This article provides a clear overview of the costs of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
The amount you will spend depends mainly on the duration of your Shikoku pilgrimage and on your accommodation and food requirements.
For most foreign pilgrims, the flight to Japan is another major expense.
Find out how best to plan your pilgrimage!
As of 01 April 2024: 1,000 yen is approximately 6.60 USD or 6.15 euros
Accommodation costs
Accommodation is the biggest expense for most pilgrims on Shikoku.
The typical costs for different types of accommodation listed here are intended as a guide for your planning.
| Accommodation | Typical cost | Meals | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minshuku | 7,200 Yen | 48 USD | 45 Euro | Dinner + Breakfast |
| Ryokan | 7,700 Yen | 52 USD | 49 Euro | Dinner + Breakfast |
| Shukubō | 8,000 Yen | 54 USD | 50 Euro | Dinner + Breakfast |
| Business Hotel | 6,700 Yen | 45 USD | 42 Euro | None |
| Hotel | 9,000 Yen | 60 USD | 57 Euro | None |
| Guesthouse | 4,000 Yen | 27 USD | 25 Euro | None |
| Henro House | 3,500 Yen | 23 USD | 22 Euro | None |
- In minshuku, ryokan and shukubō, you can also book accommodation without meals. This reduces the cost by about 2,000 yen per night (sudomari = overnight stay without meals).
- Depending on the ryokan/hotel, the cost of accommodation can vary greatly. It is therefore advisable to check the cost before booking.
- In some places along the Shikoku Pilgrimage Route, cheap accommodation is also available through Airbnb.
More about free overnight stays.
Cost of food and drinks
- Breakfast: from 500 yen
Many cafes and coffee shops offer an inexpensive breakfast (morning set) in the morning.
This usually includes a hot drink (coffee or tea), bread and butter, egg and salad. - Lunch: from 600 yen
Many restaurants offer inexpensive lunches during the week. - Drinks: Tea or water is served free with lunch and dinner in restaurants.
Non-alcoholic drinks cost between 100 and 200 yen at the vending machines widely found on Shikoku and in konbinis. They are slightly cheaper in supermarkets.
Costs at the temple
- Calligraphy and stamp in the pilgrim book
From 01 April 2024: 500 yen per temple. (Until 31 March 2024: 300 yen per temple.)
The fee for “kasane-in”, the red-ink stamps pilgrims receive on a second or subsequent visit, is 300 yen. - Offerings in the Main Hall and Daishi Hall at your discretion: about 150 yen per temple.
For 88 temples: 88 × 650 yen = 57,200 yen; calculated over 45 days = 1,270 yen/day.
Cost of pilgrimage equipment
- Pilgrim’s book (nōkyōchō 納経帳): 2,000 yen to 3,500 yen
There is a page in the pilgrimage book for each of the 88 temples. The page is stamped with three red stamps at the pilgrimage office, and the name of the main deity of the temple is written in kanji. For subsequent pilgrimages, the corresponding page in the pilgrim book is stamped again, but no longer calligraphed. - White pilgrim’s shirt: 2,000 yen to 3,500 yen
With long sleeves (hakui 白衣) or sleeveless (oizuru 笈摺). - Pilgrim’s staff (kongōzue 金剛杖): 1,500 yen to 2,500 yen
- Pilgrim’s hat (sugegasa 菅笠): 2,000 yen to 3,000 yen
- Pilgrim’s votive notes (osamefuda 納め札): 200 pieces 200 yen
Visiting card left by a pilgrim at the temple. Also given to locals or fellow pilgrims as a thank you for their support (settai). - Candles to burn in the temple: 50 pieces 200 yen
- Incense sticks to burn in the temple: 100 pieces 250 yen
Costs for miscellaneous
- Telephone and internet
- Use of washing machines and tumble dryers
- Entrance fees for thermal baths, museums etc.
- Expenses for sun cream, plasters etc.
- Souvenirs
Costs before and after the pilgrimage
- For travel to and from Shikoku.
This is mainly the cost of the flight to Japan.
Travelling by intercity bus from Kansai Airport (Osaka) to Shikoku (Tokushima) costs about 5,000 yen. The night bus from Tokyo airport to Shikoku (Tokushima) costs about 11,000 yen. - For hiking equipment, such as hiking boots, backpack, etc.
- For Kōya-san: Many pilgrims visit Kōya-san in Wakayama Prefecture on the main island of Honshū before and/or after the pilgrimage. Travel and accommodation costs need to be considered.
Total costs for the pilgrimage
| Overnight stay in | Guesthouse/ Henro House | Minshuku/ Ryokan/ Shukubō | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Costs | 3,800 Yen | 7,800 Yen | |
| Dinner and Breakfast | 1,600 Yen | inclusive | |
| Lunch and Beverages | 1,200 Yen | 1,200 Yen | |
| At the temple | 1,270 Yen | 1,270 Yen | |
| Pilgrimage equipment + Miscellaneous | 850 Yen | 850 Yen | |
| Costs/day (Yen) | 8,720 Yen | 11,120 Yen | |
| Total/ 45 days (Yen) | 392,400 Yen | 500,400 Yen | |
| Costs/day (USD) | 58 USD | 73 USD | |
| Total/ 45 days (USD) | 2,600 USD | 3,300 USD | |
| Costs/day (Euro) | 55 Euro | 70 Euro | |
| Total/ 45 days (Euro) | 2,400 Euro | 3,100 Euro |
The cost of the Shikoku pilgrimage is around 2,600 USD (2,400 Euro) for accommodation in guesthouses and henro houses, and around 3,300 USD (3,100 Euro) for accommodation in minshuku/ryokan and shukubō.
Assuming a cost of 1,200 USD (1,200 Euro) for the return flight to Japan, the return trip to Shikoku and the visit to Kōya-san, the total cost is between 3,800 USD (3,600 Euro) and 4,500 USD (4,300 Euro).
