Japan Shikoku tourism guide – Chia sẻ kinh nghiệm du lịch Nhật Bản
Shikoku (四国, truly “four nations”) is Japan’s fourth biggest island, southwest of Japan’s fundamental island Honshu. Consistent with its name, Shikoku is isolated into four prefectures. Shikoku (四国, literally “four provinces”) is one of the five main islands of Japan. Shikoku is the second smallest main island after Okinawa. It is 225 km or 139.8 mi long and between 50 and 150 km or 31.1 and 93.2 mi wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (as of 2015, 3.1%). It is located south of Honshu and north east of Kyushu. Shikoku’s ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima (伊予之二名島), Iyo-shima (伊予島), and Futana-shima (二名島), and its current name refers to the four former provinces that made up the island: Awa, Tosa, Sanuki, and Iyo.
Top destinations in Shikoku
Naoshima
Naoshima (直島) is an island in the Seto Inland Sea that is known for its cutting edge craftsmanship exhibition halls, engineering and figures. Some portion of Kagawa Prefecture, the island with its Mediterranean climate, sandy sea shores and radiant climate, joined with a laid back, provincial feel is a loosening up escape from Japan’s huge urban regions, for example, Tokyo and Osaka.
Kotohira
Kotohira (琴平) is a humble community in Kagawa Prefecture, which is acclaimed for Kompirasan, Shikoku’s most well known place of worship. Kompirasan is committed to nautical, and is said to have one of the most troublesome holy place approaches in Japan. Close by is the verifiable Kanamaruza kabuki theater.
Takamatsu
Takamatsu (高松) is the capital of Kagawa, Japan’s littlest prefecture. The city’s port used to be the fundamental section highlight Shikoku Island until the opening of the Seto Ohashi Bridge in 1988.
Shodoshima
Shodoshima (小豆島, Shōdoshima) is the second biggest island in the Seto Inland Sea and one of the principal islands destined to the divine beings in the creation legend of Japan. The name actually signifies “little bean island”, which in fact alludes to the azuki bean however today would all the more fittingly allude to the soy bean or olive as the island has generally been a maker of soy sauce and now is far superior known for its olive manors.
Marugame
Marugame (丸亀) is a port city in western Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku, found only west of the Seto Ohashi Bridge which interfaces Shikoku to Japan’s primary island of Honshu. The second biggest city in the prefecture, Marugame incorporates a considerable lot of the Shiwaku Islands, a generally significant island bunch that lies simply off the shore of the city. The Shiwaku Islands incorporate Honjima Island, the previous administering focal point of the island gathering. A few of the islands fill in as celebration scenes for the Setouchi Triennale.
Ehime Prefecture
Matsuyama
Matsuyama (松山) is the biggest city on Shikoku and the capital of Ehime Prefecture. At the core of the city stands Matsuyamajo, an excellent, unique stronghold. The manor’s peak vantage point offers a perspective on the city and a brief look at the Seto Inland Sea.
Uchiko
Uchiko (内子) is a lovely town situated around 40 km southwest of Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture. Presently a remnant of conventional, provincial Japan, Uchiko was at one time a prosperous focal point of wax and paper creation. One of the town’s fundamental attractions, the Kamihaga Residence, investigates this chronicled industry.
Ozu
Ozu City (大洲, Ōzu) is situated in Ehime Prefecture on the western shoreline of Shikoku. The city rose during the Edo Period (1603-1867) as a château town. An area of the old town remains today with nostalgic back streets and antiquated houses, filling in as recognition both to the times of the Edo Period and the Meiji Period (1868-1912). The as of late reproduced Ozu Castle stands gladly in the downtown area as the nearby symbol.
Uwajima
Uwajima (宇和島) is a beach front city in southern Ehime Prefecture, confronting the Bungo Channel that isolates Kyushu from Shikoku. The little city is home to one of just twelve surviving unique strongholds from the Edo Period (1603-1867). The Date Museum remembers the historical backdrop of Uwajima and the Date group which controlled the district around Uwajima for around more than two centuries during this period.
Kochi Prefecture
Kochi
Kōchi (高知市, Kōchi-shi, pronounced [koːꜜtɕi ɕi]) is the capital city of Kōchi Prefecture located on the island of Shikoku in Japan. Kōchi is the main city of the prefecture with over 40% of its population. As of April 1, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 332,059 and a population density of 1,100 persons per km2. The total area is 309.22 km2. A symbol of the city is its most famous dish, katsuo tataki, made by lightly searing and seasoning bonito.
Tokushima Prefecture
Iya Valley
The Iya Valley (祖谷渓, Iyakei) is a far off, sloping valley in western Tokushima Prefecture. Found somewhere down in the core of Shikoku Island, the confined valley is portrayed by steep mountain slants and profound rough chasms which were generally crossed by plant spans. Three of the plant spans, Iya Kazurabashi and the Oku-Iya Kazurabashi spans, are kept up right up ’til today and stay the absolute most famous attractions of the region. Iya is likewise notable for its natural aquifers and open air exercises.
Naruto
Naruto (鳴門) is the northeastern most city on Shikoku Island. Some portion of Tokushima Prefecture, Naruto is known for its twirling whirlpools. These can be found in the Strait of Naruto underneath the Onaruto Bridge associating Tokushima to Awaji Island.
Tokushima
SHIKOKU Tourism Discover
Shikoku island tourism map
In recent years, three bridges spanning the Seto Inland Sea have created land routes between Honshu and Shikoku. One connects Kobe to the city of Naruto in Tokushima via Awaji Island on the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway (the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge). The second route connects Okayama Prefecture’s Hayashima with the city of Sakaide in Kagawa via the Seto-Chuo Expressway (the six Seto-Ohashi Bridges; this route also features a rail line).
The third connects Hiroshima’s Onomichi with the city of Imabari in Ehime via the Nishi-Seto Expressway (the three Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridges; this route is also accessible on foot or by bicycle). With the construction of these routes, travel between Honshu and Shikoku via expressway and railway (Seto-Ohashi Bridge) has become more convenient than ever before.
The Pacific side of the island, which consists of the portion located to the south of Shikoku’s mountain range that runs east to west, sees more than its share of rain, but the climate of the entire island is relatively warm.
There are plenty of wild and natural spots, scenic and historic places, and traditional festivals.
Awa Odori summer festival which attracts 1.3 million people annually, Kochi prefecture’s summer Yosakoi festival which attracts 1 million people, Kochi’s outdoor Sunday Market which is one of Japan’s largest, and many many other attractions are what make up Shikoku.
There are lots of unique traditional foods made with the abundant produce from land and sea. Sanuki udon is made with wheat noodles and a soup stock made from soy sauce and seafood.
Tai meshi is made by cooking rice together with a whole sea bream. Tokushima ramen has a thick, rich broth made from pig and chicken bones. Katsuo no tataki is made by grilling the surface of raw bonito tuna and is served with a variety of strong-tasting accompaniments including slices of raw garlic, green onions, and ginger. Each region has its own unique local dishes, and the variety of tastes is a joy to explore.
One highly recommended experience for visitors to Shikoku is the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. The Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage is made up of places where Kobo Daishi (774 – 835), one of the greatest figures in Japanese Buddhism, studied and trained. The religious journey is said to impart travelers with blessings and religious merit, and it’s also a great way to enjoy the sights of Shikoku. The journey around the island to all 88 temples is approximately 1450 km long. Long ago, walking the entire Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage took 40 – 50 days, but now many people spend a single day visiting several temples, taking a bus or taxi to make the trip as efficiently as possible. Pilgrims can use whatever method suits their individual situations.
See the grandeur of Shikoku’s nature, encounter buildings steeped in history and tradition, explore streets and festivals, taste the blessings of the land, experience local cuisine, and get to know Shikoku in depth on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Surely a trip like this will leave you feeling fulfilled and happy, with a sense of being healed and renewed. Come experience the wonders of Shikoku that the local people have nurtured and valued for thousands of years.