Hi everyone! As par of a bigger trip I want to travel between Osaka and Fukuoka over a span of seven days (firs week of April) by using the Setouchi Area Pass, one of the few Rail Passes that I still consider worth.
My idea is to stay on Osaka for four nights (I have been there in the past), and to activate the Setouchi Area Pass on the second one. While I have no plans yet for those days, I think that makes Osaka an amazing place to day trip from, as Kobe, Kyoto and Nara are included. I have been in the last two in the past, but they are still great options (specially Kyoto has a lot of festivities in April).
On the fourth day, anyway, I want to visit both Himeji and Okayama on the same day, as, as far as I know, there is not that much to see apart from the castle and the garden, respectively. There is no actual need for this to be the fourth day, but it is a way of saying this trip will be done for sure as I have never been there.
The part this post is about, though, is that I want to cover all regions of Japan on my trip and there was no way I avoided Shikoku. So, on the fourth day of the JR Pass, I plan to depart from Osaka again to reach Takamatsu. Once there I plan to visit Ritsurin Garden, to view the castle and to eat some sanuki udon. I think I also have enough time to visit the Shikoku Mura.
On the next day, I want to be visiting Matsuyama, to also visit the castle and the castle ruins and probably relax on an onsen for some hours. On the afternoon, I want to take the ferry to Hiroshima, which is also included in the pass. I know not even two days is not enough to experience Shikoku, and I am sure I will regret it being the region where I plan to stay the less time, but the Setouchi Area Pass does not really go deeper south (apart from Ozu and Kotohira, which I do not think are worth an extra day from Osaka).
Just to close it up, next two days after shikoku I will be visiting Hiroshima (Day 1) and Itsukushima (Day 2). On the afternoon of the second day I will take the shinkansen to Fukuoka. This is the way I think I can extract the max juice of the JR Pass.
So, what do you think of this? I think Shikoku has an amazing nature that I would like to explore, but public transport is not that good and I am limited by the pass. While I could extract one day from Osaka to extend my short stay on the island, I think having one extra free day to visit Kyoto or Nara is far more worth than that.
Also, feel free to suggest your hidden spots on Matsuyamaand Takamatsu, food I should try and other recommendations. Of course you can add recommendations for any of the other spots, but this post is about Shikoku.
EDIT: One question I forgot to add. Do you recommend staying on Matsuyama or Takamatsu for the only night I will be there?
6 comments
Stay in Matsuyama for sure. Takamatsu is much more “city” even though it isn’t very big, while Matsuyama is much more chill (if rather touristy around the onsen thanks to Natsume Soseki).
As for highlights, I’d recommend Matsuyama and Kochi for their respective castles and historical landmarks, as well as Kotohira for its shrine, the gorge at Oboke and Koboke, Imabari for its textiles, Tokushima for the whirlpools at Naruto….
Try the local udon while in Kagawa Prefecture, sake in Kochi, citrus in Ehime, and sweet potatoes in Tokushima.
Someone replied with some useful information, but then it disappeared. I want to be able to read it T.T
Okayama have Kurashiki nearby or Kibi plains that is apparently nice to cycle. Himeji have Mount Shosha with Enryo-ji temple on top.
Also make no sense to me to not sleep in Okayama if you need to go back next day to go to Shikoku.
Going to Kyoto or Nara is cheap enough and I would consider to do it outside of the pass to spend a bit more time in shirkoku, like spend a night in both cities you listed instead of rushing to do both that fast.
Takamatsu for a quieter situation, Matsuyama for more liveliness. The Ritsurin Garden is lit up for autumn lights (depending on when you go). I loved Takamatsu for food (udon) and lacquerware. Matsuyama I liked for the castle, taimeshi, and nightlife. There’s a rice store in Takamatsu that also makes onigiri. I bought many onigiri to taste, then I bought several kilograms of my favourite rice as a souvenir.
Kotohira is one of the most underrated places in Japan in my opinion. Ozu is slightly underwhelming historical town.
As your time is limited, I guess maybe it’s best to stick to your original plan. Having said that, here are my recommendations.
Kotohira is definitely worth a visit. Personally, I’d say combining Marugame Castle and the shrine at Kotohira on one day would make a more worthwile day than what you have planned in Takamatsu.
There are some wonderful temples on Shikoku that you might want to have a look at. Iyadani-ji, Motoyama-ji and Zentsū-ji come to mind. They are all in the area you are talking about.
Ōzu would make a good combination with the historical town of Uchiko.
About Matsuyama: Isaniwa Shrine is beautiful. Enman-ji has a large and quaint Jizō statue.