[Drive (from outside Shikoku)] 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 town 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).

This museum guides visitors into the world of “Clouds over the Hill,” featuring exhibits related to the “Akiyama Brothers” and “Shiki Masaoka,” two of the characters in Ryotaro Shiba's novel “Clouds over the Hill” and the great men born in Matsuyama. Visitors who have not read the original story can learn about Japan at that time and the paths taken by the characters in an easy-to-understand manner from a wide variety of exhibits.
The museum, with one basement floor and four stories above ground, was designed by architect Tadao Ando. Facing Matsuyama Castle and the city center, the museum is designed to harmonize with the surrounding area where it is located, while offering visitors a sense of nature and history in the green landscape of Matsuyama Castle.

There are many zones where you can meet various animals. Please come and meet many animals.

* 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.

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The Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden is home to more than 3,000 varieties of plants throughout the year. It is one of the most comprehensive botanical gardens in Japan, exhibiting the achievements of world-renowned botanist Dr. Tomitaro Makino in an easy-to-understand manner. In addition to the permanent exhibition room with handwritten botanical drawings, there is a jungle-like greenhouse and the 50th anniversary garden where visitors can view oriental garden plants. There is also a store with original goods and a popular restaurant that serves lunch using Kochi ingredients.

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.