Reset search
Shikoku Pilgrimage Tokushima
  • Ls96789
  • Ls96789

Shikoku Pilgrimage Tokushima

Shikoku Pilgrimage using a self-directed WalkJapan tour where they schedule accommodations and provide transportation options and baggage forwarding as needed. Not all Tokushima temples were included as this was a "best of" type of tour. Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
InsightsCalendarPhotos
  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    The Hard Hike 2

    April 7, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    This trail to Kakurin-ji (T20), then Tairyu-ji (T21) was similar to the earlier hike but not quite as hard or scenic. This was partly due to me using a discarded kongo-tsue, or walking stick, on the harder uphill and downhill sections and because we took an incredible ropeway back down.

    Again, due to a tight schedule, I did not spend as much time as I would have liked at either temples.    Read more

  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    Oboke Gorge Boat Ride

    April 9, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    From Oboke Station I took an easy walk to the Oboke Gorge Boat Tour. It was clearly a tourist trap operation mostly serving the large business tour groups.
    Multiple strings of flying carp marked the location, which I had seen from the train in.
    However, now was not the best time to take the boat ride, as there were few blooming Sakura trees and everything was a dull gray due to the weather. However, I plan to return in November when the cliffs would be on fire with fall colors.    Read more

  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    Hotel Kazurabashi

    Apr 9–13, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Very nice Onsen with a rustic feel. There was an outdoors bath that you had to take a small cable car to reach which was very nice. The first onsen on this trip was indoors with poor ventilation so the room was hot, humid and stuffy. The next had powerful fans exhausting the steam so the water felt warmer since the air was cooler, a much nicer experience. This outdoors bath was the best with the cold outdoor air to contrast with the soothing hot bath. And I was the only user.Read more

  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    Kazurabashi Vine Bridge

    April 9, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    It was late and there were very few visitors when I got to the bridge. I followed someone crossing and it seemed to take forever. The slats were spaced far apart enough that the gap was greater than my foot so I had to carefully step on the center of the slats.
    Never going to do that again.    Read more

  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    Iyadani-ji (T71)

    April 10, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    Good thing this was the first temple of the day as it was the one with the most steps. I was dropped off from a taxi and had to climb over 100 steps to get to the gate. From there it was several hundred more to get to the Hondo. I then had to go back down and go up a different set of steps to get to the Daishido. Well over 500 steps to cover this hilly temple.Read more

  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    Zentsu-ji (T75)

    April 10, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    This temple, the birthplace of Kobo Daishi, was huge and beautiful. I wish I had spent more time exploring but as the last temple of the day, I was anxious to get to my accommodation.
    I may include another visit when I do the final phase of the pilgrimage.Read more

  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    Kotohira Kadan

    April 10, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Kotohira Kadan was a very upscale hotel with a delicious and ornate dinner. The entrance floor to my room had a chiseled texture which felt very welcoming.

    Breakfast was a treat as I had a beautiful view of the gardens to enjoy my meal.Read more

  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    Kotohira-gu

    April 11, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    I got up before dawn with hopes of seeing a nice sunrise from the shrine balcony overlooking Kotohira. Not to be.
    The walk to the shrine entrance was very peaceful with few people awake yet. When I got to the lower entrance, I was surprised it was closed with a sign stating it would open at 6 am. Since sunrise was 5:30, I would have to take the sunrise there. There were few clouds, so there wouldn't be any light show and since I had no and would have to hold my phone, the length of a time lapse would have to be short. A few other older Japanese had joined me to view the sunrise.

    Once the shrine was opened, I took video highlighting the beautiful warm morning light on the structures, casting shadows and a morning glow.

    I returned to the hotel to enjoy a late breakfast and leisurely checkout, while the crowds and tour groups would start to converge on Kotohira-gu.    Read more

  • Ls96789Shikoku Pilgrimage TokushimaTraveler

    Osaka Castle

    April 12, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    I got up early to walk to Osaka Castle to enjoy a quiet breakfast on the park grounds. After picking up some Family Mart items to eat I walked (5 miles round trip) to the park, including a stretch on an island which was a long botanical garden. The morning worker rush apparently started after 8 am as the walk was pretty mellow.

    The weather was clear and the number of people at the park was small. That was until a little before 9 am, after I was done eating and ready to return, when several large, loud (Chinese) tour groups entered. My timing was perfect and on the return to the hotel there were large streams of workers walking toward the large business core. Osaka was alive and humming.    Read more

    Trip end
    April 12, 2024
  • 2026© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice