'''Shikoku''' (_l__) is an oft-forgotten island in Japan. The smallest of Japan's Big Four, it lies to the south of Honshu. The island is thought of as a rural backwater, with few must-see attractions, but a visit there can wash away those doubts; the mountainous inner regions offer some '''good hiking''' and a glimpse of the elusive '''Real Japan'''. It is also the home of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage of the ''Shingon'' sect of Buddhism.
Regions
Shikoku literally means "four countries", and it indeed consists of four ancient countries (now prefectures) on Shikoku island, conveniently arranged around the compass points. Each prefecture also has an old provincial name, still often found in place names and listed in parenthesis below.
Ehime (''Iyo'') — to the west
Kagawa (''Sanuki'') — to the north
Kochi (''Tosa'') — to the south
Tokushima (''Awa'') — to the east
Cities
Kochi — home of "Yosakoi" and many local sights
Matsuyama — best known for the venerable hot springs of '''Dogo Onsen''', inspiration of princes and poets
Takamatsu — the largest city in Shikoku
Tokushima — home of the '''Awa Odori''' festival in August
Uwajima — (barely) on the tourist map due to an interesting fertility shrine and wrestling bulls
Naruto — the east gate of Shikoku.
Other destinations
Cape Ashizuri — a scenic cape at the southernmost point of Shikoku
Iya Valley — a remote but beautiful mountain valley
Kotohira — the site of the '''Kompira-san''' shrine
Mount Ishizuchi — the tallest peak in Shikoku
Oboke and Koboke — rafting on the Yoshino river
Understand
Shikoku is a primarily agricultural island, renowned for its citrus fruits. Cutting through the centre of the island is the mighty Yoshino river whose clear waters and big turbulent rapids make for great rafting.
Talk
Shikoku is far enough off the beaten track that some Japanese ability, while not absolutely necessary, will come in handy. Some of Shikoku's dialects, notably '''Tosa-ben''' spoken in Kochi, are famously incomprehensible even to other Japanese.
Get in
By car
While there are highways linking Shikoku with Honshu, they should be avoided. Tolls are extremely expensive (about 5000 yen, or roughly $50 USD).
By plane
Prefectural capitals Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Kochi and Tokushima all have small regional airports. Matsuyama has flights to Seoul and Shanghai, while Takamatsu fields a few flights a week to Seoul. For any other international destinations, you will likely have to connect via Tokyo or Kansai.
By train
Shikoku is not connected to the Shinkansen network, but there are frequent connections from Okayama on Honshu to Takamatsu and from there on throughout the island. The limited express Shiokaze (___}_@________) runs back and forth betweeen Okayama and Matsuyama roughly every hour during the day, skipping some stations on the way, if you feel like a more direct connection to that side of the island. The pace on Shikoku being what it is, don't come there expecting any of the trains to be super fast.
It would also be wise to remember that train information will be in Japanese only, unlike what you may be used to from the Shinkansen. So either be sure to brush up on your knowledge of terms such as "unreserved seats" and the names of the places you're planning to visit, in kanji, or plan to ask a lot of people (which may be more fun, but may also take more time).
By bus
If coming from Kansai or eastern parts of Japan, buses through Awaji Island are the fastest way of getting to Shikoku.
By boat
There are numerous ferries that run to Shikoku that can be taken from major cities like Kobe and Hiroshima. From Hiroshima to Matsuyama expect to spend 2700 yen. The ferry takes around 2 and a half hours.
Get around
By train
The JR train network connects the larger towns together fairly well, but regular trains are slow and expresses are expensive. The main lines are:
'''JR Yosan Line''' (_\_]__) on the west coast, from Okayama to Takamatsu and Uwajima via Matsuyama
'''JR Dosan Line''' (_y_]__) across the center of the island, from Okayama and Takamatsu to Kubokawa via the Oboke gorge (near Iya Valley) and Kochi
'''JR K?toku Line''' (______) on the east coast, from Takamatsu to Tokushima
For heavy travel, JR offers the '''Shikoku Free Kippu''' (_l___t___[______) [http://www.jr-eki.com/service_ticket/htm/shikoku/shikoku-free.html], which allows unlimited usage of JR trains and buses, including limited expresses, on three ''consecutive'' days (¥15700). If you manage to time it so that you can start on your birthday, ask for the '''Birthday Kippu''' instead, and you'll get the same deal for just ¥10000!
For the frugal traveler, the '''Shikoku Saihakken Haya-Toku Kippu''' (_l___________g_N______ ) [http://www.jr-eki.com/service_ticket/htm/shikoku/saihakken-re.htm] may be a better deal, as it offers one day of unlimited travel for just ¥2000. There are three big catches though: it's only valid on weekends and public holidays, it's limited to local trains, and you have to buy it at least one day in advance.
There are some other minor lines with infrequent trains. Some parts of the JR network, notably the southern segment from Kubokawa to Sukumo, have been split off to the private '''Tosa Kuroshio Railway''' company.
By bus
Buses fill in the gaps in the train network and are the only means of transport in areas like Cape Ashizuri and the Iya Valley. Schedules are sparse and prices are high.
On foot
Serious pilgrims may choose to complete the 88 Temple Circuit (see Do) on foot.
See
Castles
'''Original Castles'''
<br>
There are twelve original castles left in Japan and Shikoku is home to to four of them.
Marugame Castle, Marugame
Kochi Castle, Kochi
Matsuyama Castle, Matsuyama
Uwajima Castle, Uwajima.
<br>
'''Reconstructed Castles'''
<br>
'''Castle Ruins'''
Do
88 Temple Pilgrimage — a famous but grueling 1,647-kilometer hike around the entire island
The '''white-water rafting''' in the Yoshinogawa river around Oboke and Koboke is arguably the best in Japan.
Buy
The most sought after present or "omiyage" after a visit to Shikoku is Udon Noodles. Fresh noodles can be purchased at almost any souvenir shop.
Gifts related to the traditional "Henro," or Pilgrim and their outfit unique to Shikoku are also popular, including a "Henro" Hello Kitty cell phone charm. Available in Shikoku souvenir shops, or any airport in Japan (for those travelers who forgot to get "omiyage" while on their trip.)
Eat
There aren't any "Shikokuan" foods per se, but each prefecture has something that they're famous for:
Ehime: Sweet ''mikan'' mandarin oranges
Kagawa: ''Sanuki udon'' noodles
Kochi: Bonito (''Katsuo''), a type of small tunafish
Tokushima: ''Sudachi'' a little smooth green citrus fruit, like a lime
Drink
Sleep
Get out
Chugoku - Easily accessible by train, car, or ferry, from natural sites, such as the nation's largest cave in Akiyoshidai and the sand dunes of Tottori to rich historical cities, like Hiroshima and Okayama, the Chugoku region offers a wide variety of unique travel experiences.
Kansai - A pleasant escape from the mostly rural Shikoku to Osaka and Kobe are makes for a fun trip. With a plethora of historical and cultural sites in Kyoto, Nara, and Ise, a trip to Kansai can be enjoyable for all types of travelers.