Hiker's Journey to Shikoku

13 days
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Small Group Tour
For 1,200 years, o-henro-san (pilgrims) have walked the 88-temple pilgrimage route across Shikoku Island, following in the footsteps of the great 8th century Buddhist saint Kobo Daishi. We’ve selected the most beautiful temples—and hikes—to create a captivating journey across this legendary isle, with our Trip Leader who literally wrote the book on hiking in ...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Day hikes 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 with elusive umami—the “fifth taste”
    • Kochi Castle and Matsuyama-jo, two of the most famous original castles in Japan

What's this trip about?

    For 1,200 years, o-henro-san (pilgrims) have walked the 88-temple pilgrimage route across Shikoku Island, following in the footsteps of the great 8th century Buddhist saint Kobo Daishi. We’ve selected the most beautiful temples—and hikes—to create a captivating journey across this legendary isle, with our Trip Leader who literally wrote the book on hiking in Japan. You’ll follow trails between venerated temples, climb Shikoku’s two 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 as well, from a soak in the thousand-year-old Dogo Onsen (hot spring) to stays at a temple lodging and a family-run ryokan in the mountains. Along the way you’ll sample Shikoku’s regional cuisine, including its renowned udon and sakes, and have the chance to meet Japanese pilgrims from all walks of life.

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Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOsaka
End CityOsaka

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • High Adventure
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Attractions

  • Kochi
  • Osaka

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Rock Climbing

Trip includes

    • Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader
    • Accommodations: 11 nights hotels, inns, and ryokans, 1 night temple lodging
    • All meals included
    • Entrance fees for museums and sites as part of the itinerary
    • All ground transportation including chairlifts as needed

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Days 1-4: Osaka / Koyasan Monastery / Temple Hikes

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport; Ekoin Temple; Hotel Clement Tokushima; Hotel Iya Onsen

At the Koyasan Monastery where Kobo Daishi is buried, pilgrims traditionally request his “support” and we’ll do the same. After getting our pilgrim’s passport (whi...

Days 5-10: Iya Valley / Kochi / Matsuyama / Dogo Onsen

Accommodation: Hotel Iya Onsen; Hotel Nikko Kochi Asahi Royal; Shimanto Iyashi No Sato, Yunoyado Sachiya

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') and to cliff-perched Iwaya-ji Temple, and explore seaside Kochi on foot. In Matsuyama, we visit its feudal-era castle and soak in Dogo Onsen hot springs, dating back a thousand years.

Days 11-13: Kompira-san / Okubo-ji / Awaji Island / Osaka

Accommodation: Kotohira Spa Kotosankaku; Yumekaiyu Awajishima

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,...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,895
Price per day$607
Single supplement (single occupancy)$880
Last Updated: 3/1/2019

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Wilderness Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Mar 2019

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For more than 30 years, people have entrusted their travel dreams to us. Our adventures span every corner of the globe, and the quality of our itinerary design and leadership has earned us one of the highest rates of repeat travelers in the business. Our core philosophy is elegantly simple: it’s not just where you travel, but how you travel that sets our trips apart. The magic of the how at Wilderness Travel comes from our expert Trip Leaders —the undisputed best in the business, a meticulously planned and artfully executed itinerary, and the camaraderie and just plain fun of traveling with a small group of like-minded people. The where is up to you—read on for more about our amazing destinations!

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A great trip is made up of fine hotels, glorious hikes, superb cuisine, and most importantly, a Trip Leader whose passion and knowledge brings it all together. We’re particular about who leads our trips because your experience depends so much on their skills. Our leaders come from all over the world, and from all walks of life—our roster includes naturalists, authors, teachers, archaeologists, art historians, and mountaineers. Their backgrounds are diverse, but they all share a passion for guiding, a thorough knowledge of the destinations they work in, and a real joy in introducing you to their favorite places, people, and behind-the-scenes spots you would never find on your own.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International airfare, airport transfers
    • Optional gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors
    • Pre-trip expenses of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas
    • Other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

All meals included

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
wilder2-hikjouwil

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