The Four Corners of Shikoku

📍 Start (guided tour): 9:00 Duration: 8 h *including pick-up/drop-off and transfer times

Welcome to Ehime prefecture! Start the tour and meet the guide from either Matsuyama Airport, Station or Port. 

Travel by private vehicle around Matsuyama City’s iconic landmarks including the looming Matsuyama Castle and the historic districts surrounding Dogo Onsen, one of Japan’s oldest and most storied natural hot springs. 

Matsuyama Castle is one of only twelve original castles of Japan, and is a symbol of Matsuyama, with panoramic view of the city centre, including Dogo Onsen. The guided tour of this castle brings the full story of the city’s architecture, history and old time lifestyle together. 

Later on, visit Dogo Onsen, one of Japan’s iconic hot springs, said to have been in existence for more than 1000 years. Those who are interested in dipping into the hot water are welcome to try this public bath. Otherwise, a walk around the nearby shopping arcade is also a pleasant way of enjoying the area, where interesting souvenirs, local sake shops, quaint beautiful cafes and craft shops can be found. 

For Ghibli fans out there, this bath house was also one of the main inspirations for Miyazaki’s Oscar winning movie Spirited Away.

After lunch, transfer to Uchiko, a town which has long served as a rest stop for those walking the 88-Temple Shikoku pilgrimage.

Overnight in Uchiko

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Start (guided tour): 9:00 Duration: 8 h *including pick-up/drop-off and transfer times

Today, admire the peaceful atmosphere along the streets in a walking tour of the Uchiko townscape, where visitors feel as though they have leapt back in time to 18th century Japan. 

Uchiko was once a prosperous merchant town that made its wealth in the production of candles and paper until the late 1800s. Tour the preserved streets and homes along the Yokaichi Old Town and visit the Kamihaga Residence to learn more about the town’s fascinating wax and paper industry.

One of main attractions of Uchiko town is “Uchiko-Za”, a local Noh Theatre where they perform Noh, a major form of classical dance-drama. The town’s picturesque shops, beautiful traditional houses, small manufacturers’ factories and the friendly locals make Uchiko a charming place to visit in Shikoku.

Drive to Shikoku’s Kochi prefecture next and stay the night in the mountainous town of Yusuhara.

Overnight in Yusuhara

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Start (guided tour): 9:00 Duration: 8 h

This morning explore the town of Yusuhara for an architecture tour. Yusuhara is, at a glance, an unassuming town in the mountainous heart of Kochi Prefecture. However, upon visiting the small town it is clear that there is more to Yusuhara than meets the eye. 

The town houses many architectural works designed by Kengo Kuma, whose decision to create the structures straddling the rocky border between Kochi and Ehime, was spurred on to aid in Japan’s ageing population crisis. 

The city hall and library have been designed to take full advantage of the natural surroundings of the village. Using local lumber and other materials the interiors of these structures use space and lighting to create the sensation of being in a forest even while inside. In addition to attracting tourists and the curious, the sites are completely free and open to explore, and the library is actually used as a sort of community centre and gathering spot for locals.

After exploring Yusuhara, take a relaxing drive to Nakatsu Gorge, famous for its crystal-clear water. The gorge is also known to be one of the tributaries of the Niyodo River. Enjoy a walk along the natural landscape where crystal-clear streams and waterfalls can be admired whilst stumbling upon man made statues of Japanese lucky goddesses.

The tour will end in Kochi, with a visit to one of the most well preserved castles in Japan Kochi Castle.

In the evening, meet up with the guide and visit the Hirome Market. Favoured by the locals, Hirome Market has various dinner options and a fantastic atmosphere, and with the help of the guide to find a table and order food, it is the perfect way to end the day in Kochi.

Overnight in Kochi

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Start (guided tour): 8:00 Duration: 10 h

This morning, visit the large mountainside temple complex of Chikurinji Temple, one of the stops along the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage. A monk will be guiding you in the temple, and with his teachings and assistance, choose either a meditation or sutra copying experience, followed by a prayer ceremony at the main-hall. 

Say goodbye to the monk then head from Kochi prefecture to Tokushima prefecture, and drive right into the heart of Shikoku – the Iya Valley.

Travel through the rolling hills and lofty mountains to Nishiiyayama Village to cross the iconic vine bridge and take in the beautiful scenery of the valley. This bridge is made using only vines and tree bark, and attracts thousands of visitors every year who come to admire the beauties of Iya River flowing just below. 

After this, head to the 50m high Biwa-No-Taki Waterfall. The name of which comes from the Heike warriors who used to sit by this waterfall and play the biwa (Japanese lute). Stop at historical houses and beautiful viewpoints overlooking the stunning landscapes. Not forgetting, of course, the iconic peeing boy statue!

This evening stay in a Japanese style Ryokan with hot spring facilities, perfect for relaxation. The hot spring of the accommodation is of course available inside the facility itself, but more interestingly is another open air hot spring, just around 100 metres below the hotel. The onsen overlooks the beautiful mountains, and is accessible by self-driving cable car.

Overnight in Iya Valley

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Start (guided tour): 9:00 Duration: 8 h

From the deep valleys of Iya the next visit will be in the old town of Kotohira, the fourth and final prefecture of Shikoku - Kagawa.

A popular pilgrimage spot for Japanese people, Konpira Shrine has been visited for more than 1000 years now. Walk through the old shopping arcade and up the 785 steps to the main hall of the shrine. Despite being declared a shrine during the Meiji period of Japanese history to separate the two religions, Konpira Shrine has a mixture of both Shinto and Buddhist elements. 

The final stop and closest point in Shikoku to main Honshu Island will be the city of Takamatsu. It flourished as a castle town during the feudal era and now serves as a gateway for tourists wanting to visit the neighbouring art islands such as Naoshima and Teshima.

Head to Ritsurin Park, one of the designated Special Places of Scenic Beauty in Japan. It is a 75-hectare property set against Mt. Shiun, and features thirteen man-made hills, six ponds, oriental bridges, and a wide variety of trees and flowers such as the Crane and Turtle Pine Tree, the Evergreen Oak Tree, irises, and azaleas.

The park was originally built in the 1620s to serve as a private garden for the then leaders of Kagawa prefecture, the Ikoma Family, and after more than a century, the garden was completed and became the villa of the succeeding Matsudaira family. After the restoration of the Meiji era, it was opened to the public and has become one of the favourites of both locals and foreign tourists since then.

Overnight in Takamatsu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

After enjoying some free time this morning, meet with the driver for a private transfer to Takamatsu Station by taxi.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast