A Road Trip Adventure Through Shikoku

5 days - Takamatsu, Naruto, Tokushima, Iya Valley, Kochi, Matsuyama

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Explore Japan's hidden gem island

A perfect blend of natural beauty, historical sights, and unique experiences.Get ready for your off-the-beaten-path adventure and try Shikoku's delicious and diverse cuisine. From beautiful beaches to luscious forests and hidden valleys, this island has it all.

The starting point of this adventurous roadtrip is Takamatsu, also known as 'The Udon Kingdom'. Here you can take a visit to one of Japan's most beautiful gardens: Ritsurin Koen. If you wish to fill your fist day up even more; the Shikoku Mura Museum is definitely worth a visit. Here you get to see how the people of Shikoku lived in the past - you will also be rewarded with a wonderful view of the Takamatsu area.
With just an one hour drive from Takamatsu, you can admire the natural phenonemon of the Naruto Whirlpools. You can get on a sightseeing boat to see the whirlpools from close-by, or you can take a walk across the Onaruto bridge. If you get hungry after your visit, why not enjoy a bowl of ramen topped with narutomaki - a kind of fish cake inspired by the Naruto Whirlpools. One other unique place to visit is the starting point of the famous Shikoku pilgrimage: Ryozenji Temple. In the evening, it's time for a relaxing stroll through Bizan park, located in Tokushima city. You can reach the mountaintop by using the ropeway, providing you with scenic views along the way.
On the third day, you drive through the high mountains towards the once hidden Iya Valley. The valley is known for its beautiful nature, unique culture, and natural hot springs.

Enjoy the local specialty dekomawashi (grilled skewers) while visiting the famous Iya Valley vine bridges, relax in onsen, or go sightseeing (or rafting if you're feeling adventurous) on the nearby Oboke gorge. The options are endless, and the area is quite big, so if you're in for deeper exploration, you can add an extra night to your stay in the valley.
After your mountain adventure, you return to the sea: it's about a 2-hour drive to the city of Kochi. Here you can enjoy beautiful beaches (and delicious seafood). The area around the city is very diverse, leading to many locally grown specialties. A good place to find these specialties is the Hirome market; here you can buy your food wherever you like and eat it at communal tables. There is a cozy atmosphere and the place is filled with laughter - it's a great place to talk to Kochi locals.
On the last day of the roadtrip, you'll drive on to Matsuyama, the biggest city of Shikoku. The city is known for one of Japan's oldest hot springs (Dogo Onsen), one of Japan's twelve original castles, and the locally grown mikan fruit. The Dogo Onsen is said to have been the inspiration for the famous Studio Ghibli movie 'Spirited Away', so if you're a true Ghibli fan you should definitely check it out.

Experience Shikoku

See

The starting point of this adventurous roadtrip is Takamatsu, also known as 'The Udon Kingdom'. Here you can take a visit to one of Japan's most beautiful gardens: Ritsurin Koen. If you wish to fill your fist day up even more; the Shikoku Mura Museum is definitely worth a visit. Here you get to see how the people of Shikoku lived in the past - you will also be rewarded with a wonderful view of the Takamatsu area!
With just an one hour drive from Takamatsu, you can admire the natural phenonemon of the Naruto Whirlpools. You can get on a sightseeing boat to see the whirlpools from close-by, or you can take a walk across the Onaruto bridge. If you get hungry after your visit, why not enjoy a bowl of ramen topped with narutomaki - a kind of fish cake inspired by the Naruto Whirlpools. One other unique place to visit is the starting point of the famous Shikoku pilgrimage: Ryozenji Temple. In the evening, it's time for a relaxing stroll through Bizan park, located in Tokushima city. You can reach the mountaintop by using the ropeway, providing you with scenic views along the way.
On the third day, you drive through the high mountains towards the once hidden Iya Valley. The valley is known for its beautiful nature, unique culture, and natural hot springs. Enjoy the local specialty dekomawashi (grilled skewers) while visiting the famous Iya Valley vine bridges, relax in onsen, or go sightseeing (or rafting if you're feeling adventurous) on the nearby Oboke gorge. The options are endless, and the area is quite big, so if you're in for deeper exploration, you can add an extra night to your stay in the valley.
After your mountain adventure, you return to the sea: it's about a 2-hour drive to the city of Kochi. Here you can enjoy beautiful beaches (and delicious seafood). The area around the city is very diverse, leading to many locally grown specialties. A good place to find these specialties is the Hirome market; here you can buy your food wherever you like and eat it at communal tables. There is a cozy atmosphere and the place is filled with laughter - it's a great place to talk to Kochi locals.
On the last day of the roadtrip, you'll drive on to Matsuyama, the biggest city of Shikoku. The city is known for one of Japan's oldest hot springs (Dogo Onsen), one of Japan's twelve original castles, and the locally grown mikan fruit. The Dogo Onsen is said to have been the inspiration for the famous Studio Ghibli movie 'Spirited Away', so if you're a true Ghibli fan you should definitely check it out.

The starting point of this adventurous roadtrip is Takamatsu, also known as 'The Udon Kingdom'. Here you can take a visit to one of Japan's most beautiful gardens: Ritsurin Koen. If you wish to fill your fist day up even more; the Shikoku Mura Museum is definitely worth a visit. Here you get to see how the people of Shikoku lived in the past - you will also be rewarded with a wonderful view of the Takamatsu area!
With just an one hour drive from Takamatsu, you can admire the natural phenonemon of the Naruto Whirlpools. You can get on a sightseeing boat to see the whirlpools from close-by, or you can take a walk across the Onaruto bridge. If you get hungry after your visit, why not enjoy a bowl of ramen topped with narutomaki - a kind of fish cake inspired by the Naruto Whirlpools. One other unique place to visit is the starting point of the famous Shikoku pilgrimage: Ryozenji Temple. In the evening, it's time for a relaxing stroll through Bizan park, located in Tokushima city. You can reach the mountaintop by using the ropeway, providing you with scenic views along the way.
On the third day, you drive through the high mountains towards the once hidden Iya Valley. The valley is known for its beautiful nature, unique culture, and natural hot springs. Enjoy the local specialty dekomawashi (grilled skewers) while visiting the famous Iya Valley vine bridges, relax in onsen, or go sightseeing (or rafting if you're feeling adventurous) on the nearby Oboke gorge. The options are endless, and the area is quite big, so if you're in for deeper exploration, you can add an extra night to your stay in the valley.
After your mountain adventure, you return to the sea: it's about a 2-hour drive to the city of Kochi. Here you can enjoy beautiful beaches (and delicious seafood). The area around the city is very diverse, leading to many locally grown specialties. A good place to find these specialties is the Hirome market; here you can buy your food wherever you like and eat it at communal tables. There is a cozy atmosphere and the place is filled with laughter - it's a great place to talk to Kochi locals.
On the last day of the roadtrip, you'll drive on to Matsuyama, the biggest city of Shikoku. The city is known for one of Japan's oldest hot springs (Dogo Onsen), one of Japan's twelve original castles, and the locally grown mikan fruit. The Dogo Onsen is said to have been the inspiration for the famous Studio Ghibli movie 'Spirited Away', so if you're a true Ghibli fan you should definitely check it out.