【Shikoku Marugoto Drive Pass Recommended Course】 Plan from/to Shiga, Kyoto, and Osaka prefecture

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!

About a thousand years ago in Japan, two groups of samurai –the Genji and the Heike– fought against each other in what is known as "the Genpei Battle". Yashima was one of the battle sites. From a roof-like lava plateau, you can take in a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea as it blends in with the islands and cityscape of Takamatsu.
At Dannoura, the location where the Genpei Battle was fought, many ruins from this time tell their history: The Heike hid their warship at Funa-kakushi (Hiding Ship), and the archers prayed for their arrows to hit their target at the Inoriiwa (Prayer's Rock).
Yashimaji Temple is located at the summit, and is the 84th temple of the Shikoku 88 temples visited by pilgrims to rid themselves of bad luck and make wishes. The drive to the summit is very popular, and you can look out over the location where the famous Kagawa product Aji-stone is found.

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.

　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.

Noteworthy events, etc.
・Marugame Castle Experience
・Marugame Castle Road

This is a popular shrine, commonly known as Konpira-san. It is the head shrine of "Kotohira" or "Konpira" shrines in Japan and has been worshiped since ancient times as "the God of the Sea".
There is an extremely long staircase, consisting of 1,368 steps. The area around the shrine is crowded with many shops such as cafes, teahouses, souvenir shops and udon restaurants. You can rent a walking stick and go for a stroll or take a ride in a "kago" palanquin and enjoy the sights as you are carried around.
At the mid-way point, you will find the Main Shrine. The shrine is dedicated to many gods including the gods of agriculture, livestock, medicine and marine safety. There are wonderful paintings on the ceiling of the main shrine. On certain festival days you can see the priests and shrine maidens dancing in traditional clothes. You can also purchase a beautiful Kofuku no Kiiroi Omamori (Yellow Charm of Happiness).

This gorgeous hot spring village is located at the foot of Konpira-san ( Kotohira-gu Shrine).
In the vicinity are not only the famous Kotohira-gu Shrine and Kanamaru-za(Japan's oldest existing playhouse for kabuki), but also the Sake Museum, which was renovated from a sake brewery, the Sea Science Museum, and the town's History and Folklore Museum.

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).

司馬遼太郎著｢坂の上の雲」の主人公であり、松山が生んだ偉人でもある、「秋山兄弟」と「正岡子規」に関連する展示品を中心に、「坂の上の雲」の世界に案内してくれるミュージアム。当時の日本と登場人物達が歩んだ道を、原作を読んでいない人でも豊富な展示品などから分かりやすく学ぶことができる。

　America Street
America Street is home to American natives including squirrel monkeys, llamas and condors.

 Water Zone
Watch penguins swimming freely in a large pool and colourful flamingos standing one- legged on the shore. While the penguins out of water offer a different look at this unique bird.

　Snake House
The Snake House is home to reptiles from all over the world as well as a range of nocturnal animals. You can see large and small snakes coiling themselves up, crocodiles and iguanas too frightening to get close to, and nocturnal owls and flying squirrels.

　Bear Street

Meet the popular polar bear “Peace”, sea lions and Ezo brown bears on Bear Street. Enjoy the bears’ adorable behaviour as they munch and play among the hanging branches.

 Little World

In Little World, children can touch small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. The specially-designed building offers perfect views of animals as they behave in the wild. Watch red pandas running overhead and otters moving between water and shore.

 　Asia Street

Asia Street is home to a range of animals including Japanese macaques, camels and deer. The Japanese macaques live in groups as they do in their native rocky mountain habitats. Observe parents and children groom and feed each other.

　Australia Street

Australia Street offers encounters with the popular animals of Australia including kangaroos, emus and wallabies. The country is home to many uniquely evolved species and this is the only location in Japan where the endangered cassowary can be seen.

 Monkey Town

In Monkey Town more than 20 different species of monkeys from around the world are housed. The main feature of this area is an orangutan’s tightrope walk between high steel towers. Don’t miss one of the scheduled performances in front of a crowd of adoring observers!

 Africa Street

Africa Street is the land of “the king of the beasts” and in addition to lions there are leopards and giraffes gracefully feeding on leaves. The enclosure is designed like a vast savannah allowing the animals to be seen in their native habitat. The freedom allowed to these incredible animals offers a vastly different viewing experience from the typical caged animal.

 Elephant (Zo) Street

Elephant Street is home to both elephants and tigers. There are no other zoos in Japan where African elephant parents and children live together. Their affectionate looks are heart-warming. The powerful tigers display both the fierce look of a big cat on the prowl and the sweet appearance of taking a napping cat. With a bit of luck you will get to hear the roar of a white tiger!

* The image is for reference only.

Chikurin-ji Temple is a historically significant site renowned for its stunning gardens. In autumn, the maple and ginkgo trees transform into vibrant hues, creating a striking display along the stone-paved path leading through the temple gate. The temple grounds are adorned with lush autumn foliage, highlighting features like the serene moss garden and the imposing five-storey pagoda. Another key attraction is the Treasure House, which preserves numerous Buddhist statues and important cultural artifacts.

Known as the "Monju of Tosa," Chikurin-ji is the 31st temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage route. Legend holds that the temple was founded by the monk Gyoki, who sought a mountain reminiscent of Mount Gotai in Tang China. The main hall has been designated a national Important Cultural Property, while the five-storey pagoda, completed in 1980, is the only one of its kind in the prefecture. Standing 31.2 meters tall, it is built entirely from hinoki cypress and follows the architectural style of the early Kamakura period.

The temple’s garden, attributed to the revered priest Muso Kokushi, is celebrated as one of the three most famous gardens in Kochi Prefecture and is officially recognized as a national scenic beauty spot.

年間を通じて3000種類以上の植物が楽しめる高知県立牧野植物園 。世界的な植物学者、牧野富太郎博士の業績をわかりやすく展示した日本で有数の総合植物園です。直筆の植物図などを展示した常設展示室のほかジャングルのような温室や東洋の園芸植物などが観賞できる50周年記念庭園など、見どころいっぱい。オリジナルグッズが揃うショップや、高知の食材を使ったランチが人気のレストランも。

In ancient times the local people built many of these bridges for daily travel, using vines that grow wild in the mountains, yet only a few vine bridges still remain today. Looking down while crossing is enough to put butterflies in any visitor's stomach. Recognized as one of three kinds of unusual bridges in Japan, they are designated as an important folkloric property.