Shikoku Island Trips & Tours

Japan's smallest main island is, in many ways, its most rewarding. Shikoku moves at a gentler pace to the mainland and it’s here that white-cloaked pilgrims still walk the 1,200-kilometre, 88-temple trail associated with the monk, Kūkai, and locals offer tea and rice cakes to passing strangers in the tradition of osettai. Shikoku Island also manages to squeeze a lot into its compact size: Tadao Ando's underground museums on the art islands of the Inland Sea, the ancient hot springs at Dōgo Onsen, and Kagawa's innumerous udon shops. Head south to Kōchi and the mood shifts entirely: wild Pacific coastline, bonito seared over straw flames, and the raucous Hirome Market. This is Japan for those who've done the big names and want to know what the rest of the country is really like.