{"id":15869,"date":"2021-09-17T08:32:22","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T06:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog?page_id=15869"},"modified":"2021-09-17T08:32:22","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T06:32:22","slug":"shikoku","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku","title":{"rendered":"Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The smallest of Japan\u2019s four main islands, Shikoku is a unique region of the country <strong>rich in culture and natural beauty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Known for its beautiful coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and Seto Inland Sea, its delicious <em>sanuki udon<\/em> noodles, and the <strong>Shikoku Pilgrimage to 88 Buddhist temples<\/strong> around the island, Shikoku has something for every visitor.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Historically, Shikoku was relatively isolated from the rest of Japan and has kept much of the nation\u2019s oldest cultural characteristics as a result, including the architecture of its many temples. This makes it the perfect destination if you want to see the <strong>authentic, traditional side<\/strong> of the country.<\/p>\n<p>It is now connected to Japan\u2019s railway network and can be easily visited if you have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/the-japan-rail-pass\">JR Pass<\/a>. <strong>Check out the guide to the region below<\/strong> to learn more about Shikoku.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_white no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Shikoku_prefectures\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> Shikoku prefectures<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Top_destinations_in_Shikoku\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> Top destinations in Shikoku<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Best_things_to_do_in_Shikoku\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> Best things to do in Shikoku<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Main_train_lines_and_transportation\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">4<\/span> Main train lines and transportation<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Other_regions_of_Japan\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">5<\/span> Other regions of Japan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Shikoku_prefectures\">Shikoku prefectures<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Shikoku may be a relatively small island, but it constitutes <strong>4 of Japan\u2019s prefectures<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ehime <\/strong>\u2014 home to Japan\u2019s oldest hot spring, 2 castles with the original keeps intact, and various national parks<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kagawa <\/strong>\u2014 connected to the main island of Honshu via the Great Seto Bridge, this prefecture is famous for its <em>sanuki udon<\/em>, olives, sandy beaches, and the major city of Takamatsu.<\/li>\n<li><strong>K\u014dchi <\/strong>\u2014 Shikoku\u2019s most rural prefecture looks out over the Pacific Ocean. Its rugged coastline and rivers are renowned for their beauty, while historical towns, castles, and breweries can all be visited.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tokushima <\/strong>\u2014 famous for the Awa Odori Festival of traditional Japanese dancing, as well as the Naruto whirlpools found off the coast between Tokushima and Honshu.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Top_destinations_in_Shikoku\">Top destinations in Shikoku<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Shikoku spans an area of around 18,800 square kilometers (7,259 sq mi). Much of the island is rural, with a focus on agriculture and fishing. Between its small towns and villages and its many temples, it is a great place to <strong>experience the traditional character of Japan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The most populous cities in Shikoku are <strong>the capitals of its 4 prefectures<\/strong>. Each of these locations has plenty to see and do, with their own unique landmarks and features:<\/p>\n<div class=\"paginas-recopilatorio--wrap\">\n        <!-- HTML Content -->\n    <div class=\"paginas-recopilatorio\">\n        <article id=\"post-15753\"\n            class=\"post-15753 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry\">\n            <header class=\"entry-header\">\n                <H3 class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/matsuyama-japan\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n                        Matsuyama                    <\/a>\n                <\/H3>\n            <\/header>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-5 image-pad\">\n                <div aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <a class=\"post-thumbnail lazy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/matsuyama-japan\">\n                        <img width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/matsuyama-castle-japan.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"matsuyama japan\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/matsuyama-castle-japan.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/matsuyama-castle-japan-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/matsuyama-castle-japan-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n                <div>\n                    <footer class=\"entry-footer\">\n                        <span class=\"cat-links\">\n                                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/destinations\" rel=\"category tag\">\n                                Destinations                            <\/a>\n                                                    <\/span>\n                    <\/footer>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-7 image-pad\">\n                <div class=\"entry-content\">\n                    <p>Capital of the Ehime prefecture and the <strong>largest city on <\/strong><strong>Shikoku Island<\/strong>, Matsuyama has lots to offer tourists in Japan.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to its famous castle and hot springs, Matsuyama is <strong>home to important museums<\/strong> including The Museum of Art, Ehime and The Shiki Memorial Museum.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/matsuyama-japan\" class=\"more-link\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read more...<\/a>                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/article>\n    <\/div>\n    <!-- HTML Content END -->\n        <!-- HTML Content -->\n    <div class=\"paginas-recopilatorio\">\n        <article id=\"post-15721\"\n            class=\"post-15721 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry\">\n            <header class=\"entry-header\">\n                <H3 class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/takamatsu-japan\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n                        Takamatsu                    <\/a>\n                <\/H3>\n            <\/header>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-5 image-pad\">\n                <div aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <a class=\"post-thumbnail lazy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/takamatsu-japan\">\n                        <img width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/takamatsu-ritsurin-koen.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/takamatsu-ritsurin-koen.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/takamatsu-ritsurin-koen-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/takamatsu-ritsurin-koen-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n                <div>\n                    <footer class=\"entry-footer\">\n                        <span class=\"cat-links\">\n                                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/destinations\" rel=\"category tag\">\n                                Destinations                            <\/a>\n                                                    <\/span>\n                    <\/footer>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-7 image-pad\">\n                <div class=\"entry-content\">\n                    <p>Takamatsu is one of the core Japanese cities, located in the Kagawa prefecture in the Shikoku region. Situated on the shores of the Seto inland sea, it is <strong>an important port city and one of the main entry points to<\/strong><strong> Shikoku Island<\/strong> from the main island of Honshu.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/takamatsu-japan\" class=\"more-link\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read more...<\/a>                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/article>\n    <\/div>\n    <!-- HTML Content END -->\n    <\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Best_things_to_do_in_Shikoku\">Best things to do in Shikoku<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Shikoku has a wealth of things to see and do. From exploring stunning rock formations and rugged coastline to white-water rafting on the Yoshino River, this region is <strong>perfect for outdoor activities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>It is also a great place <strong>if you love Japanese architecture<\/strong>. K\u014dchi Castle is widely considered to be the most intact castle in the country, while it is never hard to find a Buddhist temple \u2014 there are 88 on the famous Shikoku Pilgrimage trail.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the <strong>best things to do on Shikoku<\/strong> include the following:<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Main_train_lines_and_transportation\">Main train lines and transportation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Various train lines operate in and to Shikoku. Although the island is not served by any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/shinkansen-bullet-trains\">Shinkansen (bullet trains)<\/a>, it is possible to travel on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/sanyo-shinkansen-jr-pass\">Sanyo Shinkansen<\/a> to Okayama Station and change to<strong> the Seto-\u014chashi Line<\/strong>. This crosses the Seto Inland Sea via the Great Seto Bridge to reach Shikoku, connecting the region to the rest of Japan\u2019s railway network.<\/p>\n<p>In this way, it is possible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/shikoku-travel-guide\"><strong>reach Shikoku using a JR Pass<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The trains on Shikoku itself are run by <strong>Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku)<\/strong>, while the Seto-\u014chashi Line is operated by both JR Shikoku and JR West.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>train lines that serve the Shikoku region<\/strong> are as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seto-Ohashi line<\/li>\n<li>Yosan line<\/li>\n<li>Tokushima line<\/li>\n<li>Kotoku line<\/li>\n<li>Dosan line<\/li>\n<li>Shimanto green line<\/li>\n<li>Mugi line<\/li>\n<li>Aiaru iyonada line<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Other_regions_of_Japan\">Other regions of Japan<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Japan is made up of <strong>8 official regions<\/strong>, although Okinawa Prefectures is often regarded as a 9th region of the country.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from Shikoku,<strong> the other regions of Japan are<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/chubu\">Chubu<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/chugoku\">Chugoku<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Hokkaido<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/kansai\">Kansai<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/kanto\">Kanto<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/kyushu\">Kyushu<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/tohoku\">Tohoku<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The smallest of Japan\u2019s four main islands, Shikoku is a unique region of the country rich in culture and natural beauty. Known for its beautiful coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and Seto Inland Sea, its delicious sanuki udon noodles, and the Shikoku Pilgrimage to 88 Buddhist temples around the island, Shikoku has something for every visitor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3721,"parent":1909,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":{"bread_1":false,"bread_2":false,"bread_3":false,"bread_4":false,"bread_5":false,"bread_6":false,"bread_7":false,"bread_last":false,"custom_guide":"","shortcodes":[{"post_id":"destinations","tag_h":"H3","post_selector":[{"ID":15753,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2021-09-03 09:41:39","post_date_gmt":"2021-09-03 07:41:39","post_content":"Capital of the Ehime prefecture and the <strong>largest city on <\/strong><strong>Shikoku Island<\/strong>, Matsuyama has lots to offer tourists in Japan.\r\n\r\nIn addition to its famous castle and hot springs, Matsuyama is <strong>home to important museums<\/strong> including The Museum of Art, Ehime and The Shiki Memorial Museum.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nMatsuyama merged with several other townships during the 20th to create the city that exists today. It is now home to over half a million people.\r\n<h2>How to Get to Matsuyama<\/h2>\r\nJapan Rail Pass holders can reach Matsuyama by train from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/takamatsu-japan\">Takamatsu<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/okayama-travel-guide\">Okayama<\/a> without paying any additional fees.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The <strong>Ishizuchi limited express<\/strong> train takes you from Takamatsu to Matsuyama in 2 hours and 30 minutes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The <strong>Shiokaze limited express<\/strong> service runs from Okayama to Matsuyama in 2 hours and 45 minutes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nTo get from <strong>Tokyo to Matsuyama<\/strong> using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/\">JR Pass<\/a>, you should <strong>take Hikari or Sakura trains to Okayama<\/strong> before transferring to the limited express service mentioned above. The entire journey takes around 6 hours 30 minutes.\r\n\r\nA slightly faster option would be to take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Okayama.\u00a0 <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From October 2023, you can ride<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/faq\/nozomi-mizuho-shinkansen\">Nozomi trains with the Japan rail pass <\/a>if you pay a supplement.\r\n\r\nIf you\u2019re not traveling by train, you can <strong>take a highway bus<\/strong> to Matsuyama. There are also <strong>flights from Tokyo <\/strong>and several other Japanese cities to Matsuyama Airport.\r\n\r\n<iframe style=\"border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d1678288.8783521883!2d135.12732324220661!3d34.75791114461433!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e3!4m5!1s0x60188bfbd89f700b%3A0x277c49ba34ed38!2sTokyo%20Station%2C%201%20Chome-9%20Marunouchi%2C%20Chiyoda%20City%2C%20Tokyo%2C%20Japan!3m2!1d35.6812362!2d139.7671248!4m5!1s0x354fe5814c7744a9%3A0x149ed5a9ccc032ce!2sMatsuyama%20Station%2C%201-ch%C5%8Dme-14%20Minamiedo%2C%20Matsuyama%2C%20Ehime%20790-0062%2C%20Japan!3m2!1d33.8403466!2d132.75127849999998!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1630653186580!5m2!1sen!2sus\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe>\r\n<h2>What to See and Do in Matsuyama<\/h2>\r\nMatsuyama is best known for <strong>Matsuyama Castle <\/strong>and <strong>Dogo Onsen<\/strong>. Both offer an insight into the history of the region. The old port is also well worth visiting when in the area.\r\n<h3>Visit Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan\u2019s original castles<\/h3>\r\nMatsuyama Castle is a must-see when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/shikoku-travel-guide\">visiting Shikoku Island<\/a>. A castle was first built on the site in the early 17th century by Kato Yoshiaki, a Japanese daimy\u014d and general.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_15754\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"800\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-15754\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/matsuyama-castle.jpg\" alt=\"Matsuyama Castle\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/> Matsuyama Castle[\/caption]\r\n\r\nIt is <strong>one of 12 surviving original Japanese castles<\/strong>. The castle as it stands today dates back to 1854 after earlier versions burnt down twice, in 1642 and again in 1784.\r\n\r\nMatsuyama Castle sits on a hilltop in the center of Matsuyama Koen Park. You can either climb up or <strong>take the Matsuyama Ropeway<\/strong> which will get you to the top of the park in a few minutes.\r\n\r\nInside the castle, there are exhibits and displays explaining the history of Matsuyama and the feudal period.\r\n<h3>Dogo Onsen, the oldest hot spring in Japan<\/h3>\r\nBoasting <strong>over 1,000 years of history<\/strong>, Dogo Onsen claims to be the oldest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/best-onsen-in-japan\">onsen hot spring in Japan<\/a>.\r\n\r\nThe bathhouse currently built on the site is from 1894 and was <strong>frequented by the Japanese writer Natsume S\u014dseki<\/strong>. The writer references the springs in his 1902 novel, Botchan.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_15759\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"800\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-15759\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dogo-onsen.jpg\" alt=\"Dogo onsen\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/> Dogo Onsen, Matsuyama - Photo by Wei-Te Wong[\/caption]\r\n\r\nDogo Onsen Honkan offers<strong> stone-built public baths for men and women<\/strong>. The main bath on the first floor is called Kami no Yu meaning \u2018Bath of the Gods\u2019. On the second floor, you\u2019ll find a smaller bath called Yama no Yu or \u2018Bath of the Spirits\u2019.\r\n\r\nA section of the Honkan, the Yushinden, was built for the Imperial Family at the end of the 19th century. You can <strong>enjoy a short guided tour<\/strong> of this elaborately decorated area of the bathhouse, which was reserved for visiting emperors.\r\n\r\nTo <strong>learn more about the history of the springs<\/strong>, you can take a look at the displays of old documents such as admissions tickets.\r\n\r\nDon Onsen Honkan is a great place to relax and understand more about Japanese history and culture.\r\n<h2>Mitsuhama old port district in Matsuyama<\/h2>\r\nMitsuhama is Matsuyama\u2019s port, separated from the rest of the city by the Miyamae River. Mitsuhama has existed as a <strong>fishing and commercial district <\/strong>for many years and has retained its old-world feel. Many of the buildings in the area have been standing for over 100 years.\r\n\r\nVisit the port in the morning to experience the fish market, or have a stroll through the narrow streets to enjoy the historical atmosphere.\r\n\r\nMitsu Station was<strong> one of the first stations to be built on Shikoku Island<\/strong>. The original station was built in 1888 and rebuilt in 2009 maintaining the traditional style.\r\n<h2>Things to Do and Other Attractions in Matsuyama<\/h2>\r\nThere are several other places worth seeing in Matsuyama, including:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Shikid\u014d Museum<\/strong>\u2014a museum dedicated to Japanese poet Shiki Masaoka who was born in Matsuyama<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Matsuyama Prefectural Art Museum<\/strong>\u2014 contains both western and Japanese art collections<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>The Shikoku Pilgrimage<\/strong>\u20148 of the 88 temples on the route are located in Matsuyama<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Botchan train<\/strong>\u2014replica of a small-gauge steam locomotive that tourists can ride<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThere are also <strong>sheltered shopping arcades in Matsuyama <\/strong>with fashion boutiques, cosmetic stores, jewelry shops, and more. You\u2019ll find plenty of places to eat, including traditional Japanese restaurants, caf\u00e9s, and bakeries.\r\n<h3>Foods to try in Matsuyama and the Shikoku region<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Goshiki somen noodles<\/strong> first appeared in Matsuyama and are now popular throughout Japan. They come in 5 different colors: brown, green, yellow, red, and white, colored using things like tea and oranges.\r\n\r\nThe Ehime prefecture is the largest citrus-fruit-growing region in Japan. Matsuyama, in particular, is <strong>known for its mandarin oranges<\/strong>, or <em>mikan<\/em>. Whilst in the town, try mikan specialties including ice cream, beer, and juices.","post_title":"Matsuyama Travel Guide","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"matsuyama-japan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-08-01 15:06:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-08-01 13:06:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog?p=15753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":15721,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2021-08-27 09:38:32","post_date_gmt":"2021-08-27 07:38:32","post_content":"Takamatsu is one of the core Japanese cities, located in the Kagawa prefecture in the Shikoku region. Situated on the shores of the Seto inland sea, it is <strong>an important port city and one of the main entry points to<\/strong><strong> Shikoku Island<\/strong> from the main island of Honshu.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nTakamatsu\u2019s strategic location led to its creation as a castle town by the <em>daimy\u014d<\/em> (feudal lords) during the Edo period. Its rich history can still be seen today, in both the remains of the once-grand castle and <strong>Ritsurin Koen<\/strong>, which dates back to the 17th century and is considered one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/best-gardens-japan\">msost beasutiful gardens in Japan.\u00a0<\/a>\r\n<h2>How to get to Takamatsu<\/h2>\r\nIt\u2019s easy to get from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/cities\/tokyo-travel-guide\">Tokyo<\/a> to Takamatsu by train using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/\">JR Pass<\/a>. Simply <strong>take the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/tokaido-shinkansen-jr-pass\">Tokaido<\/a> - <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/sanyo-shinkansen-jr-pass\">Sanyo Shinkansen<\/a> to Okayama Station<\/strong>, and then take the <strong>JR Marine Liner<\/strong> rapid train from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/okayama-travel-guide\">Okayama<\/a> to Takamatsu.\r\n\r\n<iframe style=\"border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d1673475.855999174!2d135.66664014151536!3d34.99399829366682!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e3!4m5!1s0x605d1b87f02e57e7%3A0x2e01618b22571b89!2sTokyo%2C%20Japan!3m2!1d35.6761919!2d139.65031059999998!4m5!1s0x3553c1c5548d47df%3A0x72f429d49c1ef71b!2sTakamatsu%2C%20Kagawa%2C%20Japan!3m2!1d34.342542!2d134.0465405!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1630049106670!5m2!1sen!2sus\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe>\r\n\r\nThe journey<strong> takes roughly 5 hours<\/strong> to complete. The cost is fully <strong>covered by the Japan Rail Pass<\/strong> if traveling on Hikari and Sakura services. You can also travel from Takamtsu to Matsuyama on express trains on the Yosan line using the JR Pass.\r\n\r\nA <strong>night train service<\/strong>, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/night-trains-sunrise-express\"> Sunrise Seto<\/a>, also operates daily between Tokyo and Takamatsu. The journey time is approximately 9.5 hours.\r\n\r\nJR Pass holders are able to<strong> travel in \u201cnobi nobi\u201d floor space combatants on this train at no extra cost<\/strong>, but must pay an additional supplement to ride in a private compartment. It is necessary to make an advance reservation to travel on this service.\r\n\r\nAlternatively, you can<strong> fly from Tokyo from Takamatsu<\/strong> in roughly 80 minutes. Daily flights operate from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/haneda-airport-to-tokyo\">Haneda Airport<\/a>, and the fare is typically 34,000 yen for a one-way adult ticket.\r\n\r\nHowever, it is often much cheaper to fly to Takamatsu from Narita Airport: one way tickets can cost as little as 4, 000 yen. <strong>Frequent buses operate from Takamatsu Airport <\/strong>to the city center, and the bus ride only takes around 40 minutes.\r\n\r\nFinally, you could opt to <strong>take a night bus from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/tokyo-train-station\">Tokyo<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/shinjuku-station\">Shinjuku stations <\/a><\/strong>to Takamatsu Station. The trip takes around 10 hours and fares vary from 6,000 and 14,000 yen depending on dates.\r\n<h2>What to see in Takamatsu<\/h2>\r\nMost of the <strong>best attractions in Takamatsu<\/strong> are within a short walking distance of the central Takamatsu Station, and include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Takamatsu castle<\/strong> - Also known as Tamamo Castle, little actually remains of this historic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/best-castles-in-japan\">Japanese castle<\/a> constructed in 1588. However,the imposing stone walls and moats still stand, as does the original gate and 3 turrets. The most impressive of these is the Tsukimi Yagura turret, which looks out over the Seto Inland Sea. The structure was built for moon-viewing, as the meaning of \u2018Tsukimi\u2019 is literally \u2018moon see\u2019.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Ritsurin Koen<\/strong> - As mentioned above, this vast park is home to one of the most impressive gardens in Japan. It\u2019s full of lush greenery, charming ponds on which you can take a boat ride, and antique tea houses where you can participate in a traditional Japanese tea serving ceremony. It is also an ideal location for Autumn<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/best-places-autumn-leaves-japan\"> leaf viewing in Japan<\/a> in the Fall.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Kagawa Musuem<\/strong> - Features a number of galleries and fun interactive exhibits dedicated where you can learn all about the history of the prefecture in which Takamatsu is situated.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\"]<img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/takamatsu-ritsurin-garden-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/> Ritsurin Koen Garden in Takamatsu[\/caption]\r\n\r\nWhile in the area, you might also want to<strong> consider a day trip to nearby Yashima<\/strong>, just a short train ride from Takamatsu. Here you can find Shikokumura, an open air museum that preserves several traditional Shikoku houses, and well as a small art museum containing serveral pieces of work by Pablo Picasso.\r\n<h2>What to do in Takamatsu<\/h2>\r\nVsitors to Takamatsu can keep themselves busy with the following <strong>popular<\/strong><strong> activities:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Go shopping<\/strong>- Takamatsu is famous for its covered arcades which boast numerous enticing opportunities for shopaholics.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Try the udon<\/strong> - You can barely walk down a street in Takamatsu without coming across an udon shop, and it is almost a crime to leave the city without trying one of its renowned noodle dishes. Popular options include Kake Udon, a noodle broth topped with sliced fish sausage, and Tempura Udon, served with deep-fried shrimp.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Explore the Sanuki Takamatsu Festiva<\/strong>l - If you visit the city in August, then this popular summer festival featuring traditional dance performances and elaborate fireworks is a must-see.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Take a walk in Tamamo Park<\/strong> - The location of Takamatsu Castle, this charming green space is also one of the most popular spots in the city for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/best-cherry-blossom-spots-in-japan\">cherry blossom viewing<\/a> in the city during the spring.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_15722\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"800\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-15722\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/takamatsu-castle-tanmano-park.jpg\" alt=\"Takamatsu castle\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/> Takamatsu Castle (Tamamo park) - Photo by 663highland under CC[\/caption]\r\n\r\nWhile in the Seto Inland Sea area, you should also<strong> consider a day trip hopping between the small islands<\/strong> off the cost of Takamatsu, many of which are easily accessible by ferry. Particularly of note is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/naoshima-travel-guide\">Naoshima Island<\/a>, which is home to a number of unique art installations, including its famous giant pumpkin statue.","post_title":"Takamatsu travel guide: Discovering Shikoku","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"takamatsu-japan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2021-08-27 09:38:32","post_modified_gmt":"2021-08-27 07:38:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog?p=15721","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}]}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide | JRailPass<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the island of Shikoku \u2014 an unspoiled region of Japan where whirlpools, castles, and 88 Buddhist temples await visitors. Learn more in this guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15869\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide | JRailPass\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover the island of Shikoku \u2014 an unspoiled region of Japan where whirlpools, castles, and 88 Buddhist temples await visitors. Learn more in this guide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Japan Rail Pass Travel Blog | JRailPass\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/shikoku-island-e1528384986803.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"480\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku\",\"name\":\"Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide | JRailPass\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-17T06:32:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-09-17T06:32:22+00:00\",\"description\":\"Discover the island of Shikoku \u2014 an unspoiled region of Japan where whirlpools, castles, and 88 Buddhist temples await visitors. Learn more in this guide.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Japan Travel Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Regions of Japan\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Japan Rail Pass Travel Blog | JRailPass\",\"description\":\"Discover Japan by train with the Japan Rail Pass\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Japan Rail Pass S.L. - JRailPass.com\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logo.png\",\"width\":214,\"height\":60,\"caption\":\"Japan Rail Pass S.L. - JRailPass.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide | JRailPass","description":"Discover the island of Shikoku \u2014 an unspoiled region of Japan where whirlpools, castles, and 88 Buddhist temples await visitors. Learn more in this guide.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15869","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide | JRailPass","og_description":"Discover the island of Shikoku \u2014 an unspoiled region of Japan where whirlpools, castles, and 88 Buddhist temples await visitors. Learn more in this guide.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku","og_site_name":"Japan Rail Pass Travel Blog | JRailPass","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":480,"url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/shikoku-island-e1528384986803.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku","url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku","name":"Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide | JRailPass","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2021-09-17T06:32:22+00:00","dateModified":"2021-09-17T06:32:22+00:00","description":"Discover the island of Shikoku \u2014 an unspoiled region of Japan where whirlpools, castles, and 88 Buddhist temples await visitors. Learn more in this guide.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan\/shikoku#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Japan Travel Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Regions of Japan","item":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/regions-of-japan"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Shikoku Region: Japan travel guide"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/","name":"Japan Rail Pass Travel Blog | JRailPass","description":"Discover Japan by train with the Japan Rail Pass","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Japan Rail Pass S.L. - JRailPass.com","url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logo.png","width":214,"height":60,"caption":"Japan Rail Pass S.L. - JRailPass.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15869"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15869\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}