This tour will visit Honke Matsuura Brewing Co OR Fukuju Soy Sauce and Temple Number One and Two, Ryozen-ji and Gokuraku-ji, of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, the most famous pilgrimage in Japan.All of them are located in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture.
JR Awa-Otani Station
Visit Honke Matsuura Brewing Co, sake tasting and shopping.
Visit Fukuju Soy Sauce, soy sauce tasting and shopping
Visit Ryozen-ji temple with your English-speaking guide.Learn traditional manners to visit Japanese shrines and temples.
Visit Gokuraku-ji temple with your English-speaking guide.
Gokuraku-ji temple
Pilgrims are said to follow in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi, the person credited with starting the pilgrimage in the ninth century. It is said that by visiting some or all of these temples, especially on foot, your worldly desires will gradually dissipate and reduce the frustrations of everyday life as you become fully aware of your true self. The pilgrimage is about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) and circles the island. Since the route is a loop, there is no official starting point, although many people choose to begin at Ryozen-ji (also known as Temple Number One).
The starting point of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Ryozen-ji has an impressive main hall, a Shingon-style pagoda, a carp pond, and waterfall.It sells white robes, woven hats, walking sticks and other supplies that pilgrims may require. Gokuraku-ji is the second temple visited on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Famous sights inside the Temple complex include a beautiful Japanese garden built to evoke the Pure Land (Buddhist heaven), a Buddha statue praying to which is believed to ensure safe and trouble-free childbirth, and the Cedar of Longevity, which is said to have been planted by Kobo Daishi. Ooasahiko-jinja is the Number One Shrine in Awa (Tokushima's pre-modern domain) which is known for its beautiful Torii Gate and 1000-year old camphor tree.
* Guide Fee
* Tour transpotation
Any other personal expenses not mentioned above
* For each respective brewery, advance booking is required, so please make sure to inform me of your desired date through a message before making a reservation.
* Please make your reservation at least one week prior to your desired date.
* Those under the age of 20 are not allowed to sample sake.
We travelled Japan for 3 weeks from Tokyo to Hiroshima via Shikoku and the most memorable part of our trip was the walk of 88 Pilgrimage route with Masami. We also asked her to include the visit to a sake brewery on the way and it was quite interesting. Highly recommendable off-the-beaten-track tour ! Thanks Masami !
Thank you very much for the high evaluation of my tour guide. I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed it. If you have another opportunity to visit Japan, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.