TAKAMATSU, Japan, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shikoku, although the smallest of Japan's main islands, plays a huge role in the country's spiritual heritage. It's home to the legendary 88-temple pilgrimage (Shikoku Henro) — a 1,200-kilometer circular route with 88 official temples, where the Buddhist priest Kūkai is believed to have trained. Shikoku also hosts some of Japan's most dramatic and beautiful nature, a rich and vibrant culinary, arts and crafts history, and is, ultimately, a location packed with a spectrum of activities and must-visit destinations.
Tokushima Prefecture
Ryozen Temple
Ryozen-ji Temple, the first stop on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, marks the beginning of the 1,200-kilometer spiritual journey encompassing 88 temples. Located in Tokushima Prefecture, it features a tranquil koi (carp) pond, a pagoda, and a main hall adorned with hanging lanterns. Pilgrims start here, purchasing traditional clothing and collecting their first stamp. Though attributed to Gyoki, the temple also honors Kūkai, the pilgrimage's founder. Its serene beauty often inspires visitors to begin the journey, with the second temple, Gokuraku-ji, just over a kilometer away — an appropriate beginning for the path of devotion.
Kochi Prefecture
Muroto Mountain / Hotsumisaki temple
Cape Muroto, shaped by volcanic activity, wind, and sea, is a UNESCO Global Geopark renowned for its dramatic rock formations and subtropical vegetation. Visitors can walk the coastal trail, spotting ancient sea creature fossils along the way. The cape offers a rare view of both sunrise and sunset from the same spot, with a heart-shaped monument at the viewing platform. It is also a vital stop on the Shikoku Pilgrimage as the tip of the cape plays host to the 24th temple, Hotsumisaki-ji, where famed Buddhist monk KÅ«kai is said to have attained enlightenment in Mikurodo Cave.
Ehime Prefecture
Iwaya Temple
Iwaya-ji Temple, Shikoku's 45th pilgrimage site, is a sacred mountain temple known for its dramatic rock formations and serene atmosphere. Situated 700 meters above sea level, the temple appears embedded in a massive rock face, creating a transcendental setting. Its Daishi-dÅ hall is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, while the surrounding Japanese horse chestnut grove is recognized as one of Japan's Top 100 Natural Spots. Visitors can participate in meditation, sutra copying, and Buddha tracing experiences. On the 28th of each month, goma fire rituals honor the temple's hidden deity, adding to its spiritual appeal.
Kagawa Prefecture
Okubo Temple
Okubo-ji Temple, the 88th and final stop on the renowned Shikoku Pilgrimage, holds deep spiritual significance for pilgrims completing their journey. Located in Kagawa Prefecture, it offers a serene setting for reflection, with Mount Nyotai towering in the background. The temple features 88 statues representing each pilgrimage temple and a room under Daishi Hall for quiet contemplation. Pilgrims often leave their walking sticks here, symbolizing the end of their spiritual quest. The temple is particularly attractive in November, when its ancient buildings are framed by beautiful autumn foliage.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Shikoku: The Japanese Island of Pilgrimage and Spirituality
DUBLIN, Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced a $1 billion expansion of its proprietary Data Center Lifecycle Insurance Program (DCLP), increasing total capacity to $2.5 billion. The expansion responds to accelerating global investment in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure and increasing complexity of risks across the data center lifecycle.
First introduced in 2025, DCLP is a multi-line insurance solution designed to support data center projects from construction through ongoing operations. The program brings together traditionally fragmented risk classes into a single coordinated insurance solution. By integrating construction, cyber, cargo and operational risks, DCLP helps clients secure capacity at scale, reduce friction and execute projects more efficiently.
"Managing risk throughout the data center lifecycle is a strategic imperative – these platforms drive innovation, connectivity and economic growth," said Greg Case, president and CEO of Aon. "As these facilities become more critical and complex, building resilience into their infrastructure is essential for the broader business ecosystem. Aon is committed to helping clients anticipate risks, strengthen operational continuity and invest in the future of digital infrastructure with confidence."
The expanded DCLP is designed to support investors, developers and operators as data centers grow larger, more capital-intensive and more operationally complex. By integrating insurance capacity with risk engineering and analytics, the program helps clients anticipate risk, demonstrate resilience to stakeholders and support long term performance.
"When disruptions occur, the financial and operational consequences can be significant and ripple well beyond a single facility, affecting customers, supply chains and broader business operations," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Commercial Risk for Aon. "By expanding the capacity of DCLP, we are helping clients manage risk across the full lifecycle of a data center – from build-out to steady state operations, while supporting faster, more certain execution."
Key Features of the Data Center Lifecycle Insurance Program include:
- Up to $2.5 billion in coverage for Construction All Risks, Delay in Start-Up (DSU) and Operational Property Damage/Business Interruption.
- Cyber, Cyber Property Damage and Tech E&O coverage up to $400M, including DSU (damage and non-damage), business interruption and SLA violations.
- Third-party liability coverage up to $100 million (excluding U.S. exposures).
- Project cargo and transport insurance up to $500 million.
- Integrated risk engineering and cyber impact modelling available through Aon's Global Risk Consulting team.
This expansion of the DCLP builds upon Aon's broader strategy to scale innovative Risk Capital solutions for digital infrastructure. Late last year, Aon also announced the renewal of its Client Treaty — a proprietary follow-on facility designed to provide broad, multi-line coverage for complex risks — with enhanced terms that include protection for extended construction periods. This renewal reflects Aon's commitment to helping clients manage the unique challenges of large-scale technology projects, ensuring resilience from initial build through operational phases.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.
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** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Aon expands Data Center Lifecycle Insurance Program to $2.5 billion, strengthening resilience for AI-driving digital infrastructure
