My accommodations in March 2023
In March 2023, I walked the Shikoku Pilgrimage from Temple 30 Zenrakuji (善楽寺) in Kōchi to Temple 64 Maegamiji (前神寺) in Ehime.
I have stayed in many different types of accommodation. From cheap, simple guest houses to traditional ryokans.
My favourite places to stay are guest houses and henro houses.
I only stay in hotels and business hotels when there are no alternatives. This March I was able to use discounts and vouchers for hotels under the Nationwide Travel Discount (ended in May 2023). That’s why my accommodation list also includes some actually more expensive hotels.
Here the list of my accommodations during these three weeks. With information about the costs, a short description and my personal rating.
Legend
km
Distance from Temple No. 1 (Source: Shikoku Japan 88 Route Guide 2023)
Name
BH Business Hotel
GH Guest house
HH Henro House
M Minshuku
R Ryokan
S Shukubō (temple accommodation)
My Rating
⭐ would not book again
⭐⭐ next time probably somewhere else
⭐⭐⭐ recommendation
⭐⭐⭐⭐ strong recommendation
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ outstanding/Top
Costs
¥ less than 4000 Yen
¥¥ from 4000 to 6500 Yen
¥¥¥ from 6500 to 8500 Yen
¥¥¥¥ more than 8500 Yen
(As of September 2023: 1,000 yen equals approximately 6.80 USD or 6.35 EUR)
| Place / km / Day | Name / my Rating | Booked via | Costs/ meals | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T30 km 322 Day 1 | GH kachō-fūgetsu ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | pilgrims- guest-house.com/ | ¥ none | New guest house, with modern furnishings. Very friendly, helpful owner. Makes own plum liqueur, with fruit from nearby temple 30. English-speaking. |
| T33 km 343 Day 2 | M Kōchiya ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 088-8413074 | ¥¥¥ diner + breakfast | Directly opposite Temple 33. Room and service excellent. Good dinner and breakfast. |
| T35 - T36 km 370 Day 3 | GH Ririan ⭐⭐⭐ | 090-81474087 | ¥ none | Friendly owner who enjoys chatting with guests in the evening. My overnight stay was in the living room/utility room. Limited English. |
| T36 - T37 (closer to B5) km 398 Day 4 | GH kurashi no nekko ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | kurashinonekko.com | ¥ none | Traditional Japanese house with large tatami rooms. More of a museum than a guest house. One room for overnight accommodation for up to 7 guests. Was the only overnight guest that night. |
| T37 km 430 Day 5 | Shukubō T37 Iwamotoji ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-220376 | ¥¥¥ diner + breakfast | After 2018 my second overnight stay in this Shukubō. Very friendly people, wonderful meals, beautiful rooms and impressive temple atmosphere. Participation in morning prayer is possible. |
| T37 - T38 km 459 Day 6 | Lodge Umibōzu ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-441146 | ¥¥¥ diner + breakfast | Tatami room, with sea view. Sunset and sunrise magnificent when the weather is nice. Great food. |
| T37 - T38 km 476 Day 7 | Pension Hirano ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-331839 | ¥ none | Very welcoming host couple. Room with large terrace in front. Private bath. Would have liked to stay longer than just one day. |
| T37 - T38 km 495 Day 8 | M Ōkinohama ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-828304 | ¥¥¥ diner + breakfast | Large minshuku for several dozen overnight guests. Very convenient location, only 10 minutes to Ōkinohama Beach. Friendly owners and good food. |
| T38 km 514 Day 9 | The Mana Village ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥¥¥¥ breakfast | Kind of Luxury hotel, but depending on the day of booking, reduced prices via booking.com. Outdoor onsen, sea view and good breakfast. Had stayed there before 5 years ago. Former name: Ashizuri Pacific Hotel. |
| T38 - T39 km 553 Day 10 | M kuro usagi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-462505 | ¥¥¥ diner + breakfast | Farmhouse. Overnight stay in the new, modernly furnished guest house. Tatami room. The owner produces unrefined, natural sake from his own rice (doburoku). Excellent food. |
| T39 - T40 km 573 Day 11 | BH Matsuya ⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-631185 | ¥¥ breakfast | Good business hotel with friendly staff. |
| T40 - T41 km 619 Day 12 | R Miyoshi ⭐⭐ and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0895-322107 | ¥¥¥ diner + breakfast | Already stayed here in 2018. The owner, an elderly lady, is very hospitable. Dinner excellent ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Condition of the rooms, furnishings ... ⭐⭐ |
| T40 - T41 km 634 Day 13 | BH Clement ⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥¥¥ none | Good business hotel with friendly staff. Right next to Uwajima station. |
| T43 km 658 Day 14 | R Fujinoya ⭐⭐ and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0894-620050 | ¥¥¥ diner + breakfast | Dinner and breakfast were excellent. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The owner, an elderly lady, is very attentive. Condition of the rooms, furnishings, unfortunately ... ⭐⭐ |
| T43 km 692 Day 15 | Hostel Uchikobare ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0893-576330 | ¥ none | Traditional Japanese guest house. Large tatami guest room that also serves as a restaurant. Dormitories with bunk beds, separated by curtains. Very pleasant atmosphere. |
| T44 km 726 and 747 Day 16 and 17 | H Garden Time ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0892-210005 | ¥¥¥ diner + breakfast | Family-run hotel. Very good food. Private bath. |
| T51 km 777 Day 18 and 19 | H Katsuyama Premiere ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥¥ none | Good value business hotel with friendly staff. |
| T55 km 828 Day 20 | H Imabari kokusai ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥¥¥¥ breakfast | Very large hotel, primarily for tour groups. Partly cheap offers via booking.com. |
| T59 - T60 km 856 Day 21 | Oyado-sukeya ⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥ none | Very friendly and helpful owner. Stayed in a triple room. |
