Essential Shikoku by Private Car

July 8, 2025August 1, 2025

Overview

This tour takes you to Shikoku’s most iconic sites scattered throughout the island’s four prefectures over the course of six days. We’ve carefully selected Shikoku’s most iconic sites, including castles, gardens, temples, and shrines, to showcase the essence of Japan’s culture, art, cuisine, and nature. Enjoy the Japan of your dreams in peace and quiet, with a comfortable private vehicle to carry you from place to place. We stay in accommodation ranging from traditional ryokan to modern hotels. Each prefecture has its own culinary culture, allowing you to enjoy an array of delectable cuisine and sake.

Who is this tour for?

This tour is for groups of two to six, making it perfect for couples and families who want a good introduction to Shikoku and Japan in general at a relaxed pace. Some destinations include a lot of steps, so let us know if you’d like us to adjust the itinerary to suit your physical capacity.

Itinerary

STEP

Day 01 : Matsuyama

You arrive in Matsuyama by air, rail, or bus and check into your hotel.

STEP

Day 02 : Uchiko

The tour starts in Matsuyama with a visit to Matsuyama Castle. After enjoying the view from the top of the keep, you drive to Uchiko. Here you explore the fascinating Uchiko-za Theatre with its wooden stage machinery and the palatial former home of a candle merchant. From here, you drive south to the great Shimanto River, where you stay at a ryokan.

Breakfast, Dinner

STEP

Day 03 : Kōchi

Today you take a covered boat and glide over the reflective water of the Shimanto River. You stop to walk over some of the picturesque submersible bridges that cross the river at intervals. Then you visit the pretty port town of Kure with its nostalgic fish market where you eat lunch, before visiting a local sake brewery to learn about brewing and to enjoy a tasting. At Ino on the Niyodo River, you learn about the traditional craft of papermaking, and the modern uses of washi paper. You end the day in Kōchi, at the lively Hirome Market where you select from a wide choice of local dishes and sake.

Breakfast

STEP

Day 04 : Iya Valley

Your first stop is Katsurahama Beach on the Pacific Ocean with its statue of Sakamoto Ryōma gazing into the distance. Then you visit pilgrimage Temple No. 31, Chikurin-ji, set in a beautiful Japanese garden. Next, you head north into Tokushima where you take a boat through the Ōboke Gorge and walk over the swaying vine bridge of Iya Valley. You stay at an onsen perched on the valley slope with a fantastic outdoor onsen.

Breakfast, Dinner

STEP

Day 05 : Kagawa

From Iya, you drive through the mountains to Kotohira in Kagawa, to climb the many steps up to Konpira Shrine. You make our own lunch of udon noodles, then head to Ritsurin Garden where the samurai lords of Takamatsu once took their leisure. Here you enjoy tea overlooking the lake. Your accommodation is a modern hotel in Takamatsu.

Breakfast, Lunch

STEP

Day 06 : Takamatsu and Naruto

The big tabletop mountain visible from Takamatsu is Yashima, site of a pilgrimage temple and a battle in the ancient Genpei War. After enjoying the sights and views of Yashima, you drive to Naruto and take a boat out into the whirlpool under the Naruto Straits Bridge. Then you head to Tokushima city where the tour ends.

Breakfast

FAQs

Are there vegetarian options?

Not really. Japanese cooking is based on fish stock, and the Japanese love their fish and meat. On this tour, you stay in traditional Japanese accommodation that is proud of its cuisine, especially the fish. For breakfast and dinner, it is possible to ask for ‘largely’ vegetarian food, but no guarantees are offered. You can generally find vegetarian options for lunch, but with limited choice.

What’s your cancellation policy?

Our cancellation policy is as follows;

Cancelled more than 21 days prior to start: No charge
Cancelled between 20 and 8 days prior to start: 20% of the total fee
Cancelled between 7 days and 48 hours prior to start: 30% of the total fee
Cancelled between 48 and 24 hours prior to start: 40% of the total fee
Cancelled within 24 hours of start: 50% of the total fee
Cancelled on the day of start or failure to show: 100% of the total fee
No refunds will be given after the tour has commenced.

What are your payment terms?

When you book a tour, we ask for a 10% deposit, with the balance to be paid a month before the start of the tour. You can pay by credit card or bank transfer.

What does the English-speaking driver do?

The English-speaking driver will drive, help with check-in, and offer advice on the smooth operation of your tour. This allows you the peace of mind that you won’t encounter a situation where you’re alone and helpless. However, the driver doesn’t provide guide services. If you want a guided tour, please let us know and we’ll provide a guide.

What is the ‘basic insurance’ mentioned in Inclusions?

When you purchase a tour from Shikoku Tours, we automatically enrol you in basic travel insurance as a legal requirement. The insurance pays out up to 300 million yen per incident. We also have insurance to cover our bicycle operations. Although we enrol you in basic travel insurance, you should still purchase your own general travel insurance in case our coverage is insufficient.