I would like to know where you get this information. My friend who has lived in Japan, has a Japanese wife and has skated all over Japan for more than 20 years says this is news to him.
I'm in the planning phase for a November Shikoku Pilgrimage. To reduce the time and pounding on the pavement we are going to use inline skates - it looks like 80% is skate-able. Cost-wise my estimates will be about what you would spend on the Camino if you stayed in inexpensive single person...
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