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10-Day Private Ohenro Tour with Kochi, Iya and Takamatsu

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Overview

This humbling 10-day Japan itinerary takes you in the footsteps of the Kobo Daishi, as you hop between several of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Ohenro pilgrimage trail.

With a mixture of leisurely walks and challenging hikes, following the pilgrimage trail will take you to a spiritual heart of Japan that is often missed by travellers to Japan as you learn about the history and legends behind each temple you visit.

While you will spend most of your time in Japan's natural landscape with a chance to have an onsen experience, you'll also visit the cities of Kochi, Tokushima and Kagawa to embrace the hustle and bustle of Japan's city life.
Sightseeing
Hiking & Trekking
Outdoors & Nature
Cruising

Itinerary

Day 1

Start in Osaka and Visit the First Ohenro Temples

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Start in Osaka and Visit the First Ohenro Temples

You'll depart early from Osaka and start walking the Ohenro Temples, the temples you will see today are all within close proximity, so we can easily walk from one to the other. You will go from one through three of the 88 temples on the Ohenro pilgrimage trail, stopping at one of the temple peripheries for the night.

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    Accommodation

    Temple No. 7 - Jūraku-ji

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Ryozen-Ji Temple

    Temple No. 2 - Gokurakuji

    Temple No. 3 - Konsenji

    Temple No. 7 - Jurakuji

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Tokushima to Temple No. 1 - Ryozen-ji

    Walking from Temple No. 1 - Ryozen-ji to Temple No. 3 - Konsen-ji

    Walking from Temple No. 2 - Gokuraku-Ji to Temple No. 3 - Konsen-ji

    Private Driver from Temple No. 3 - Konsen-ji to Temple No. 7 - Jūraku-ji

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    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Naruto

    Itano

    Awa

Day 2

Visit Temples inside Tokushima & Walk Through the City

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Visit Temples inside Tokushima & Walk Through the City

You'll continue on the Ohenro trail walking to visit the temples inside Tokushima city. You'll start by visiting Temple No. 13, the Dainichiji Temple, followed by temple 14 and 15 which will take you across the city. All of the temples are thought to have been created by the Kobo Daishi who founded the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan. You'll visit the world's famous Naruto Whirlpools below the bridge before wrapping your day in Tokushima city.

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    Accommodation

    Hotel Sunroute Tokushima3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Temple Number 13 - Dainichiji

    Jōrakuji Temple

    Awa Kokubunji

    Naruto Whirlpools

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Temple No. 7 - Jūraku-ji to Temple Number 13 - Dainichiji (大日寺)

    Walking from Temple Number 13 - Dainichiji (大日寺) to Temple No. 14 - Jōraku-ji

    Private Driver from Naruto Whirlpools to Hotel Sunroute Tokushima

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Awa

    Tokushima

    Tateyama

    Naruto

Day 3

Mountain-Top Temples on Central Tokushima

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Mountain-Top Temples on Central Tokushima

Today, you'll walk to the top of one of the highest temples in the Ohenro route. Be prepared for a challenging ascent and descent, with beautiful river and villages, and stories of Kobo Daishi. You'll be rewarded with the most amazing views across Central Tokushima along with the quiet of the most difficult temple to access on this part of the trail.

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    Accommodation

    Hotel Ryugu

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Kakurinji Temple

    Hike to Tairyuji Temple

    Tairyū-ji Temple

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel Sunroute Tokushima to Kakurinji Temple

    Private Driver from Tairyū-ji to Anan

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tokushima

    Katsuura

    Anan

Day 4

Walk the Eastern Shore of Tokushima to Reach Yakuoji Temple

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Walk the Eastern Shore of Tokushima to Reach Yakuoji Temple

Today, you'll start walking from Temple number 22, Byodoji, you will need to pass through one mountain to reach the other side of Hiwasa and then continue walking along the seaside to reach Yakuoji Temple which protects sailors from danger. Today's walk is moderate but scenic, as get closer and closer to the coast. You'll finish with a relaxing moment, as you arrive at your hotel, right on the seaside.

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    Accommodation

    Hotel Shiroitodai

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Byodo-Ji Temple

    Temple Number 23 - Yakuōji

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    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ryugu Hotel to Byōdōji Temple

    Walking from Byōdōji Temple to Temple Number 23 - Yakuōji (薬王寺)

    Private Driver from Temple Number 23 - Yakuōji (薬王寺) to ホテル白い燈台

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    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Anan

    Minami

Day 5

Continue to the Eastern Shore of Kochi

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Continue to the Eastern Shore of Kochi

You'll keep travelling on the eastern shore Tokushima, which connects to Muroto, a famous stop that marks the entrance to the eastern shore of Kochi prefecture. Kochi is connected to the Pacific, availing spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean that stretches out to the horizon. Your night is planned inside Kochi, a bustling city with friendly locals often gathered in places to end their day while drinking and having a good time.

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    Accommodation

    The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Muroto

    Hotsumisaki-Ji Temple

    Temple Number 25 - Shinshoji

    Kongobu-Ji

    Kitagawa Village Monet's Garden Marmottan

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    Transportations

    Private Driver from ホテル白い燈台 to Cape Muroto

    Walking from Temple Number 24 - Hotsumisakiji (最御崎寺) to Shinshoji Temple

    Walking from Temple Number 25 - Shinshōji (津照寺) to Temple Number 26 - Kongōchōji (金剛頂寺)

    Private Driver from Temple Number 26 - Kongōchōji (金剛頂寺) to The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi

    Private Driver from Kitagawa village "Monet's Garden" Marmottan to The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi

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    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Minami

    Muroto

    Kōya

    Kitagawa

    Kochi

Day 6

Kochi City Temples and Continue to Western Kochi

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Kochi City Temples and Continue to Western Kochi

You'll start your day by visiting some popular temples inside Kochi city, today's walking experience goes between temples and passes through city trails, a new experience on your Ohenro walking trip. Continue to the temples of western Kochi sitting on the coast. You'll finish walking early today to have time to enjoy and onsen experience in your hotel which is located next to a popular surfing beach.

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    Accommodation

    Sanyo-so Ryokan

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Temple Number 32 - Zenjibuji

    Sekkeiji Temple

    Temple Number 36 - Shoryuji

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi to Temple Number 32 - Zenjibuji (禅師峰寺)

    Walking from Temple Number 32 - Zenjibuji (禅師峰寺) to Sekkeiji Temple

    Private Driver from Sekkeiji Temple to Sanyo-so

    Private Driver from かつお船 to Temple Number 36 - Shōryūji (青竜寺)

    Private Driver from Temple Number 36 - Shōryūji (青竜寺) to 土佐龍温泉 三陽荘

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    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kochi

    Nankoku

    Tosa

    Izunokuni

Day 7

Hike to a Hilltop Temple and Back to Bustling Kochi City

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Hike to a Hilltop Temple and Back to Bustling Kochi City

You'll start your morning by hiking to a temple at the top of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and hills nearby. Then, you'll continue travelling to the most popular temple in Kochi City, Chikurnji followed by a visit to the bustling Hirome Market where you can choose to eat lunch. If you are interested, you can travel to Kochi Castle freely after this to learn a little more about the city.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Temple Number 35 - Kiyotakiji

    Chikurin-ji

    Hiromi Market

    Kochi CastleOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from 土佐龍温泉 三陽荘 to Marunaka Tosaten

    Walking from Marunaka Tosaten to Temple Number 35 - Kiyotakiji (清滝寺)

    Private Driver from Temple Number 35 - Kiyotakiji (清滝寺) to The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Izunokuni

    Tosa

    Kochi

Day 8

Transfer to the Beautiful Iya Valley

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Transfer to the Beautiful Iya Valley

Today, you'll travel to Iya Valley following a beautiful route along Yoshino River. The first spot in Iya Valley will be Oboke Gorge, where you will ride relaxing houseboat passing along the Yoshino River. Then, you'll visit the famous ancient vine bridge that is regarded as one of Japan's rarest. You'll then visit the small peeing boy statue on a cliff for a comical end to the day.

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    Accommodation

    Keikoku no Kakure Yado Iya Bijin3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Nishijima Horticultural Park

    Ōboke Gorge

    Iya-no-Kazura Bashi

    Peeing Boy Statue

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi to Nishijima Horticultural Park

    Private Driver from Nishijima Horticultural Park to 大歩危・小歩危

    Private Driver from 大歩危・小歩危 to Iya-no-Kazura Vine Bridge

    Private Driver from Iya-no-Kazura Vine Bridge to Statue of a Peeing Boy

    Private Driver from Statue of a Peeing Boy to Keikoku no Kakure Yado Iya Bijin

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kochi

    Nankoku

    Miyoshi

Day 9

Iya Valley, Kagawa Temples and Takamatsu

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Iya Valley, Kagawa Temples and Takamatsu

You'll visit some more beautiful spots in the Iya Balley before you continue to Kagawa, one of Shikoku's most popular destinations. In Kagawa, you will walk along an old train line from Shiromineji Temple to Negoroji Temple through beautiful mountain forests overlooking Seto-Inland Sea that both of these temples protect. Later in the day, you'll go to Takamatsu to rest. You'll have the option to visit Ritsurin Garden.

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    Accommodation

    Rihga Hotel Zest Takamatsu4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Shiromine-Ji Temple

    Negoro-ji Temple

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Keikoku no Kakure Yado Iya Bijin to Shiromineji Temple

    Walking from Shiromineji Temple to Temple Number 82 - Negoroji (根香寺)

    Private Driver from Temple Number 82 - Negoroji (根香寺) to RIHGA Hotel Zest Takamatsu

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Miyoshi

    Sakaide

    Takamatsu

Day 10

End of the Trip

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End of the Trip

Today concludes your 10-day Japan itinerary. In the morning, you'll transfer to a nearby train station or bus station for the end of your journey.

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    Transportations

    Walking from RIHGA Hotel Zest Takamatsu to Takamatsu StationRequest to Book

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Takamatsu

Included in Price

  • 9 nights accommodation
  • 29 activities
  • 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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