2023 Pilgrimage to Japan

Arrive at Osaka Airport and for those travelling earlier we will meet at a designated place in Osaka. Travel by bus to Tokushima, located on the eastern part of Shikoku (2.5 hours). Arrive late afternoon and check into our accommodation. Overnight Hotel Tokushima

Prepare to walk from Temples 1-6  starting at Ryozenji Temple and finishing the day at Temple No 6 Anrakuji where we will spend the night.

Take the train from Tokushima Station to Bando Station and walk for ten minutes to Ryozenji Temple.  The temple was founded by the Japanese Buddhist priest Gyoki Bosatsu (668—749). Kobo Daishi later came to pray for farmers stricken by natural disasters or illness.

At Ryozenji i you can purchase all the items you need for your pilgrimage. These include canes and white robes if you wish to fully immerse yourself in the experience, though there is no rule demanding that the full attire must be worn on the route.

We will continue onto Temple 2 Gokurakuji 1.6kms then onto No. 3 Konsenji 2.7 kms, No. 4 Dainichiji 5 kms, No. 5 Jizoji 1.9kms and onto No. 6 Anrakuji 5.3kms. Total walking for today 16.5kms.

Overnight at  Anrakuji Temple Shukubo which comes with its own onsen (hot bath) to bathe your tired feet.  Tonight you will be served traditional shojin ryori,  which means “devotional cuisine”, is that it is prepared without any animal products. This is grounded in the Buddhist principle of ahimsa, compassion for all living things. Traditionally, shojin ryori doesn’t use eggs or dairy either, meaning it’s often vegan.

Shojin ryori also follows the “rule of five”: every meal must offer five colours (green, yellow, red, black, and white) as well as five flavours (sweet, spicy, sour, bitter, and salty). This guarantees a wide variety different vegetable-based ingredients. And seasonal vegetables are used – so it’s fresh, as well as healthy.

**Take only what you can carry for the two days of the Pilgrimage, other luggage will be stored at Tokushima.

Rise and shine and after an early breakfast continue the Pilgrimage to Temple No. 7 Jurakuji 1.4kms onto No. 8 Kumadanii 4.2kms and finishing at No. 9 Temple Horinji 2.4kms , total walking distance today is 7 kms.  After spending time at Horinji we travel back to Tokushima by bus for overnight stay. Overnight Hotel Tokushima

If you don’t want to continue walking for the 2^nd day, there is an option to return to Tokushima by train.

This morning we travel by boat to Wakayama and bus to Mt Koyasan (total travel time 5 hours). Koyasan is Shingon Buddhism’s holiest site and home of Kukai’s mausoleum, where he is considered to rest in eternal meditation. Having started our pilgrimage at Ryozenji it is fitting that we complete our journey at Koyasan. Arrive and check into our Shukubo/Temple Stay.

Take in the many beautiful temples of Mt Koya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site including Kongobuji Temple, the head of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism.

After an early dinner at our Shukubo, we take a night tour of the Okunoin cemetery. One of the monks from Mt Koya will act as our guide as we walk through Okunoin cemetery all the way up to Kobo Daishi mausoleum learning about its history and spiritual significance. You will also learn about the daily lives of monks living in one of the monasteries of Mt Koya.

Overnight Shukubo/Temple Stay Mt Koya

Early rise for the Buddhist morning ceremony and Gomataki Fire Ritual which takes place in the main worship hall. The rich colors, smells of incense, and rhythmical chants of the monks are enchanting. The Gomataki fire ritual is performed daily, in which a sacrificial fire is kindled and consecrated before invoking divinities and making offerings of prayers on wooden tablets. You will be invited to make offerings of incense, allowing for an immersive experience.

Take part in the activities on offer, either take the hiking trail (around 7.5kms) surrounding Mount Koya or hike part of the Women’s Pilgrim’s route.  If you would like the day quietly this is the perfect place for a rest.

Overnight Shukubo/Temple Stay Mt Koyasan

This morning we take the cable car/train to Kyoto.  On arrival check into our hotel and as we look forward to some of Kyoto’s highlights. There is so much to pack in, from beautiful parks to ancient well-preserved Buddhist temples to visiting the Shinto Shrine and more.

After arriving in Kyoto we will catch a train to Fushimi Inari Shrine famous for the Senbon Torii, thousand torii gates. This temple is one of the most popular sightseeing spots of Kyoto.

There are many souvenir shops by the street to the temple so taking a detour is also fun! Overnight Hotel Kyoto

Today we explore with our guide, this ancient Japanese city, home to countless temples and centuries of religious practice, is the perfect setting for an excursion to check out the historic neighbourhood of Gion, where you’ll see Yasaka Shrine and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kiyomizu-dera Temple, learning about the symbols and practices of these two Japanese religions along the way. Rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight Hotel Kyoto

We leave early to travel 40 mins by train to Nara  for a full day to walk through Nara Park (popularly known as ‘Deer Park’).  The walk takes you to Todai-ji Temple – its Daibutsu-den is the largest wooden building in the world, housing a 16-metre tall image of the Rushana Buddha in bronze and gold. Finish your discovery of Nara at the Shinto shrine of Kasuga, a serene site that features a collection of more than 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns.

After a late lunch, we stroll through one of the bustling streets before returning by train to Kyoto. Overnight Hotel Kyoto

Early this morning we take the Shikensen to Hiroshima for a full day of sightseeing to Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajimaalso known as Miyajima (Japanese for shrine island) and is a beautiful island located in Hiroshima Bay, famous for floating torii gate in the sea.

Visit the Peace Memorial Park and learn about the tragedy of history in Peace Memorial Museum. Late afternoon travel back to for our final dinner together. Overnight Hotel Kyoto

Extra time around Kyoto / take extra trips or prepare to fly home.

If you are travelling to Tokyo, we suggest you take the Shinkansen to enjoy the full Japan experience.

Kyoto –  Tokyo

After breakfast we will continue our journey to Japan’s ultra modern capital – Tokyo. We will make our way there  via Japan’s extremely efficient Shikansen train.

When we arrive in Tokyo in the early afternoon we will transfer to our hotel. The rest of the evening is at your leisure. No activities are planned but perhaps you’d like to soak up some of Tokyo’s vibrant night life and enjoy some traditional Japanese cuisine at an Izakaya (Japanese style pub) before retiring for the night.

Overnight: Hotel, Tokyo

Tokyo Temple and Shrine Day

This morning we’ll head off the beaten track and visit some of Tokyo’s beautiful temples and shrines by travelling to Asakusa and visit the bustling Senso-ji Temple, the city’s oldest and most popular Buddhist sanctuary. After visiting the temple, step next door for a quick look at Asakusa-jinja Shrine, one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Tokyo. This area of Tokyo is also famous for the uniquely Japanese souvenir stalls that line the entrance to the temple.

Next we will explore Zenkoku-ji Temple, another superb and popular temple, before heading to the Yasukuni-jinja Shrine. This is Japan’s most controversial Shinto shrine, which honours those killed in service to their country. We will also visit the the adjoining Yushukan Museum, which presents the Japanese nationalist view of history.

By this time, you’ll probably have had enough of temples and shrines. But if you’re still keen, we’ll take a peek at the Nogi-jinja Shrine before it closes at 5pm. This will then put us in a good position to walk down into Roppongi, where we can choose from a huge selection of restaurants for dinner.

Overnight: Hotel, Tokyo

Traditional Tokyo

Today we will have a late morning breakfast before heading to the Imperial Palace East Garden. We will visit the gardens which used to house Edo Castle and still contain some of its ancient ruins. Whilst there we will also visit Yasukuni-jinja Shrine..

After lunch you can choose to return to the hotel for a rest or to shop till you drop in one of the exciting shopping districts of Shinjuku, Ginza, or Marunouchi. These areas are also great for people watching and grabbing a bite to eat.

Overnight: Hotel, Tokyo

Depart Tokyo

No activities are planned for this day. After breakfast get ready to leave on your outbound flight home. Thank you for travelling with us, we hope that you have had a fulfilling and enlightening journey.