Job Discussion Forums

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

Hey all

So I'm looking at heading down to Shikoku for 5-7 days at the end of March/begining of April. My plan is to use the seishun juhachi-kippu to get down there, then camp/hike as much as possible...I'm not really looking to do the Henro (although I'd be happy to see some of the temples), but I'd like some info on train links, camp sites, cool stuff to see, etc. Assume I know NOTHING!! I heard the Iyo Valley is really nice...anywhere else?

I'll also be looking to take quite a few photographs on this trip, so any advice on photogenic places would be especially appreciated.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

The Iya Valley is beautiful You can also camp on the beaches in Kochi which have campgrounds and apparently great.

Sorry no links for you.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

you could go up to Kompira, which is in Kotohira (in Kagawa). It is something like 1200 steps or more to get to the top. From there you can see Okayama. It is quite a hike.
The temple is a place where local fisherman pray for good luck.

Kagawa is famous for its sanuki udon.

I like Naruto (Tokushima ken). You can see where they made the movie about the German POWs in WWI (the set is there), and there is a big building nearby where they have concerts of classical music and you can buy German beer and food.

For onsens, I guess the place is Dogo, which is next to Matsuyama, in Ehime.

In Iya you can cross that bamboo or wooden bridge which shakes as you cross. I think it`s called Kazurabashi. Something　like that.

Tokushima is known for its sweet potatoes, and yuzu.
In Tokushima you can see the Awa Odori daily, in their building.
Tokushima has a place where you can see local crafts, like puppets, dyeing (always indigo), and I think pottery.

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

temple 'round these parts is Zentsuji temple. It is the supposed home temple of Kobo Daishi, the genius who went to China and learned the language in a few months and brought Buddhism back to Japan. It has a rather nice atmosphere and an almost completely black tunnel underneath that you have to feel your way through, as well as a completely refurbished/new set of statues around the perimeter representing the monks in a myriad of different poses and with very charming and kooky expressions. Then there are the hard-as-a-rock but delicious ginger biscuits that you can buy by the piece very near the gate. There's a big magnificent old camphor tree and a pagoda too. Best of all it's about ten minutes walk from the station and if you're lucky you might run into some pilgrims as it's on the 88- temple route. If you like Indian food, there's an extremely good small restaurant on the right on the road between the station and the temple. Extremely good, with a lunch special for about 1000 yen.

If you want to get away from it all, you might try taking the ferry from Marugame to any of the small islands about 10 to 15 minutes away. It's a nice ride and the islands are a lot more rural than you'll find in most of Japan. But be warned, there aren't so many services on most of them so you should take some food with you. There is probably at most one restaurant with limited hours and a limited menu. But they can be peaceful and beautiful places to escape for a few hours or maybe overnight.

Kotohira town has a wonderful old world flavour, especially around the shrine approaches which are lined with shops. Perhaps the best thing though is off the beaten track. If you look for the paths going off to the right ( there's one near the old kabuki theatre) you can follow the paths through sugi and other big trees in a gentle upward spiral. You can often hear nightingales. And you can avoid the narrow stairs and crowds. There are many roads in and out so you can rejoin the crowds whenever you like. They also make some special cookies fresh in the little shops leading to the shrine and there's an Udon school at the bottom where you can spend a few hours making Udon and then eating it if you like. Or there are a lot of restaurants selling good Udon, or places to buy packs to take home.

Birdog3344 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 126 Location: Osaka, Japan

If you plan on doing a few hiking/camping trips I recommend purchasing the LP Hiking Japan. It has great info on day to week-long hikes around the country. It includes a terrific 3 day trek on and around Tsurugi-san (in Tokushima-ken?). You'll find yourself above the clouds with amazing scenery.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Have you tried the outdoorjapan site?

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

Thanks for all the advice! I'd heard that the Iya Valley was good, but nothing about the beaches in Kochi...will they be warm enough in late march?
I have used outdoorjapan several times...I have yet to buy the LP Hiking in Japan book, but everyone raves about it so I should probably just stop being cheap and lay out for it!

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Have fun down there!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

Hmmm...ok, good to know. I suppose if I'm doing any moutnain hiking at that time of year I should be thinking about winter gear. Maybe I'll just stick to the beaches Wink

Since I won't have a car, I'll be somewhat limited to places I can reach by public transport...

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

well you can get to Kotohira by train, and the cities of Takamatsu, Koichi, Tokushima, and Matsuyama.
Takamatsu has one of the famous gardens in Japan.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

here are a few pictures of Kotohira:

www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0004/station083.htm

and these are from Dogo:

www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0004/station005.htm

here is Toyocho (Koichi):

www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0004/station066.htm

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

It's not easy to get to any of the beaches by public transport. Kochi beaches are a distance from the city. You might be able to find a bus out and back but it won't be very convenient. Kochi does have a famous Sunday market, though. It's very long and with interesting things offered for sale, including foods.

You can walk to the shrine from Kotohira station, about 10 minutes; Zentsuji shrine can be walked to easily in about the same time. You CAN walk to Ritsurin park from the station but it's a good hike. There are city buses leaving from the station and an info kiosk in front of the station, though they don't have much English. I don't think Ritsurin park is that fantastic and there are usually crowds; it's on the tour bus route, but you might like it. You can see pictures with a search on the web.

Tokushima is quite beautiful, but again you will be walking a long way from the stations to most points of interest. Most everyone here travels by car.

I think the advice to get a good book or do some web research and print off maps to take with you is a sound one, otherwise you are just going to be seeing more concrete and congested roads, like everywhere else in Japan. We can give you pointers but won't be able to give you all the info you need for a smooth trip.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

I've only been there a few times, as I always encountered bus tours. Maybe just bad timing. I know a lot of people like it, and as you've been 60 times, I bow to your superior experience, Gordon. I do remember that I liked the small "woods" at the back.

I suppose I prefer the smaller gardens or even the "forest" whenever I can get to it. I happen to be among the carless in Shikoku. Smile