{"id":3720,"date":"2018-06-22T07:06:06","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T05:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog?p=3720"},"modified":"2018-07-13T13:36:04","modified_gmt":"2018-07-13T11:36:04","slug":"shikoku-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/shikoku-travel-guide","title":{"rendered":"How to visit Shikoku island with the JR Pass"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What do you picture when you think of Japan? The bustling neon city of Tokyo? Or the historic shrines, picturesque views, and quaint towns? If you\u2019re looking to go beyond the city to meet the charming, slower-paced side of this interesting nation, Shikoku may be for you.<\/p>\n<p>Shikoku is the smallest of Japan\u2019s four main islands. While small in size, this destination offers big rewards to the well-informed traveler. From white-clad pilgrims walking the circuit of the Eighty-eight Shines, to installations of modern art, Shikoku has something for everyone!<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Another unique feature of Shikoku is how you will arrive there. Most often, this is done by means of the <strong>Great Seto Ohashi Bridge<\/strong>, a double-decker bridge that connects the islands and accommodates both automobile and rail traffic.<\/p>\n<p>From the <strong>Marine Liner train<\/strong>, you\u2019ll see views of the islands, sea, seagoing vessels unlike any other. We\u2019ve compiled the following guide to introduce you to this interesting place and give you the confidence to plan your next vacation.<\/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=\"#Matsuyama_city\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> Matsuyama city<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#How_to_get_to_Matsuyama_by_train\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">1.1<\/span> How to get to Matsuyama by train<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Takamatsu_city\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> Takamatsu city<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#How_to_get_to_Takamatsu_by_train\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.1<\/span> How to get to Takamatsu by train<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Other_Shikoku_highlights\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> Other Shikoku highlights<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Matsuyama_city\">Matsuyama city<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Matsuyama, in the Ehime prefecture,<strong> is Shikoku\u2019s largest city<\/strong>, yet it still reflects the spirit of times past. While there, you can relax in the <strong>Dogo Onsen Honkan<\/strong>, a large and intricate bath house that inspired some elements of the film <em>Spirited Away.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3726\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3726\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/dogo-onsen-matsuyama-e1528385262441.jpg\" alt=\"Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3726\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Dogo Onsen is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Also worth a visit is the <strong>Ishiteji Temple<\/strong>, complete with a unique, large limestone cave 200 meters deep featuring religious paintings. One of Japan\u2019s twelve authentic castles, the <strong>Tokushima city castle<\/strong>, is located nearby. It offers a complex, maze-like climb that is rewarded by a stunning overlook of the city.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"How_to_get_to_Matsuyama_by_train\">How to get to Matsuyama by train<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>From Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka or any of Japan\u2019s major cities, use your<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\"> Japan Rail Pass<\/a> to take the <strong>Sanyo Shinkansen<\/strong> bullet train to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/okayama-travel-guide\">Okayama<\/a>. The Sanyo Main Line, Uno, Tusyama and Kibi lines also pass by Okayama and are included in the JR Pass.<\/p>\n<p>Then, take the <strong>Shiokaze Limited Express train<\/strong> from Okayama Station. You will pass a number of stations, including Hayashima, Chayamachi, Kojima, and Sakaide Stations before arriving at <strong>Matsuyama Station<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n            <a class=\"fasc-button banner-button-shortcode fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium ico-fa fasc-ico-after fa-chevron-circle-right fasc-style-bold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/the-japan-rail-pass\">\n                Buy your JR Pass\n            <\/a>\n        <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Takamatsu_city\">Takamatsu city<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A primary attraction in Takamatsu is the <strong>Ritsurin-Koen landscape garden<\/strong>, originally created as a private garden for a feudal era ruler. Thirteen hills complement the miniature landscapes, and around 3,000 koi, a brilliantly colored fish, inhabit the park\u2019s six ponds. Less trafficked than many other Japanese gardens, the Ritsurin-Koen is an ideal location for solitude and a traditional cup of tea at the tea house.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3724\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3724\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3724 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/takamatsu-ritsurin-garden-e1528385128438.jpg\" alt=\"Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3724\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ritsurin Garden is one of the highlights of Takamatsu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking forward to a bit of shopping, you\u2019ll love <strong>Takamatsu\u2019s shopping arcade<\/strong>, one of the longest in Japan. The arcade features both big-name department stores and small local shops.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"How_to_get_to_Takamatsu_by_train\">How to get to Takamatsu by train<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>From any of Japan\u2019s major cities, use your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\">Japan Rail Pass<\/a> to take the Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train to the JR <strong>Okayama Station<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>From Okayama Station, you will take the <strong>Marine Liner rapid train<\/strong> to Shikoku via the <strong>Great Seto Ohashi Bridge<\/strong>. You will pass a number of stations before reaching <strong>Matsuyama Station<\/strong>.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Other_Shikoku_highlights\"><strong>Other Shikoku highlights<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Tokushima<\/strong>, in the east of the island, is famous for the <strong>Awa Dance Festival in August<\/strong>. Traditional instruments are played, and the streets of the city become a dancing parade. Visit the <strong>Awa Odori Kaikan<\/strong> museum to view live dance performances any time of year.<\/p>\n<p>The city of <strong>Naruto<\/strong>, meaning \u201cwhirlpool,\u201d is famous for its daily <strong>whirlpools that form with the changing of the tides<\/strong>. The whirlpools occur six hours apart and can be observed each morning and afternoon. You may also enjoy the <strong>Otsuka Museum of Art<\/strong> and the <strong>German House<\/strong>, which commemorates a World War II era POW camp. Naruto is an interesting side trip, as it is located about 40 minutes from Tokushima by train.<\/p>\n<p>Shikoku is also well-known for the the 1200-km, <strong>88-Temple Pilgrimage<\/strong> route, associated with Shingon Buddhism and the monk K\u016bkai.\u00a0Each year many pilgrims, known as henro, go through this journey forascetic, pious, and touristic purposes.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, you can visit small, nearby islands, such as <strong>Naoshima<\/strong> and Teshima, by taking the ferry connection from Takamatsu or Uno. Naoshima, for instance, is an<strong> art lover\u2019s paradise<\/strong>. It is home to numerous art museums and large-scale outdoor art installations. <strong>Teshima<\/strong> is also a highlight of its own, featuring the which holds the <strong>Teshima Art Museum<\/strong>, a unique installation made of a freestanding concrete shell. Please see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/naoshima-travel-guide\">Naoshima travel guide<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<p>Where will your travels take you? Start planning your next Japan adventure today. Don\u2019t forget to order your JR Pass of easy and affordable travel by rail!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What do you picture when you think of Japan? The bustling neon city of Tokyo? Or the historic shrines, picturesque views, and quaint towns? If you\u2019re looking to go beyond the city to meet the charming, slower-paced side of this interesting nation, Shikoku may be for you. Shikoku is the smallest of Japan\u2019s four main islands. While small in size, this destination offers big rewards to the well-informed traveler. From white-clad pilgrims walking the circuit of the Eighty-eight Shines, to installations of modern art, Shikoku has something for everyone!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[],"acf":{"bread_1":null,"bread_2":null,"bread_3":null,"bread_4":null,"bread_5":null,"bread_6":null,"bread_7":null,"bread_last":null,"custom_guide":null,"pageresume":null,"shortcodes":null},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Visiting Shikoku Island with the JR Pass - Japan Rail Pass<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find all about the charming Shikoku island in southern Japan, the Matsuyama and Takamatsu cities, its natural highlights and how to get there by train.\" \/>\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\/posts\/3720\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Visiting Shikoku Island with the JR Pass - 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