Japan's Shikoku
Shikoku
The smallest of Japan’s main island, Shikoku lies just across the Seto-naikai from Honshu. While it hosts a long history of religious and political significance, Shikoku remains overwhelmingly rural and sparsely populated. Divided into four perfectural capitals, Takamatsu, Tokushima, Matsuyama, and Kochi respectively, Shikoku offers a plethora of shrines and temples, heritage and traditions in which to explore. The island’s topography is fairly mountainous, with peaks 2000m in height, and offers a landscape as lush as it is scenic.
One of its finest settings remains that of Takamatsu. Originally a castle town that headed the feudal realm of Sanuki, Takamatsuoffers spectacular insight into the rich history of this country. Wander the halls of the Takamatsu-jo Castle, built in 1588, or admire the Ritsurin-koen Park, which contains some of Japan’s most spectacular gardens.
In between Honshu and its southerly neighbor, discover the thousands of islands that populate the Inland sea known as the Seto-naikai. Here, discover views that rival those of the Aegean. Witness the spectacular sunset where the myriad islands fade back into the horizon, or venture to the artists paradise of Naoshima, an island dedicated to contemporary art.
