Known for the 88 temples in the Shikoku
pilgrimage route, Shikoku is also home to the Naruto
Whirlpools. Shimanami Kaido is also known as the
Nishiseto Expressway, it is a long toll road that
connects
Japan's main island of Honshu to the island of
Shikoku,
passing over six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
Shikoku is the smallest island and consists of only four
prefectures. Most
of Shikoku is still largely untouched by mass tourism.
This is a place
of immense natural beauty, steeped in colorful legend
and history, crowned
with 88 pilgrimage temples. The island can be traveled
to by the Shimanami
Kaido road. Shimanami Kaido is a 60 kilometer long
toll
road that connects
Japan's main island of Honshu to the island of
Shikoku,
passing over six
small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It is also known
as
the Nishiseto
Expressway. The Kirosan Observatory has views of
the
Kurushima Kaikyo Bridges
standing among hundreds of islands. These islands
are
beautifully scattered
all over the Seto Inland Sea, creating a scenery unlike
many others in
the region. There is also a modern observation deck
there for visitors
to overlook the scenic route. It was cleverly designed
and built halfway
into the ground of the hillside, protecting the natural
environment and
scenery.
In the city of Takamatsu there is a historical village
called Shikoku Mura
Village, it is an open air museum situated at the base
of
Yashima. This
pleasant hillside park preserves and exhibits traditional
buildings and
structures that have been relocated here from all over
Shikoku Island.
Ritsurin Park is one of Japan’s most beautiful
landscape
garden with a
100 years in the making. This spacious and beautiful
park features many
ponds, hills, trees, bridges, and pavilions. Many
people
have argued that
the park belongs on the list as one of the most
beautiful
landscape gardens
in Japan. There are a number of walking routes
throughout the park and
provides views that would leave any guest satisfied.
The city of Naruto is known for its swirling tidal
whirlpools, which are
considered the third fastest whirlpools in the world at
around 20 kilometers
per hour. Naruto's Ryozenji Temple is the first temple
of
the famous Shikoku
pilgrimage, which leads the pilgrims to begin their path
on the island
to visit 88 temples across Shikoku. These temples are
associated with the
famous Buddhist monk, Kobo Daishi, the founder of
Shingon Buddhism. At
each of the posts, the henro, or pilgrims, usually dress
in white and can
carry a walking cane as they travel along the routes to
each of the temples.
The pilgrims usually wear white, a color that
represents
death. Even the
details in what the pilgrims wear have a symbolic
representation to their
spiritual journeys.
Shikoku’s most popular shrine is the Kompirasan
(formerly the Kotohira-gu Shrine), located in the town
of
Kotohira. This is the main shrine of many Kompira
shrines, which are dedicated to sailors and seafaring.
This place is one of the most difficult shrines to visit
due
to visitors having to climb close to 800 steps to reach
the main shrine. Visitors wishing to get the luxury
experience can hire a palanquin to carry them up the
steep hill for a price. Despite the difficult approach to
the
shrine, this is still one of the most popular shrines in all
of Shikoku. Oboke Gorge is located within the Iya
Valley
in Shikoku and is one of the top outdoor activities
destinations in Japan. One of the most popular
activities
for guests visiting the area is riding one of the Oboke
Gorge boat rides. Visitors that are not interested in the
strenuous outdoor activities, such as hiking or rafting,
can instead enjoy a pleasant ride down the Yoshino
River.
Please see below for tours
that include Shikoku:
