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At Temple 1, I was handed an A3 sheet of paper (in English) detailing the free or cheap accommodation along the route.This sheet was produced by Zenkon no Kai, please click here to see the full list. This sheet listed:

• Camping spots (byo tent or wild camp)

  

  Ebisuhama campsite, 300yen

  

  Under the awning of a closed junior high school with electricity, toilets and vending machine, ~4km before temple 24

  

  Sunokawa Park, free, toilet block and running water

  
  

• ‘Tsuyado’ – free temple accommodation

  

  Temple 35 Tsuyado (Kiyotakiji), 2 tatami rooms, sink, electricity, vending machine, toilet block

  

  Temple 35 Tsuyado (Kiyotakiji), 2 tatami rooms, sink, electricity, vending machine, toilet block

  

  Bangai Temple 8 (Toyogahashi), electricity, blankets, toilet block, running water

  
  

  

  Temple 47 (Yasakaji), electricity, toilet block, running water, vending machine

  

  Temple 66 (Unpenji) Tsuyado

  

  Temple 66 (Unpenji) Tsuyado, no electricity but toilet block next door

  
  

• Henro huts – some with toilets/running water nearby (I saw one that had a shower hose inside and I stayed in one that had an electricty outlet!)

  

  Before temple 6

  

  A Henro hut in the carpark of Hinanosato services stop, toilets and shops

  

  Between temple 20-21

  

  9km after temple 22, called ‘kaneuchi’

  
  

  

  Between temple 23 and 24

  

  2km before temple 30, called ‘kamohara,’ toilet and vending machine up the hill in factory, electricity outlet in hut!

  

  2km before temple 30, called ‘kamohara,’ toilet and vending machine up the hill in factory, electricity outlet in hut!

  

  After temple 37, next to Kobushi no sato onsen, onsen has baths, electricity outlets, toilets, vending machines and a restaurant

  
  

  

  Between temple 39 and 40, in Sukumo city (henro hut #33), toilet block across the road and shops nearby

  

  Between temple 43 and 44, called ‘Uchiko’ (henro hut #38), shower room on left!

  

  Between temple 43 and 44, called ‘Uchiko’ (henro hut #38), shower room!

  
  

• ‘Zenkonyado’ – free or cheap accommodation offered to pilgrims from locals

  

  Between temple 10 and 11, next to Kamonoyu onsen, free, toilet and washing machine, 300 yen entry to bath house next door

  

  Between temple 64 and 65, called Hagyu-an, run by a tatami shop, free, toilet and electricity, shops nearby

  

  Between temple 64 and 65, called Hagyu-an, run by a tatami shop, free, toilet and electricity, shops nearby

  
  

• ‘Daishido’ – free temple style accommodation not attached to a temple and usually run by the community so you need to ask permission and get a key to enter

  

  Between temple 53 and 54, called ‘Asanami’, toilet and running water, one shop nearby, knock on door on house in front after 5pm for key

  

  Between temple 53 and 54, called ‘Asanami’, toilet and running water, one shop nearby, knock on door on house in front after 5pm for key

  
  

In addition to these types of accommodation there are also:

• Pension – very similar to ‘minshuku’ (below), but often slightly cheaper and located in the countryside, sleep on futons on tatami mats, communal bath, incl dinner and breakfast, ¥3000 – ¥8,000 pp

  

  ‘Sudachi-kan,’ just after temple 12. ¥4000 incl dinner, breakfast, entrance fee and driven to the nearest bath house, rice balls for lunch

  

  Trying to dry the contents of my pack at Pension Shimanto, Shimanto city, ¥3500 (no meals), between temples 37 and 38

  
  

• ‘Minshuku’ – family run b&b, sleep on futons on tatami mats, communal bath, incl dinner and breakfast, ¥4000 – ¥10,000 pp (sometimes cheaper if you request no meals, I stayed in some from ¥3000)

  

  ‘Sazanka,’ next to temple 22, ¥6,300 incl dinner and breakfast (no shops nearby)

  

  Azusa, ¥3,500 (no meals), very close to temple 80

  

  Shiokaze, ¥3,300 (no meals), after temple 88, not far from Hiketa station

  
  

• ‘Ryokan’ – nicer style b&b, sleep on futons on tatami mats, often still with communal bath, incl dinner and breakfast, ¥6000 – ¥30,000 pp (sometimes cheaper if you request no meals, I stayed in some from ¥3500)

  

  Azumaya Ryokan, ¥3,500 (no meals), next to temple 87

  

  Omogo Ryokan, ¥3,500 (no meals), in central Kuma-kogen, between temples 43 and 44

  

  ‘Yamato-ya,’ in central Aki, ¥5,000, (no meals), between temple 27 and 28

  
  

• ‘Shukubo’ – Paid temple accommodation, can attend services, sleep on futons on tatami mats, communal bath, incl dinner and breakfast, ¥6000 – ¥8000 pp

  

  Temple 75, ‘Zentsuji,’ ¥5,800 incl dinner and breakfast and morning service, communal bath

  

  Dinner at Temple 75, Zentsuji

  

  Temple 75, ‘Zentsuji,’ ¥5,800, communal bath

  
  

  

  Temple 75, ‘Zentsuji,’ ¥5,800, communal bath

  

  On Koyasan (mainland) at Muryokoin Temple, ¥5000 incl dinner and breakfast, communal bath

  

  On Koyasan (mainland) at Muryokoin Temple, ¥5000 incl dinner and breakfast, communal bath

  
  

  

  On Koyasan (mainland) at Muryokoin Temple, ¥5000, communal bath

  

  Breakfast at Muryokoin Temple, in Koyasan

  

  Dinner at Muryokoin Temple, in Koyasan

  
  

• Business Hotels – Usually multi-floored concrete buildings close to train stations, simple Western or Japanese style rooms with own bathroom, ¥5000 – ¥10,000 pp

  

  Kikusui Business Hotel in Uwajima, ¥4000, (between temple 40 and 41)

  

  Motodai Business Hotel, Kanonji city, ¥3800 (between temple 70 and 71)

  

  City Hotel Business Hotel, Takamatsu city, ¥4275, (between temple 83 and 84)

  
  

• Hotels – like Western style hotels, some with Japanese or Western style rooms with own bathroom, ¥6000 – ¥20,000 pp

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