88 temples – well, almost…
In Shodoshima, put on your hiking boots and walk the same trails as the Buddhist pilgrims. This island in the Seto Inland Sea, between the main islands of Honshu and Shikoku, is famous for its olives and soy sauce. Like its big sister Shikoku, Shodoshima is an important pilgrimage site for all followers of the Buddhist faith. The entire trail is 160 km long and takes about 2 weeks. You will walk 40 to 50 km of it in 6 days. You will visit the most beautiful temples, several of which are in caves, and at the same time admire the breathtaking scenery of Shodoshima.
Shinto stopover on the Japanese Sea coast
Change of scenery: leaving Shodoshima behind, you will travel to San’in, the wild part of Honshu on the Japanese Sea side. In Izumo, the most holy place of the Shinto belief, you will visit the sanctuary where the gods are gathering once a year to decide the fate of mankind and admire wild seascapes while tasting delicious seafood dishes. On the way home, you will stroll on gigantic sand dunes in Tottori before ending your trip with the visit to the biggest castle Japans in Himeji.
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Sign of the pilgrim trail
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Kankakei – Stairway to devotion
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Important information
- I offer typically tours during the spring (15.03 to 31.05) and autumn (30.09 to 30.11). I do not travel to Japan during the summer because it’s too hot and rainy. I have also decided not to offer tours during the winter – traditional Japanese houses do not have central heating and I don’t want my customers to freeze.
- The difficulty level is calculated for active travellers who are physically fit and enjoy walking/hiking. During the first week, you will travel about 40-50 km on foot around a mountainous island. Trekking shoes are strongly recommended!
- For more detailed information about the Japanese accommodation system as well as further peculiarities unique to the “Land of the Rising Sun”, please refer to our brochure Tips for Travellers to Japan.