During our travels through Japan, we discovered that Shikoku Island features some of the country’s most beautiful natural scenery as well as a number of amazing cities filled with interesting museums, well-preserved medieval castles and tons of historic temples.
Still, this part of Japan seemingly doesn’t find its way on many foreign travelers’ itineraries and during our trip, we had some of the coolest attractions in the country completely to yourself, which made them all the more fun to explore.
To get a good felling for the place, I recommend spending at least a week on Shikoku. That should give you enough time to explore some natural and cultural attractions in the area without rushing too much. Here’s my suggested one-week itinerary for a well-rounded introduction to Shikoku.
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Organized Tours of Shikoku
If you prefer to explore Shikoku with a local guide and without having to sort out your own transport and accommodation, taking an organized tour might be the way to got for you. There are several companies offering longer tours of the island. Have a look here to find the right one.
How to Get Around Shikoku Independently
The best way to get around Japan is by using the country’s super-efficient train system, which is fast, comfortable and efficient.
A regional JR-Railway pass allows for unlimited use of Shikoku’s JR railways for 3 (12,000¥/91$), 4 (15,000¥/113$), 5 (17,000¥/127$) or 7 days (20,000¥/149$), which is altogether a fantastic deal. You can order your regional JR-Pass or general JR-Pass online on this site.
Have a look at my complete guide to the JR-Pass here
Public transport in the more remote areas of the island like the Iya Valley is a bit infrequent, so if you’re short on time but still want to explore these, renting a car for a couple of days would be a good idea. You can do that in any of the bigger cities on the Shikoku (like Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Kochi or Tokushima). Have a look here:
The Perfect One-Week Shikoku Itinerary
Day 1: Takamatsu
Pretty Takamatsu in the northeastern part of Shikoku is a great place to start exploring the island. Without a doubt, the main attraction here is the amazing Ritsurin Kōen, which was designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese Government and is one of the prettiest gardens we’ve ever visited in Japan – which is really saying something!
More beautiful gardens can be found on the grounds of Takamatsu Castle, and we also liked the wacky exhibitions at the city’s Modern Art Museum. Apart from that, Takamatsu has a pretty pedestrianized city centre and is a good place to taste the famous regional Sanuki Udon Noodles.
Takamatsu Hotel Tips
Budget: Setouchi Mangetsuso or Guest House Wakabaya
Midrange: Sunny Day Hostel
Luxury: Royal Park Hotel Takamatsu (pictured)
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Day 2: Kotohira
Your next stop should be Kotohira – a cute small town that is home to Shikoku’s largest Shinto Shrine. A visit to Konpira-San requires climbing 1368 steps, but once you’ve reached the shrine and are enjoying the views of the surrounding mountains, you’ll see that the climb was worth it.
Apart from the shrine, we can recommend a visit to the town’s old sake factory, which has been turned into an interesting museum, as well as to the pretty Kanamaruza Playhouse, Japan’s oldest Kabuki Theatre.
In case you’re looking for something a little more unusual to do: Stefanie and I had a lot of fun taking a cooking class, where we learned to make the region’s famous Sanuki Udon Noodles.
See also: Konpira Shrine and Other Things to See in Kotohira, Japan
Kotohira Hotel Tips
Budget: Guesthouse Kotohira
Midrange: Toramaru Ryokan (pictured)
Luxury: Kotohira Onsen Kotosankaku
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Day 3 and 4: Iya Valley
To get even farther off the tourist trail, you should make your way to the secluded Iya Valley. It seems to be most famous for its historic vine bridges, but honestly, there is so much more to discover, if you are willing to spend a couple of days here.
With amazing views and cute little villages around every corner, we found the Valley to be one of the most beautiful areas we’ve come across in Japan.
Apart from that, the area also is wacky Japan at its best, featuring a village populated by life-sized dolls, a bug-shaped monorail whizzing you through the mountains and a museum dedicated to the Yōkai, demon-creatures of Japanese Mythology.
The best thing about all of this, is that the Iya Valley is still one of Japan’s best kept secrets, so once you’ve ventured beyond the popular Iya-No Kazura-bashi Vine Bridge, you likely won’t meet any other tourists – we certainly didn’t. Talk about an authentic experience!
See also: The Ultimate Guide to the Iya Valley, Japan
Iya Valley Hotel Tips
Budget: Heso Camp or 4S STAY Awaikeda Ekimae
Midrange: Hotel Kazurabashi (pictured)
Luxury: Hotel Iya Onsen
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Day 5: Kōchi
Of all the cities we visited on Shikoku, Kōchi was our absolute favourite, as it has a relaxed vibe and a nice location close to the sea. There are also plenty of historical and natural sights, giving you enough reasons to stick around for a while.
There’s a well-preserved castle, a couple of interesting museums where you can get acquainted with Japanese History (or learn how to make paper), and a wonderful Botanical Garden, just to name a few attractions. If you’re here on a Sunday, make sure to check out the famous week-market that’s been going strong for 300 years.
We also found Kōchi to be a great place for foodies. A cool spot to sample local specialities is the Hirome Ichiba food court (try the Katsuo no-tataki bonito) or try your hand at making your own Okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes) at Hakobe Restaurant.
See also: 10 amazing things to do in Kōchi, Japan – A guide to Shikoku’s most beautiful city
Kōchi Hotel Tips
Budget: Katsuo Guesthouse (pictured)
Midrange: Dormy Inn Kochi
Luxury: まちの別邸 緝 Shu or Jyoseikan Ryokan
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Day 6: Uchiko
Uchiko is rural Japan at its prettiest – the historic centre of this charming traditional village is filled with attractive wooden houses and another beautiful Kabuki Theatre (in case you missed the one in Kotohira, or – like us – just can’t get enough of traditional Japanese architecture!).
Visiting the village is possible as a stopover between Kōchi and Matsuyama, but spending a night here would give you a chance to soak up some of the peaceful atmosphere that Uchiko exudes in spades.
See also: What to Know About Visiting the Pretty Historical Village of Uchiko, Japan
Uchiko Hotel Tips
Budget: Hostel & Tatami Bar Uchikobare (pictured)
Midrange: One of the Inns of Uchiko
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Day 7: Matsuyama
Matsuyama is Shikoku’s biggest city, but somehow it still has a pleasant small-town feel when compared to Japan’s larger metropolises. That said, there’s no shortage of fascinating things to see.
Top things to do in Matsuyama include zipping up to the city’s well-preserved castle by rope-way, soaking in Japan’s oldest public bath-house (which incidentally inspired the one from the Studio Ghibli Film Spirited Away) or enjoying the views of the city from a Ferris wheel located atop a skyscraper.
We thought the contrasts between old and new, between tradition and modernity that distinguish Japan, were much more pronounced in Shikoku than the rest of the country. Matsuyama perfectly exemplified these intriguing contradictions, making it a perfect place to end one’s explorations of this unique island.
See also: Visiting the Bathhouse from Spirited Away and Other Great Things to Do in Matsuyama, Japan
Matsuyama Hotel Tips
Budget: Cinnamon Guest House
Midrange: Hotel Patio Dogo
Luxury: Chaharu Ryokan (pictured)
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Shikoku Itinerary Map
All the places featured in our itinerary can be found in this map of Shikokoku.
If You Have More Than a Week
If you have more time to spend, there are plenty of other cities to see on the island, like Tokushima and Naruto. You could also spend some time in the seldom-visited southwestern part of the island and check out the two southern capes.
Otherwise, you could stay longer in Takamatsu, which is also a good base for day-trips to some islands of the Sento Inland Sea, the most famous being the unique Naoshima, rightfully referred to as the “Art Island”.
In general, more time allows for a slower approach, letting you familiarize yourself better with the destinations. Especially Kōchi is a pleasant place to spend a couple of days, while the Iya Valley rewards slow travel as it’s chock-full of sights and opportunities for great hikes.
If You Have Less Than a Week
If you have less than a week on Shikoku, I recommend that you concentrate on a part of the island rather than its entirety, as you won’t want to spend most of your precious time traveling between cities.
For instance, if you only have three days, you could check out either Takamatsu and Kotohira; the Iya Valley or Matsuyama and Uchiko. That way, you could get a first taste of what Shikoku has to offer and ideally return for a longer trip in the future.
Accommodation on Shikoku
You can browse for more than the suggested hotels and guest houses in the map below:
See Also
You can find more information about traveling in Shikoku, including the various ways to get there as well as info on daily budgeting, in my Shikoku Travel Guide.
Is getting a JR-Pass worth it? Everything to know about the Japan Rail Pass for Tourists
A short guide to the Japanese Tea Ceremony
We are a group of 20 senior citizens planning for a 10 to 15 days’trip to cover the following places
1. My. Fujii
2. Shikoku
3. Okinawa
Please suggest
1. shall we cover this places in one tour or in separate tour.
2. GOOD Season but non too peak season
3. 2-3 star accommodations of twin share
We need a customised tour with English speaking tour guide. Please recommend itinerary and budget accordingly.
Regards,
Guan CK
guanck@gmail.com
Hello Guan,
check your e-Mail, I’ve sent you some recommendations!
Regards,
Reinhard
Hello,
Thank you for this post!
Just wondering, for this itinerary, since you’re doing one new location every day, wouldn’t you essentially be travelling constantly and requiring many different bookings for hotels/inns? If that is the case, wouldn’t it be very hectic?
Hello Khai,
you’re absolutely right, there is quite a bit of traveling involved in this itinerary. Personally, I also like to travel a little more slowly but in case your time is limited and you still want to see the absolute highlights of the island, this would be the way to go. Japan’s efficient train system means that travel is swift and dependable and you’ll still have a lot of time on your hands to explore after arriving at your destination for the night.
My wife and I spent 8 days on Shikoku. We spent three nights in the Iya Valley, which was nice but not absolutely essential (If you’re short on time, two nights should suffice) and we visited Uchiko en route to Matsuyama, but liked the village atmosphere so much that I decided to add it as an overnight stop.
If you have more time on your hands, you could extend your stay in Kochi, the Iya Valley or Takamatsu (which is also a good base to explore the islands of the Sento Inland Sea). Just take the itinerary as a basic framework and modify it to your own needs and likings.
Happy travels!
Reinhard
Me & my wife are planning to visit Shikoku for 3 to 5 days in late January 2023. We want to see the Sunday market in Kochi city and stay in a ryoken in Iya valley . We love nature & would
also like hiking.
Can you suggest itinerary. We will be coming from Awaji Island.
Hello John,
With 5 days and coming from Awaji Island, I would suggest the following itinerary:
Day 1: Tokushima
Day 2: Transfer to Iya Valley
Day 3: Iya Valley
Day 4: Transfer to Kochi
Day 5: Kochi (fly out from Kochi Ryoma Airport)
Obviously, Day 4 or 5 would have to be a Sunday for you to be able to visit the market. Apart from that, Kochi is a pleasant city that warrants some exploring, so two days should give you some time for that.
We were in the Iya Valley in the Summer, so I don’t know the hiking conditions in the winter. Staying at a Ryokan with an Onsen (like Hotel Iya Onsen) would definitely give you a chance to warm up after a hike in cold weather. If there’s snow, sitting in an outdoor onsen is probably magical.
If you only have three days, I’d suggest doing two (i.e. Friday and Saturday) in the Iya Valley and exploring Kochi and the Sunday Market on the third day.
Hope this helps – Have fun in beautiful Shikoku!
All the Best
Reinhard
Hi
thank you for your site..very informative.
we are planning to visit Shikoku in early April 2023 for 4 nights…we are keen to walk some of the pilgrimage walk….we only have 3 days and not sure where to start ? any tips
Hi,
it depends a little on where you’re entering the island from. If you want to walk a part of the Henro, the area around Matsuyma and Takamatsu has the highest concentration of Temples, so you’d be able to visit at least a few of the 88.
For three days, I would recommend visiting Takamatsu with the beautiful Ritsurin Garden, walking part of the Henro in the surrounding area, and perhaps also dropping by the amazing Konpira-San Shrine in Kotohira. That should give you a good taste of the island’s nature and historical culture.
Hope this helps!
Reinhard
Hi all, we are doing the Himanami Kaido Bike route from Onomichi to Imabari and will arrive noon time. We then will need to return to Onomichi next morning.
What would you recommend? How to get best a feeling for Shikoku on that half day? We know it is far too few time, but that’s how it is this time 🙂
Hi Ole,
half a day is a challenge, but you could take the train from Imabari to Matsuyama to check out the historic castle, take a ride on the big Ferris Wheel sitting on a skyscraper (great views, and it’s free for foreigners) and take a soak in Dogo Onsen, one of Japan’s most famous Onsens (hot spring baths) in the evening. This should be doable in an afternoon, and it will give you a nice idea of the city and a small taste of Shikoku. After spending the night in Matsuyama, you could return to Imabari and onwards to Onomichi early next morning.
To do this, you would need to leave/store your bikes in Imabari or disassemble them for the train ride, as bicycles need to be stored in special bags in Japanese trains (see here). If that’s not an option, you could also spend the afternoon just exploring Imabari. I haven’t been there myself yet, but it looks like a pleasant place with a nice castle and a few interesting temples, so it might not be the worst alternative;-).
Enjoy your trip!
Reinhard
Hi Reinhard,
Thanks for sharing all the useful information, and would like get your opinion for our road trip itinerary for Shikoku in Dec for 12days.
Planning road trip and quite confused on the route, and how many day should spend for each place, appreciate any advise:
We will be flying into Osaka on a Sat 23 Dec and out from Osaka on 06 Jan, stay for 1 night in Osaka before starting car rental.
This is our 1st trip to Shikoku Region, and would like to visit 4 Prefectures; Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi& Tokushima
23/12 Arrive Osaka (stay for 1 night in Osaka before starting car rental)
24/12 Tokushima (Tokushima city, Naruto Whirlpools) – stay Tokushima
25/12 Iya Valley (Oboke gorge, Yoshino river) – stay Iya onsen
26/12 Kochi (katsurahama beach/ Hirome Market /Kochi Castle) – stay Kochi
27/12 Kochi (Ryugu shrine) – stay Kochi
28/12 Matsuyama (Uchiko town / Ozu Castle / Garyu Sanso) – stay Matsuyama
29/12 – Matsuyama: Dogo Onsen/ Dogo Onsen Shopping Street/ Matsuyama Castle – stay Matsuyama
30/12 – Matsuyama – stay Takamatsu
31/1 – Kagawa (takaya shrine, Ritsurin Kōen ,Kotohira-gu Shrine) – stay Takamatsu
1/1 – Takamatsu (Shōdoshima (Island) – Takamatsu
2/1 Takamatsu (Naoshima Island) – stay Naoshima Island
3/1 Okayama – sleep Okayama
4/1 Osaka
5/1 Osaka
6/1 Depart from osaka
Hello Cy,
Altogether, your route sounds pretty good – It’s a diverse itinerary that should introduce you to the most important places on Shikoku. You also planned sufficient time for most places, so you don’t have to rush. I would maybe add another night in the Iya Valley, as there is a lot to see in the area, although I don’t know how enjoyable exploring the valley will be in winter (we were there in the summer).
Staying at Iya Onsen is a great idea, though – probably magical, if there is some snow while you’re sitting in the outside hot tubs. One possibility to add another day in the valley would be to visit Kotohira Shrine en route from Matsuyama to Takamatsu and cut a night in Takamatsu. The rest of it seems like a well-rounded itinerary, though. Have fun in Shikoku!
Reinhard
Hi Reinhard,
Thank you so much for your prompt response and time to review my itinerary!
Best regards,
CY
Hello Cy,
don’t mention it – enjoy your trip to Shikoku!
Reinhard
Aloha, I came across your blog for Shikoku. We will be visiting for eight days in October. We will be coming from Osaka and could either go through Tokushima or train down to Okayama and continue down. Where would be the easiest place to pick up a car and not have to drive through a big city ?
We would like to go to iya valley then continue on down to Kochi and do the coast line . Returning car and flying out of Kochi .
Hello Tiffany,
if you want to avoid driving in the bigger cities, one possibility would be to indeed enter Shikoku via Okayama and go by train from Takamatsu to either Tsukuda or Awa-Ikeda Station on the JR Dosan Line. There are some car rental companies in that part of Miyoshi City. From there, you could drive south to Oboke, where you can enter the Iya Valley and afterwards go down to the southern coast and explore Kochi and its surroundings.
I hope this helps!
Reinhard
I love reading about places I’ve never heard of. Shikoku sounds amazing! I’d be interested in the sake factory and the castle – I’d no idea there were castles in Japan. The food sounds pretty good too. And I’ve always wanted to experience Japanese trains, being a train buff myself 😀
Hello Carole,
It’s true – Shikoku really is an amazing part of Japan to discover. And yes, Japan doesn’t only have a lot of castles, but some of the most beautiful castles I’ve visited around the world 😀. Also, the train system is impeccable – fast and efficient, like everything in Japan. You should really go if you get the chance!
Hi there, thanks so much for this really informative post! I’m planning to visit Shikoku in late January/early February this year, and was wondering if you had any particular recommendations for the winter season? I probably won’t be able to spend a full week there unfortunately, more like 4-5 days, but I’d love to be able to get the most out of that time. I’m a big nature fan (and not afraid of the cold) so if there’s anywhere particularly beautiful to see around that time that you’d recommend, please let me know!
Hello Sarah,
I’m glad that you found my post useful! I don’t have any personal experience of traveling around Shikoku in the winter (we were there in August), but with 4 to 5 days, you could probably explore one of the bigger cities (there’s a lot to do in Kochi and Matsuyama) and also get out into nature. We loved the Iya Valley and while hiking might be a little tough in the winter, you could still explore some out-of-the way places by bus, like pretty Ochiai Village, the historic vine bridges or Nagoro, the Doll Village. The landscape in the Valley is beautiful and after exploring you could warm yourself in one of the Onsens (hot springs) at one of the traditional hotels. Enjoy your time on Shikoku and let me know if you need any more information!
Hi,
I appreciate some advice for my end Aug to Shikoku for 10 days. As I will be touching down at Hiroshima airport, I also want to visit Peace Park and Itsukushima, maybe stay 2 nights. Then I intend to pick up rental car and drive towards Shikoku via Onomichi bridge. I like to visit places such as Iya valley (vine bridge), Naruto whirlpool, Matsuyama castle and possibly few temples. Not sure if I should focus on few prefectures instead of driving all over Shikoku.
Thank you.
Regards,
Rachel
Hello Rachel,
I’m always a fan of traveling more slowly, but with 10 days you should definitely be able to explore all the places on Shikoku that you mentioned and maybe even a few more, especially as you’ll be driving yourself, which makes exploring remote places like the Iya Valley so much easier. For 10 days, I’d recommend the following itinerary:
Day 1 and 2: Hiroshima and Itsukushima Shrine
Day 3: Drive to Matsuyama via Onomichi Bridge
Day 4: Matsuyama (apart from the castle, I can really recommend the beautiful Dogo Onsen and nearby Uchiko Village)
Day 5: Drive to the Iya Valley + Start your explorations
Day 6: Iya Valley (Check out the Vine Bridges, but also Nagoro, the Doll Village!)
Day 7: Drive to Tokushima and visit the Naruto Whirlpools
Day 8: Drive to Kochi (one of the nicest cities on Shikoku)
Day 9: Explore Kochi, then drive back to Matsuyama
Day 10: Return to Hiroshima
If you want to skip Kochi or don’t want to backtrack, you could also go from Tokushima to Takamatsu, visit the beautiful Ritsurin Garden there and then return to Hiroshima via the southern coast of Honshu.
I hope this helps, let me know if you need more detailed infos!
Reinhard
Hey! Just want to thank you for the brilliant job you did posting about Shikoku and replying to everyone’s questions! Much as I’d love to have more time to explore slowly, 6 full days is all I have to spare this October, so I have pretty much decided on the following in case of interest for fellow readers and very welcome any feedback:
Day 1: Fly into Kochi Friday evening
Day 2: Explore Kochi
Day 3: Sunday market then pick up rental car into Iya Valley
Day 4: Alternate between onsen ryokans and farm stays
Day 5: as above, maybe do the zipline, poke around Tsurugi, check out historic towns like Wakimachi
Day 6: meander towards Tokushima and check out the crafts like indigo dyeing and washi making
Day 7: airport shuttle out from Tokushima
So very much looking forward to this! Suggestions/critique/recent experiences welcome.
Hello Jenn,
you’re very welcome. I’m glad you find my post helpful. Your itinerary seems well-rounded and will give you a good introduction to both the natural and cultural highlights of Shikoku. Another good thing is that you’re planning ample time in the Iya Valley, which deserves a few days. Make sure to also check out the surreal doll village while you’re there! Have a great time in Shikoku!
Reinhard
Thanks Reinhard, the only doubt I have is missing Takamatsu but I’m feeling the draw of crafts in Tokushima and realistically it was always going to have to be a choice. Stumbled upon a similar village to Nagoro in Kyushu a few years back, formerly a ski resort so all the dolls were dressed in winter sports outfit! Let’s see how Nagoro compares.
Takamatsu is nice, but the main attraction there is Ritsurin Garden. It’s beautiful, but there are plenty of beautiful gardens around Japan. I haven’t been to Tokushima myself, but learning about the different crafts sounds interesting, although you could also at least learn to make Washi in Kochi’s Ino Japanese Paper Museum;)