• ●Reverse direction — Called 'gyaku-uchi'; harder navigation but considered extra meritorious in leap years.
• ●Split pilgrimages — Many Japanese do 1-2 weeks a year over a decade.
• ●Why visit — Rare opportunity to walk a complete 1,200-year-old living pilgrimage in a developed country with excellent infrastructure.
• ●Minimal English pressure — Most henro-yado (pilgrim inns) accept walk-ins without Japanese; some have English menus.

Getting to the starting temple

• ●[Flight](https://www.kiwi.com/en/search/results/anywhere/tokyo-japan/no-return/any?marker=533035) — Haneda → Tokushima (TKS) 75 min; local bus to Naruto 40 min, ¥710. Ryozenji (temple #1) is 10 min walk from Bando Station.
• ●Shinkansen + local — Tokyo → Shin-Osaka (Nozomi) → Naruto Line via Kobe-Awaji Bridge bus. ~6 hrs total.
• ●Overnight bus from [Osaka](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Osaka&aid=8095781&label=auto-osaka-autolink&nflt=review_score%3D80&order=popularity) — Namba → Tokushima ¥4,000-5,500, 3h30m; then local bus.
• ●Car — Rental in Osaka, cross Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway. ~4 hrs; parking at Ryozenji free.

What to eat on the route

Each prefecture has its own 'henro-ryori' tradition — simple vegetarian meals served at pilgrim inns to recreate shojin-ryori temple cuisine. Beyond that, each region's famous foods line the route: sanuki udon in Kagawa, Awa chicken in Tokushima, straw-seared katsuo in Kochi, and Dogo onsen specialties in Ehime.

• ●Shojin ryori henro set meal — ¥1,800-3,000 — Vegetarian pilgrim meal; served at larger henro-yado.
• ●Sanuki udon — ¥300-500 — Available at nearly every rural shokudo in Kagawa segment (temples #66-88).
• ●Awa chicken bento — ¥900 — Common takeaway near Tokushima temples.
• ●Dogo tai-meshi (sea bream rice) — ¥1,500 — Ehime segment; traditional pilgrim's reward near temple #51.

Bookable experiences — pilgrim-friendly options

Full-walk is a 2-month commitment; most 2027 visitors do a shorter package or a car-based 'practice' loop. Operators cater to short-timed international visitors with 3-7 day tasters.

• ●3-day Tokushima temples #1-10 walking taster — ¥35,000-50,000 with inn stays, luggage transfer, bilingual guide.
• ●7-day Shikoku car loop (all 88 temples) — ¥120,000-180,000 for 2 pax with rental car + ryokan nights.
• ●12-day bus pilgrimage — ¥180,000-240,000; Shikoku Henro Bus runs seasonally with Japanese guide + prayer practice.
• ●Henro gear starter kit — ¥5,000-8,000; white vest + walking stick + bell + stamp book, sold at Ryozenji.

FAQ

• ●Do I have to be Buddhist? No — the Henro Association explicitly welcomes all faiths and secular visitors.
• ●Can I walk only part of it? Yes — 'partial pilgrimage' (bun-nou-uchi) is recognized; you can finish over multiple years.
• ●How much does the full walking pilgrimage cost? ¥400,000-700,000 for 45 days including inns, meals, and gear.
• ●How much does driving it cost? ¥120,000-180,000 for 10-14 days with car rental, fuel, parking, and ryokan.
• ●What gear do I need? Minimum: white vest (hakue), stamp book (nokyo-cho), walking stick (kongo-zue), bell (jirei). All sold at temple #1 for ~¥7,000 total.
• ●Do temples charge admission? Most are free; some stamp fees (goshuin) are ¥300 each — plan ¥26,400 for all 88 stamps.
• ●Is English spoken at temples? Rarely at remote temples; Ryozenji, Zentsuji, and major temples have English pamphlets.
• ●What if I can't walk 25 km/day? Reduce to 15 km/day and extend to 60 days; or combine 10 days walking + 5 days car.
• ●When should I avoid? June tsuyu rains flood coastal paths; August 32-35°C heat is dangerous for walking.
• ●Can I do it in winter? Mild coastal Kagawa and Tokushima segments are fine; mountain Kochi passes close with snow.
• ●Is osettai (gift-giving) still practiced? Yes — locals offer mikan, tea, or coins to henro; refuse politely only if dietary issues apply.
• ●Does my [JR Pass](https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/6415-japan-rail-pass-jr-pass-japan/) work on Shikoku trains? Yes for JR Shikoku lines; local buses require separate payment.