My accommodation in March and November 2023
In 2023, I walked half of the Shikoku Pilgrimage in March and half in November.
During my pilgrimage, I stayed in a wide range of accommodation. From basic and affordable guesthouses to traditional temple lodgings and ryokans that symbolise the unique charm and rich history of Japan.
I found the experience of staying in temple lodgings, guesthouses and special henro houses particularly fascinating. These places offered not only a place to sleep, but also the opportunity to meet other pilgrims and to share experiences.
When alternative accommodation was not available, I stayed in hotels and business hotels. In March, I was able to take advantage of discounts on hotel accommodation as part of the Japan-wide travel discount, which expired in May 2023. Therefore, my accommodation list includes some hotels that normally have higher prices.
In this article, I would like to share my experiences and impressions of the accommodation I stayed in during my seven weeks on the Shikoku Pilgrimage.
You will find information on costs, a brief description of the accommodation 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 km 0 Day 0 | HH Ichiban- monzen-dori ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | henrohouse. jp/en | ¥ breakfast | Only 300 metres from Temple 1. The owner has made many pilgrimages herself. Does not speak English, communication is possible via google translate. Small breakfast is served as osettai. Ideal starting point for a pilgrimage. |
| T6 km 17 Day 1 | Shukubō T6 Anrakuji ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 088-694-2046 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Very good dinner and breakfast. Perfect room. You can take part in religious services after dinner. A great experience staying here. |
| T10 - T11 km 34 Day 2 | HH Awarakuya ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | henrohouse. jp/en | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Delicious dinner and breakfast. Overnight stay in a tatami room. Onigiri as a snack for the next day as Osettai. On request, the owner will drive you to T11. Luggage transport to Sudachi-An possible. English speaking. |
| T12 km 54 Day 3 | Sudachi An ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | null1903 @gmail.com | ¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Sudachi An was the only accommodation near T12 in 2023. Very friendly team. I stayed in the dormitory. Private rooms also available. English speaking. |
| T17 km 87 Day 4 und 5 | Yadoya Hiwasa ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 088-661-1381 | ¥¥ none | Good business hotel. My second overnight stay after 2018, when rooms could be booked via Henrohouse. Free soft drinks in the lobby. |
| T22 km 134 Day 6 | Panda House ⭐⭐⭐ | 090-1573-6581 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Very nice and friendly owner, for that ⭐⭐⭐⭐. Speaks English. Western-style furnished room. Panda House has something of a bachelor pad. For that ⭐⭐. |
| T23 km 152 Day 7 | ICHI The Hostel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ichithehostel.com | ¥ none | Nice, modern guest house. Overnight stay in a dormitory. Shared kitchen available. English speaking. |
| T23 - T24 (near B4) km 173 Day 8 | M. Kaizan-sō ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0884-73-1326 | ¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Japanese room with sea view. Very good dinner and breakfast. No English. |
| T23 - T24 km 214 Day 9 | M. Tokumasu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0887-27-2475 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Excellent, rich dinner and breakfast. Overnight stay in a tatami room. Located directly by the sea. The owner speaks very good English. |
| T25 km 236 Day 10 | Lodge Hatagoya ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0887-23-0858 | ¥¥ breakfast | Very friendly staff. Large room furnished in western style. Small breakfast is served as Osettai. |
| T26 - T27 km 260 Day 11 | HH Misono ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | henrohouse. jp/en | ¥ none | My second stay after 2018. Misono is very friendly and lively. Drives her guests to the nearby onsen on request. Very good food (optional). |
| T27 - T28 km 282 Day 12 | Hostel Kochinoya ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | info@kochinoya. com | ¥¥ none | Overnight stay in a traditional Japanese house. Tatami room. Speaks some English. |
| T28 km 306 Day 13 | HH Suizen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | henrohouse. jp/en | ¥¥ breakfast | Very friendly owner. Western-style rooms. Breakfast as Osettai. |
| T30 km 322 Day 14 | 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 15 | M Kōchiya ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 088-841-3074 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Directly opposite Temple 33. Room and service excellent. Good dinner and breakfast. |
| T35 - T36 km 370 Day 16 | GH Ririan ⭐⭐⭐ | 090-3786-9914 | ¥ 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 (near B5) km 398 Day 17 | 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 18 | Shukubō T37 Iwamotoji ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-22-0376 | ¥¥¥ dinner + 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 19 | Lodge Umibōzu ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-44-1146 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Tatami room, with sea view. Sunset and sunrise magnificent when the weather is nice. Great food. |
| T37 - T38 km 476 Day 20 | Pension Hirano ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-33-1839 | ¥ 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 21 | M Ōkinohama ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-82-8304 | ¥¥¥ dinner + 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 22 | 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 23 | M kuro usagi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-46-2505 | ¥¥¥ dinner + 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 24 | BH Matsuya ⭐⭐⭐ | 0880-63-1185 | ¥¥ breakfast | Good business hotel with friendly staff. |
| T40 - T41 km 619 Day 25 | R Miyoshi ⭐⭐ and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0895-322107 | ¥¥¥ dinner + 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 26 | BH Clement ⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥¥¥ none | Good business hotel with friendly staff. Right next to Uwajima station. |
| T43 km 658 Day 27 | R Fujinoya ⭐⭐ and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0894-62-0050 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Dinner and breakfast were excellent. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The owner, an elderly lady, is very attentive. Condition of the rooms, furnishings, unfortunately ... ⭐⭐ |
| T43 km 692 Day 28 | Hostel Uchikobare ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0893-57-6330 | ¥ 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 29 and 30 | H Garden Time ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0892-21-0005 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Family-run hotel. Very good food. Private bath. |
| T51 km 777 Day 31 and 32 | H Katsuyama Premiere ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥¥ none | Good value business hotel with friendly staff. |
| T55 km 828 Day 33 | H Imabari kokusai ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥¥¥¥ breakfast | Very large hotel, primarily for tour groups. Partly cheap offers via booking.com. |
| T59 - T60 km 856 Day 34 | Oyado-sukeya ⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥ none | Very friendly and helpful owner. Stayed in a triple room. |
| T62 km 882 Day 35 | Nojima House ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | trombird3636 @aurora. ocn.ne.jp | ¥ none | Nojima House is more than just a business for the owner Taniguchi-san - it is his passion. He supports "his" pilgrims to the best of his ability. He drives them to dinner together, gives them valuable tips for the further pilgrimage ... |
| T62 km 882 Day 36 | GH Himi ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | guesthousehimi@ gmail.com | ¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Japanese furnished rooms. Friendly owner. Next to a busy road. |
| T64 - T65 km 903 Day 37 | BH Misora ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0897-41-7822 | ¥¥ breakfast | Good business hotel with friendly staff. No English. |
| T64 - T65 km 927 Day 38 | R Onaru-so ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0896-23-2122 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Second time in this ryokan after 2018. Japanese room. Diner and breakfast are perfect. |
| T65 - T66 (near B14) km 938 Day 39 | HH Mori-so ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | henrohouse. jp/en | ¥ none | New, small house with washing machine, kitchen and plenty of space in the garden. No shops or restaurants in the neighbourhood. |
| T67 km 962 Day 40 | M Skikokuji ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0875-27-9444 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Japanese furnished rooms. Friendly owner. Located near a busy street. No English. |
| T71 km 983 Day 41 | BED N CHILL Shippoya ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | booking.com | ¥¥ none | Nice, modern guest house. New sleeping area with lots of light-coloured wood. Lounge in traditional Japanese style. Ideal for relaxing, with bar. Very good knowledge of English. |
| T75 - T76 (near B17) km 997 Day 42 | HH Zozu-no-sato Kotohira ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | henrohouse. jp/en | ¥ none | Originally a farm. Close to the famous Kotohira shrine. Onigiri as food for the next day as Osettai. |
| T80 km 1023 Day 43 | R. Ebisuya ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 087-874-0567 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Comfortable ryokan. Japanese room, good dinner and breakfast. |
| T83 km 1050 Day 44 | GH Soraumi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 087-899-8756 | ¥¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Small, modern guest house. The owner has often made the pilgrimage himself. Very good cook. No English. |
| T87 km 1080 Day 45 | HH Yado-inn TEK-TEK ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | henrohouse. jp/en | ¥ none | Top guest house with spacious sleeping cabins. Large lounge for relaxed conversations with other pilgrims. Fully equipped with everything you need. The friendly owner speaks some English. |
| T88 km 1093 Day 46 | M Yasokubo ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0879-56-2031 | ¥¥ dinner + breakfast | Right next to T88. Typical minshuku with Japanese-style rooms. Good dinner and breakfast. |
| T8 - T7 km 20 Day 47 | HH Okudaya ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | henrohouse. jp/en | ¥¥ none | Nice guest house. A little out of the way. The owner drives his guests to the onsen. |
My 2023 Shikoku Pilgrimage was an unforgettable journey full of diversity and uniqueness. From basic hostels to traditional temple lodgings and ryokans, each accommodation offered a unique experience.
My reviews and recommendations are intended to help other pilgrims make their own choices and have the best possible time.
