• Lisa Bolton
  • Lisa Bolton

Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage 2023

Visiting Japan to walk 10 days of this ancient pilgrimage. Read more
  • Trip start
    October 25, 2023

    Takamatsu

    October 25, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Yesterday we flew from Sydney to Tokyo then onto Takamatsu. Today was spent in glorious fashion getting our bearings, looking around a bit and then to visit the beautiful Japanese garden, Ritsurin Garden. It was started in the late 16th century. Went on a tranquil boat ride through the garden. It was like floating through a postcard. Quiet and serene. 🇯🇵🌲🪷Read more

  • Tokushima Walk

    October 27, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Todays walk was a gentle route through quiet suburbs of Tokushima visiting the first three temples of the Shikoku 88. The temples were beautiful and mostly quiet. We bought our Stamp Book. The stamps from the temples are lovely and include beautiful calligraphy. We had a bit of trouble following the GPS maps but the paper guide got us there. The day started with a one hour bus ride from Takamatsu to Tokashima. It ended with a short taxi ride to our accommodation at Anraku-ji Temple.Read more

  • Tokushima Walk 2

    October 29, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Yesterday we climbed a mountain all day through tall forests . 8 hours of walking. The highest point on the island of Shikoku. Saw 3 beautiful temples. 18k and 32,000 steps. Finished the day with a relaxing bath at the Kamiyama Onsen.Read more

  • Day of transport

    October 29, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Took a taxi to the next temple then walked through beautiful forest 500m down steps then up again to Temple 22 another 500m. Beautiful clear running river to walk by in massive forest. Cable car across some mountains then bus to train station, then train for an hour to Tokushima City. Finished off with a hot spa at the hotel and early night.Read more

  • Temples

    October 30, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Staying the night at the Kotohira Ryokan after a long day of train travel then taxi then massive hike (10k but seemed more as it’s pretty steep) to a few temples through forest.

  • Ehime

    October 31, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    Traveled by train then bus across the island then foot to temples 57 and 58 along the route. There’s usually a temple at the foot of a mountain then at the top. Tonight we are staying at a monastery at the top of the mountain. We walked up through forests and steep steps. As usual arriving completely spent but revived by a refreshing hot onsen spa and a beautiful Japanese meal.Read more

  • Dogo Onsen

    November 1, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Up early for prayers at 6am at the temple on top of the mountain. Walked down the mountain for a couple hours where we stayed last night to the train station then took a train for an hour and a half to Matsuyama. Then a tram for half an hour. Staying two nights now at Dogo Onsen in a small traditional ryokan.Read more

  • Temple 45 - 44

    November 2, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I mean what the? Hiked 14.5k over a few mountains through gorgeous forest. Collected our stamps at the divine temples. Half dead right now. A stunning meal at the ryokan. A hot draining onsen . That’s about it people. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 good nightRead more

    Trip end
    November 6, 2023