About the Kagawa Temples (Temples 66–88)
The temples from Temple 66 to Temple 88 of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage are located in Kagawa Prefecture and are known as the “Path of Nirvana”.
After traveling through Tokushima, the “Place of Awakening,” Kochi, the “Place of Religious Discipline,” and Ehime, the “Path of Enlightenment,” pilgrims finally arrive in Kagawa, the final stage of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.
Kagawa is the place where pilgrims complete their journey and reach “Kechigan” (the completion of the pilgrimage) at Temple 88, Ōkubo-ji. Visiting the final temples allows pilgrims to reflect on their experiences and the spiritual journey they have taken across Shikoku.
The pilgrimage routes in Kagawa are generally easier to walk, with many flat sections through towns and countryside. However, there are also several mountain temples that preserve the deep history of mountain worship, including Temple 66, Unpenji, Temple 71, Iyadaniji, and Temple 88, Ōkubo-ji.
Temple 66, Unpenji, is the highest temple among the 88 pilgrimage sites and offers beautiful mountain scenery. Kagawa is also home to Temple 75, Zentsū-ji, the birthplace of Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi), making it one of the most important temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage.
Each temple in Kagawa has its own history, legends, and spiritual traditions. As pilgrims approach the end of their journey, they can experience the deep cultural and religious heritage of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.
On this website, I introduce each temple from Temple 66, Unpenji, to Temple 88, Ōkubo-ji, including:
- The history and highlights of each temple
- Goshuin (temple stamps) and Omie (pilgrimage talismans)
- Walking pilgrimage routes between temples
- Distances and estimated walking times
- Route guidance using Google Maps
- Personal experiences and impressions from walking the pilgrimage trails
For those planning a walking pilgrimage, I share detailed information about the temples and routes in Kagawa based on my own pilgrimage experience.
