About Shikoku Island

HELLO SHIKOKU

The smallest of Japan's major islands, with a heck of a lot to offer.

Southwest Japan

At about 18,000 square kilometers, Shikoku is the smallest of the major Japanese islands--behind Honshu, Hokkaido, and Kyushu. It is located west of Osaka and south of Hiroshima.

4 Prefectures

Shikoku is comprised of 4 prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. Kochi is the largest prefecture covering much of the southern coast. The popular 88 Temple Pilgrimage reaches each prefecture.

Nature Rich

The island is largely mountainous, with Mount Ishizuki standing over 1900m tall. Stunning gorges, valleys, and rivers criss-cross the island while Cape Ashizuri & nearby Kashiwajima offer stunning coastal views, white sand beaches, and crystal clear blue water.

Getting Here: Air

Kochi Ryoma Airport (KCZ) is served by Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo, as well as Taipei. Flights from Tokyo are 90min and Kochi airport is small with quick check-in and baggage collection times.

Getting Here: Road & Rail

While the Shinkansen (or 'bullet train') does not service Shikoku, trains and buses on the island make it easy to get around Shikoku and connect to the mainland. If renting a car, the drive through Setonaikai National Park is particularly beautiful.

Climate

The temperature almost never drops below zero and ranges from 5-30+ degrees Celsius year-round, and staying above 15 degrees April to November. Cherry blossoms bloom about a week ahead of places like Tokyo, and June to September are the wettest months.