Shikoku: Places to Explore

In the Iya Valley, mountain villages cling to the side of improbably steep hills while turquoise rivers rush through the ravines below. This remote region was once so isolated that it became the retreat... Read more

Kochi has earned a reputation for being different. The locals are rough-talking, boisterous, and social, and their spirited city has an attitude far from the Japanese mainstream. The famous Yosakoi Dance... Read more

Konpira-san shrine is the draw here: this mountaintop Shinto shrine draws pilgrims from all over Japan. Other than the shrine, there's not much else in town. The place is eerily quiet after sundown, and... Read more

Shikoku's largest city, Matsuyama prides itself on a great history, friendly disposition, fantastic cultural attractions, and a love for fine food, intense fashion, and haiku. You'll be quickly captivated... Read more

In past centuries, pirate attacks were the biggest surprise travelers encountered on the Seto Inland Sea. Now, it's the art museums of Naoshima. This tiny island in the inland sea between Takamatsu and... Read more

If you're coming to Shikoku by train or ferry from Honshu, your first stop will likely be Takamatsu, the capital of Kagawa Prefecture. Takamatsu combines urban verve with a relaxed down-home atmosphere... Read more

Tokushima literally means "virtuous island"—ironic, considering the local residents' fondness for drinking, dancing, and hard partying. The city's annual Awa Odori dance festival is Japan's biggest... Read more

This small farming town in the mountains south of Matsuyama was a major producer of Japanese paper and wax until the early 20th century. Now, it's a peaceful mountain town of old merchant houses, candle... Read more

Uwajima's claims to fame are its sumo-style bullfights and a notorious sex museum located next to the local Shinto fertility shrine, which has displays that would make Jenna Jameson blush. One way to get... Read more