The Shikoku Region is not very well known. “I want to visit Shikoku, but I don’t know what it’s like,” is what some people think of Shikoku when planning a trip to Japan which is a shame considering Shikoku has much to offer. In this article, we will introduce you to the key places to visit and food to try in each of Shikoku’s 4 prefectures so you’ll not need to wonder what Shikoku is like anymore.
Table of Contents
The 4 Prefectures of Shikoku
Shikoku (四国) literally translates to “four regions” or “four provinces” which refers to the island’s ancient four provinces. At present, the Shikoku Region consists of 4 prefectures: Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, and Kochi.
Shikoku is located in the southwest of Honshu (本州; Japan’s main island), and has a relatively mild climate with little rainfall. In the centre of Shikoku Region, there are the "Shikoku Mountains" that are several thousand metres high. Mount Ishizuchi (Ehime Prefecture), which is the highest peak in western Japan, can be found here.
Shikoku has no connection by land to Honshu. People travel between Honshu and Shikoku using connecting bridges such as the Seto Ohashi Bridge and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, as well as by ferry.
Kagawa Prefecture 香川県
Writer's Pick
Kagawa Prefecture is located in the northeastern part of Shikoku. Kagawa is the smallest prefecture in Japan with an area of 1,877km². In October 2021, the population was approximately 942,000, ranking 39th among the 47 prefectures in Japan.
Kagawa Prefecture puts a lot of effort into tourism. It has attractive sightseeing spots and delicious food to enjoy. Sanuki Udon (讃岐うどん), which is a Kagawa specialty is famous all over Japan; it is so famous that Kagawa Prefecture is also called the "Udon Prefecture (うどん県)".
※ Statistics Bureau of Japan, “人口推計（2021年（令和3年）10月1日現在）”
Tokushima Prefecture 徳島県
Tokushima Prefecture is located on the eastern side of Shikoku. Tokushima is connected to Kansai/Kinki Region’s Hyogo Prefecture on Honshu by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the Onaruto Bridge. It is easily accessible from Kansai which makes it convenient to visit for sightseeing.
80% of Tokushima consists of mountainous areas. Mount Tsurugi, known to be the second highest mountain in western Japan, is located in the western part of Tokushima. The southern part faces the Pacific Ocean, great for enjoying the sea and beach activities when visiting in summer.
Ehime Prefecture 愛媛県
Ehime Prefecture is located in the northwestern part of Shikoku. This prefecture has the largest population in Shikoku with a population size of 1,321,000 (as of October 2021). Many of its industries are doing well. Ehime is divided into three areas: Toyo, Chuyo, and Nanyo. Each of these areas have their own charms.
※ Statistics Bureau of Japan, “人口推計（2021年（令和3年）10月1日現在）”
Kochi Prefecture 高知県
Kochi Prefecture, which spreads out like a fan on the Pacific Ocean side, is the largest prefecture in Shikoku. 84% of Kochi is covered by forests which makes it rich in nature. It is the birthplace of Sakamoto Ryoma, a feudal samurai who played an active role at the end of the Edo period. There are many sightseeing spots related to him that history buffs can enjoy visiting.
Famous Attractions in Shikoku
In this part, we will introduce popular sightseeing spots in each prefecture. This information will come in handy when planning your travel itinerary for Shikoku.
Famous Attractions in Kagawa Prefecture
The islands of the Seto Inland Sea in Kagawa Prefecture are famous for art, and are well known even overseas. Especially Naoshima (直島) which is dotted all over with art that you can enjoy whilst exploring the island. The blend of nature and art is what makes Naoshima so appealing to visitors.
Image Credit: Flickr Shibuya246
The “Red Pumpkin” created by world-famous artist Kusama Yayoi is said to be the symbol of Naoshima. Once every 3 years, a large-scale contemporary art festival called the “Setouchi Triennale (瀬戸内国際芸術祭)” is held on Naoshima and its surrounding island. If you are a big fan of contemporary art, we recommend travelling to Kagawa Prefecture during this period.
One of Kagawa’s famous sightseeing spots is Ritsurin Garden, a large garden in Takamatsu City. It is designated as a special scenic spot of Japan and you will be able to experience the traditional Japanese sense of beauty.
【Other Famous Attractions in Kagawa】
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Marugame Castle (Marugame City)
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Roadside Station Shodoshima Olive Park (Shodoshima)
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Konpira Shrine (Kotohira Town)
※ Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association, “うどん県旅ネット”
Famous Attractions in Tokushima Prefecture
Tokushima is the birthplace of Awa Odori (阿波おどり), a type of Japanese traditional dance. The world-famous matsuri called "Awa Dance Festival (徳島市阿波おどり)" is held from August 12th to 15th every year. You can still experience Awa Odori outside the festival at Awa Odori Kaikan in Tokushima City. Here, you can learn about its history as well as experience dancing.
Photo Credit: © 徳島県・一般財団法人 徳島県観光協会
The Naruto Whirlpools that occur on the surface of the Naruto Strait is a classic tourist spot. The ocean eddies that are caused by the sea level difference between high tide and low tide in the Seto Inland Sea and Kii Channel is one of the largest in the world. Sightseeing boats are available so you can even watch them up close. It is said that the ocean eddies are especially powerful during spring and autumn when the tide is high.
【Other Famous Attractions in Tokushima】
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Bizan Ropeway (Tokushima City)
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Otsuka Museum of Art (Naruto City)
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Iya Kazura Bridge (Miyoshi City)
※ Tokushima Prefecture Tourism Assocation, “徳島県観光情報サイト阿波ナビ”
Famous Attractions in Ehime Prefecture
A famous tourist spot in Ehime Prefecture is Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama City. The iconic Dogo Onsen Honkan is said to have been one of the models for the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli movie "Spirited Away". The property is undergoing renovations as of July 2022, but some facilities are still open. In addition, there are many souvenir shops in the adjacent shopping street called "Dogo Haikara Dori", so you will be able to enjoy a stroll around the town.
【Other Famous Attractions in Ehime】
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Matsuyama Castle (Matsuyama City)
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Shikoku Karst (Nishidani, Kumakogen, Kamiukena District)
If you are interested in other Anime Places in Japan, read Discover Anime Places in Japan: Anime Museums, Theme Parks, Cafes, and more! for ideas for places to visit. Dogo Onsen is also included in the article.
※ Visit Ehime Japan Official Website
Famous Attractions in Tokushima Prefecture
Kochi Castle, located in Kochi City, is the only castle in Japan where the Tenshu (the tallest tower of the castle) and Honmaru Goten (the centre of the castle) have survived to this day. Many of the buildings in Kochi still exist from the Edo period and are very worth seeing. It will be a great experience to visit even if you have no interest in castles.
The Tosa Sunday Market (土佐の日曜市), held in Kochi City, is the largest in Japan and is popular not only among local but also with tourists. There are about 400 shops lined up around Kochi Castle, where you can buy fresh agricultural products and processed foods unique to the region. Visitors can also chat with farmers and sellers while shopping which makes it more enjoyable.
【Other Famous Tourists Spot】
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Shimanto River (Shimanto City, etc.)
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Katsurahama Park (Kochi City)
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Ryugado Cave (Kami City)
※ Kochi Visitors & Convention Association, “こうち旅ネット”
What is the "Shikoku Pilgrimage"?
In recent years, Shikoku Pilgrimage trips have become popular. The “Shikoku Pilgrimage (四国遍路 shikoku henro)” is a journey to visit 88 temples related to Kobo Daishi (Kukai), the creator of the Shingon sect of Buddhism.
The purpose of the pilgrimage is to follow in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi with the aim of ridding yourself of worldly desires and receiving blessings. However, in recent years, the number of people who participate for other purposes has increased, such as people who are interested in Japanese temples and people who like to interact with locals.
For those who find it difficult to visit all 88 temples in a limited time, there are tours that include a pilgrimage experience available. If you are interested in Buddhism or want to experience Japanese history, the Shikoku pilgrimage will be a great experience for you.
※ Tourism Shikoku, “Shikoku Henro” (Check for more info about Shikoku Pilgrimage.)
Shikoku Region’s Specialty Foods
Here, we will recommend Shikoku’s local specialty dishes. Enjoy exploring Shikoku whilst filling up on delicious food.
Food Recommendations in Kagawa Prefecture
Udon
Udon of course! You can’t visit the Udon Prefecture without having at least one serving of udon. There are many udon restaurants in Kagawa where you can enjoy great, perhaps the best, udon at a reasonable price. There are tourists that visit several famous restaurants in a day because of how easy it is to find good and delicious udon. Its texture is what makes Kagawa’s udon so good.
Honetsukidori (Chicken on Bone)
For those thinking, “I know udon is the best here but is there anything else?”, we introduce “honetsukidori (骨付鳥; chicken on bone)”. Honetsukidori is a chicken dish that goes well with sake. It is prepared by grilling a whole chicken that has been seasoned with spices, so basically a roast chicken. There are 2 types of honetsukidori with different textures, “oyadori (親どり)” that’s chewy, and “wakadori (若どり)” that’s soft and juicy.
Oiri Soft Serve Ice-cream, Naoshima Burger
Other than the above 2 famous dishes, Kagawa also has soft serve ice-cream topped with “oiri (おいり)”, a colourful snack made from rice. In addition, when visiting Naoshima, make sure to try “Naoshima Burger” which is a yellowtail fish burger.
Food Recommendations in Tokushima Prefecture
Tokushima Ramen
Tokushima Ramen is highly recommended when visiting Tokushima. It is a ramen dish with a rich tonkotsu soy sauce base, salty-sweet pork and a raw egg topping, making it a satisfying meal.
Tokushima Don
Tokushima Don is made by combining rice with Tokushima Ramen’s ingredients. It seems to be gaining popularity as a new local dish. If you are looking to have a filling meal with large portions, give this a try.
Iya Soba
Iya Soba (祖谷そば) is a local dish from the Iya region of Tokushima, where buckwheat grows well. You can fully enjoy the flavour and texture of juwari soba (十割そば), which is soba made with only buckwheat flour and water, no other binding ingredients.
Food Recommendations in Ehime Prefecture
Citrus Fruits
Ehime Prefecture is known for having the largest citrus growing area in Japan. In particular, Ehime’s "Satsuma Orange" and "Iyokan" are famous. Juice, jelly, and soft serve ice cream made with satsuma orange and Iyokan are local foods that you should definitely try.
Red Sea Bream
In addition, red sea bream fishing and breeding is popular here. You will be able to enjoy a wide variety of dishes made from them. Sea bream rice, sea bream somen, and salt-grilled sea bream dishes are especially famous.
Food Recommendations in Kochi Prefecture
Bonito Tataki
If you visit Kochi, be sure to try bonito tataki. “Bonito Tataki (鰹のたたき katsuo-no-tataki)“ is a dish in which the surface of sliced pieces of bonito is seared, soaked in water, and then topped with plenty of condiments. Bonito tataki is a dish you can eat anywhere around Japan, but the taste of bonito tataki in Kochi, which has the highest catch of bonition in Japan, is said to be exceptional.
Inaka Sushi
Aside from bonito tataki, Kochi has a dish called “inaka sushi (田舎寿司)” that is sushi made with mountain village ingredients like shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginger, etc.
Sawachi Ryori
There’s also “Sawachi Ryori (皿鉢料理)” which is a dish of assorted cold food served on a large plate. There’s everything from sashimi, fried food, steamed food, bonito tataki, sushi, and more.
Takeaway
The Shikoku Region is blessed with nature and a warm climate. It also has many delicious foods. There are many tourist spots where you can feel the history of Japan. Each prefecture has its own specialties and charms, we hope this article comes in handy when planning your trip to Shikoku.
