Monzen Ichibangai A reliable supporter at the beginning of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

2022.5.1

Over 1,000 years before today’s long distance trail hiking boom, the Shikoku pilgrimage trail has been the longest and most popular route in Japan. The over 1,200 km long journey starts from Ryozenji temple in Naruto, Tokushima. Located right by Ryozenji, Monzen Ichibangai provides various support to beginner pilgrims and takes care of their needs and worries about the long adventure ahead of them.

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Shikoku Pilgrimage gear questions for beginners answered

2022.4.27

When making the Shikoku Pilgrimage, you probably would like to wear the white attire and a sedge hat to immerse yourself in the pilgrim way of life. But there are so many different kinds of pilgrimage gear, and it’s hard to know what to choose. We asked a lot of questions to Mr. Satoshi Asano, the owner of Sumotoriya Asano Sōhonten, a pilgrimage gear and Buddhist altar fittings store on the street leading to Kirihataji, the tenth temple of the Shikoku 88 temples pilgrimage.

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Original capsule toys at a temple? Anrakuji’s creative and fun approach to carrying out its mission

2022.4.23

Anrakuji in Kamiita, Tokushima, is the 6th temple of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage. Its temple lodgings with a natural hot spring have more than 400 years of history and are still a staple for pilgrims to stay at and recover from their first day of walking. Its efforts to add new attractions to the temple have gained widespread recognition recently.

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Hike & Workcation in East Tokushima Kamikatsu #3

2022.4.19

Featured in "HIKE! TOKUSHIMA," a booklet of some of the best hiking trails selected by the East Tokushima Tourism Authority, you don’t want to miss these wonderful trails in the mountainous town of Kamikatsu during your workcation!

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Hike & Workcation in East Tokushima Kamikatsu #2

2022.4.15

We have been introducing model itineraries of multi-day “hike and workcations” in the three towns of the east Tokushima area. In this article, we’ll show some of the activities you can do in Kamikatsu to refresh yourself. Mountain villages, lakeside forests, local delicacies,soothing emerald-blue rivers and waterfalls await you!

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Hike and Workcation in East Tokushima Kamikatsu #1

2022.4.11

Introducing three "Hike and Workcation" areas in eastern Tokushima. Visitors can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to the sea or the mountainous countryside, but stay in a productive environment with faster internet than urban areas, while refreshing themselves by hiking in beautiful nature. Kamikatsu is the first municipality in Japan to declare a “zero-waste” policy and has become the center of efforts towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Japan, continuously attracting attention from both home and abroad.

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Hike and Workcation in East Tokushima Naruto #2　

2022.4.7

The mountains and the sea are very close to each other in the eastern area of Tokushima prefecture so that visitors can enjoy both ocean and mountain activities. Naruto is frequently associated with the world largest whirlpools, but there are also many trails and mountains local hikers love in the city. Introducing two trails in Naruto that you can easily hike during your workcation by the sea. Enjoy mountain hiking with amazing views of the endless blue sea.

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Hike and Workcation in East Tokushima Naruto #1

2022.4.3

The East Tokushima area has several places you can remotely work with high-speed internet while staying away from the crowds and clamor of the city. This special series introducing “hike and workaction” travel plans for three towns in the eastern Tokushima, is taking you to the town of the world’s biggest whirlpool in Naruto. Enjoy the mountains and sea together.

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Amble and explore lesser-known attractions along the Awa-Yoshinogawa inter-city pilgrim trail

2022.3.30

The Shikoku 88 pilgrimage trail connecting the 10th temple, Kirihataji in Awa city and the 11th temple, Fujiidera in Yoshinogawa city is often too underrated as an uninteresting road crossing flat open land around the Yoshinogawa river. Is it really so? There are many popular things to see along and near the trail, only lesser known to visitors from outside of the area. Let’s find them! The pilgrimage trail between Kirihataji and Fujiidera is about 10km long and can be walked easily in half a day. This time, we are taking the same route over two days, staying at a local in for one night. This way, we can enjoy everything at a relaxed pace.

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Hiking on Mt. Bizan #2 Tokushima city’s own backyard trails

2022.3.27

Mt. Bizan, it is THE symbol of Tokushima city. Standing right behind downtown Tokushima, it takes only a ten minute walk from Tokushima station to get to the foot of the mountain. Though cars and ropeways can easily access the observation park on its top, would you care to walk up instead? Only the locals know several good trails that are hidden all around this symbolic tabletop mountain. While finding some traces of Tokuhima’s history along the way, let’s enjoy a casual hike!

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