The Shikoku area is composed of Ehime Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, Tokushima Prefecture, and Kagawa Prefecture. In the Shikoku area, you can enjoy attractive foods, beautiful landscapes, nature, and historical spots. Let's choose the plan you want to do things that are interesting.
What is Shikoku like?
TJapan's fourth largest island is Shikoku, which is located southwest of Honshu, the main island. The division of Shikoku into four prefectures is true to its name. Between the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean is where the island is situated. Four prefectures exist in that location: Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi.
The Seto Inland Sea has been transformed into land routes between Honshu and Shikoku by three bridges in recent years.
The Seto Inland Sea has been traversed by three bridges in recent years, creating land routes between Honshu and Shikoku. One connects Kobe to Naruto in Tokushima via Awaji Island on the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway.
By way of the Seto-Chuo Expressway, the second route links Hayashima, Okayama Prefecture, with Sakaide, Kagawa.
The third connection is made up of Onomichi, Hiroshima and Imabari, Ehime, and it's done so through the Nishi-Seto Expressway.
Enjoy eating the best Kochi cuisine
Kochi Prefecture has its capital in Kochi, located on the southern coast of Shikoku.
There are many attractions in Kochi that travelers will find interesting. Kochi's downtown area is marked by a hilltop castle that is well-preserved and original from the feudal period. One of the 88 temples along the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Chikurinji Temple, is visited by pilgrims near Godaisan, another mountain nearby.
Sakamoto Ryoma, who played a role in the Meiji Restoration, is proud to call the city his home. At Katsurahama Beach, just south of the city center, the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum can be found.
Katsuo no Tataki is one of Kochi's most popular dishes, which involves lightly broiled and sliced bonito (which is also known as skipjack tuna). Spring onions, ginger, and garlic are included in the serving and seasoned with salt or soy sauce, vinegar, and citrus. It is customary for Katsuo no Tataki to be broiled over a straw fire until only the outer layer is grilled a little bit.
Relaxing in Dogo Onsen, Ehime
Ehime Prefecture is located on the northern coast of the Shikoku island, facing Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, and the southern island of Kyushu. If you're looking for a peaceful getaway, Ehime has everything you're looking for with its pristine nature and scenery. Ehime Prefecture, which makes up part of the legendary leg of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, will be explored from Matsuyama's historic capital city.
One of the most famous hot springs in Japan, Dogo Onsen is situated east of central Matsuyama. The area attracts tourists due to its stunning bath houses and numerous ryokans. Japan's most esteemed guests, the Imperial Family, have frequented Dogo Onsen.
Dogo Onsen Honkan, a wooden public bathhouse that dates back to 1894, is the centerpiece of Dogo Onsen. The Honkan's interior is filled with stairways, passages, and rooms that are busy with bathers and staff. According to reports, it was the inspiration for Miyazaki's popular animated film 'Spirited Away'.
Appreciate the Awa Odori in Tokushima.
The eastern part of Shikoku is where Tokushima Prefecture is located, making it the most compact of Japan's four main islands. Although it's not well-known, travelers who venture to the sprawling prefecture will find plenty of things to see, do, eat, or experience.
Take part in Japan's largest street party in Tokushima every August when over one million people dance the Awa Odori. For more than 400 years, the festival has been celebrated with the same enthusiasm as Brazil's Carnival and encourages everyone to join in. If guests come after August 12-15, the Awaodori Kaikan Museum offers a hands-on experience of the most popular event in the prefecture.
Kagawa feels like a resort
In terms of area, Kagawa Prefecture is the tiniest in Japan and is found in the northern part of Shikoku, the tiniest of Japan's four main islands. The largest city on Shikoku, Takamatsu, and numerous small islands can be found in Kagawa.
Naoshima and its islands surround are adorned with world-renowned modern art installations and museums, while Shodoshima is well-known for producing olives and the Angel Road. Udon is the most well-known dish in Kagawa Prefecture, with many noodle shops located within the prefecture.
Visitors can find a Mediterranean atmosphere in Shodoshima, which offers beaches, resorts, coastal scenery, and a mountainous interior that boasts one of Japan's most famous gorges, the Kankakei Gorge, among other things. A well-known movie was shot on the island.
Let's enjoy your special trip to Shikoku!
Shikoku has been historically more isolated than the other parts of Japan. In contrast, this island has a more rural setting, with serene coastlines, deep imposing valleys, and pristine waterways that have remained relatively unchanged, and is an environment that is truly idyllic.
