Shikoku 88 Temples: Konzoji Station - Mino Station

pilgrimageasia

Jan 21

Written By Anne

I had planned to start hiking at 8 AM but ended up sleeping in and got to Konzoji around 9:15. The first temple, Konzoji, is right by the train station. I walked around, paid my respects, then headed to the second temple—Zentsuji. It was clearly a popular spot, with tour buses and lots of visitors. I didn’t stay long before moving on to Koyama Temple.

After Koyama, the real hike began—up a mountain range with five peaks. The trail crosses two before descending. I had checked the elevation before, but didn’t know much else about the trail. It turned out to be steep—probably the toughest climb I’ve done. I struggled for footing on a narrow, sandy trail where a misstep could’ve sent me sliding down the cliff. I finally reached Mt. Gahaishi (481m) and was relieved, but the descent was just as tough. I had to crawl down on all fours, thankfully there were chains to hold onto on the steepest section.

I reached the fourth temple, Shusshakaji, built right next to the cliff. I kept wondering, “Why here?” While resting, I met an older hiker who’s been doing this trail for over 50 years. He said this might be his last time, as the climb’s getting too hard. He gave me some chocolate and said goodbye—very inspiring.

I continued down to the fifth temple, Mandara, at the base of the mountain. After a short break, I moved on to my final stop of the day—Iyadaniji. It had over 500 steps, with warning signs about difficulty. I hesitated, but knew I’d regret skipping it. Surprisingly, the stairs weren’t that bad! I reached the top, paid my respects, then walked the final few kilometers to the train station.

Today’s trail was way harder than I expected, but I’m really glad I finished it.