Best Traditional Japanese Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage 1,200 km, Matsuyama Dogo Onsen 3,000 Years, Iya Valley, Naoshima Art and Shikoku Deep Heritage Tour Destinations
Browse more guides: Japan travel | Asia destinations TL;DR Shikoku is the smallest of Japan's four main islands and the one most travellers skip, which is exactly why the country's deepest traditions still breathe here. The 88 Temple Pilgrimage stretches 1,200 kilometres around the coast, white-robed walkers retracing a route Kobo Daishi laid out in the 9th century. Matsuyama keeps one of only twelve original castles still standing on its hilltop, and Dogo Onsen below it has been pouring hot water for roughly 3,000 years. Iya Valley hides vine bridges that 12th-century Heike refugees once cut to slow their pursuers. Naoshima turned a quiet fishing island into one of the most talked-about contemporary art destinations on the planet, and the Shimanami Kaido lets you cycle across six islands and the Inland Sea on a single dedicated bike path. Plan a 7-10 day Shikoku trip. Why Shikoku Belongs on Your Japan List Most first-time visitors to Japan ride the Tokyo to Kyoto corrido...