Shikoku Slow Travel: A 6-Day Itinerary (Gardens, Gorges & the Oldest Onsen)

Japan's least-visited main island — a 6-day Shikoku itinerary through Takamatsu, the Iya Valley, Kochi and Matsuyama's Dogo Onsen, with transport, food, what to book and hotel areas.

Japan / Curated Route

Shikoku Slow Travel: A 6-Day Itinerary (Gardens, Gorges & the Oldest Onsen)

Japan’s least-visited main island — a 6-day Shikoku itinerary through Takamatsu, the Iya Valley, Kochi and Matsuyama’s Dogo Onsen, with transport, food, what to book and hotel areas.

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Shikoku is the smallest and least-visited of Japan's four main islands — a place of pilgrimage trails, deep river gorges, hand-pulled udon, and the hot spring said to have inspired Spirited Away. It rewards a slower pace and a sense of curiosity. This 6-day route loops the island, mixing a famous garden, the remote Iya Valley, a Pacific castle town, and the ancient Dōgo Onsen.

Is this route right for you?

Perfect if you've done the big hitters and want somewhere genuinely off the tourist trail, with nature, onsen and a slower rhythm. Not ideal for a rushed first trip.

At a glance

  • Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
  • Best seasons: Spring and autumn; the Iya Valley is lush in summer
  • Pace: Relaxed
  • Ideal for: Repeat visitors, slow travellers, onsen and nature lovers

Rough daily budget (per person)

Style Per day
Budget £60–85 / $80–110
Mid-range £100–155 / $130–195
Comfortable £220+ / $285+

Getting around: do you need a car?

A mix — public transport for the cities, a rental car for the Iya Valley. Takamatsu, Kochi and Matsuyama are linked by train (the All Shikoku Rail Pass covers them), but the mountainous Iya Valley has sparse, infrequent buses — a car for days 2–3 transforms it. If you'd rather not drive at all, you can reach the valley's highlights by limited local buses with careful planning, or take a guided day tour.

🧳 Before You Go

Route map

An anticlockwise loop: Takamatsu → Kotohira → Iya Valley → Kochi → Matsuyama (Dōgo Onsen).

Shikoku Slow Travel map A 6-day loop around Shikoku from Takamatsu through the Iya Valley and Kochi to Matsuyama, by train and rental car. Trawoa — JAPAN ITINERARY Shikoku Slow Travel Gardens, gorges & the oldest onsen 6 DAYS Drive · ~2h Drive · ~2h Train · ~2.5h Takamatsu 1 Day 1 · Ritsurin Iya Valley 2 Days 2–3 · gorge Kochi 3 Day 4 · castle & coast Matsuyama 4 Day 5 · Dōgo Onsen Train Rental car for the Iya Valley trawoa.com
Route map for this Japan itinerary.

Day 1 — Takamatsu

The gateway from Honshu.

  • Ritsurin Garden — one of Japan's finest landscape gardens.

🍜 Eat: Sanuki udon — thick, chewy noodles Kagawa is obsessed with (try a self-serve counter).

📷 Photo spot: the arched Engetsukyō bridge at Ritsurin reflected in the pond, early-morning calm.

Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu
Ritsurin Garden sets a calm, landscape-led tone for the beginning of Shikoku. Image source
Matcha tea and wagashi sweets
A matcha and wagashi break fits naturally into temple towns and historic districts. Image source
Tokaido Shinkansen passing tea fields in Shizuoka
Shikoku’s local rail lines connect compact cities with quieter rural landscapes. Image source

Where you sleep: 1 night Takamatsu. Find Takamatsu hotels →

Day 2 — Kotohira & into the Iya Valley

  • Konpira-san — a hilltop shrine reached by 785 stone steps, with sweeping views.
  • Pick up the car and drive into the mountainous Iya Valley.

🍜 Eat: iya soba (rustic buckwheat noodles) and dekomawashi (grilled tofu and potato skewers) in the valley.

📷 Photo spot: the shrine's stone stairway framed by trees; valley vistas as you climb inland.

Stone steps and lanterns at Kotohira-gu
Kotohira’s long shrine approach marks the transition from city to mountain roads. Image source
Takoyaki in Osaka
Takoyaki is one of Osaka’s classic street foods and best eaten fresh from the grill. Image source
Shinkansen passing Mount Fuji
The Iya Valley brings mountain roads, deep gorges and remote village scenery. Image source

Day 3 — Iya Valley

Deep, green and remote.

  • The Kazurabashi vine bridge swaying over a river gorge.
  • The Oboke & Koboke gorges by boat, and the thatched hamlet of Ochiai.

🍜 Eat: river fish (amego) grilled on skewers; mountain-vegetable sansai dishes.

📷 Photo spot: the vine bridge from the riverbank below; mist rising through the gorge at dawn.

Forested slopes of the Iya Valley
The Iya Valley is the heart of Shikoku’s slow-road journey. Image source
Japanese dinner set with rice and side dishes
A balanced set meal makes an easy introduction to regional Japanese cooking. Image source
JR West Shinkansen in Japan
High-speed rail keeps the main intercity journeys simple and predictable. Image source

Where you sleep: 1 night in the Iya Valley or Oboke. Find a stay →

Day 4 — Kochi

South to the Pacific coast.

  • Kōchi Castle, one of only twelve original castles left in Japan.
  • Katsurahama beach and the lively Sunday market if timing aligns.

🍜 Eat: katsuo no tataki (seared bonito), Kochi's signature dish, best over a sawachi platter.

📷 Photo spot: Kōchi Castle's keep from the gardens; waves at Katsurahama at golden hour.

Kochi Castle above the city
Kochi combines one of Japan’s surviving castles with markets and Pacific-coast energy. Image source
Kaiseki cuisine in Kyoto
Kaiseki turns seasonal ingredients into a carefully paced multi-course dinner. Image source
N700 Shinkansen with Mount Fuji
The Shimanami Kaido links islands across the Seto Inland Sea. Image source

Where you sleep: 1 night Kochi. Find Kochi hotels →

Day 5 — Matsuyama & Dōgo Onsen

  • Dōgo Onsen Honkan — a magnificent wooden bathhouse, one of Japan's oldest hot springs and a muse for animators.
  • Matsuyama Castle, reached by chairlift or ropeway.

🍜 Eat: taimeshi (sea-bream rice) and jakoten (fried fish cake); Ehime's famous mikan citrus.

📷 Photo spot: the Dōgo Onsen Honkan façade lit up after dark; the castle above the city at sunset.

Historic Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama
Dogo Onsen gives the route a fitting final evening in one of Japan’s oldest spa towns. Image source
Cold soba noodles with dipping sauce
Cold soba is a clean, practical meal between longer sightseeing stops. Image source
N700 Shinkansen train
Fast trains are most useful when they support a clear route rather than encourage extra stops. Image source

Where you sleep: 1 night Matsuyama, near Dōgo. Find Matsuyama hotels →

Day 6 — Depart

Fly out of Matsuyama, or cross back to Honshu (Hiroshima is a ferry + train away).

Ferry crossing the Seto Inland Sea
The departure across the Inland Sea makes the final transfer part of the journey. Image source
Kitsune udon with fried tofu
Kitsune udon is a comforting bowl found in stations and neighbourhood restaurants. Image source
N700 Shinkansen on the Sanyo line
Local rail keeps Shikoku’s compact cities and rural stops connected. Image source

What to book in advance

What Book ahead? How
Rental car (Iya Valley leg) Yes — limited fleets locally Reserve →
Iya Valley accommodation Yes — few beds in the valley Book →
Dōgo Onsen private/premium baths Recommended —
Ritsurin, castles, shrines No — just turn up —

Experiences worth booking

What to eat

Where Don't miss
Kagawa (Takamatsu) Sanuki udon
Iya Valley Iya soba, dekomawashi, river fish
Kochi Katsuo tataki, sawachi platters
Ehime (Matsuyama) Taimeshi, jakoten, mikan citrus

Where to stay (hotel areas)

Area Best for
Takamatsu — central Ritsurin, ferry to the art islands
Iya Valley / Oboke Gorge scenery, remote ryokan
Matsuyama — Dōgo The onsen quarter, atmospheric inns
Compare Shikoku hotels →

A note on the 88-Temple Pilgrimage

Shikoku is famous for the Ohenro, an 88-temple Buddhist pilgrimage circling the island. Few visitors do all of it, but you'll see white-clad pilgrims everywhere, and visiting a handful of temples adds real depth to the trip.

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