Translation guide
A journey to a sacred place for religious or spiritual reasons. In Japanese, the most common word is 巡礼 (じゅんれい), but there are also specific terms for famous routes and metaphorical uses.
To express the act of traveling to a shrine, temple, or other holy site for religious purposes.
The general term for a pilgrimage, especially to multiple temples or shrines, often on a set route.
四国八十八箇所巡礼は有名です。
The Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage is famous.
彼は巡礼の旅に出た。
He set out on a pilgrimage.
A more general term for visiting a shrine or temple to pray. Can be used for a single visit, not necessarily a long journey.
初詣で神社にお参りする。
I visit a shrine for the first prayer of the new year.
A more formal or literary term for making a round of pilgrimages to multiple sacred sites.
巡拝の記録を残す。
To keep a record of one's pilgrimages.
To refer to well-known Japanese pilgrimage circuits by their proper names.
Specifically refers to the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage. The term is widely recognized and used for both the route and the pilgrims themselves.
お遍路さんが歩いている。
A pilgrim is walking (on the Shikoku route).
The Saigoku 33-temple Kannon pilgrimage in western Japan.
西国三十三所巡りを始める。
To start the Saigoku 33-temple pilgrimage.
The Kumano Kodo, a UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage route in the Kii Peninsula.
熊野古道を歩くのは素晴らしい経験だ。
Walking the Kumano Kodo is a wonderful experience.
To describe a journey to a place of personal significance, like a fan visiting a location related to a favorite work.
Literally 'sacred place pilgrimage', used for fans visiting real-world locations featured in anime, manga, or movies.
アニメの聖地巡礼で岐阜県に行った。
I went to Gifu Prefecture on an anime pilgrimage.
Can be used metaphorically for any journey undertaken with devotion, such as visiting all the locations associated with a favorite author.
彼はビートルズの巡礼の旅でリバプールを訪れた。
He visited Liverpool on a Beatles pilgrimage.
巡礼 implies a journey to multiple sacred sites, often following a set route. お参り is a general visit to a single shrine or temple for prayer, and does not necessarily involve a long journey.
The English word 'pilgrimage' is sometimes used in Japanese as ピルグリメージ (pirugurimēji), but it is not common and mainly appears in religious or academic contexts. Stick to 巡礼 for natural Japanese.