Shikoku is an area consisting of Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi prefectures, and is characterized by the fact that the islands are surrounded by the sea on all sides, with countless islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea.
The Sanuki Mountains and the Shikoku Mountains run through the center of Shikoku, and the climate differs greatly between the northern and southern parts of the country. Kagawa and Ehime prefectures in the north have a Seto Inland Sea style climate, with summer monsoons blocked by the Shikoku Mountains and winter monsoons blocked by the Chugoku Mountains, resulting in a stable climate throughout the year with little precipitation.
Tokushima and Kochi prefectures, located to the south, have a Pacific Ocean-side climate, characterized by a large climatic gap depending on the season: hot and humid with frequent rainfall in summer and dry with little rainfall in winter.
The Shikoku area is particularly well known throughout Japan for the "Ohenro" pilgrimage to the 88 sacred sites opened by Kobo Daishi, and is still known as an area where many people go on pilgrimage trips. In the tourism area, events such as the Awa Odori Dance and Yosakoi Festival, as well as gourmet foods such as mandarin oranges and other citrus fruits, and seafood from the excellent fishing grounds of the Seto Inland Sea, are popular.
Major tourist attractions include the Oku-Iya Niju Kazura Bridge in Tokushima Prefecture, Angel Road in Kagawa Prefecture, Matsuyama Castle in Ehime Prefecture, and Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture.
The Oku-Iya Double Tortoise Bridge in Tokushima Prefecture spans the Coarse Valley River in Miyoshi City. The Oku-Iya Kazura Bridge is characterized by its traditional suspension bridge, which was built using Sarunashi and other vines, using techniques handed down from generation to generation. There is also a human-powered ropeway nearby, making it a popular spot for many tourists.
Kagawa Prefecture's Angel Road is a sandy beach path leading from Bentenjima to Nakayojima, Koyojima, and Oyoshima that appears twice a day only at low tide. It is said that if you cross the road holding hands with your loved one, your wish will come true, making the road a popular tourist spot for many couples.
Matsuyama Castle in Ehime Prefecture was built in 1602 by Yoshiaki Kato, a son of Hideyoshi Toyotomi and a military commander from the Azuchi-Momoyama to Edo periods. Matsuyama Castle has 21 important cultural properties, among which the main keep is the last complete castle structure of the Edo period and is known as a castle of high historical value, as it is the only one of the 12 existing keeps with the hollyhock crest on its roof tiles.
Today, Matsuyama Castle is equipped with a ropeway and other facilities, and is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Ehime Prefecture.
Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture is designated as the Muroto Anan Kaigan National Park and a national scenic beauty spot. The Cape Muroto Lighthouse, one of the 50 best lighthouses in Japan, is located on the cape and boasts the longest reach of light in Japan, about 49 km. Since Cape Muroto is not a busy tourist spot, it is a good spot for those who want to enjoy the natural scenery.
The Otsuka Museum of Art is an art museum that reproduces masterpieces from around the world on ceramic boards.The museum boasts the largest permanent exhibition space in Japan, with 1,074 items on display, including life-size ceramic panels of more than 190 masterpieces from 25 countries around the world. Among them, Picasso's "Guernica" and the wall paintings of the Sistine Chapel are particula...»
The Whirlpool Way is a promenade installed in the space of the Onaruto Bridge girder, allowing visitors to enjoy a walk on the sea to the observation deck 450 meters away. The observation deck at the end of the path has a glass wall that provides a view of both the Pacific Ocean side and the Seto Inland Sea side. A glass floor is also installed under the floor, allowing visitors to see the Narut...»