Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Annually, between 150,000 to 200,000 travelers visit Shikoku Island to complete the 88 Temple Pilgrimage (Shikoku Henro) following in the footsteps of master Kūkai, the monk who shaped Japanese Buddhism. In this meditative documentary, filmmaker Shiho Kataoka captures the stories of four contemporary pilgrims, each burdened, in different ways, by exhaustion, solitude, or quiet disillusionment. Beautifully filmed in the serene landscapes and temples of Shikoku, ARUKU is an intimate view into their spiritual journeys and personal motives.
Annually, between 150,000 to 200,000 travelers visit Shikoku Island to complete the 88 Temple Pilgrimage (Shikoku Henro) following in the footsteps of master Kūkai, the monk who shaped Japanese Buddhism. In this meditative documentary, filmmaker Shiho Kataoka captures the stories of four contemporary pilgrims, each burdened, in different ways, by exhaustion, solitude, or quiet disillusionment. Beautifully filmed in the serene landscapes and temples of Shikoku, ARUKU is an intimate view into their spiritual journeys and personal motives.
