The 88 Temple Pilgrimage
The 88 Temple Pilgrimage is a 1,647-kilometer pilgrimage route around the island of Shikoku, and it is the most famous in Japan.
The circuit goes around the entire island of Shikoku, through 88 temples, and an optional 20 temples that are unnumbered. Most temples are said to have been founded or restored by the monk and scholar Kobo Daishi. The modern day pilgrims travel by tour bus, but there are many pilgrims that still travel the old fashioned way: by foot. This old fashioned way takes about 60 days to complete, and the pilgrims, known as o-henro-san, can be spotted around the temples and walking along the roadsides Shikoku, wearing a white jacket.
