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JAPAN.GG/SHIKOKU?Shikoku TripShikoku is the smallest of Japan's four main islands — four prefectures connected by an 88-temple Buddhist pilgrimage traditionally traced back more than a thousand years. One island with a vine-bridge gorge hidden in the mountains, a Pacific coastline that runs to open cliffs, one of Japan's oldest hot springs, and a former fishing island turned contemporary art destination. JAPAN.GG ranked every prefecture by what it delivers on the ground.
4 PREFECTURES
THE SHIKOKU LOOP12 DAYS · 4 PREFECTURES · ~6.5 HRS BETWEEN STOPS

One loop round the island: in from Okayama at Takamatsu, out over the Shimanami Kaido to Honshu.

  1. Ritsurin Garden and Sanuki udon in Takamatsu, a day on Naoshima by ferry, and the steps of Kotohira-gu. Takamatsu is 55 min from Okayama on the Marine Liner train.

    🚃1h15Limited express Uzushio, Takamatsu → Tokushima

  2. The Naruto whirlpools and an Awa Odori show at the Awa Odori Kaikan.

    🚃~1h40Limited express to Awa-Ikeda, then a local train or the Nanpu to Oboke

  3. Two nights in the valley: the vine bridges, Oboke Gorge by boat and the Oku-Iya double bridges. A rental car makes it much easier.

    🚃~1hLimited express Nanpu, Oboke → Kochi

  4. Kochi Castle, Hirome Market and the Sunday Market, Katsurahama, and a day out to the Niyodo River. Cape Ashizuri needs an extra night.

    🚌2h30Highway bus, Kochi → Matsuyama · several a day, reserve ahead

  5. Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen and Uchiko, then the Shimanami Kaido from Imabari.

    🚲HomeCycle or bus the Shimanami Kaido to Onomichi (the bus takes about 1h30 from Imabari), or fly home from Matsuyama

Only have 7 days? Takamatsu and Naoshima for two days, one night in the Iya Valley, a day in Kochi, then Dogo Onsen and the Shimanami Kaido.

Times are typical. Trains and buses in Shikoku are infrequent, and a rental car opens up Iya, Cape Ashizuri and the rivers.

THE PILGRIMAGE

Shikoku's 88 temples form a loop of about 1,200 km, traditionally linked to the monk Kukai. Walking all of it takes 40 to 50 days; most people now go by car or bus, or walk it in sections over several years. Pilgrims in white are called o-henro-san, and people along the route still offer them food or a place to rest, a custom called settai.

◆ SELECTED PREFECTURE
DIAMOND PREFECTURE
JAPAN.GG
Tokushima
IYA VALLEY · NARUTO STRAIT · AWA ODORI
Iya Valley vine bridge gorge Tokushima Shikoku Japan
✈ Nearby Airport
Tokushima Awa (TKS)
★ Famous For
Iya Valley
Great Time To Go
GREAT!Apr–May · Oct–Nov
WATCH FORRain early June to mid-July · Hot and humid July to September · Book far ahead for Awa Odori
Awa OdoriAug 12–15Big Naruto whirlpoolsSpring & autumnIya autumn leavesEarly–mid Nov
Must See Tokushima Checklist0/6
  • Iya KazurabashiIya KazurabashiA 45 m bridge of woven mountain vines, about 14 m above the Iya River. It is rewoven every three years, with steel cables now hidden inside. Legend says fleeing Heike warriors built bridges like this so they could cut them down behind them.
    Sway across the vine bridge above the jade river. Small fee; watch your step.
    📍 Google Maps
  • Oku-Iya Double Vine BridgesOku-Iya Double Vine BridgesTwo vine bridges side by side deep in the upper valley: the "husband" bridge, about 42 m long, and the shorter "wife" bridge. Nearby, a hand-pulled wooden cable cart (yaen) carries you across the river.
    Two quieter vine bridges deeper in the valley, plus a hand-pulled cable cart.
    📍 Google Maps
  • Oboke GorgeOboke GorgeCliffs of crystalline schist carved by the Yoshino River. The sightseeing boat takes about 30 minutes; the rapids upstream are some of Japan's best for rafting and hosted the 2017 World Rafting Championship.
    30-minute sightseeing boat between schist cliffs; rafting on the rapids nearby.
    📍 Google Maps
  • Naruto WhirlpoolsNaruto WhirlpoolsThe tide rushes through the narrow strait between Shikoku and Awaji Island, and at spring tides the whirlpools can reach about 20 m across. Uzu-no-Michi is a glass-floored walkway about 45 m above the water, under the Onaruto Bridge.
    Watch from the glass-floored Uzu-no-Michi walkway or a boat. Best at spring tides.
    📍 Google Maps
  • Awa OdoriAwa OdoriHeld August 12–15 in Tokushima city, with groups of dancers (ren) filling the streets every evening. The rest of the year, the Awa Odori Kaikan hall puts on daily shows.
    August 12–15 street dancing; year-round shows at Awa Odori Kaikan.
    📍 Google Maps
  • Ryozenji (Temple 1)Ryozenji (Temple 1)Temple 1 of the 88-temple pilgrimage, a loop of about 1,200 km around Shikoku. Many pilgrims buy their white robe, sedge hat and staff here before setting off.
    Start of the 88-temple Shikoku pilgrimage; pilgrim gear sold on site.
    📍 Google Maps
✈ BEST SHIKOKU DEALS
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🍜 Eat This In Shikoku
Sanuki UdonFirm, chewy wheat noodles from Kagawa, often only a few hundred yen a bowl at self-service shops.
Honetsuki-doriA whole chicken leg roasted with garlic and pepper. A Marugame speciality.
Katsuo TatakiBonito seared over burning straw and sliced thick, with salt or ponzu. Kochi's signature dish.
Kochi YuzuKochi grows about half of Japan's yuzu. Look for yuzu juice, ponzu and sweets.
Tai-meshiSea bream rice. In Uwajima it comes as raw sea bream with egg and sauce over rice.
Ehime MikanEhime is one of Japan's top mikan growers. Matsuyama Airport even has a mikan juice tap.
SudachiSmall green citrus squeezed over almost everything. Tokushima grows nearly all of Japan's crop.
Iya SobaCoarse, short buckwheat noodles from the Iya Valley, with a strong soba flavour.