Dogo Onsen, Naruto Onsen, and more: Shikoku’s hot springs, from the mainstays to those off the beaten track

Dogo Onsen Honkan is thought to be the oldest hot spring in Japan is mentioned in the ancient texts of the Kojiki and Manyoshu. The main building, a three-storey castle-style wooden structure has been designated an Important Cultural Property. The bathhouse is an iconic feature of Matsuyama in the novel “Botchan” and many other masterpieces of literature and film. After enjoying the smooth hot spring water, put on a Yukata robe, stroll around the local streets full of culture, and get into the spirit of this Onsen town. A new annex “Asuka-no-Yu”, adopting the architectural style of the 6th to 8th centuries, will be opened in September 2017. As for the Dogo Onsen Honkan, it has been undergoing conservation and repair work for about five and a half years since January 2019, but all buildings reopen on July 11, 2024 (Thursday).

【Day 1】 Miyakubo Seto Tidal Stream Experience / Towel Museum / Tobe-yaki Togeikan (Tobe Pottery) / Matsuyama Castle / Dogo Onsen Honkan 【Day 2】 Roadside Station Myntopia Besshi / Kotohira-gu Shrine / Nakano Udon School Kotohira School / Ritsurin Garden

【Day 1】 Oboke Gorge sightseeing boat / Vine Bridges in the Iya Valley 【Day 2】 Kochi Castle / Katsurahama Beach / Kochi Prefecture Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum / Ino Paper Museum / Nakatsu Gorge / Dogo Onsen Honkan 【Day 3】 Shiki Memorial Museum / Matsuyama Castle / Roadside Station Yoshiumi Iki-iki Kan / Rapid Current Boat / Kirosan Observatory Park / Murakami Suigun Museum

【Day 1】 Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden / Chikurin-ji Temple / Kure Taisho-machi Market / Sada Chinkabashi (submersible bridge) / Ashizuri Hot Spring Resort 【Day 2】 Cape Ashizuri / Kashiwa, Okinoshima & Uguru islands / Minami Rakuen / Garyu Sanso / Uchiko-Za / Dogo Onsen Honkan 【Day 3】 Matsuyama Castle / Ishizuchi Ropeway / Michi no Eki Myntopia Besshi

【Day 1】 Sunrise Itoyama / Roadside Station Yoshiumi Iki-iki Kan / Kirosan Observatory Park / Sunrise Itoyama / Towel Museum 【Day 2】 Roadside Station Kazahayanosato Fuwari / Tobe-yaki Togeikan (Tobe Pottery) / Matsuyama Castle Ropeway, Matsuyama Castle, Matsuyama Ropeway Shopping District / Dōgo Giyaman Glass Museum / Dogo Hot Springs / Dogo Haikara Dori Street (Dogo Shopping Street) 【Day 3】 Kotohiki Park / Takaya Shrine / Shikoku Aquarium

【Day 1】 (Okayama City - Kagawa Prefecture - Tokushima Prefecture) Okayama City → Seto-ohashi Bridge (Seto-chuo Expressway) → Temple 75, Zentsūji → Marugame Castle → Ritsurin Garden → The Naruto German House → Awaji Whirlpools Naruto Prefectural Uzunomichi → Naruto City (overnight) 【Day 2】 （Tokushima-Kochi Pref.) Naruto City→Awa Jurobei Yashiki→Udatsu no Machinami（Udatsu Townscape）→Michinoeki Kirinomori→Yutorisuto Park Ohtoyo→Kochi Tabi Hiroba (Kochi Travel Plaza)→Kochi Castle→Kochi City (overnight stay) 【Day 3】 （Kochi-Ehime-Okayama City) Kochi City → Tosa Washi Craft Village QRUAD → Nakatsu Gorge → Matsuyama Castle → Dogo Onsen Honkan→ Imabari Castle → Shimanami Kaido (Shimanami Expressway)→ Okayama City

【Day 1】 (Suita City - Tokushima Pref. - Kagawa Prefecture) Suita City→Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway→Awaji Whirlpools Naruto Prefectural Uzunomichi→Yashima→Ritsurin Garden→Marugame Castle→Kotohira-gu Shrine→Kotohira Onsen (stay overnight) 【Day 2】 （Kagawa-Ehime Pref.) Kotohira Onsen → Dogo Onsen → Cloud on the Hill Museum → Tobe Zoological Park of Ehime Prefecture → Michi no Eki Minato Oasis Uwajimaki Saiya Hiroba → Uwajima City (stay overnight) 【Day 3】 (Ehime Pref. - Kochi - Suita City) Uwajima City → Chikurin-ji Temple → Makino Botanical Garden → Vine Bridges in the Iya Valley → Kobe-Awaji Naruto Expressway → Suita City

Home to the largest permanent exhibition space in Japan, this museum houses vivid, full-size reproductions of masterworks of Western art on large ceramic boards. The museum collection of more than 1000 works was selected from 190 museums in 25 countries to show the development of Western art from antiquity through to modern times.

Michi no Eki Kurukuru Naruto, located in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture, is a hands-on food theme park that opened in April 2022. Not only can visitors enjoy gourmet foods and sweets made from fresh Naruto ingredients such as Naruto kintoki and lotus root, but there are also a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy, such as farming experiences and zip-lining. The concept is “when everyone comes around and smiles. It offers a space and experience that will bring smiles to the faces of locals and tourists alike.

Uzunomichi is a 450-meter walkway and whirlpool observation facility located inside the Great Naruto Bridge, a bridge connecting Honshu and Shikoku. Visitors can experience the whirlpools and the Great Naruto Bridge up close. In Naruto Park, there are many other attractions, including an observation deck overlooking the Great Naruto Bridge and the whirlpools, scenic spots, the Great Naruto Bridge Memorial Museum "Eddy", the Otsuka International Art Museum, Escahill Naruto, and sightseeing boats. Enjoy a sightseeing tour using the walkway!

This museum is home to exhibits focusing on the Naruto Bridge and the Whirlpools of Naruto. Amongst its displays are videos and hands-on exhibitions designed to teach visitors about the inner workings of the whirlpools and construction of the bridge.

It is the most prestigious shrine in Tokushima Prefecture and is dedicated to Amenofutodama-no-Mikoto (Oh'asahiko-no-Mikoto), god of agriculture and industry, and Sarutahiko-no-Mikoto, god of traffic safety and protection from bad luck. On the first three days of the New Year, the shrine attracts more than 300,000 visitors from within and outside of the prefecture.

Built on the site of a relocation camp where German prisoners of WWI lived for three years, the Deutsches Haus displays mementos of their daily life, tools, and cultural objects. The soldiers interacted with the local community and formed an orchestra that presented the first performance in Japan of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

The Children's Science Museum is a hands-on, nature-utilizing facility where children can nurture their scientific minds through play and experience. With the Children's Science Museum as its core facility, the vast park includes the Windmill Hill, Planetarium, Hands-on Workshop, Tokushima Wooden Toy Museum, Land of Exploration, Land of Adventure, and other facilities.

Here you can find daily performances of the Awa puppet theatre, at the former residence of Bando Jurobe who is said to be the leading character in the puppet play "Keisei Awa no Naruto". Also on display are wooden puppets and items related to the theatre.

Located at the entrance to Konpira-san (Kotohira Shrine), this is one of Kagawa Prefecture's representative sake breweries. The white-walled sake brewery from the time of its founding (1789) has been restored to its original state. In the History Hall and Culture Hall, the sake brewing process in the Edo period (1600-1868) is explained and reproduced in an easy-to-understand manner using dolls and sake brewing tools of the time. There is also a video presentation and an exhibition of sake bottles, tokkuri, and labels. Visitors can also sample sake at the museum store.

Graduate in About 60 Minutes! Come Empty-Handed and Make Your Own Udon! Our udon teachers will teach you everything you need to know to make authentic Sanuki udon noodles, from kneading the dough to rolling it out and boiling it. After you make your noodles, you'll get to enjoy them with everyone else. There's nothing like the taste of udon you've made yourself! You can also take your udon home with you as a souvenir. We'll give you a graduation certificate, a secret recipe book, and a rolling pin as souvenirs. Please feel free to join us!

According to a text called Tado-gun Byoubu-ura Zentsu-ji no Ki (from the middle of the Edo period), Zentsūji was built by Kobo Daishi, who had returned from Tang Dynasty China. He built Zentsūji on a site donated by his father. It was laid out in imitation of Seiryuji Temple in Changan, where his teacher, the priest Keika, lived. The temple was called Zentsūji after Zentsu, Kobo Daishi’s father.

The museum houses approximately 20,000 works of art by the world famous Kagawa local painter, Genichiro Inokuma (1902-1993). Architect Yoshio Taniguchi, who created the New York Museum of Modern Art in 2004, and is said to build the world’s most beautiful art galleries, designed it. In front of the museum, facing the station plaza, there are many large murals and objects that were created by the artist himself. Genichiro Inokuma graduated from Marugame High School, and studied under Henri Matisse in France. After returning to Japan he was involved in activities such as designing the wrapping paper for the famous Japanese department store Mitsukoshi. He subsequently worked in New York for about 20 years. The museum shop, which sells original products and catalogs, is very popular along with the MIMOCA cafe restaurant.

A castle boasting Japan's largest stone wall and chalk keep tower 　Marugame Castle was constructed about 400 years ago. The keep tower (the highest part of the castle, used as a look-out) is made of wood, a rare style of construction in Japan, and has been designated as an National Important Cultural Heritage. The stone wall that that leads up to the keep tower is the largest of its kind in Japan, at a height of approximately 60 meters. The elegant curvature of the wall is one of its finest features. This castle was chosen as one of Japan’s Best 100 Castles. The determination is made by a group of specialists that cover the fields of architecture, engineering, archeology and history, and it is on of the cultural prides of the country. There is a charge for entering the keep tower, but entrance to the compound is free and there is plenty of space for strolling around. It is a popular place for taking walks, and is also a place for the community to gather. In the spring, the approximately 1,200 cherry trees bloom. May 3-4 is the annual Marugame Castle Festival, where many different events are held.

　This is western Japan’s largest theme park. In total there are 23 attractions for you to enjoy, including an enormous ferris wheel with a diameter of 50 meters, a ride that spins you around at 59 meters above the ground and a roller coaster that zips you along the surface of the water. There are parades and entertainment featuring original characters, in addition to a lovely show that the whole family will enjoy. There are seasonal flowers inside the park, and every spring and autumn the World Rose Exhibition features 140 types of rose from around the world. In the evening, you will see an illumination consisting of 1,500,000 lights – 365 days a year. Don’t miss the 3D projection mapping and the light parade. The view of these lights from the attractions takes you into another world. In the summer there is a pool with flowing water, kids pool and wave pool. These are all outdoor. The Hotel Reoma no Mori – the official hotel – is located next and has natural hotsprings and an indoor pool (open only Friday, Saturday and Sunday). A relaxing stay at the hotel is highly recommended.

Located on a small island off the coast of Mino-cho, Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, Tsushima Shrine is a guardian deity for children's health and growth. Every year on August 4th and 5th, a bridge is built from the shore to the island for the Summer Festival*, and the island is crowded from early morning until night with visitors and their children. The island can only be crossed once a year during this Summer Festival. *This event may be canceled depending on the infection status of the coronavirus situation. Tsushimanomiya Station on the JR Yosan Line is a temporary station that is open only during the Summer Grand Festival. For inquiries about Shichigosan, talismen, etc., please call Tsushima Shrine directly. *The fifth, sixth and seventh photos from top left to right are provided by Mitoyo City Tourism Exchange Bureau

From the top of the mountain, there is a nature-rich promenade where you can see a breathtaking view of the Seto Inland Sea. Seasonal flowers beautifully adorn the mountain, with cherry blossoms in spring and hydrangeas in early summer. In recent years, Yahoo JAPAN's "The 15 Most Beautiful Cherry Blossom Views in Japan" and "I Want to Go Before I Die! The World's Greatest Views of Japan (written by Shiho)" have been posted in the New York Times in the U.S., and attracted much attention.

Chichibugahama Beach boasts a 1km-long beach which attracts many visitors every summer. Recently, Chichibugahama has become well-known as a spot where visitors can take incredible natural mirror photos like in Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. If there is no wind to disturb the water surface, at low tide the sky is beautifully reflected in the tide pools that form in the sand, creating a natural mirror effect. At sunset, the scenery becomes even more fantastic, enough to earn the title as one of the "Top 100 Sunset Spots in Japan." We recommend that you come visit with your camera in hand. ・Please be respectful of strangers in your photographs. If someone you don’t know is in your photo, ask them for permission before using the photo on social media, etc. ・This beach has been kept clean by local volunteers for 20 years. Please take your trash home with you and do not litter. ・Be aware that the toilets by the beach are not flush-toilets. ・The beach is wet and sandy- bring rain boots (or beach sandals in summer), a towel, etc., for a more pleasant experience. ・Please be thoughtful and abide by the rules, and have fun photographing!

Takaya Shrine is also known as 'Inazumi Shrine' or 'Inazumi San'. The main shrine is located on top of Mt. Inazumi at an altitude of 404 meters, offering a panoramic view of Kanonji City and the beautiful Seto Inland Sea. The torii gate of the main shrine is called the 'Tenku no Torii' which means torii gate in the sky, and was selected as one of the '88 places in Shikoku' in 2018.

This enormous dam is located in the mountains of western Kagawa Prefecture, and has a length of 145.5 meters and height of 30.4 meters. This dam dates to the beginnings of Japanese dam building, and has a multi-arch construction (the dam wall has multiple joined arches). It is also designated as a National Important Cultural Heritage. Building began in 1926, and after a long and arduous period of construction, it was final finished in the form you see today, reminiscent of a medieval European castle. The dam blends well with the natural surroundings, and you can see the seasonal beauty reflected in the water and adjacent areas. To this day it stores a formidable amount of water, irrigating approximately 500 hectares of agricultural land. Many people gather to watch the periodic opening of the dam gates, called ‘marunuki’, as the water dramatically cascades down. The neighboring Honen’ike Water Park has a large grass area, and there are points where you can see the powerful dam.

Kotohiki Park is a 48 ha expanse of black pine habitat located in the Ariakehama area facing the Seto Inland Sea. In the middle of the pine forest on a white-sand beach, there is a huge sand picture with the inscription ‘Kan’ei Tshuho’. Kan’ei Tsuho is a currency that was used in the Edo period. The sand picture is 122 m east-to-west, 90 m north-to-south, and has a 345 meter circumference. According to legend, the picture was constructed in one night as part of an effort to welcome the local rulers in 1633. It is said that if you see the picture you will live a long and healthy life, and have no problems with money. The sand picture area is off-limits, but you can look down on it from the summit observation deck in Kotohiki Park. The nice round shape is very clear from this vantage point. Kotohiki Park is very popular for its beautiful vistas. Sunset is particularly memorable, as well as the lighting that illuminates the sand picture at night (sunset-22:00).

(Water qualities) Alkaline simple cold mineral spring (Benefits) Characterized by minimal stimulation of the skin, this spring dissolves the keratin on the skin’s surface, giving the benefit of silky smooth skin. Image provided by: KUROSHIO HONJIN

The headwaters of the Shimanto River, the last clear stream in Japan, are located at Mount Irazu in the town of Tsuno. The fresh water that flows out of the green of the trees and moss-covered rock faces flows into the Pacific Ocean after a 196-km journey. Guided walks are available.

The 196-km Shimanto River, whose headwaters are on Mt. Irazu in Tsuno Town, is the longest river in Shikoku and is known as “Japan’s last remaining limpid stream.” You can see the relationship between the river and local residents who live in harmony with nature amid landscapes that vary from season to season. The Agency for Cultural Affairs has designated the entire Shimanto River basin as an “Important Cultural Landscape.” Another local attraction is “Chinkabashi” – a submersible bridge without railings that sink below the water in a swollen river -- spanning the river. The 291.6-meter Sada Chinkabashi is the closest to the river’s mouth and the longest of all these bridges. A large number of tourists visit the area to see the bridge as it is the best known low-water crossing.

Architect Kengo Kuma's large-scale wooden structure can be seen in Yusuhara. Kengo Kuma is also known for his involvement in the design of the National Stadium, which was used as the main stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (to be held in summer 2021).

Karst topography is terrain created on the earth’s surface by dissolution of soluble rocks. The Karst highlands including Medurudaira and Onogahara extending approximately 25km, from 1,000m to 1,485m above sea level, are scenic driving routes. While the roads are closed during the snowy winter period, they are the perfect place to enjoy driving, cycling and camping through spring, summer and autumn. Relax and enjoy the refreshing scenery of cows feeding on a meadow or the starry sky at night.

Chinkabashi are submersible bridges designed without side rails to reduce the risk of the bridge being washed away during floods. These low, stocky-looking bridges have become a symbol of the Shimanto area, and even seem to blend into the scenery better than a traditional bridge. Though there are many chinkabashi along the river, the Sada Chinkabashi is the longest and closest to the mouth of the Shimanto. You will recognize it by its cute blue “feet.” Crossing a bridge without balustrades is a thrilling experience and allows visitors to sit on the edge, take in the scenery and dangle their feet over one of Japan's most important rivers. One of the best ways of experiencing the area is renting a bike from the closest train station (Nakamura Station) and then cycling around toward the bridge.

Anime and figurines are part of Japan's world-class culture. Kaiyodo is a world-class figure manufacturer that attracts many people with its elaborate designs and attention to detail. Located deep in the mountains of Shimanto River, the Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto displays more than 10,000 figures of various genres such as anime characters, dinosaurs, animals, and vehicles, as well as garage kits, Gachapon, and Shokugan. This is a place where both children and adults can enjoy Japanese pop culture.

The Kainokawa Rice Terraces are located 13 km west of Susaki City on National Route 197, near the town hall. The rice terraces are 100 to 200 meters wide, 1 km deep, and cover an area of more than 10 hectares. It is said that the rice terraces of Kainokawa have only become known in the last ten years, partly due to the Candle Festival. Historically, the rice terraces have lasted for about 400 years.

The Kure Taisho Town Market, which consists of a shopping arcade and street stalls, has been popular with local residents for more than 100 years as their main source of food. The market becomes crowded with many shoppers at around 11 a.m. when fish just landed by local fishermen are put on sale. Not only fresh fish but also vegetables and fruits are available at the market, along with a variety of side dishes prepared by fishermen’s wives. Special "kaisendon" (Kuredon), a bowl of rice topped with fresh sashimi (sliced raw fish) of one’s choice, is particularly popular.

Iwamotoji is located in Shimanto Town, where the Shimanto River flows and the Konan Plateau stretches at an elevation of about 300 meters. The temple dates back to the Tempyo era (729-749). According to a temple legend, the predecessor of the temple was Fukuenmanji. It was built by Gyoki at the order of the Emperor Shomu, to pray for the immediate destruction of the Seven Afflictions and the immediate birth of the Seven Blessings. The temple was located near the Niida Myojin shrine, about three kilometers northwest of the present site. It is said that the temple had seven branch temples. The temple was also called Niida-dera because it managed the Niida Myojin.

Forest Adventure Kochi takes advantage of the natural terrain to offer thrilling and exciting activities. Various courses are available, including ADVENTURE COURSE full of thrills and exhilaration, CANOPY COURSE for children and people of all ages, KIDS COURSE for children 90 cm tall and above, and ZIPTRIP COURSE where you can experience the panoramic view as far as the eye can see. We invite you to enjoy the great outdoors at Forest Adventure Kochi in the unexplored forest surrounded by the beautiful waters of the Shimanto River headwaters and the Shikoku Karst at an altitude of 1,400 meters.
 

Oboke-Iya Hot Spring Village is located in the middle of Shikoku,Japan. There are several hot springs of different qualities in the Iya Valley, one of the three most mysterious places in Japan, and in the Oboke Gorge through which the Yoshino River flows. These hot spring resorts in the mountains heal their visitors with their beautiful nature and the kindness of their people.

This is a hotspring town that is located on the border with Tokushima Prefecture, about 15 minutes from Takamatsu Airport by car. There are 10 hotels and inns with hotsprings located along the valley. This area is called the Shionoe Road and has landscape that recalls the old days, and tells of the long and prosperous history of hotsprings. It is said that about 1,300 years ago the famous monk Gyoki found the hot water and started the Shionoe hotsprings. Kukai, the founder of Shingen-shu sect of Buddhism, trained here, and the tradition of treating sickness in the hotsprings spread. The spring water is hydrogen sulfate, and the softness of the water can be felt from the skin all the way into the core of the body. In addition to the hotsprings, there are waterfalls and streams. The spring cherry blossoms and the autumn foliage make this a place to take in the natural beauty of the four seasons.

【愛媛県・今治市玉川町】
名勝地・鈍川渓谷の一角にある鈍川温泉は、「美人の湯」として有名な温泉です。春は桜と山菜料理、夏はカジカの鳴き声が響く清流、秋は紅葉、冬はイノブタなど、四季折々の魅力を楽しむことができます。

【愛媛県・今治市湯ノ浦】
瀬戸内海を一望できる愛媛県北東部に位置する湯ノ浦温泉は、ラドンを含む低張性の弱アルカリ性冷鉱泉で疲労回復や神経痛に効能があるとされています。温泉のあとは、瀬戸内海で水揚げされたタイやカレイ、ハゼ、エビなどの魚介をご堪能ください。

【高知県・土佐清水市】
開湯はおよそ1,200年前まで遡り、仏教僧の弘法大師空海が発見し疲れを癒したことがはじまりとされています。ラドンを含む泉質で、古くから人々の怪我の治療などに効能があったとされています。