[Drive] Shikoku Pilgrimage and Nature Experiences
![[Drive] Shikoku Pilgrimage and Nature Experiences](/image/rendering/attraction_image/85856/trim.960/2/1?v=e92f979994e7e321300cb54447ff50a465fbc838)
Six-day and five-night course to experience Shikoku's pilgrimage culture and get in touch with nature (e.g., Ritsurin Garden,Ryōzenji, etc.)
START
【DAY 1】
1
Takamatsu Airport
Rent a car and leave
30 mintutes by car
2
Ritsurin Garden
Ritsurin Garden
Ritsurin Garden is a daimyo (feudal lord) garden, which was completed in 1745 over a period of one hundred years. Designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, this spacious garden features 6 ponds and 13 landscaped hills. While strolling you can enjoy the changing landscape, therefore it is said that the variety of scenery has the attraction of "ippo ikkei" or a change in scenery with every step. In the garden there are buildings, such as Kikugetsu-tei teahouse, where you can have matcha (powdered green tea) while viewing the picturesque landscape, and the Sanuki Mingeikan (Folk Craft Museum), where Sanuki folk crafts are exhibited. You can also enjoy a ride on a Japanese boat, the “Senshu maru”.
There are approximately 300 cherry trees, mostly Somei Yoshino, and the beauty of the cherry blossoms reflected on the lake surface and the strange colors of the green pine trees are breathtaking. In addition, spring lighting will be held to coincide with the blooming of the cherry trees, and during the nighttime lighting period, special Japanese-style boat trips will be offered on Lake Kitako.
There are approximately 300 cherry trees, mostly Somei Yoshino, and the beauty of the cherry blossoms reflected on the lake surface and the strange colors of the green pine trees are breathtaking. In addition, spring lighting will be held to coincide with the blooming of the cherry trees, and during the nighttime lighting period, special Japanese-style boat trips will be offered on Lake Kitako.
20 minutes by car
3
Wara-ya
This udon restaurant is next to the “Shikoku Village” folk museum in Yashimanaka Town, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. It operates out of an old home with a straw-thatched roof built at the end of the Edo period, giving the interior an authentic Japanese feel. The “kama-age udon” is a popular option for the gentle texture and springiness of the noodles. Other well-received options include the “tokudai udon” for two and the “kazoku (family) udon,” which comes in a large tub. The broth, with its secret dried sardine-base, and the freshly fried tempura make a great combination.
5 minutes on foot
4
Shikoku-mura
The scenery of old Japan and old Shikoku will calm the heart
This is an outdoor museum where old houses from the four prefectures of Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi and Tokushima have been transfered and restored. It is also used in chidren’s social studies program.
The facility is rich in nature, and inside you will find old farmhouses and equipment that will give a taste of the old lifestyles, in addition to a soy sauce production facility and other traditional industries. There is also an agricultural kabuki theatre stage (Noson Kabuki) where local people become actors and put on Kabuki shows.
There are active pieces of art by the carver Nagare Masayuki and the Shikoku-mura Gallery, designed by the architect Ando Tadao. You can experience different types of art here. In the gallergy you will find a wide range of pieces, including carvings, Buddha images and scrolls. You can also see a waterscape park (Suikei Tei-en) that makes use of the slope that extends below the balcony.
For a rest or a meal, you can visit the Tea Room Ijin-kan, which is the tranfered Ijin-kan (Foreigners Residence) from Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, or Waraya, a refurbished old farmhouse.
The facility is rich in nature, and inside you will find old farmhouses and equipment that will give a taste of the old lifestyles, in addition to a soy sauce production facility and other traditional industries. There is also an agricultural kabuki theatre stage (Noson Kabuki) where local people become actors and put on Kabuki shows.
There are active pieces of art by the carver Nagare Masayuki and the Shikoku-mura Gallery, designed by the architect Ando Tadao. You can experience different types of art here. In the gallergy you will find a wide range of pieces, including carvings, Buddha images and scrolls. You can also see a waterscape park (Suikei Tei-en) that makes use of the slope that extends below the balcony.
For a rest or a meal, you can visit the Tea Room Ijin-kan, which is the tranfered Ijin-kan (Foreigners Residence) from Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, or Waraya, a refurbished old farmhouse.
10 minutes by car
5
Temple 84, Yashimaji
【Highlights】
・Temple Bell
The bell was made in the Kamakura period and is called The Bell for the Souls of the Heike Clan. It is a Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property.
・Homotsukan
This modern museum is to the left of the Hondo. It displays a wealth of temple treasures including the principal image, scrolls of the Genji and Heike, the White Flag of Genji, and a folding screen with a painting of the Battle of Yashima .
・Minoyama Daimyojin
To the right of the Hondo is a statue of a local deity named Minoyama Daimyojin. This deity is the head of the tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Shikoku and is called Taisaburo Raccoon. It has power over childbearing, marriage and family happiness.
・Temple Bell
The bell was made in the Kamakura period and is called The Bell for the Souls of the Heike Clan. It is a Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property.
・Homotsukan
This modern museum is to the left of the Hondo. It displays a wealth of temple treasures including the principal image, scrolls of the Genji and Heike, the White Flag of Genji, and a folding screen with a painting of the Battle of Yashima .
・Minoyama Daimyojin
To the right of the Hondo is a statue of a local deity named Minoyama Daimyojin. This deity is the head of the tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Shikoku and is called Taisaburo Raccoon. It has power over childbearing, marriage and family happiness.
40 minutes by car
6
Ogushi Nature Park
A leisure spot where visitors can fully enjoy the sea, mountains, wind, and other beautiful natural surroundings to their heart's content. The park overlooking the Seto Inland Sea is dotted with a lawn, Sanuki Winery, Shikoku's first wine factory, Theatron, an outdoor music plaza, Seaside Corridor, an auto-camping site and cottages, tennis courts, and other attractive facilities that attract many families and young people on holidays. The area is crowded with families and young people on weekends and holidays.
30 minutes by car
7
Setouchi Resort Vessel Oochi
This hot spring complex is located in a perfect location overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. It is open for day-trip bathing, and has a full range of facilities, including accommodations and log cabins with hot spring bathing, and a restaurant full of seafood. ［Bath Information] Open-air bath, white bath, cypress bath, seated bath, reclining bath, running water bath, running water bath, water bath, steam sauna, infrared sauna
※The images of the accommodation facilities are for illustrative purposes only
※The images of the accommodation facilities are for illustrative purposes only
【DAY2】
30 minutes by car
30 minutes by car
8
Temple 1, Ryōzenji
Highlights
Two-Storied Pagoda
Ryōzenji was destroyed by fire during the Tensho period (1573-1592) when Chosokabe Motochika attacked the temple. The temple was devastated again in 1891, leaving only the pagoda and the hondo. The pagoda was built in the Oei period (1394-1428), nearly 600 years ago. It is famous for statues of the Gochi Nyorai (five wisdom Buddhas).
Matchmaking Kannon
The Matchmaking Kannon Bosatsu (Bodhisattva Who Hears the Sounds of the World) brings good luck not only with marriages but also with health, work, happiness, and other relationships. People believe that they can achieve these blessings not only by offering money, but also by praying while purifying themselves with water in front of this statue.
Two-Storied Pagoda
Ryōzenji was destroyed by fire during the Tensho period (1573-1592) when Chosokabe Motochika attacked the temple. The temple was devastated again in 1891, leaving only the pagoda and the hondo. The pagoda was built in the Oei period (1394-1428), nearly 600 years ago. It is famous for statues of the Gochi Nyorai (five wisdom Buddhas).
Matchmaking Kannon
The Matchmaking Kannon Bosatsu (Bodhisattva Who Hears the Sounds of the World) brings good luck not only with marriages but also with health, work, happiness, and other relationships. People believe that they can achieve these blessings not only by offering money, but also by praying while purifying themselves with water in front of this statue.
30 minutes by car
9
Awa Jurobe Yashiki
Enjoy the splendor of traditional performing arts at the base of Awa Ningyo Joruri!
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.
20 minutes by car
10
Chuka Soba Inotani Main Branch
This restaurant in Nishidaiku Town, Tokushima city, Tokushima Prefecture specializes in Tokushima ramen, and fans visit from all around the country. There’s often a line outside, and signatures from celebrities adorn the interior. The pork bone and soy sauce soup is flavored with dried fish and other seafood along with vegetables. It’s topped with a raw egg and contains salty-sweet pork back ribs and chewy homemade noodles, which the rich soup complements well. It goes very well with rice, too. Only counter seating is available, but the interior is spacious, so there’s no problem with entering alone.
40 minutes by car
11
Temple 5, Jizoji
【Highlights】
・Gohyaku Rakan (Five Hundred Arhats)
Life-size arhat statues are lined up, with expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, in the Rakando, a five-minute walk from the Hondo or a two-minute drive from the temple parking lot. (Entrance fee 200 yen)
・Suikinkutsu
A Suikinkutsu (water piano cave) is on the left after entering through the
temple gate. The clear tone of the dripping water echoes through the cave.
・Gohyaku Rakan (Five Hundred Arhats)
Life-size arhat statues are lined up, with expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, in the Rakando, a five-minute walk from the Hondo or a two-minute drive from the temple parking lot. (Entrance fee 200 yen)
・Suikinkutsu
A Suikinkutsu (water piano cave) is on the left after entering through the
temple gate. The clear tone of the dripping water echoes through the cave.
10 minutes by car
12
Temple 6, Anrakuji
Lodging at Shukubo
【Highlights】
・Two-Storied Pagoda
The interior of the pagoda is decorated with colorful Buddhist paintings and sculptures representing the Pure Land. Around the pagoda, visitors can experience Osunafumi (walking on sand from the pilgrimage).
・Sakamatsu
In the Daishido, there is a pine tree named Akamatsu planted by Kobo Daishi to ward off evil. This tree is said to have protected Kobo Daishi from a hunter’s arrow when he was 42 years old, a yakudoshi (bad luck year) for men according to Japanese tradition.
・Two-Storied Pagoda
The interior of the pagoda is decorated with colorful Buddhist paintings and sculptures representing the Pure Land. Around the pagoda, visitors can experience Osunafumi (walking on sand from the pilgrimage).
・Sakamatsu
In the Daishido, there is a pine tree named Akamatsu planted by Kobo Daishi to ward off evil. This tree is said to have protected Kobo Daishi from a hunter’s arrow when he was 42 years old, a yakudoshi (bad luck year) for men according to Japanese tradition.
【DAY 3】
90 minutes by car
90 minutes by car
13
Temple 20, Kakurinji
【Highlights】
・Three-storied pagoda
The temple is located on a mountain 470 meters above sea level. On the east side of the temple, there is a three-storied pagoda reaching up to the sky, surrounded by large trees. Construction of the pagoda began in 1817, and the basic structure was completed in 1827. The distinctive feature of this pagoda is its railings. They are fixed by giboshi (ornaments resembling onions) on the first floor, hane (not ornaments, but the ends of the poles are angled upwards) on the second floor, and gyakurento (lotus-shaped ornaments) on the third floor. For its inauguration, a grand ceremony of mandala offering was held outside. The pagoda is still fully equipped with the ceremonial tools of the time, and the design drawings are still in existence. As the only three-storied pagoda in Tokushima Prefecture, it was designated a Prefectural Important Cultural Property in 1952.
・Pilgrimage Trail
The pilgrimage trail climbs from the foot of the mountain for about four kilometers, one and a half hours’ walk, to the temple gate. There are 21 stone pillars that act as guideposts along the way. These stone markers are called choseki (milestones -- cho is a Japanese traditional unit to measure distance, about 109 meters). Starting from the Hondo, each stone is inscribed with a Japanese era name such as Joji (1362-1368), Oan (1368-1375), Eiwa (1375-1379), and Meitoku (1390-1394). As you walk along the stone path, imagine the culture of veneration of Kobo Daishi during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The path was designated as a National Historic Site in 1998 as a result of 20 years of efforts by volunteers to preserve the path.
・Three-storied pagoda
The temple is located on a mountain 470 meters above sea level. On the east side of the temple, there is a three-storied pagoda reaching up to the sky, surrounded by large trees. Construction of the pagoda began in 1817, and the basic structure was completed in 1827. The distinctive feature of this pagoda is its railings. They are fixed by giboshi (ornaments resembling onions) on the first floor, hane (not ornaments, but the ends of the poles are angled upwards) on the second floor, and gyakurento (lotus-shaped ornaments) on the third floor. For its inauguration, a grand ceremony of mandala offering was held outside. The pagoda is still fully equipped with the ceremonial tools of the time, and the design drawings are still in existence. As the only three-storied pagoda in Tokushima Prefecture, it was designated a Prefectural Important Cultural Property in 1952.
・Pilgrimage Trail
The pilgrimage trail climbs from the foot of the mountain for about four kilometers, one and a half hours’ walk, to the temple gate. There are 21 stone pillars that act as guideposts along the way. These stone markers are called choseki (milestones -- cho is a Japanese traditional unit to measure distance, about 109 meters). Starting from the Hondo, each stone is inscribed with a Japanese era name such as Joji (1362-1368), Oan (1368-1375), Eiwa (1375-1379), and Meitoku (1390-1394). As you walk along the stone path, imagine the culture of veneration of Kobo Daishi during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The path was designated as a National Historic Site in 1998 as a result of 20 years of efforts by volunteers to preserve the path.
20 minutes by car
14
Roadside Station Washi no Sato
Roadside Station "Washi-no-Sato" is located at the foot of Mt. Tairyuji, where Tairyuji Temple, known as Koya in the west, is built, and is equipped with a tourist product center, a waterfront park, stores, and lodging facilities. The adjacent Tairyuji ropeway is the longest and largest ropeway in western Japan, and the panoramic view below is a delight to many worshippers and tourists throughout the four seasons.
Approximately 40 minutes by ropeway and on foot
15
Temple 21, Tairyūji
Take the ropeway from Roadside Station Washi no Sato
【Highlights】
・Shashingatake
It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the precincts of the temple. There is a bronze statue of Kobo Daishi facing east on the rock. The word shashin means the mind stays and shows the spirit of Kobo Daishi.
・Ropeway
The ropeway is the longest in western Japan, 2,775 meters long, with a 101-passenger capacity, and takes about 10 minutes.
For more information
・Shashingatake
It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the precincts of the temple. There is a bronze statue of Kobo Daishi facing east on the rock. The word shashin means the mind stays and shows the spirit of Kobo Daishi.
・Ropeway
The ropeway is the longest in western Japan, 2,775 meters long, with a 101-passenger capacity, and takes about 10 minutes.
For more information
10 minutes by car after descending by ropeway from Tairyuji Temple.
16
Temple 23, Yakuōji
Highlights
Yugito
This is a one-storied pagoda 29 meters tall, square at the top and cylindrical at the bottom. The design is based on the teachings of the Yugi Sutra, which teaches the harmony of heaven and earth. The Yugito has five sorin (vertical shafts with rings) on the roof.
Monetary offering at Yakuzaka
It is said that if you visit the temple while making a monetary offering on each step of the correct yakuzaka (for men, women, and the elderly), bad luck will stay away from you.
Yugito
This is a one-storied pagoda 29 meters tall, square at the top and cylindrical at the bottom. The design is based on the teachings of the Yugi Sutra, which teaches the harmony of heaven and earth. The Yugito has five sorin (vertical shafts with rings) on the roof.
Monetary offering at Yakuzaka
It is said that if you visit the temple while making a monetary offering on each step of the correct yakuzaka (for men, women, and the elderly), bad luck will stay away from you.
1 minutes by car
17
Roadside Station Hiwasa
Roadside Station Hiwasa is located in the center of town, adjacent to Hiwasa Station on the JR Muki Line and National Route 55, making it easily accessible not only to road users but also to local residents. The site is organized as a core tourist zone in the southern part of the prefecture, with a "product hall" equipped with an information corner, a product corner, and a sister city exchange corner, a "footbath hall" to soothe the feet of pilgrims, and a "produce hall" where visitors can purchase local specialty products.
40 minutes by car
【DAY 4】
45 minutes by car
45 minutes by car
19
gozodo (person from sacred kitchen cave: mikurodo)
gozodo (person from sacred kitchen cave: mikurodo) is a place associated with Kobo Daishi or so we called Kukai (a Japanese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and poet who founded the esoteric Shingon school of Buddhism). It is said that Kukai used the cave as his residence during his ascetic training and that he chose the name "Kukai" because he was impressed by the sky and the sea he could see from the cave.
5 minutes by car
20
Temple 24, Hotsumisakiji
【Highlights】
・National Important Cultural Property
The stone statue of Nyoirin Kannon Hankashiyuizo is famous. There is also a wooden seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai, a wooden standing statue of Gekko Bosatsu, and a three-legged lacquered board. They are all in the Homotsukan.
・National Important Cultural Property
The stone statue of Nyoirin Kannon Hankashiyuizo is famous. There is also a wooden seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai, a wooden standing statue of Gekko Bosatsu, and a three-legged lacquered board. They are all in the Homotsukan.
10 minutes by car
21
Temple 25, Shinshōji
【Highlights】
・Precincts of the temple
The Hondo is located on top of a small hill. The Daishido (the building dedicated to Kobo Daishi), the Nokyojo (the stamp office), and a hall for parishioners are to the right, just inside the gate, in front of the hill. The stone steps leading up to the Hondo seem to go straight up to the sky. The steps are quite steep, and worshipers use the handrail in the middle. Halfway up the stone steps is a bell tower and a Niomon Gate, which are reminiscent of the Ryugujo (Dragon Palace), the undersea palace of dragon gods in Japanese folklore. From the top of the stone steps in front of the Hondo, you can see the Pacific Ocean, the mouth of the Murotsu River, and Murotsuu Port below, plus Cape Gyodo and Temple 26 (Kongōchōji) to the right.
・Around the precincts
On the left side of the approach to the temple is Ogamaiwa (Pot Rock). Ichiki Shrine is to the left of the approach to the temple. They are both related to Ichiki Gonbei, who risked his life to repair the port of Murotsu.
・Precincts of the temple
The Hondo is located on top of a small hill. The Daishido (the building dedicated to Kobo Daishi), the Nokyojo (the stamp office), and a hall for parishioners are to the right, just inside the gate, in front of the hill. The stone steps leading up to the Hondo seem to go straight up to the sky. The steps are quite steep, and worshipers use the handrail in the middle. Halfway up the stone steps is a bell tower and a Niomon Gate, which are reminiscent of the Ryugujo (Dragon Palace), the undersea palace of dragon gods in Japanese folklore. From the top of the stone steps in front of the Hondo, you can see the Pacific Ocean, the mouth of the Murotsu River, and Murotsuu Port below, plus Cape Gyodo and Temple 26 (Kongōchōji) to the right.
・Around the precincts
On the left side of the approach to the temple is Ogamaiwa (Pot Rock). Ichiki Shrine is to the left of the approach to the temple. They are both related to Ichiki Gonbei, who risked his life to repair the port of Murotsu.
5 minutes by car
22
Kagetsu
This Japanese restaurant is located in Murotsu, Muroto City. Seasonal fish and shellfish landed in Muroto is kept alive in the restaurant until it is served fresh in a variety of seafood dishes. The restaurant is also famous for its whale cuisine, including whale sashimi and nitsuke (whale boiled in soy sauce), as well as harihari-nabe (whale hot pot) in the winter. The restaurant is one of several local eateries in Muroto, one of Japan’s biggest producers of splendid alfonsino, that serves the local delicacy Muroto Kinmedon. This dish features a splendid alfonsino boiled in soy sauce and served on a bowl of rice.
60 minutes by car
23
Ioki Cave Fern Colony
This cluster of ferns grows wild inside Ioki Cave in Ioki, Aki City. Seven varieties of fern grow in mass inside the natural cave, which was formed by marine erosion. The valuable cluster has been designated as a national natural monument for the large number of varieties that coexist there.
Cars can park at the Tourist Information Center.
For more information
Cars can park at the Tourist Information Center.
For more information
30 minutes by car
24
SEA HOUSE
Take a break at a cafe
The view of the beautiful coastline of Kotogahamatsubara stretching eastward, with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean and blue sky in front of you, is spectacular.
The restaurant is built so that it juts out over the ocean, and sitting there you feel as if you are floating on the sea. The restaurant provides a space where you can relax and enjoy the view while enjoying dishes made with fresh local ingredients.
The restaurant is built so that it juts out over the ocean, and sitting there you feel as if you are floating on the sea. The restaurant provides a space where you can relax and enjoy the view while enjoying dishes made with fresh local ingredients.
40 minutes by car
25
Kochi City Accommodation
The images of the accommodation facilities are for illustrative purposes only
【DAY 5】
20 minutes by car
20 minutes by car
26
Chikurin-ji Temple
Built in 1980.
Height 31.2m, made of Japanese cypress, style of the early Kamakura period.
It is the only five-storied pagoda in the prefecture.
This is the 31st temple of Shikoku Sacred Sites.
The temple is called Tosanomonju, and it was built here by Gyoki after he searched for a mountain similar to Mount Godai in Tang Dynasty China.
The main hall is a national important cultural property.
Also, the garden, said to have been created by the high priest Koso Muso Kokushi, is one of the three most famous gardens in Kochi Prefecture and is designated as a national scenic beauty.
Height 31.2m, made of Japanese cypress, style of the early Kamakura period.
It is the only five-storied pagoda in the prefecture.
This is the 31st temple of Shikoku Sacred Sites.
The temple is called Tosanomonju, and it was built here by Gyoki after he searched for a mountain similar to Mount Godai in Tang Dynasty China.
The main hall is a national important cultural property.
Also, the garden, said to have been created by the high priest Koso Muso Kokushi, is one of the three most famous gardens in Kochi Prefecture and is designated as a national scenic beauty.
40 minutes by car
27
hagi no chaya
This restaurant has been in business for over 40 years. With an excellent location overlooking Usa Bay, you can enjoy fresh seafood taken from the fish tank and grilled on the grill.
Even if you are not sure how to grill or eat it, the waitstaff will carefully instruct you.
The yakiniku and Japanese and Western a la carte menus are also very popular, and the restaurant is crowded from noon with local and distant customers.
Even if you are not sure how to grill or eat it, the waitstaff will carefully instruct you.
The yakiniku and Japanese and Western a la carte menus are also very popular, and the restaurant is crowded from noon with local and distant customers.
10 minutes by car
28
Yokonami Kuroshio Line
Enjoy the scenery as you drive.
This road offers breathtaking scenery as it snakes for nearly 19 kilometers along the ridges of Yokonami Peninsula, which features a rias coastline. You can enjoy a sweeping view of Uranouchi Bay and the Shikoku Mountains, and the observation deck along the route offers a wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean and inner bay.
15 minutes by car
29
Roadside Station Kawauso no sato Susaki
This roadside station is located on the side of the Nakamura Highway in Shimobunko, Susaki City. It hosts a number of different shops offering items such as seasonal vegetables such as Japanese ginger (of which Susaki is Japan’s biggest producer), citrus and other varieties of fruit, seafood such as skipjack tuna seared with burning straw, Kochi’s famous “Aisukurin” frozen treat, local sake, souvenirs, gardening products, and more. Its restaurant offers a range of dishes including nabeyaki ramen noodles, a local Susaki delicacy, as well as set meals and donburi (rice bowls) featuring seafood such as skipjack tuna and moray eel.
For more information
For more information
110 minutes by car
30
Hoshifuru Village TENGU
In July 2021, the hotel reopened with a new ""star"" theme.
The facility is designed to allow guests to enjoy the stars to the fullest, and in addition to the Planetarium, which allows guests to experience the starry sky of Tengu Kogen and nature images even in bad weather, and the Starry Sky Rooms, which allow guests to enjoy the starry sky of Tengu Kogen from inside the room, there is a new ""Observatory"".
For more information
The facility is designed to allow guests to enjoy the stars to the fullest, and in addition to the Planetarium, which allows guests to experience the starry sky of Tengu Kogen and nature images even in bad weather, and the Starry Sky Rooms, which allow guests to enjoy the starry sky of Tengu Kogen from inside the room, there is a new ""Observatory"".
For more information
【DAY 6】
45 minutes by car
45 minutes by car
31
Roadside Station Mikawa
Located in the mountains of Kuma Kogen Town, this is a stopover spot where you can enjoy nature and local foods. The restaurant boasts dishes using fresh local highland vegetables and river fish, and the specialty dishes served while viewing the great outdoors will fill your stomach and your heart. Specialty products such as "Mikawa Tea" and "Mikawa Somen" will surely be appreciated as souvenirs. The Mikawa Furusato Market also attracts vegetables from all over Kuma Kogen Town, so there are many repeat customers not only from the local area but also from neighboring cities, towns, and villages.
5 minutes by car
32
Mimidodake Rock
Because of its natural surroundings, Gomito is crowded with people who enjoy camping and barbecuing on the riverbanks in summer. A large limestone rock head towers over the area. It is also called "turkey rock" because of the reflection of sunlight on the rock surface, or "battleship rock" because of its shape and form. It is recommended that visitors not only view it from the national highway, but also go down to the riverbank to see its grandeur.
10 minutes by car
33
Temple 45, Iwayaji
Temple built deep in the mountains where the seven sacred birds are said to live.
【Highlights】
・Michihiraki Fudo
Located at the corner under the sutra office, behind the Kokuzodo.
・Ana Zenjo
Located at the bottom of the stone steps leading to the Hondo.
・Michihiraki Fudo
Located at the corner under the sutra office, behind the Kokuzodo.
・Ana Zenjo
Located at the bottom of the stone steps leading to the Hondo.
20 minutes by car
34
Roadside Station Tenkunsato Sansan
Located almost in the center of Ehime Prefecture on the border with Kochi Prefecture, but only 30 minutes by car from the Matsuyama Interchange, the town is a beautiful highland town where one can enjoy the rich nature of the four seasons, including Ishizuchi, the highest mountain in western Japan, Menkawa Creek located at its foot, and Shikoku Karst, one of the three major karsts of Japan. The town is also home to Daibo-ji Temple, the 44th temple of the Shikoku Sacred Sites, and Iwaya-ji Temple, the 45th temple of the Shikoku Sacred Sites.
60 minutes by car
35
Matsuyama Airport
GOAL