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

Any recommendations for places to go, things to see in Shikoku? Looking for cultural sites, scenery, hiking and camping locations, off the beaten path stuff, etc. Thanks.

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

The Oboke Gorge is a must see. Can't recommend a place to stay there as it was a day trip for me. Yashima is an interesting place too, just outside of Shikoku. You could stay in the Toyoko Inn in Takamatsu to get there as there is nowhere decent in Yashima. I could give you the link if interested. I'm a 30 minute walk away from Yashima mntn.

worlddiva · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject:

Kochi's nice!

near the ocean, good surf, mountains, etc.

You can stay at the Kochi Sunrise hotel for 6000yen a night. The hostel here is full, I heard.

Been to Takamatsu and Matsuyama, still prefer Kochi city.

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

Thanks Gordon and Diva. I'm definitely going to do some camping, hiking and possibly rafting in Oboke and if there's time, head to Kochi. Have a good Golden Week!

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

there are a couple castles in Shikoku, in Matsuyama and in Kochi.
Ehime is well known for pottery, and has bull fighting.
Takamatsu has a nice garden (Ritsurin Koen), and in Kagawa there is Kompira temple, but to get there you have to go up about 1400 steps or so, then you get a nice view of the sea.
I thought it would be cool to get a boat and visit islands on the Inland Sea.

juliecao611 · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:09 am Post subject:

we are going to shikoku with the same plan. we have planned the first few days on the beaches of kochi and then head to the gorge. we are thinking of renting a car for the gorge to maximize our the short time we have. we will be camping the entire time. we have been told the eastern end of ikumi beach is a good place to camp. how is the public transit into the gorge and iya valley??

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

you really need a car to get out there.
I went to the bridge (Kazurabashi) there last year during Golden Week and couldn`t believe how crowded it was. There was a long line of cars to get there.
In fact after being in the car for a while I got out and started walking.

My wife first went as a teenager but back then it wasn`t so popular.

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

How did your trip go?

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

The trip was fantastic. Stayed at a cheap (3000 Yen/person) Ryokan in Tokushima. Mt. Bizan was a bit dissapointing but the Hana Haru (Spring Flower) Festival was amazing. Among the many food vendors and arts and crafts booths was the centerpiece of the festival; the Awa Odori dance. It is a 400 year old folk dance that is both very primative and quite elegant at the same time. The womem's dance includes gracefull hand gestures and slow movements and the man's dance is aggressive and powerfull. As the local saying goes, "The dancing fool and the watching fool are both fools, so why not dance!", so at the end of the day many of the onlookers joined in and as the drums intensified so did the energy and communal vibe. That night we ate in a great Vietnamese Izakaya (with numerous offerings of 'Chien' on the menu!?).

Next two days were spent in Takamatsu where we clmbed the 1100+ steps of Kompira-san and were blown away by the beauty of Ritsuren koen. Found another great Izakaya for dinner.

Camped the next two days in Oboke, tent just off the water, and went white water rafting. Last full day decided on an impromptu hike to Miune-san which turned out to be one of the toughest and most rewarding climbs we've ever done- just 3 1/2 hours but practically straight up with few switchbacks. The view was incredible. Got lost on the hike down the next day and were forced to take the Shinkansen home to Osaka as we were working the next day. Really wanted to hit Yoshima and Kochi, just didn't have time to fit them in. Perhaps next time.

BTW Gordon, thanks for asking. How was your GW?

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

Glad you had a good time. I think Shikoku is a nice place for those of you in the big cities who look at skyscrapers all day long. For those of us who live next to rice paddies near the mountains and sea, the city is a rea;l adventure.
I went to Kobe for a few days with my family. We have friends there so we stayed with them. Great weather the whole time.