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⚡ 30-second takeaway: The Shikoku Hachijuhakkasho (88-Temple) Pilgrimage spans 1,200 km in total, taking 40-50 days on foot / 10-12 days by car / 12-14 days by bus tour. Budget roughly ¥250-400K for walking (minshuku inns + free tsuya-do temple lodging), ¥150-300K by car (rental car + business hotels), or ¥200-400K by bus tour (popular with older pilgrims). At Temple #1 Ryozenji (Tokushima, about 3 hours from Osaka) you can outfit yourself with the full pilgrim kit for ¥15-25K, and the nokyocho (stamp book) fees for all 88 temples total ¥30-44K. Spring and fall are the best seasons; summer brings heatstroke risk, winter requires proper gear.
Quick Reference
Value
Total length
1,200 km
Walking pilgrimage
40-50 days / ¥250-400K
Car pilgrimage
10-12 days / ¥150-300K
Bus tour
12-14 days / ¥200-400K
Full pilgrim kit
¥15-25K
Nokyocho stamps (88 temples)
¥30-44K
Last verified
June 2026
30-Second Takeaway
The three main styles of the Shikoku pilgrimage and their budgets:
Style
Duration
Budget / person
Character
Walking (the traditional practice)
40-50 days
¥250-400K
Serious training, deeply spiritual
Driving (the efficient option)
10-12 days
¥150-300K
Rental car + business hotels
Bus tour (the easy option)
12-14 days
¥200-400K
Older travelers, guide included
Hybrid (walking + car)
15-20 days
¥180-300K
Walk some legs, drive others
Detailed Walking Pilgrimage Budget (40-Day Plan)
Breakdown
Item
Per day
40-day total
Lodging (minshuku family inns)
¥6,000
¥240,000
Lodging (free tsuya-do temple shelters)
-¥2,500/week
-¥10,000
Food (boxed lunch + dinner at minshuku)
¥2,500
¥100,000
Osettai (free food from local residents)
0
-¥10,000
Gear (one-time outfitting)
—
¥20,000
Nokyocho stamp fees (88 temples)
—
¥44,000
Phone data & laundry
¥500
¥20,000
Medical reserve
—
¥10,000
Miscellaneous
¥500
¥20,000
Total
¥9,500
¥434,000
Real-world cost ≈ ¥350-400K (osettai gifts + free tsuya-do nights typically save around ¥50K).
Gear Checklist
Item
Price
Purpose
Byakue (white pilgrim robe)
¥3,000
Pilgrim's outer garment
Kongozue (wooden walking staff)
¥2,000
Walking staff that embodies Kobo Daishi
Sugegasa (woven sedge hat)
¥3,500
Sun and rain protection
Nokyocho (stamp book)
¥3,000
Book for collecting temple seals
Nenju (Buddhist prayer beads)
¥3,000
Used during sutra chanting
Pilgrim backpack, 30L
¥15,000
Daily carry
Hiking boots / trekking shoes
¥10,000-25,000
Non-negotiable
Waterproof rain jacket
¥10,000
Wet-weather protection
First-aid kit
¥3,000
Blister bandages, etc.
Power bank
¥3,000
Smartphone charging
Henro pilgrimage map
¥1,500
Navigation
Getting to Temple #1 Ryozenji
From Tokyo: Shinkansen → Kobe → bus, about 3 hours (6-7 hours total)
From Osaka: Bus + ferry, about 3 hours
From Kyoto: Shinkansen + local train, about 4 hours
Detailed Car Pilgrimage Budget (10-Day Plan)
Breakdown
Item
Per day
10-day total
Rental car (compact)
¥6,000
¥60,000
Gasoline
¥3,000
¥30,000
ETC expressway tolls
¥2,000
¥20,000
Lodging (business hotels)
¥7,000
¥70,000
Food
¥4,000
¥40,000
Nokyocho stamp fees
—
¥44,000
Mountain entry & viewing fees
—
¥10,000
Miscellaneous
¥1,000
¥10,000
Total
¥27,000
¥284,000
Recommended Route
Day
Area
Temples
1
Tokushima: Temples #1-12
Ryozenji to Shosanji
2
Tokushima: Temples #13-23
Dainichiji to Yakuoji
3
Kochi: Temples #24-39
Hotsumisakiji (Cape Muroto) to Kongofukuji
4-5
Kochi: Temples #40-65
Around Kochi City
6
Ehime: Temples #40-53
Kanjizaiji to Enmyoji
7-8
Ehime: Temples #54-65
Dogo Onsen area
9
Kagawa: Temples #66-78
Unpenji to Goshoji
10
Kagawa: Temples #79-88
Kechigan (completion of the pilgrimage)!
Bus Tour Details
Recommended Operators
Nishitetsu Travel: ¥250-400K / 12 days (meals and tour conductor included)
Club Tourism: ¥220-380K / 12-14 days
JTB: ¥280-450K / 12-14 days (premium quality)
What the Bus Tour Covers
Bus + lodging + meals: All included
Tour conductor: No extra charge
Nokyocho stamp fees: Pay yourself, ¥30-44K
Souvenirs: Out of pocket
Best Seasons
Season
Rating
Spring (late March-May)
⭐⭐⭐ Cherry blossoms + mild weather
Summer (June-August)
⭐ Heatstroke risk
Fall (September-November)
⭐⭐⭐ Fall foliage + mild weather
Winter (December-February)
⭐ Mountain routes can ice over
5 Common Mistakes Visitors Make
Assuming you can do all 88 in 3 days: It's 1,200 km in total — figure 10 days minimum, even by car.
Walking without the byakue or kongozue: Without the pilgrim's robe and staff, locals won't recognize you as an ohenro (pilgrim), and you'll miss out on the osettai (gift-giving) culture.
Not knowing how the nokyocho works: The correct order is to pay your respects at the temple first, then collect the stamp — and each temple has its own dedicated page.
Going in reverse without realizing it: Tradition runs from Temple #1 to #88, though some pilgrims deliberately walk "gyaku-uchi" (reverse order), said to bring three times the blessings.
Attempting it in summer: Heatstroke plus mountain trails make this risky — spring and fall are strongly recommended.
Q: Are foreign pilgrims unusual on the Shikoku route?
A: Numbers are growing — roughly 5-10% of pilgrims each year are now from overseas. Local residents tend to warmly welcome foreign ohenro, and English communication along the route is steadily increasing.
Q: What is a tsuya-do?
A: A free overnight shelter that some of the 88 temples offer to pilgrims — typically a simple wood-floored room. Bring your own sleeping bag and observe temple etiquette carefully.
Q: What is the culture of osettai?
A: A long-standing custom in which local residents give pilgrims free food, drinks, or lodging.It's considered impolite to refuse (accepting is part of the spiritual practice), and the customary response is to chant "Namu Daishi Henjo Kongo" (a verse of devotion to Kobo Daishi).
Q: Do I have to complete all 88 temples?
A: Not at all — you're entirely free to choose. Visiting only the temples that interest you is perfectly fine. Reaching kechigan (completion of all 88) brings a profound sense of accomplishment, but it isn't a requirement.
Q: Should I buy my gear at Ryozenji?
A: The shops in front of Ryozenji and the Temple #1 visitor center offer a complete set for ¥15-25K. It's generally cheaper than trying to assemble the kit elsewhere beforehand.
About: Yen Finder Editorial / Last verified 2026-06-08. Prices and seasonal information are estimates and vary year to year. For the most accurate and up-to-date details, please check with the official Shikoku Hachijuhakkasho Reijokai (88-Temple Pilgrimage Association) or the individual temples directly.
