All Reviews of Kotohiragu Shrine

Kotohiragu Shrine is a must-visit when you come to Kagawa. The stone steps along the approach keep stretching upward, earning it the nickname “the shrine path that challenges your stamina and faith.”

This time, we climbed all the way to the 977th step and reached the quiet, solemn Shiramine Shrine. The scenery along the way was beautiful, and the fresh air in the forest made every step feel like a conversation with nature.

We didn’t make it all the way to the final inner shrine, but getting this far already felt like a real achievement. Leaving a little unfinished gives us a reason to come back next time. Next time, we’ll definitely take on the rest of the stairs! ⛩️🌿

You’ll seriously question your life choices on the way up—there are so many stairs. But the sense of accomplishment when you finish feels amazing. Totally worth it!

Kotohiragu Shrine — I finally made it up all 785 steps! Halfway up, I really wanted to turn back, but I’m glad I kept going.

It was honestly a bit tiring the whole way up, but the moment I arrived, it felt so worth it.

I bought a golden omamori, and it felt full of blessings and strength.

I challenged myself to climb Kotohiragu Shrine, said to be one of the hardest shrines in Japan to visit.

This time, I only went from the main approach to the main shrine, climbing a total of 785 stone steps. It was exhausting, but it felt really rewarding when I made it to the top.

The scenery was absolutely beautiful.

When I first came to Kotohira last fall, I didn’t know the main shrine’s visiting hours. Both times I ended up heading up in the dark, and I went home empty-handed without getting any omamori.

I came back again during winter break, and not only did I make the round trip to the main shrine twice, I also finally made it up to the Okusha. All 1,368 steps—mission accomplished 😆 The Okusha with a light layer of snow was so beautiful.

On the way, I saw lots of dogs of all sizes hiking up with their families too, which was a fun sight.

Once you make it up all 785 steps, an amazing view is waiting for you. Wear comfortable shoes!

On the approach, there’s a long-established candy shop called Ike Shoten. The owner, Mr. Ike, really knows the history of Konpira-san, so if he happens to be in, you’re lucky—try chatting with him and asking questions. The fruit candy you can eat there is also worth trying. As a souvenir, I recommend Kamiyo-ame (かみよあめ), which comes with a mini mallet so you can take the good fortune home and share it with everyone.

Like the article mentioned, I heard you’ll have some good luck if you can float a 1-yen coin in the water jar near Asahisha, so it’s a good idea to bring a 1-yen coin.

After your visit, I also recommend stopping by Donzo Brewing (呑象ブリューイング) to quench your thirst with a Kotohira craft beer.

On clear days, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Seto Inland Sea from up high. The scenery is really stunning.

Kotohiragu Shrine has always been a sacred place in the hearts of Japanese people—everyone should visit at least once in their life. Located halfway up Mt. Kotohira in Kagawa, Shikoku, it used to be called Konpira Daigongen. Back in the Edo period, even though travel was restricted, people were still allowed to visit shrines, so it was always crowded with worshippers.

This shrine is said to be the toughest to visit in Japan because you have to climb 1,368 steps...

In November 2019, I brought a group here and told myself I had to take on the challenge! (The toughest climb I’ve done before was the 999 steps at Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie.)

There’s a trail here, so it’s a bit easier.

365 → 785 → 1,368

From the main approach to the main shrine, you climb 785 steps. If you want to go to the inner shrine, you climb another 583 steps, for a total of 1,368.

Along the way, I rushed up with five group members—we were determined! The path from the main shrine to the inner shrine gets quieter and more secluded as you go. When we finally reached the inner shrine, all six of us were super happy! After such a tough climb, you have to buy an omamori (good luck charm) to prove you made it to the top—1,368 steps!

We did the round trip: 1,368 x 2 = 2,736 steps.

It felt amazing, like we absorbed the energy of the place. We made it in a limited amount of time! If you’re in Shikoku, you have to come to Kotohiragu Shrine for an energy-boosting trip!

Because it’s so hard to visit, sometimes people ask others to go on their behalf—or even send their dogs! The dogs carry a bag with their owner’s name, offering money, and food for the journey. Travelers along the way take care of the dogs and help them reach the shrine. Over time, these dogs became known as 'Konpira Dogs.'

There’s a bronze statue of a Konpira Dog to honor them. Next to the main shrine, you can even get a Konpira Dog fortune slip. Don’t forget to draw one for good luck when you visit!

[Main Shrine Route]

Monzenmachi → First Slope (113 steps) → Main Gate (365 steps) → Konpira Dog Statue (431 steps) → Restaurant 'Kamitsubaki' (500 steps) → Sagenoki Gate (642 steps) → Shitomochi Shrine (739 steps) → Main Shrine (785 steps)

[Inner Shrine Route]

Main Shrine (785 steps) → Mai Bridge (809 steps) → Tokiwa Shrine (832 steps) → Shiramine Shrine (923 steps) → Chozuya (1,261 steps) → Okusha (1,368 steps)

I started with the first 785 steps and felt okay, so I went for all 1,368 steps. It took about two hours round trip. My legs were sore the next day!

My knees hurt for days after visiting! 😂