Go on an Adventure Travel Experience in Shikoku: the Land of the Ancient Gods

Welcome to Shikoku, the land of the ancient gods of Japan. If you haven’t been here before, now is the time to explore.

Introducing Shikoku Region

Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the peaceful Seto Inland Sea is Shikoku, one of the four main islands (and the smallest one) that make up Japan. There are four prefectures located in Shikoku: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima.

The island of Shikoku sits in southwestern Japan, to the south of Honshu. The northern coast of Shikoku forms the southern end of the Seto Inland Sea, also called the Mediterranean Sea of Japan. With its calm, cool waters, Seto Inland Sea is perfect for fishing and diving. To the south, Shikoku borders the Pacific Ocean, with its swells that attract surfers and whale watchers. The Shikoku region is also Japan’s famous pilgrimage destination and home to 88 sacred sites (Shikoku Pilgrimage or Henro).

What can we experience on adventure travel in Shikoku?

With its natural wonders, ancient pilgrimage routes, and beautiful history, Shikoku is worth visiting. Here are 13 types of adventure travel in Shikoku that you can book and experience.

Activity 1: The Best Pilgrimage Trail in Ehime

Prefecture: Ehime
Type of Experience: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 9 hours
Price Includes: Admissions, Lunch, Guide, Insurance

This pilgrimage trail in Ehime starts at Matsuyama City and will take you to two spectacular mountain temples, Temple 44 Daihō-ji and Temple 45 Iwaya-ji.

Your first stop is Temple 44 Daihō-ji, also known as "the temple of Great Treasure,” which stands in the middle of an ancient forest of cedar and cypress trees. Although burned down twice, the temple has since then been restored. It sits in the middle of a peaceful forest, surrounded by dense, tall trees and paths lined with ferns and moss-covered stones.

On the way to Temple 45 Iwaya-ji, you will enjoy a packed lunch while gazing at the unique rock formations that leave an unforgettable impression. The hiking trails leading to Iwaya-ji can be steep, but the view when you reach the top is worth it. Surrounding Iwaya-ji is an awe-inspiring nature scene, and the architecture of the temple buildings is also an impressive sight to see. After the mountain walk, you can take a relaxing dip in the Furuiwaya hot springs.

Activity 2: The Best Pilgrimage Trail in Tokushima

Prefecture: Tokushima
Type of Experience: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 9 hours
Price Includes: Lunch, Guide, Insurance

This trail starts at Tokushima City and takes you on a challenging but picturesque hike through the pilgrimages trails in Tokushima. Your first stop is Temple 11 Fujiidera of the famous Shikoku Pilgrimage. Known for its beautiful wisterias that are in full bloom in May, Fujiidera stands in the side valley of the Yoshino River.

After visiting Fujiidera, you will take the Henro path leading towards Temple 12 Shōsan-ji, your second stop for the tour. Because of its elevation (Shōsan-ji is the second-highest temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage), the temple is often covered in mist. The trail to reach the temple is steep, but there are some small Buddhist shrines and temples along the way where you can take a break.

Activity 3: The Best Pilgrimage Trail in Kochi

Prefecture: Kochi
Type of Experience: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 9 hours
Price Includes: Lunch, Guide, Insurance

From Kochi City, you will hike to three temples that are part of the Shikoku Pilgrimage: Temple 24 Hotsumisaki-ji, Temple 25 Shinshō-ji, and Temple 26 Kongōchō-ji.

Your first stop, Fudoiwa Cave, located in Muroto Geopark, is where Kukai, founder of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, found enlightenment. Next, you will make your way to Hotsumisaki-ji, located at the southeastern tip of Shikoku, overlooking Cape Marato and the Pacific Ocean. Gaze upon the magnificent ocean views as you tour the temple grounds. They aren’t too big but have intriguing features, such as a musical rock near the main hall that gives off a musical tone when hit with smaller stones.

Your next stop is Shinshō-ji, where the steps leading to the main hall are tall and steep, but the Shikoku nature views are just as breathtaking. When you look out, you can see the Murotsu River and the Pacific Ocean spread out before your eyes. The last stop of the tour is Kongōchō-ji, a quiet temple surrounded by a peaceful forest. As the surrounding coast was once known for whaling, you will also find a museum displaying whaling tools within the temple grounds.

Activity 4: The Best Pilgrimage Trail in Kagawa

Prefecture: Kagawa
Type of Experience: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 4 hours
Price Includes: Lunch, Guide, Insurance

From Takamatsu, you’ll make your way to Temple 80 Kokubun-ji. All around the temple grounds are pine trees that provide a lovely shade around the buildings and gardens. As you walk to the main hall, you'll see a series of 88 stone Buddha statues lining the path to the main hall. These statues represent miniature versions of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Following that, you’ll make your way to Temple 81 Shiromine-ji, which rests with Kokubun-ji on the impressive plateau of Mt. Goshikidai. At Shiromine-ji, you can visit the mausoleum of one of Japan’s medieval emperors, Emperor Sutoku. If you come in the spring, the cherry blossoms are a visual delight, while summer brings forth hydrangeas. In the fall, the trees change their colors to beautiful shades of red and gold.

Activity 5: Shimanami Kaido Cycling and Fast Current Cruise

Prefecture: Ehime
Type of Experience: Outdoor Activities
Duration: 8 hours
Price Includes: Guide, Transport, Lunch, Boat ride, Bicycle hire, Basic insurance

See the best views of the scenic Seto Inland Sea on the Shimanami Kaido in an experience CCN Travel calls “One of the world’s most incredible bike routes.” It is a cycling route famous among biking enthusiasts all over the world.

Your tour starts at Sunrise Itoyama, at the foot of the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge. You can rent bicycles there before you start your tour around the inland sea. You’ll cycle across the Kurushima Straits Bridge, which connects the island of Oshima to Shikoku. Standing tall with six towers and four anchorages, it consists of three successive suspension bridges and is the world’s longest suspension bridge structure. It spans the Kurushima Strait, which you can see with its rapid tidal currents that form fascinating whirlpools on the surface between the islands. You’ll get to see the racing currents of Kurushima Strait up close via a fast boat.

Next, you’ll get to visit Hakata Island, located between Oshima and Omishima. It is particularly picturesque in the spring, with over a thousand cherry trees dotting the landscape on the west side. Climb the observation tower to view the sea of pink flowers against the blue waves—a truly unforgettable site.

After visiting Hakata Island, you’ll get to enjoy a seafood lunch before making your way to Oyamazumi Shrine. Located on the island of Omishima, Oyamazumi Shrine is a must-see for visitors fascinated with samurai history and armor. It was once one of the most important shrines for samurai and features various armor and weaponry—80% of which are registered as National Treasures.

The last destination for the day is Tatara Bridge, located at Hiroshima and Ehime, before returning to Matsuyama. This bridge crosses the Seto Inland Sea and is part of the Nisheto Expressway (Shimanami Kaido). Originally planned as a suspension bridge, it was eventually changed to a cable-stayed bridge in 1989.

How long does it take to cycle the Shimanami Kaido?

You can bike the entire Shimanami Kaido in about four hours if you are an experienced cyclist. However, if you want to go at a leisurely pace to enjoy the scenic view and stop at some local tourist spots along the way, it will take approximately 10 hours.

Activity 6: The Silk Road in Nomura and Yawatahama

Prefecture: Ehime
Type of Activity: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 8 hours
Price Includes: Admissions, Lunch, Guide, Insurance

The Silk Road Tour in Western Ehime takes you from Matsuyama to visit the Nomura Silk Museum, where you can learn all about the culture of silkworms in Ehime’s southern mountains. The high-quality silk produced in this isolated rural region has been traded worldwide. Ehime is the only place in western Japan where raw silk is wound onto reels from cocoons.

After the museum tour, you’ll get a delicious seafood lunch in the port of Yawatahama. Following that, you will visit the Nisshin Hall, a massive silkworm hatchery established a century ago. It is the only remaining silkworm breeder in the prefecture.

Activity 7: Matsuyama Castle and Dogo

Prefecture: Ehime
Type of Activity: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 1 day
Price Includes: Admissions, Lunch, Tram, Guide, Insurance

The first item on the agenda is a tour of Matsuyama Castle. You’ll take the cable car up the mountain and savor the extraordinary views. From the castle tour, which dates from the Edo Period, you can see spectacular views extending from the Seto Inland Sea to Mt. Ishizuchi in the middle of Shikoku. See if you can find the caricature of a samurai as drawn by a carpenter who worked on the castle.

For lunch, you’ll have a choice of the traditional local dishes of Matsuyama. After lunch, you’ll explore Dogo, including its bathhouses, shrines, and temples. You’ll visit Dogo Park, once a castle, and Dogo Arcade, a great place to browse for unique souvenirs.

Activity 8: Matsuyama Geisha Entertainment

Prefecture: Ehime
Type of Activity: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 3 hours
Price Includes: Dinner, Alcoholic beverages, Entertainment, Guide, Insurance

Your guide will meet you at your hotel or JR Matsuyama station and then take you on a tram ride to Dogo where you will visit the elegant and welcoming Hanahimerō Teahouse. Here is where the geisha of Matsuyama practice the art of traditional Japanese entertainment—song, dance, conversation, and diversion.

The evening proceeds with a high-class dinner. You'll get a taste of the local sake served by the geisha. You will see traditional dances and take part in some fun geisha games.

Activity 9: Naruto Whirlpools and Indigo Dyeing

Prefecture: Tokushima
Type of Activity: Nature and Parks
Duration: 8 hours
Price Includes: Admissions, Boat fare, Lunch, Guide, Insurance

Starting from Tokushima, you will take a boat to see the Naruto Straits, where the waters of the Seto Inland Sea collide with the Pacific Ocean currents. This collision creates one of nature’s most unique phenomena: the Naruto Whirlpool, which you will see up close from the boat and again from the Onaruto Bridge, a massive suspension bridge.

After a delectable seafood lunch, you will make your way to Awa Jūrobe Yashiki Puppet Theatre where you will meet the evocative puppets that put together daily performances. Your last tour for the day is in Aizome, where you can find the origins of traditional indigo dyeing. You’ll get to try it for yourself and take home your personally dyed item as a keepsake of your experience in Shikoku.

Activity 10: Hiking the Valleys and Vine Bridges of Iya

Prefecture: Tokushima
Type of Activity: Outdoor Activities
Duration: 8 hours
Price Includes: Admissions, Lunch, Guide, Insurance

You’ll start from Tokushima and hike the steep valleys of Oboke Gorge and Iya Valley. These valleys are home to a system of sustainable agriculture that has persisted for over a thousand years. You’ll cross the swaying vine bridges and look out into the beautiful, rugged landscape. You’ll see thatched cottages dating back to the Edo Period.

Lunch will be both an experience and a culinary delight as you’ll get to try your hand at making soba noodles. You’ll then go on a funicular railway in the deep valley to access Iya Onsen, where you can have a relaxing dip afterward.

Activity 11: Shimada Teahouse Geisha

Prefecture: Tokushima
Type of Activity: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 2-3 hours
Price Includes: Dinner, Alcoholic beverages, Entertainment, Guide, Insurance

In the afternoon, your guide will meet you at your hotel or JR Tokushima Station. You will talk to the elegant and welcoming Restaurant Shimada where the geisha of Tokushima practice the arts of traditional Japanese entertainment.

Get ready to have a night of relaxation and delight. You will get to enjoy a high-class dinner with delicious local sake served by the geisha. You will also get to enjoy watching some traditional dances and playing some fun geisha games.

Activity 12: Ritsurin Garden and Shikoku Mura

Prefecture: Kagawa
Type of Activity: Nature and Parks
Duration: 4 hours
Price Includes: Admission, Lunch, Taxi, Guide, Insurance

You start the tour in the morning by visiting Ritsurin Garden, one of Japan’s best-known traditional parks. It has a Japanese-style garden in the south and a western-style garden in the north. The entire park features many ponds, rolling hills, historic trees, and beautiful pavilions. You can stroll around the lakes filled with colorful carp and cross arched bridges to islands covered in manicured pines. You will also get to see an artificial waterfall that was once operated by a bucket relay.

After lunch, you’ll get to explore Shikoku Mura, which gives you a glimpse of the rich architectural heritage of Shikoku. Shikoku Mura is an open-air museum that preserves and exhibits traditional buildings and structures. Many have been relocated from all over the island, including farmhouses and storehouses and various traditional workshops dating from the Edo and Meiji Periods.

Activity 13: Kochi City Half-Day Sightseeing

Prefecture: Kochi
Type of Activity: Arts, Culture, History
Duration: 5 hours
Price Includes: Admissions, Guide, Insurance

This morning tour of Kochi City starts with a visit to Ekingura, a museum housing the strange works of Edo Period artist Hirose Kinzo, better known as Ekin. He was a painter who delighted in creating scenes of grotesque mayhem and horror, although he painted several delicate beauties and pastoral scenes. In Ekingura, you will see reproductions of Ekin’s masterpieces. The rooms are lit by candlelight, the flickering flames creating an effect of bringing his works to life through their eerie movement and dramatic colors.

Your next stop is the Makino Botanical Garden, where you can see diverse Japanese flora and intriguing exhibitions. The garden covers 6 hectares and is home to over 3,000 plant species on display. It also showcases the life’s work of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, a Kochi-born botanist known as the father of Japanese botany.

After your garden visit, you’ll make your way to the beautiful Chikurin-ji Temple (Temple 31), with its panoramic views over the city. It is a spectacular sight, especially in the fall, thanks to its sweeping Japanese maples that turn into crimson and gold. Walk around and explore the main temple buildings, the elegant gardens, and a red five-storied pagoda.

Your last stop is the lively Hirome Market, the ideal place to grab lunch. There are various local delicacies you can try. Make sure you bring the food and drink you buy from the stalls and enjoy them on the large tables they set up around the market for a classic experience.

Note: Due to circumstances, we may refuse or be unable to sell tickets to these tours.

Traveling to Shikoku

Traveling to Shikoku is easy from the major airports all around Japan.

How to get to Shikoku from Tokyo:

If you are coming from Tokyo, you can easily fly out to the different airports in Shikoku with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass:

• 1 hour and 20 minutes to Tokushima Airport
• 1 hour and 25 minutes to Kochi Airport
• 1 hour and 25 minutes to Takamatsu Airport (Kagawa)
• 1 hour and 35 minutes to Matsuyama Airport (Ehime)

How to get to Shikoku from Osaka:

If you are coming from Osaka, you can take the flight or train. The travel time is as follows:

• 1 hour and 45 minutes to Tokushima by train
• 2 hours to Kagawa by train
• 50 minutes flight to Matsuyama Airport (Ehime) 
• 45 minutes flight to Kochi Airport or 4 hours and 50 minutes to Kochi by train

What is Shikoku Japan known for?

Shikoku is perhaps most known for the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage (also known as Henro)- a feature that makes Shikoku special. For those wondering, “Where do I start the Shikoku Pilgrimage?”, most people start at Temple 1 and travel clockwise until they reach Temple 88.

How long does it take to do the Shikoku Pilgrimage?

If you are going on foot, doing the Shikoku Pilgrimage will take about 6 weeks. Alternatively, you may opt to take a chartered bus which will take about 9-12 days. You may also opt to rent a car and drive to each temple, which will take about 10 days.

What is the most famous activity in Japan?

As you travel all over Japan, you’ll find many activities are a must-experience at least once in your life. These include dipping in the onsen, making Buddhist and Shinto pilgrimages by hiking to temples and shrines, experiencing Japan’s festivals, sightseeing in Japanese castles, and more.

Why book with the JAL Vacation package

Planning a trip can be challenging, especially if you are taking care of all the nitty-gritty details of preparing for your trip. Booking the JAL Vacation package gives you less to worry about.

It’s easy and hassle-free

You don’t need to worry about building your own itinerary or spending extra hours researching where to go, what to do, and what to see. JAL does all of that for you. English-speaking assistance is available upon request.

It lets you book everything at once

With the JAL Vacation package, you can buy international and domestic tickets, together with hotel stays and adventure travel activities. Instead of booking each leg of your journey separately and having to keep all details in mind, you can find packages with everything you may need, including flights, accommodations, and tours.

Why you should visit Shikoku

Shikoku is the land of adventure, of rustic, natural beauty, of ancient hiking paths, and of majestic mountaintop views. For those wondering, "where should we have our family travel adventure?"—why not try Shikoku? It's a year-round travel destination with many sights to see and places to go—you will surely have an unforgettable adventure.