Travelogue of Shikoku Island

Are you tired of the big cities in Japan and want to find some different scenery and experiences? Then, Shikoku Island is your ideal choice. Shikoku Island is the smallest of the four major islands in Japan. Here you can find beautiful coastlines🌊, spectacular mountains🗻, ancient hot springs♨, historical castles🏯, modern art🎨, traditional dances💃, delicious udon noodles🍜, and the most famous pilgrimage route in Japan - the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places. Whether you like nature, culture, history, or food, Shikoku Island can meet your needs. Let's take a look at the wonderful attractions of Shikoku Island together! Awa Dance Festival (Tokushima) The Awa Dance Festival is Japan's largest dance festival, held in Tokushima City every August, attracting millions of tourists and dancers. Awa Dance is a folk dance from the Edo period. During the Awa Dance Festival, you can enjoy a variety of Awa Dance performances, and even join the dance team to experience the fun of Awa Dance.🕺💃 Udon Noodles (Kagawa) If you are a noodle lover, then you must not miss Kagawa's udon noodles. Udon noodles are thin, white noodles made from wheat flour, usually served with soy sauce, broth, and green onions. Kagawa is the birthplace of udon noodles in Japan and the largest producer of udon noodles in the country. Kagawa's udon noodles are known for their chewy texture, delicious soup, and affordable price, making them a simple and delicious Japanese dish.🍜 Kochi Castle (Kochi) Kochi Castle is one of only 12 castles in Japan that still have their original keep. Inside Kochi Castle, you can visit the castle museum to learn about the history and culture of the castle, and you can also climb the keep to enjoy a panoramic view of Kochi City.🏯 Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places (Tokushima) The Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places is the most famous pilgrimage route in Japan and one of the longest pilgrimage routes in the world. It consists of 88 temples on Shikoku Island, with a total length of about 1200 kilometers, passing through mountains🗻, fields🌾, villages🏘, coastlines🌊, and other landscapes. The starting and ending points of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places are the Ryozenji Temple in Tokushima, a temple dedicated to Maitreya Bodhisattva. Pilgrims of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places are called "Henro", they usually wear white clothes, wear a hat, carry a rosary and a tin stick, and visit each temple along the route to pray for peace and salvation. The Shikoku Eighty-Eight Places is not only a religious activity, but also a cultural and natural experience. Whether you believe in Buddhism or not, you can gain spiritual baptism and enlightenment from it.🙏 Dogo Hot Spring (Ehime) The Dogo Hot Spring is the oldest hot spring in Japan, with a history of more than 3000 years, and is one of the three ancient springs in Japan. The spring water of Dogo Hot Spring contains rich minerals, which are very effective for skin, nerves, joints, etc., and is known as the "Spring of Beauty". The Dogo Hot Spring Main Building is also one of the inspirations for the animated film "Spirited Away" by Hayao Miyazaki. Here you can feel the scenes and atmosphere in the movie. At Dogo Hot Spring, you can enjoy the traditional hot spring culture of Japan, relax your body and mind, and beautify your skin.♨