Survival Japanese for Pilgrims in Shikoku

The Basics

Yes
hai
はい
No
iie
いいえ
Excuse me
sumimasen
すみません
Thank you (informal)
arigatō
ありがとう
Thank you (formal)
arigatōgozaimasu
ありがとうございます
You're welcome
dōitashimashite
どういたしまして
Please (do the thing)
onegaishimasu
お願いします
For free
muryō
無料
Not for free
yūryō
有料

Pilgrim-related Terms

Pilgrim or pilgrimage
henro
遍路
An honorary way to refer to another pilgrim
ohenro-san
お遍路さん
Walking pilgrim
arukihenro
歩き遍路
Japanese monk known as the father of the Shikoku Pilgrimage
kūkai
空海
Another name for Kūkai
kōbō daishi
弘法大師
The honorific title for Kūkai
odaishisama
お大師様
A phrase you may hear often that “sings the graces of Kūkai” for “bestowing light far and wide across the lands”
henjō kongō
遍照金剛
Pilgrimage
junrei
巡礼
The Shikoku Pilgrimage
shikoku henro
四国遍路
Hachijūhachi means 88, and kasho means places. This is a more formal name referring to the Shikoku Pilgrimage. An even more formal term is 四国霊場八十八ヶ所 (“shikoku reijyo hachijūhachi kasho”)
shikoku hachijūhachi kasho
四国八十八ヶ所
Doing the pilgrimage the “normal” way in a clockwise fashion
jun uchi
順打ち
Doing the pilgrimage in a reverse, counter-clockwise fashion
gyaku uchi
逆打ち
Hand-copied sutra, or the act of hand-copying a sutra
shakyō
写経
Gifts given to pilgrims by locals as an expression of respect and good will, or to travel on their pilgrimage vicariously
o-settai
お接待
The four characters are often printed on the formal pilgrim attire and accessories, and along the pilgrimage trail. “Dōgyō” means walking together, and “ninin” means two people. During the Shikoku Pilgrimage, it is said that Kōbō Daishi accompanies the pilgrim throughout his/her journey
dōgyō ninin
同行二人

Pilgrim Attire & Supplies

Pilgrim sedge hat
sugegasa
菅笠
White pilgrim vest
hakui
白衣
Long sleeved
nagasode
長袖
Pilgrim staff
kongōtsue
金剛杖
Bell
suzu
Rosary
juzu
数珠
Pilgrimage stamp book
nokyōchō
納経帳
Paper deity image slips from each temple
miei
御影
Collection book for miei
mieichō
御影帳
Small paper bag to hold all your miei
mieibukuro
御影袋
Paper name slip
osamefuda, nōsatsu
納め札, 納札
Sutra book
kyōhon
経本
Map
chizu
地図
Candle
rōsoku
ローソク
Incense stick
senkō
線香

Temples

Temple
otera
お寺
Temples of a pilgrimage
reijō, fudasho
霊場, 札所
Temples outside of the official 88 temples
bangai
番外, 別格
20 particularly notable bangai that are related to the pilgrimage
bekkaku
番外, 別格
Inner sanctuaries
okunoin
奥の院
To visit a temple or shrine
sanpai
参拝
The Mountain Gate, the most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple
sanmon
山門
Water ablution area of a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple
temizuya, chōzuya
手水舎
The bell tower
shōrō
鐘楼
The main hall dedicated to a Buddhist deity
hondō
本堂
The Daishi Hall dedicated to Kōbō Daishi
daishidō
大師堂
Head monk of a temple
jūshoku
住職
Container for pilgrims' name slips
nōsatsubako, nōsatsuiribako
納札箱, 納札入箱
Container for pilgrims' hand-copied sutras
shakyōbako, shakyōiribako
写経箱, 写経入箱
Monetary offertory box
saisenbako
賽銭箱
Incense burnder
kōro
香炉
Candle holder or a container for candle placement
rōsokutate
蝋燭立て
The Heart Sutra
hannyashingyō
般若心経
Calligraphy stamps written for pilgrims by monks in a temple. Each stamp costs about ¥200-¥300
nōkyo
納経
Office where you receive a stamp in your stampbook
nōkyōjo
納経所
The pilgrim stampbook
nōkyōchō
納経帳
The red stamps in the pilgrim stampbook
shuin, goshuin
朱印, 御朱印
Deity image slips
miei
御影

Areas of Shikoku

Tokushima Prefecture
tokushima-ken
徳島県
Kochi Prefecture
kōchi-ken
高知県
Ehime Prefecture
ehime-ken
愛媛県
Kagawa Prefecture
kagawa-ken
香川県
Tokushima City
tokushima-shi
徳島市
Kochi, the capital city of Kochi Prefecture
kōchi
高知
Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture
matsuyama
松山
Takamatsu, the capital city of the Kagawa Prefecture
takamatsu
高松
Dogo Onsen, built in 1984 and located in Matsuyama; one of the oldest and most famous hot springs in Japan
dōgo onsen
道後温泉
Mount Kōya
kōyasan
高野山

Lodging

Lodging
yado
宿
Japanese-style bed and breakfast
minshuku
民宿
Similar to minshuku, but usually larger and more similar to a hotel. Many provide meal options as well
ryokan
旅館
Paid lodging at temples for pilgrims. They are usually similar to ryokan, and will sometimes provide meal options. As they are operated by the temple, you can inquire about them at the nōkyō
shukubō
宿坊
Hotel
hoteru
ホテル
Business hotel
bijinesu hoteru
ビジネスホテル
Free or donation-based temple lodging
tsuyadō
通夜堂
Pilgrim hut or cabin
henrokoya
遍路小屋
Sleeping bag
nebukuro
寝袋
Japanese-style bath; you must wash yourself thoroughly wih soap and water before entering the bath
furo/ofuro
風呂/お風呂
Laundry
sentaku
洗濯
Washing machine
senntakuki
洗濯機
Dryer
kansōki
乾燥機
Laundry detergent
senzai
洗剤
Spending the night without meals included
sudomari
素泊り
One meal included
isshokutsuki
一食付き
Two meals (dinner and breakfast) included
nishokutsuki
二食付き
Breakfast included
chōshokutsuki
朝食付き
Dinner included
yūshokutsuki
夕食付き