Shikoku: an ideal vacation destination in Japan

If you manage to complete the 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage, you will honor the Japanese tradition and your feet will hurt a lot.

Although Shikoku is the smallest of the great Japanese islands, it is a great region to explore if you want to travel to Japan. Recognized among the Japanese, here are some reasons why you should spend one of your vacations in Shikoku !

What predominates in Shikoku is nature that overflows with trails, a Zen atmosphere and the Japanese tradition that is felt everywhere. Throughout the Japanese archipelago you can see cherry blossoms at the time of their flowering, but in Shikoku nature is much more magical and grand.

Shikoku Island also has many cities in Japan, the largest being Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture, which is very popular with travelers from Japan. This city in Japan is famous for its hot springs , its 19th century castle, and the Ishite-Ji Buddhist temple .

The capitals of the other prefectures, Takamatsu, Kochi and Tokushima are also worth a visit!

The main tradition of Shikoku is to make a pilgrimage to the 88 temples on the island , called Hachijûhakkasho . To discover Japan and participate in the rituals of Buddhism, you can also embark on these specific itineraries of Japanese culture through the well-trodden paths of Shikoku. What’s more, it won’t cost you a yen!

There are also other visits that you can plan if you travel to the Japanese territory of Shikoku, such as the city of Naruto with its whirlpools, or the Iya Valley and the Oboke Gorges . You can also take the opportunity to visit the traditional village of Uchiko or the Shinto shrine of Kotohira-gu Kompirasan to discover the Shinto customs!