Things to do & places to visit in Shikoku, Japan

Shikoku #9 destination in Japan 2023. The average rating score is 4.16 based on 32.6k traveler reviews, of 120 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Tokyo, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 17:55.

Top things to do (23)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

4.5 Matsuyama Castle (2.026 reviews)
- Cherry blossoms!
Monday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Castles

We arrived in the late afternoon to see the cherry blossoms and were were not disappointed. We walked up the back way which was a bit of a hike. We didn’t pay to go into the castle because we have been to many others before and they are typically the same inside. You can get some ice cream or refreshments outside. You can go up and down by rope way or chair lift. We went back down by chairlift for ¥270. See more..
4.5 Ritsurin Garden (1.577 reviews)
- Feels like a walk back in time
Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks • Scenic Walking Areas

Ritsurin Garden is a superb cultural asset that conveys the characteristics of the daimyo strolling gardens that were typically seen in the 17th and 18th century. A daimyo strolling garden is a type of traditional Japanese garden in which ponds and hills are expertly constructed over a vast tract of land, and you can enjoy the garden's space as you leisurely walk around inside. See more..
4.5 Kotohira-gu Shrine (1.092 reviews)
- Plenty of steps
Monday: 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Sites • Religious Sites

We started out early to beat the tour groups which was a good call. Plenty of steps but take your time as the views of the surrounding countryside are superb. Various places to stop an rest as well as have a drink or get some food, souvenirs. Would recommend the visit. See more..
4.5 Otsuka Museum of Art (988 reviews)
- A Very Unique Museum with Over One Thousand Life-size Reproductions of Treasured Western Artworks in actual size
Monday: Spent 2-3 hours Art Museums

The Otsuka Museum of Art is a "Ceramic board masterpiece art museum" with the largest exhibition space in Japan. Inside, there are more than 1,000 ceramic reproductions of Western art. These masterpieces are reproduced to their original size using special techniques by the Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co., Ltd. Unlike the paintings in art books or textbooks, visitors will able to appreciate the true artistic value of the original works, and experience art museums of the world while being in Japan. See more..
4.5 Chichu Art Museum (844 reviews)
- 15 and under Free
Monday: Art Museums

It is best is you reserve your tickets online, as you know in advance your time slot. If you just show up at a given time without reservations you will be given a time to come back. We had reservations. It took about and hour to go through with lunch at the cafe. 15 and under are free. No photographs allowed, but some of the art is an experience, one room in particular made this worth it. Monets are always beautiful and worth the view. See more..
4.5 Naoshima (599 reviews)
- Don't miss the Valley Gallery, New Open in 2022
Islands

I went to the new Valley Gallery, which opened in March 2022. It is the ninth architecture by Tadao Ando, and works by Yayoi Kusama is exhibited outdoors. Since it is outdoors, the scenery will change depending on the season and time of day when you see it. It is near Benesse House Museum. Artwork :Yayoi Kusama, Narcissus Garden 1966/2022　 See more..
4.5 Art House Project (372 reviews)
- Really interesting and varied experience
Monday: Architectural Buildings

We loved the Art House Project at Honmura. Walking along really narrow laneways to visit each small exhibit a delightful way to spend half a day. unfortunately there are No Camera signs everywhere. In someways this is good as many people can be very intrusive with camera usage. One warning many restaurants that say they open at night at Honmura are not open when you arrive. call before you leave your accommodation. See more..
4.5 Sunday Market (351 reviews)
- Mingle with the locals!
Monday: Flea & Street Markets

For a couple years I used to live a few miles away from Kochi City, and once every month or two I'd ride the streetcar in to check out the Sunday market. There are fruits and vegetables for sale there, and woodcarvings, and many types of knives. Lots of stuff. I can't say I ever bought a whole lot except knives for souvenirs (I had a cheaper place to buy fresh fruit) but it is fun to check it all out, then maybe wander back through the long covered shopping street that runs parallel to the market street. It might not be the most exciting thing in the whole world, but if you are from outside Japan and visiting Kochi City anyway, I feel it is a must-see while you are there. I think the market only happens one Sunday per month, though, if I remember right. See more..
4.5 Teshima Art Museum (306 reviews)
- Serene
Monday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Art Museums

We arrived in the afternoon around 130 on the ferry from Inujima so we didn’t have a lot of time. We rented electric bicycles for ¥1000/4 hours and quickly biked to the Teshima Art Museum. The bike ride was mostly uphill and took about 20 min. It was a last minute decision to visit Teshima and we had reserved the tickets only the night before for 230. Usually it would be recommended to reserve them further ahead but with Covid, it was a lot easier. You have to take your shoes off before entering the museum. It’s very beautiful, simple and mesmerizing. You can stay as long as you like watching the puddles of water in motion. There are small tables outside that you can sit by to look at the tube terraces. We were there after the harvest so it was not as breathtaking as it would have been with the fields flooded. Would definitely like to visit in September. See more..
4.5 The Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden (253 reviews)
- Makino Gardens are a Beautiful and Important piece of Botany
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Gardens

Kochi City Japan is off the beaten track but if you go the Makino gardens are a must. Tomitaro Makino was an important botanist and the garden that bears his name is well planned and is enhanced with wonderful architecture and exhibits on Godaisan, a small 139 meter mountain approximately 20 minutes from Kochi city. Godaison is also the home of Temple 31, Chikurin-ji built in the 8th Century. There are 88 temples that circle the island of Shikoku. Pilgrims can be seen walking through the gardens on an ancient pathway that winds to the temple at a higher elevation. The combination of a beautiful garden, a fascinating interpretive center and an important Buddhist temple make for a great attraction. Admission to the garden is 700 yen and it is well worth it! See more..
4.5 Oyamazumi Shrine (252 reviews)
- An Old Sacred Shrine with a Long History in a Small Island
Religious Sites

I was struck with awe to find such a solemn shrine on a small island in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea. It has 3 museums and 2 of them have kept a lot of historical materials including swords and armor which were offered by famous samurais. Ochi Yoshikata (?-?) surpassed the Rebellion of Fujiwara Sumitomo (?-941), and, after the suppression, he offered his armor, which is the oldest that has been kept in Japan. Taira Shigemori (1138-1179), Minamoto Yoshinaka (1154-1184), who opened the Minamoto Clan's rebellion against the Taira Clan and tried to chase them along the Seto Inland Sea, Minamoto Yoshitsune (1159-1189), who actually chased the Taira Clan along the sea, and Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199), who succeeded in establishing his rule over Japan and who killed his younger brothers, Yoshinaka and Yoshitsune, in the process, followed Yoshikata. Many more later samurais followed them with prestigious swords and armor. See more..
4.5 Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge (234 reviews)
- Largest and Longest of the Bridges!
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Bridges

The Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge was the first bridge I crossed while doing the Shimanami Kaido starting in Imabari. The bridges are all unique and pretty in their own way. This bridge was by far the largest and longest. To get to the bridge, you have to cycle up hill quite a bit which is expected and makes for a fun downhill on the other side. If cycling, there is a large cycle path on the side of the bridge which separates you from vehicles, it's very nice! The views from the bridge are gorgeous as well, I managed to catch the sunrise here and it was fantastic! See more..
4.5 Mt. Kiro Observatory Park (225 reviews)
- unforgettable sunset at Shimanami Kaidou
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Observation Decks & Towers

small mountain like a hill, faced for one of hte biggest bridge among Shimanami Kaidou you can enjoy to watch panorama view especially at sun set time this is the place you must visit if you love sunset ! See more..
4.0 Kochi Castle (1.177 reviews)
- One of the Originals, Worth a Visit
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles

Constructed in the 1600s, this castle was originally named Otakasaka after the hill on which it resides. Built to defend the city below, the structure was partially damaged by a fire in the early 1700s but never faced a formal attack. See more..
4.0 Katsura Hama (1.056 reviews)
- spend a few hours here
Beaches

Spend a few hours here if you like to take photos. Try to find some famous 5 color stones at the beach. See more..
4.0 Bocchan Train (794 reviews)
- vintage steam train to Dogo Onsen
Public Transportation Systems

This vintage train is called “Botchan Ressha” after the main character of a famous novel by Soseki Natsume. It runs from Matsuyama city centre to Dogo Onsen everyone for a few times so please check for the timetable before. We were quite lucky that we have whole train by ourselves and the train conductor was very nice and explain to us how the windows are operated inside the train and help us to take a few photos. He even asked us to stay to after we reached the Dogo Onsen Station to watch the manual train changing which is quite interesting too! See more..
4.0 Iya Kazura Bridge (724 reviews)
- one of a kind experience
Spent 1-2 hours Bridges • Scenic Walking Areas

The most accessible and popular vine bridge as you can access it by JR and also car. Just 5 mins from the parking lot and you will see a breathtaking view. The valley is beautiful and the bridge is one of a kind, one of Japan's 3 most peculiar bridges. Made of mountain vines at the Iya Valley it a really special experience to walk on it and enjoy the scenic views. See more..
4.0 Bocchan Wind up Clock (695 reviews)
- Interesting
Monday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

The clock is located near the entrance to the Dogo Onsen arcade street. It plays the music every hour, I think, and attracts a small crowd all the time. Very funny. Some foot bath facilities with chairs nearby. See more..
4.0 Uzu no Michi (632 reviews)
- Though a Bit Scary for Acrophobias, You Can Get Really Good Views of Naruto Whirlpool
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Naruto Whirlpool from the above on the Onaruto Bridge. Originally it was planned for the Shinkansen railroad to be put. After the plan was canceled, it was turned into a Naruto whirlpool viewing spot. A little scary for those with acrophobia, but this really is a good viewing spot for the Naruto Whirlpool. The Bandō prisoner-of-war camp exhibit was fascinating, too. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was performed here the first time in Japan and that is the root of its numerous performances at the end of each year. See more..
4.0 Ryoma Sakamoto Bronze Statue (493 reviews)
- Famed master swordsman & politician
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

Honoured bronze statue of the master swordsman, the Sakamoto-born Ryoma. He is frequently protrayed in Japanese dramas. See more..
4.0 Marugame Castle (459 reviews)
- Original Castle, Rewarding Views
Monday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles

One of my goals while living in Japan is to see all the original castles, so this last weekend I visited Marugame Castle. This one is interesting as it is built on top of a steep hill, most others I've been to so far have been on flat ground. Because of this it reminded me a bit of castles in Europe. The walk to the actual castle is pretty steep, but you get gorgeous 360 views from the top. I recommend paying the 200 Yen to visit the inside. The inside is pretty small but it is interesting to see what it looks like plus entrances here are so cheap. The whole grounds of the castle to include the park and moat are just beautiful. See more..
4.0 Michi-no-Eki Shodoshima Olive Park (437 reviews)
- Cute visit to little Greece
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks • Gardens

Shodoshima is more recently known for its Olive Oil and this park celebrates it. It has a large grove of olive trees in front an behind the main building. There are land marks dotted around the property, such as the windmill. Our guide grabbed some broom sticks from the main building and insisted that we “ride it”. Cute bit of fun. See more..
4.0 Benesse House Museum (425 reviews)
- Island view from Benesse House Museum
Monday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM Art Museums

If you are an art lover, you can choose to visit there. If you stay at benesse house hotel, you can easily take the hotel guest bus service. If you stay outside, you can also take the other bus starting from Chichu Art Museum or bus gate near the benesse house museum. No outside bicycles are not allowed to enter the museum sites. So, it is better to park at Chichu Art Museum or ride along the high hills and park at the entrance of benesse house museum (Benesse Beach hotel site). If you park near beach hotel site, you can walk and see the yellow pumpkin. Season recommended: Spring This museum has wider space and amazing view to look. Opening hours: 10:00 - 6:00 pm; last entrance 5:00pm Admission fees: 1,050 yen (Free under 15years old) See more..
4.0 Awaodori Kaikan (410 reviews)
- Don't miss Japanese Samba!
Monday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Speciality Museums

I watched and joined the evening performance and it was above my expectation. The dance was performed by one of the troupes (equivalent to Escolas de Samba) so that I really felt as if I were in Tokushima in mid-summer. Even though the MC of the performance spoke only a few words of English, he welcomed foreigners as well and invited them to join the performance. If you are lucky enough to be qualified as a "good" dancer, you can get some surprise gift, too. I think it is worth going if you have a chance to stay in Tokushima, since you can have a wonderful experience at a price of only 800 yen! See more..
4.0 Angel Road (388 reviews)
- Beautiful and magical
Geologic Formations

We were there during a Japanese Festival. Highlight was the fireworks by the road at night. Simply magical. See more..
4.0 Mt. Bizan (387 reviews)
- Great View, Little to Do
Mountains

We took the gondola up and down the mountain---it was a 7 minute trip that offered a good view of the city. On top of Mt Bizan, we are able to see the entire cityscape, as well as seas and other islands faraway fading into the distance. It is a great view, but there isn't much to do up there other than looking over the city---the cafe and 平和 museum are both closed. We saw a few tracks leading down the mountain, so people should be able to hike up the mountain / hill. At 4 pm, the weather was very nice, just about the best temperature to be outdoors. See more..
4.0 Okaido Shopping Street (367 reviews)
- Convenient for eating and shopping
Points of Interest & Landmarks

I usually make several visits to different Japanese cities each year, as a tourist but invariably armed with a shopping list of sorts. In between the sightseeing I usually manage to fulfill these requirements by visiting a half decent department store and/or local shopping malls. Staying in a nearby hotel for 4-nights, I found myself drawn to the Okaido covered shopping street, on numerous occasions. In addition to breakfasts in one of the many eateries/coffee shops (e.g.: Flying Scotsman), dinners in a variety of dining styles (e.g.: Teppanyaki, Pizzeria, Nepalese); I even managed to clear my list during the pleasant stroll from the Ropeway Street entrance to the Takashimaya Dept. Store (via Gintengai). Hop on the tram by Matsuyama City Station and you're back to the starting point at Okaido in no time. See more..
4.0 Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad (364 reviews)
- A cute vibtage train
Spent 1-2 hours Trams • Public Transportation Systems

The outer appearance is so vintage ! You will love it! Even the ticket system is old school. But one downside, the normal IC card cannot be used here See more..
4.0 Tamamo Park (363 reviews)
- worth a visit
Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Parks • Gardens

The Takamatsu Castle is known as one of the only three castles which has a moat that is directly connected to the sea. The castle is unfortunately not around any more but there a few surviving structures and a beautiful garden to form the Tamamo Park. This park is easily accessible as it near a train station and ferry port. It’s a traditional Japanese style garden it's easy to walk around and enjoy a nice time. We visited in Jan and it's quite windy and not a lot of visitors. See more..
4.0 Dogo Onsen Station (361 reviews)
- Period Wooden Station Building Housing a 21st Century Starbuck's!
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

Picturesque period wooden station building, tastefully decorated in cream and green and brought bang up-to-date in housing a 21st Century Starbuck's. Arrived by tram in the the daytime and promptly departed on the last Botchan Train, so had to return hours later for a more leisurely look around. Believe me, the station is equally delightful after dark with a floodlit static exhibit of a current Botchan Train. See more..