THree weeks in Shikoku
Mar 4th, 2024, 02:50 PM
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THree weeks in Shikoku
I am planning to spend 20 days on Shikoku in October/November and would like to find 4 or 5 locations to use as bases for exploring the island. We will have a car so more remote locations will be accessible.
My wife and I are both aged 72 and not interested in surfing, white water rafting, long distance hiking etc. In general we are more interested in the ordinary rather than the extraordinary. We have been to Japan before and seen large cities, castles and temples. We are now more interested in seeing how people live rather than in sunsets, majestic views and iconic buildings. A keen photographer I am more inclined to photograph the small towns, suburbs and back streets rather than grand buildings and monuments. For the same reason I’m not keen on reconstructed heritage towns where houses are full of things to buy rather than local people living.
As I said, we would like to find 4 or 5 places where we could stay for about 4 to 5 days. Rather than the big cities we would prefer to be in or near small towns, although large enough to have restaurants, food shopping etc. with interesting sites either in the town or nearby, but also a town where I can happily spend time just walking around
Most of the information online, even those sites which talk of places “off the beaten track”, point to places where tourism is the town’s major activity. I’m looking for places where tourism is, at best, ancillary to agriculture, industry, fishing or whatever else employs the local population. Hopefully some of this forums participants who are familiar with Japan may be able to point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance, Paul
My wife and I are both aged 72 and not interested in surfing, white water rafting, long distance hiking etc. In general we are more interested in the ordinary rather than the extraordinary. We have been to Japan before and seen large cities, castles and temples. We are now more interested in seeing how people live rather than in sunsets, majestic views and iconic buildings. A keen photographer I am more inclined to photograph the small towns, suburbs and back streets rather than grand buildings and monuments. For the same reason I’m not keen on reconstructed heritage towns where houses are full of things to buy rather than local people living.
As I said, we would like to find 4 or 5 places where we could stay for about 4 to 5 days. Rather than the big cities we would prefer to be in or near small towns, although large enough to have restaurants, food shopping etc. with interesting sites either in the town or nearby, but also a town where I can happily spend time just walking around
Most of the information online, even those sites which talk of places “off the beaten track”, point to places where tourism is the town’s major activity. I’m looking for places where tourism is, at best, ancillary to agriculture, industry, fishing or whatever else employs the local population. Hopefully some of this forums participants who are familiar with Japan may be able to point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance, Paul
Mar 14th, 2024, 11:51 AM
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These ideas might be more remote than you are seeking, but since
no-one else has replied...
Do you know about Alex Kerr and Chiiori? That might be the vibe you are
after. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Kerr_(Japanologist) Chiiori
is in the Iya Valley, SE Shikoku.
The Iya Valley is pretty remote and famous for its vine bridges. I've
been there (a daytrip by rental car from Kochi) and have some photos
here (scroll down to 2014): https://adumbrate.org/pics/walks/
Note Nagoro. There are no hotels in the valleys themselves but
booking.com has places to stay. And there's a big onsen hotel just
left of the Manneken Pis statue.
In the other direction, the train from Kochi to Uwajima (SW Shikoku)
is very scenic. From Kubokawa it's a single car and the one I rode
was set up as a museum. Any of the villages along that route might
suit you, or on the route from Uwajima north to Matsuyama.
The islands north of Imabari are pleasant. Oyamazumi-jinja on
Omishima has 80% of all the NT armor in Japan.
Or there's the 88 temples pilgrimmage. I've not done it, but I
imagine many of the temples are in pleasant locations with
accomodations available.
no-one else has replied...
Do you know about Alex Kerr and Chiiori? That might be the vibe you are
after. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Kerr_(Japanologist) Chiiori
is in the Iya Valley, SE Shikoku.
The Iya Valley is pretty remote and famous for its vine bridges. I've
been there (a daytrip by rental car from Kochi) and have some photos
here (scroll down to 2014): https://adumbrate.org/pics/walks/
Note Nagoro. There are no hotels in the valleys themselves but
booking.com has places to stay. And there's a big onsen hotel just
left of the Manneken Pis statue.
In the other direction, the train from Kochi to Uwajima (SW Shikoku)
is very scenic. From Kubokawa it's a single car and the one I rode
was set up as a museum. Any of the villages along that route might
suit you, or on the route from Uwajima north to Matsuyama.
The islands north of Imabari are pleasant. Oyamazumi-jinja on
Omishima has 80% of all the NT armor in Japan.
Or there's the 88 temples pilgrimmage. I've not done it, but I
imagine many of the temples are in pleasant locations with
accomodations available.
