The smallest of the four main islands of Japan is the least travelled. It is known for its quiet rural lifestyle, rugged interior landscape, and the 88-temple Buddhist pilgrimage route which encircles the island honoring the 9th-century monk Kukai. Its current name, Shikoku 四國, refers to the four former provinces that make up the island: Awa, Tosa, Iyo, and Sanuki. The corresponding names for the four modern-day prefectures are Tokushima, Kochi, Ehime and Kagawa.