[Drive] Family Trip through Shikoku with a stop at an Aquarium
![[Drive] Family Trip through Shikoku with a stop at an Aquarium](/image/rendering/attraction_image/92690/trim.960/2/1?v=02c0f9e2a6e3ad0e82db6c64e041c894c5430c54)
Five-day and four-night course to visit historic castles, aquariums, and more for the whole family to enjoy. (e.g.,Matsuyama Castle,Shikoku Aquarium etc.)
START
【DAY 1】
1
Matsuyama Airport
Rent a car and leave
20 minutes by car
2
Local Cuisine Goshiki
You’ll find this longstanding local restaurant in Sanban Town, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. It opened during the Kanei period. Enjoy some traditional Ehime cuisine amid the subdued, authentic Japanese ambiance, such as sea bream somen noodles, sea bream rice, jakoten (a kind of fried kamaboko), and more. The sea bream somen noodles are the restaurant’s signature dish. They come with a whole small sea bream on top and feature “five-color somen,” which is a favorite in Matsuyama. There are also plenty of fish from the Seto Inland Sea and local vegetables and meat dishes that go well with local Ehime sake.
10 minutes by car
3
Matsuyama Castle
A famous castle of the Setouchi Region
Matsuyama Castle, in the style of the Momoyama period, is one of Japan’s few original surviving castles. Its 21 buildings are listed as Important Cultural Properties, and the castle is regarded as one of the three best ‘Renritsu-shiki Hirayama-jiro’ (Renritsu-shiki: an architectural style where the top castle tower is in the centre with smaller towers on either side; Hirayama-jiro: a castle built on a hill on a plain). The towers are all connected to defend the main castle building. The castle is a well-known symbol of Matsuyama and is written about in the prologue of the novel, “Clouds Above the Hill” by Ryotaro Shiba. It has been and will be guarding the city of Matsuyama for centuries!
70 minutes by car
4
Towel Museum
A unique amusement venue located in Imabari, the Japan’s largest towel-producing town.
This is the world’s first towel museum dedicated to the art of towel manufacturing. The unique museum has much to offer including displays of intricate traditional towels, works of art made from towels, an exhibition on the towel-making process, and there is even a garden area rich with seasonal beauty. The museum café offers pleasant lunches or afternoon teas and an enticing range of original goods and local products are available in the museum shops.
90 minutes by car
5
Chichibugahama Beach
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.
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.
40 minutes by car
6
Toyoko Inn Marugame Ekimae check in
The images of the accommodation facilities are for illustrative purposes only
10 minutes on foot
7
Honetsukidori Chicken-on-the-Bone
Speaking of Kagawa prefecture, it is known for "Sanuki udon"!
However, there is another dish that is called the soul food of the prefecture.
It is bone-in chicken.
This is a historic dish in which chicken thighs are baked in a special oven using unique spices.
However, there is another dish that is called the soul food of the prefecture.
It is bone-in chicken.
This is a historic dish in which chicken thighs are baked in a special oven using unique spices.
10 minutes on foot
8
Toyoko Inn Marugame Ekimae Accommodation
【DAY 2】
10 minutes by car
10 minutes by car
9
SHIKOKU AQUARIUM
Located in Kagawa Prefecture, the gateway to Shikoku, this aquarium is based on the theme of "Shikoku Aquascape. (Utazu Town) The aquarium also features the unique underwater world of Shikoku, including the Pacific Ocean, the Seto Inland Sea, and the clear waters of the Shimanto and Niyodo Rivers, and not only exhibits living creatures, but also the culture of Shikoku and the environment that exists along with the lives of the people who live there.
10 minutes by car
10
Mendokoro Wataya Marugame Restaurant
An udon noodle restaurant which originally opened as a cheap diner in 1948. Today, the establishment offers a menu which has been refined down to the smallest details over a 60 year span, from the choice ingredients to the secret recipe seasonings. The restaurant is famous for its niku udon noodles served which thinly sliced beef - it's so popular, the establishment goes through 60 kilograms of beef a day. The niku bukkake udon noodles are equally popular. The inari sushi from the side dish menu is also highly regarded.
80 minutes by car
11
Roadside Station Kurukuru Naruto
It is located along National Route 11 between the Naruto IC of the Kobe-Awaji Naruto Expressway and the Tokushima IC of the Tokushima Expressway. Taking advantage of its convenient location at the transportation node, it will function as a hub as a "gateway to Shikoku, Tokushima, and Naruto," and as a "food theme park" utilizing local products such as Naruto kintoki and lotus root, it will serve as a base for increasing the number of people interacting with each other. It will also function as a regional trading company, expanding sales channels for local products and serving as a base for industrial promotion. It will also have a variety of functions, such as an "outdoor exchange plaza" and "children's playground" to promote multi-generational and inter-regional exchanges, and a disaster prevention function based on the "phase-free" concept.
30 minutes by car
12
Awa Odori Kaikan (Awa Odori Museum)
The world-famous Awa Dance can be viewed all year round at this dance hall. The first floor is home to an information desk and shop area for local products and tourist information. On the second floor is the Awa Dance library and an exhibition hall. The third floor is home to a museum, and on the fifth floor is the station for the ropeway to the top of Mt. Bizan.
https://www.awaodori-kaikan.jp/
https://www.awaodori-kaikan.jp/
60 minutes by car
60 minutes by car
14
Hotel Riviera Shishikui
Located in Shishikui at the southernmost point in Tokushima Prefecture, Hotel Riviera Shishikui is a Mediterranean-style resort hotel which also welcomes day visitors. The water of the Shikisui Onsen hot springs, which is renowned for helping to ensure smooth, lustrous skin, wells up from 1,000 meters below ground at a point on the boundary between Tokushima Prefecture and Kochi Prefecture. There is a comprehensive range of facilities, including saunas, Cypress-wood baths, jacuzzi baths, etc.; individual baths are available for use by men (only) or women (only) at different times.
The images of the accommodation facilities are for illustrative purposes only
The images of the accommodation facilities are for illustrative purposes only
【DAY 3】
50 minutes by car
50 minutes by car
15
Cape Muroto
Cape Muroto: A romantic place of proposals
A recognized Global Geopark, Cape Muroto has been shaped by volcanic activity, wind and sea. Characterized by these strange rock formations, the cape is also well known for its many photo spots such as a beautiful white-walled lighthouses and subtropical green plants.
The position of the cape, protruding into the Pacific Ocean, is one of the best places in Japan to see both a gorgeous sunrise and sunset! There is also a heart-shaped monument on the observatory, making it a popular date spot for couples.
The position of the cape, protruding into the Pacific Ocean, is one of the best places in Japan to see both a gorgeous sunrise and sunset! There is also a heart-shaped monument on the observatory, making it a popular date spot for couples.
15 minutes by car
16
Kiramesse Muroto
If you are travelling along the coast in Muroto City, Kochi Prefecture, be sure to visit this roadside station, which serves as a great base for gourmet and sightseeing activities in the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture. You can find "Rakuichi Farmers' Market" here, which offers fresh vegetables and fish, and "Shokuyu Restaurant", where you can enjoy delicacies from Muroto!
60 minutes by car
17
Seafood Restaurant Fuji
This restaurant offers fresh local seafood bowls and set menus. A particularly popular specialty is the "full bowl of seafood", which is so large that it overflows from the bowl. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of other dishes such as sushi, noodles, and set menus.
40 minutes by car
18
To Sanosa To
This commercial complex is equipped with a select store featuring products from Kochi Prefecture and a restaurant/take-out corner where you can enjoy dishes using local ingredients and soul food. Adjacent to the facility is JA Farmers Market Tosasato, one of the largest direct sales outlets in Kochi Prefecture, where you can also enjoy shopping.
15 minutes by car
19
Kochi Castle
Fifteen structures at Kochi Castle, including its tower and the Otemon main gate, have been designated by the national government as important cultural properties. The castle was originally built in 1603 on the order of Yamauchi Katsutoyo, lord of the Tosa domain, but was burned down in a massive fire in 1727. The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1749.
Kochi Castle is Japan’s only castle where all the structures constituting its main building have been preserved. Since the castle’s structures are compactly situated, you can see its most important parts in a short period of time. Its tower is one of the 12 castle keeps that are still preserved in Japan. Kochi Castle is known as a popular photo spot because it is Japan’s only castle where you can capture both its Otemon and its tower in a single shot.
Kochi Castle, which is considered one of the top 100 castles in Japan, is situated on a hill in a park. The castle tower offers a breathtaking view of Kochi City. The San-no-maru area of Kochi Castle boasts 223 cherry trees, which are presently in full bloom, making it one of the finest cherry blossom viewing spots in the prefecture.
Kochi Castle is Japan’s only castle where all the structures constituting its main building have been preserved. Since the castle’s structures are compactly situated, you can see its most important parts in a short period of time. Its tower is one of the 12 castle keeps that are still preserved in Japan. Kochi Castle is known as a popular photo spot because it is Japan’s only castle where you can capture both its Otemon and its tower in a single shot.
Kochi Castle, which is considered one of the top 100 castles in Japan, is situated on a hill in a park. The castle tower offers a breathtaking view of Kochi City. The San-no-maru area of Kochi Castle boasts 223 cherry trees, which are presently in full bloom, making it one of the finest cherry blossom viewing spots in the prefecture.
1 minutes by car
20
Kochi City Accommodation
The images of the accommodation facilities are for illustrative purposes only
【DAY 4】
40 minutes by car
40 minutes by car
21
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.
40 minutes by car
22
You Farm
A sweet shop using milk from Jersey cows raised on a ranch in the forest. No additives are used so the milk stays whole. Items include custard pudding, soft serve ice cream, chou a la creme, and more. Their yogurt shakes and coffee floats are also popular.
10 minutes by car
23
farm restaurant Kusabuki
Located along the road where Ryoma Sakamoto left the domain of Yusuhara, the building is a reconstructed kusabuki minka (private house). It is a farmhouse restaurant where you can enjoy dishes using ingredients unique to Yusuhara. Dishes that make use of local ingredients, such as pheasant rice, eggplant tataki, Yusuhara soba (buckwheat noodles), and wild vegetables, are very popular. In particular, the signature menu item, the dehang set meal, features cooked rice with pheasant meat caught in the mountains of Yusuhara and Yusuhara soba noodles.
2 minutes by car
24
Yusuhara-za Theater
This building was constructed in Kita-cho in 1948 by the local Yusuhara-cho community and relocated and restored in Higashi-cho in 1995. It incorporates Wayo-secchu (Japanese Hybrid Style) architecture common in the Taisho era. With a modern exterior, the stage has a hanamichi walkway. There's also a second-floor gallery and the grain of the wooden ceiling is striking. It is the only wooden theater in Kochi Prefecture.
1 minutes by car
25
Yusuhara Municipal Library Kumonoue no Library
A Library in the Clouds: Yusuhara Town Library
Designed by Kengo Kuma, a well-known architect who also designed the New National Stadium, the library uses an abundance of wood from Yusuhara. Visitors enter the library without taking off their shoes, creating a relaxing space where they can enjoy the feel and smell of wood. The library also has bouldering facilities and a café corner.
60 minutes by car
26
Tenkunosato Sansan
Our family home" where you can rest your mind and body.
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
27
Dogo Onsen Honkan
A famous Onsen with 3,000 years of history
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).
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 5】
30 minutes by car
30 minutes by car
28
Matsuyama Airport
GOAL