Shikoku is the smallest of Japan's four
main islands. Located across the inland sea from Okayama and Hiroshima,
Shikoku is prodominantly rural and not very densely populated.
Long ago, a tradition was established of making a pilgrimage to
the 88 temples of Shikoku in honor of the Buddhist Priest, Kobo
Daishi, otherwise known as Kukai. Well, Big Ben and The Stinger
once made their own pilgrimage of Shikoku, the biker way.
Yashima-temple (pictured below), on the outskirts of city of
Takamatsu, is the site of a famous battle that took place in the
1100's between Japan's famous warring clans, the Minamoto (or
Genji) and the Taira (or Heike).
The Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu ranks
among the finest three traditional gardens in Japan.
One of the remaining turrets of Takamatsu
Castle.
Ah, that's more like it. Here, The Stinger
stands in front of the regal Marugame Castle, further west of
Takamatsu, built around 1597.
One of Shikoku's main claims to fame
is Dogo Onsen (pictured below) in Ehime Prefecture, the very first
onsen bath house in Japan
Sadamisaki Cape, the western most tip
of Shikoku, stretches almost to Kyushu, and the nearby waters,
as this sign indicates, are often visited by sharks. Not really
recommended for swimming.
 This may look like a castle, but it is in
fact Yamaide Ikoi no Sato Onsen, a great
place to take refuge for the night, nestled
in between the mountains of Shikoku's Ehime
Prefecture. You can relax in the onsen bath,
and stay in either the indoor lodgings or
pitch a tent. |
The Ashizuri Cape, located in Kochi Prefecture,
is a popular destination with bikers for its breathtaking view.
Another amazing feature is its unusual tropical climate. This
is the only place in Japan that we know of that has Spanish moss
hanging from the trees!
Ah yes, the ubiquitous white-clad desciples
of Kukai, on their pilgrimage to the 88 temples.
The Shimanto River is one of the most
picturesque rivers in all Japan, and is one of the few remaining
without dams.
 One often sees these carp kites blowing in
the breeze in May in Japan, but not always
in such size and number as they are here. |
First tropics and now what's this, the
Scottish highlands? No, believe it or not this is still as part
of Shikoku. Known as the Shikoku Karst, this amazing area, located
1000 meters above sea level, is a grassy plateau riddled with
islands of limestone jutting out of the earth.
One of the trademarks of Shikoku, the Kazura-bashi,
a vine bridge over the Iyadani Gorge in Tokushima
Prefecture.
