Shikoku regional guide

Author: Edutraveller
Date written: 04/18/2003 09:52:36 PM
Last edited: 2003/05/25 16:53:04
Keywords: Shikoku, Shikoku travel guide, Japan regional guide

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Shikoku

Shikoku. The smallest of the four main Japanese islands, Shikoku gets its name from the four prefectures that it contains ("shi" = four, and "koku" = country).

Shikoku literally means "four countries" and the small island, the fourth-largest in the archipelago, is composed of four prefectures - Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi and Tokushima. One of the most unspoilt and natural areas of Japan left, there are plenty of opportunities to find the Japan of yesterday in the rolling green hills of Shikoku.

Famous as a pilgrimage destination, the island is dotted with Buddhist temples and lined with pilgrimage routes which also make ideal walking for hikers and travellers. Plenty of hot springs (onsen) dot the route for a relaxing soak after a hard day's walking. There are also plenty of interesting sights on the routes - obviously the hundreds of temples and shrines that punctuate the pilgrimages, but also castles (four of which predate both World War two and the Meiji restoration that caused the destruction of so many ancient Japanese buildings) and gardens (see the famous Ritsurin Koen in Kagawa-ken). For the best experiences, make the most of the surf and sea in the summer and come and go by boat from the main island if you have time - avoid the shinkansen for a minute and take a leisurely cruise to Honshu or Kyushu from Matsuyama, Takamatsu or one of the many other small ports along the coast.

Being an island, Shikoku has been fairly isolated from the mainland, and with its small population (just over 4 million) the island is in many ways a backwater where you won't find much of the neon signs of Tokyo or the crowds of Osaka. What you will find however is a friendly people and a place just one step closer to the traditional Japan.

Getting there

Ferries in the Shikoku region. Click for larger image.

Shikoku is easily reached by airplane, with internal flights regularly landing at Takamatsu, Kochi, Tokushima and Matsuyama. Trains from Honshu run from Okayama, and there are plenty of raod entry points over Seto-Ohashi near Okayama/Takamatsu, Kurushima Kaikyo Ohashi near Onomichi and Imabari, and the Akashi Kaikyo Ohashi near Tokushima/Kobe.

If travelling within Japan, you will either fly direct to one of the local airports, or take a train through Okayama, or come by road on one of the three bridges. Otherwise there are innumerable ferries that ply between all parts of the coast and Honshu, Kyushu and further abroad.

Weather

Average temperatures in Shikoku. Click for larger image.

Average sunshine in Shikoku. Click for larger image.

Temperatures in Shikoku are as for the surorunding areas of Japan, but with lots of mountainous areas to enjoy hiking and pilgrimages, the weather can be perfect. Sunshine hours are high and consistent throughout the year, so taking one of the many pilgrimage routes can be pleasant at almost any time, rainfall excepted.

Average rainfall in Shikoku. Click for larger image.

Rainfall is virtually non-existent during the spring and winter, but picks up slowly as the weather warms and typhoons start to come through. From June to September, rainfall can be very high in typhoons and you should take care if hiking near rivers. Rainfall drops off rapidly through September, and autumn is one of the best times to see Shikoku at its most beautiful.

Things to see

Shikoku is regarded as fairly rural and hard to get to by most Japanese. However, while the former may be true in some parts, the latter is not the case. Shikoku is best known for its pilgrimage routes, and it is well worth trying at least a part of one route and seeing some of the 88 saced temples (and many other temples) that are dotted all over this green island. The route is about 1500km long, so it may take some time. Unless you just do a bit of it, of course.

Kagawa Prefecture

Takamatsu: Ritsurin Garden, Takamatsu Castle, Yashima Temple, Shikoku Mura, Nogushi Garden Sculpture Museum.
Kotohira: Kotohira-gu, Kanamaru Kabuki Theatre.
Marugame: Marugame Castle, Marugame Art Museum, Zentsu Temple.

Tokushima Prefecture

Tokushima: Awa Odori (dance at Obon festival), Awa Puppet Theatre, Whirlpools in Naruto-kaikyo.
Iya Valley: Hiking, camping, rafting.

Ehime Prefecture

Matsuyama: Matsuyama Castle, Shiki-do (home of haiku), Dogo Onsen, Hachiman Isaniwa Jinja, Municipal Shiki Memorial Museum.
Niihama: Niihama Taiko Matsuri (drum festival), hiking.
Uwajima: Uwajima Castle, Taga Jinja (and Sex Museum).

Kochi Prefecture

Kochi: Kochi Castle, Godaisan Park, Chikurin-ji
Other parts: Katsura Beach, Ino-cho (paper museum), Muroto Misaki (Higashi-dera temple), Ashizuri-Misaki (Kongo-fukuji Temple).

ART AND CRAFTS

Shikoku is best known for pilgrimages, but also famous for its arts and crafts. Lacquerware, washi (Japanese paper), paper fans and umbrellas, geta, pottery, cloth and bamboo work, each part of the island has its own distinctive speciality.

In Kagawa, look out for lacquerware of all sizes, paper fans and waxed umbrellas, Takamatsu geta (wooden shoes), and Masahiwara for pottery.

Symbol of Tokushima Prefecture

Tokushima has Otani-yaki, massive pottery items that take two potters to make and can be up to a metre or more across. Awa indigo dye from this region is unique and highly prized.

Symbol of Kochi Prefecture

Kochi is famous for paper and kites (taki) made from this. Flown at festivals and to celebrate auspicious occasions, Kochi kites are colourful and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Finally, Ehime, home of the Mikan (Japanese satsuma type orange), has Tobe-yaki, made in Tobe city for over 400 years. The simple designs in blue on white are distinctive and highly collectable. Take-zaiku has been making bamboo whisks, ladles, and all sorts of items for over a thousand years.