About Shikoku Tours
Our story
Shikoku is a wonderful place. The founder of Shikoku Tours, Rod Walters, discovered this when he married a lady from Shikoku in 1991, and began visiting the island regularly. In 2001, Rod and his wife moved to Shikoku, and in 2011, he established Shikoku Tours as a simple WordPress site and began producing prodigious amounts of content about Shikoku.
We offered the first self-drive Shikoku Pilgrimage tour, and the first hands-on sake tour. Our customers were generous in their praise for these unique experiences, but we learned that Shikoku’s ditches are unfriendly to first-time Japan drivers, and sake brewers are focused primarily on crafting fine sake, and only secondly to welcoming visitors.
Since then, we’ve honed our offerings, and we’re confident that our tours are unique in their commitment to providing an authentic taste of Shikoku, combined with the most efficient, most enjoyable ways of getting around and relaxing.
We’re constantly learning from our customers and from our partners here, and we look forward to showing you the best of Shikoku.
In 2020, Shikoku Tours joined the All Nippon Travel Agents Association, and in 2021, we joined the Adventure Travel and Trade Association. We work with local government and DMOs to develop new tourism content, establishing Shikoku Tours as the island’s leading DMC.
Vision
- Introduce foreign visitors to the many charms of Shikoku
- Build a strong, community-based inbound tourism industry
- Discover, preserve and improve Shikoku’s tourist resources
- Promote employment of local foreign nationals and Japanese
Team
Rod Walters
Nakano Yutaka
Max Claeys
Originally from France, Max manages the Shikoku Tours website and social media from Hong Kong. He’s traveled widely in Japan and enjoys his occasional visits to Shikoku. Max is qualified as a sailing instructor.
Kōei Ervin
Drawn by Japan’s ancient religious traditions and natural beauty, Kōei came to Japan in 2016. Since then, he has been initiated into the tradition of Shugendō and ordained a priest in the Shingon school of Buddhism. He spends his free time exploring the deep and multilayered spiritual landscape of Shikoku by foot and bicycle.
WHY TRAVEL WITH SHIKOKU TOURS?
Shikoku Tours specialises in travel on the island of Shikoku. Since we’re licensed travel agents, we can also arrange your travel within Japan to Shikoku too.
We work closely with local transport and accommodation providers who would otherwise be left out of the inbound tourism market. Their personal attention to your comfort and enjoyment is what makes your trip to Shikoku special. Shikoku is our home, so we know it best, and we can show you places you wouldn’t otherwise know about.
Shikoku Tours offers both package tours and customised travel options, so you’re sure to find a trip that suits your budget and travel style. Travel around Shikoku requires knowledge of complex transportation and accommodation options. We manage all this for you and provide real time support.
We’re the experts for the Shikoku Pilgrimage and Shikoku adventure travel, with connections to suppliers and guides for all types of outdoor activity.
We look forward to serving you.
SHIKOKU TOURS FOR AGENTS
Setouchi Tours works with travel agents and travel planners around the world. We’re happy to offer local packages and custom made plans that fit in with the rest of your Japan arrangements. Please let us know your requirements.
Shikoku Tours Co., Ltd.
12-23-1202 Dogo Yunomachi
Matsuyama,
Ehime Prefecture 790-0842
Japan
License No. 2-217 Ehime Prefecture
