Shikoku

Travel guides and hidden gems in the Shikoku region of Japan

The Fourth Island · 88 Temples

Shikoku — the smallest of Japan’s four main islands, the only one with a 1,200-km pilgrimage.

The 88-temple Henro route, the Iya Valley, and onsen towns most foreign visitors have never heard of.

Coverage growing — this region has a small but growing set of articles. We add new fieldwork here every few months. The intro below applies to the whole region; the article grid below is what is published so far.

Shikoku consists of Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi. The pilgrimage of 88 Buddhist temples (Shikoku Henro) loops the island. Kochi’s coast is wild Pacific; the Iya Valley deep inland is one of the country’s last refugia of medieval Japan. We are just starting to cover it.

When to visit

March–May for cherry blossom and pilgrimage season. October–November for autumn at Iya Valley and Mt. Ishizuchi. Winter for the quiet 785-step climb at Kotohira-gu (Konpira-san).

How to get there

JR Shikoku via the Seto-Ohashi bridge from Okayama. Direct flights from Haneda to Matsuyama, Takamatsu, Tokushima, and Kochi airports. A rental car opens up the inland valleys; the pilgrimage itself is traditionally walked, or pieced together by train and local bus.

Plan a trip to Shikoku

DriveRental car is essentialNo serious Shikoku travel works without a car.StayMatsuyama & TakamatsuThe two practical hub cities; Dogo Onsen near Matsuyama.RyokanDogo Onsen ryokanJapan’s oldest documented onsen, 3,000+ years.ToursPilgrimage & udon toursKagawa udon-making and partial pilgrimage day-trips.

All Shikoku articles

Field notes, weekly

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