Takamatsu Trip Overview
Walk the 1200 years old Ohenro Pilgrimage Route with local foreigner living in Shikoku area for almost a decade.
Additional Info
Duration: 7 days
Starts: Takamatsu, Japan
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Takamatsu Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan
Walk the 1200 years old Ohenro Pilgrimage Route with local foreigner living in Shikoku area for almost a decade.
Itinerary
Day 1: Travel from Takamatsu ~ Tokushima, Leisurely Evening in Tokushima
Stop At: Takamatsu Station Plaza Flower Clock, 1 Hamanocho, Takamatsu 760-0011 Kagawa Prefecture
Gather in front of Takamatsu Station, at the wide space where the guide will be waiting for the clients.
After gathering, take train together to travel to Tokushima, the train travel is around 2 hours, and you will have free time to explore Tokushima at your own.
Optionally, you can travel to Awa Odori Hall in the evening, where they show traditional Awa Odori Dance in the hall, hosted and participated by the locals. Optionally, you can also take the ropeway to go to the top of Mt. Bizan which offers beautiful night views of Tokushima and its surroundings.
On a clear day, the views of Naruto Strait, and Yoshino River are available.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Tokushima, Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku
Tokushima will be the final destination of this day.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner: Tokushima’s local dinner where the local ingredients are used. Restaurant will be selected depending upon availability.
Accommodation included: A three star hotel near Tokushima Station will be offered.
Day 2: Hike the eastern mountains of Tokushima – #20 Kakurinji Temple ~ #21Tairyuji Temple ~ Beautiful Mountain, Dense Forest
Stop At: Kakurin-ji Temple, 14 Ikuna Washigao, Katsura-cho, Katsura-gun 771-4303 Tokushima Prefecture
On the first part of this day, you will drive from Tokushima Station to Kakurinji Temple, one of the most beautifully located temples of the Shikoku Ohenro Route. Then, from Kakurinji Temple, hike toward Tairyuji Temple, through dense mountain forests.
In the meantime, nice scenery of beautiful Nakagawa River, small towns, farmlands and many beautiful stories are available.
First part is a hike down to Nakagawa River, while the other part is hike upto the mountain, the third part is relatively easy hike, and one quick sloppy trail will lead to the main entrance of Tairyuji Temple.
Both the temple grounds are full with many small statues, wide and beautiful temple grounds and full with nature.
For interested participants, an optional hike of small mountain called “Shashin-Gatake” near Tairyuji Temple is a recommendation, from where beautiful views of the nearby towns, river and mountains are available.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Tairyuji Temple, 2 Kamocho, Anan 771-5173 Tokushima Prefecture
After a hike from Kakurinji Temple, visit Tairyuji and take the ropeway to reach the parking, and drive back to Tokushima Station.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Dinner: Lunch not included. Please buy some packed lunch (Bento) on the way.
Dinner will be arranged in nearby restaurant.
Accommodation included: Three star hotel inside Tokushima City will be offered.
Day 3: Hike the Most Strenuous Route of Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage – Fujiidera Temple to Shosanji Temple.
Stop At: Fujiidera, 1525 Kamojima-cho Ino, Yoshinogawa 776-0033 Tokushima Prefecture
The temple is one of popular spots to enjoy wisteria flowers, which make the temple name.
You will take train from Tokushima in the morning, and walk to the temple from the station.
After visiting this temple, start walking to Shosanji Temple. This route is one of most strenuous parts of the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage Route, as it passes through 4 mountains, where you will be reaching to the top of mountain and climbing down.
The around 7 hours hike is full of nature, cedar forests, interesting Ohenro stories and marks. You may meet a lot of Japanese pilgrims whose main target is to complete the 1200 kilometer Ohenro Circuit.
Duration: 7 hours
Stop At: Shosanji Temple, Shimobun, Kamiyama-cho, Myozai-gun 771-3421 Tokushima Prefecture
This is another high-mountain temple located between the dense trees.
Visit the temple upon arrival, enjoy the sceneries around the temple and take private car to transfer to your hotel in Anan city.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner: Lunch not included. Please buy some packed lunch (Bento) on the way.
Dinner will be arranged in nearby restaurant.
Accommodation included: Three star hotel will be arranged in Anan City.
Day 4: Walk along the Pacific Ocean, Explore South Kochi – Shinshoji Temple to Hotsumisakiji Temple
Stop At: Cape Muroto, Murotomisakicho, Muroto 781-7101 Kochi Prefecture
In the morning, take private care to reach Muroto Cape, where you will be able to explore all the turbidite rock formations made by wind, typhoon, waves and rain for millions of years.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hotsumisakiji Temple, 4058-1 Murotomisakicho, Muroto 781-7101 Kochi Prefecture
After visiting Muroto Cape, travel to a temple located on top of a hill, called Hotsumisakiji Temple.
The temple stories are interesting, and at the same time spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean are available.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Shinshoji Temple, 2644 Murotsu, Muroto 781-7102 Kochi Prefecture
Walk the asphalt road from Hotsumisakiji Temple to Shinshoji Temple. This around 3-hour walk avails beautiful scenery of the Pacific ocean, passing through small towns along the way.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Dinner: Dinner in restaurants near the hotel will be arranged.
Accommodation included: Three star hotel will be arranged in Aki City, East Kochi.
Day 5: Hike the temples in Kochi City – Chikurinji Temple hike and Leisurely Kochi City
Stop At: Chikurinji Temple, 3577 Godaisan, Kochi 781-8125 Kochi Prefecture
In the morning, drive to the base of Chikurinji Temple and start hiking to the top.
This wonderful local route passes through a famous botanical park, where there are many small statues of different types of Buddha, called mini-Ohenro, taken care and highly believed by the locals.
At Chikurinji Temple, visit different small halls, the temple garden, pray at the temple, and spend time knowing deep culture of Japan.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Hirome Ichiba, 2-3-1 Obiyamachi, Kochi 780-0841 Kochi Prefecture
You have a free afternoon after your visit to Chikurinji Temple. Please take your time to wander around this beautiful city of Kochi.
In the evening, you will be taken to the small shopping street by the local guide which follows by a to local food-court called “Hirome Market”.
Your dinner is offered here, where there is no prior reservation, but everyone takes their seat, and brings food to their table to eat together with co-travelers, sometimes shared table with the locals.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Dinner: Your dinner is included in Hirome Market, which you visit in the evening.
Accommodation included: Three star hotel inside Kochi City will be arranged.
Day 6: Walk the West Part of Takamatsu – Negoroji Temple to Shiromineji Temple: Colorful Mountain, Dense Forest
Stop At: Negoroji Temple, 1509 Nakayamacho, Takamatsu 761-8004 Kagawa Prefecture
In the morning, take your private car to travel to Takamatsu, where you will do your short 2 – 3 hour hiking in a friendly Ohenro Walking Trail. There are few and gentle ups and downs, you will be walking through a conservation area, and birds singing, Ohenro Pilgrims walking, locals in their daily life will pass.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Shiromineji Temple, 2635 Omicho, Sakaide 762-0016 Kagawa Prefecture
After a gentle 2 – 3 hours hiking, you arrive Shiromineji Temple, a very spiritual temple whose stories connect to Japan’s history in the 1100’s.
The place is beautiful in summer with Hydrangea flowers blooming all around the temple grounds.
After visiting the temple, you drive back to Takamatsu for a free late afternoon.
Duration: 1 minute
Meals included:
• Dinner: Your dinner will be arranged in one of Takamatsu’s local Izakaya restaurants.
Accommodation included: The accommodation will be arranged in one of Takamatsu’s three star hotels
Day 7: End of the Tour
Stop At: Takamatsu Station Plaza Flower Clock, 1 Hamanocho, Takamatsu 760-0011 Kagawa Prefecture
In the morning, you have free time to explore around Takamatsu at your own.
In the afternoon, take taxi to Takamatsu Station and the trip ends.
Duration: 20 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
