Shikoku can be added to your Japan itinerary as a detour between Kyoto and Hiroshima. Or, take the shinkansen bullet train straight from Tokyo to Okayama, the gateway to Shikoku!
I spent 5 days in Shikoku, traveling through Kagawa Prefecture. The way I did it essentially makes it a round-trip from Kyoto.
Day 1
I went from Kyoto to Okayama by shinkansen, with a stopover in Okayama. Then from Okayama to Marugame by train, for a quick stopover. Then onwards from Marugame to Kotohira by train, with an overnight in Kotohira at an onsen hotel.
Day 2
I did Kotohira things. Then from Kotohira to Takamatsu by train, with an overnight in Takamatsu.
Day 3 and Day 4
I did Takamatsu things. Then from Takamatsu to Shodoshima by ferry, with 2 nights at an onsen hotel near Sakate port. (On Shodoshima: Free shuttle pick-up at Tonosho port, and free shuttle drop-off at Sakate port.) Shodoshima things on Day 4.
Day 5
I did more Shodoshima things. Then from Shodoshima to Kobe by ferry to get back to the “mainland”! (Kobe is a shinkansen stop if you want to take the shinkansen to Tokyo from there.)
There are partner websites included in this post.
Gateway to Shikoku: Okayama
- Kyoto to Okayama by bullet train
- Your 2 things to do: Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle (they are right next to each other)
- Where to stay near Okayama Station: Okayama Koraku Hotel or Hotel Granvia Okayama
Enter Shikoku
Marugame
- Okayama to Marugame train
- Your 1 thing to do: Marugame Castle (up the hill to the smallest castle tower in Japan that still exists!)
Kotohira
- Marugrame to Kotohira train
- Your 1 thing to do: Konpirasan (lots of steps to a shrine!)
- Where to stay in Kotohira: Kotohira Onsen Sankaku with meal plan (breakfast and dinner). It’s worth staying here for a traditional Japanese food experience even if you don’t care to use the onsen!
Takamatsu
- Kotohira to Takamatsu train
- Your 1 thing to do: Ritsurin Garden (lots of Japanese pine trees!) Your second thing to do: Takayama Castle ruins
- Where to stay near Takamatsu Station: JR Hotel Clement or JR Clement Inn
Shodoshima
- Ferry from Takamatsu to Shodoshima
- Your 1 thing to do: See a few of the Shodoshima 88 temples, like Dounzan mountain cave temple, as a walking route from Sakate! You may have heard of the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage, and there’s a separate Shodoshima 88 temple pilgrimage.
- Where to stay near Sakate port: Bay Resort Hotel with meal plan (breakfast and dinner buffet)
Kobe ferry
- Jumbo ferry from Shodoshima’s Sakate Port to Kobe, and then a shuttle drop-off at Sannoymiya Station. From Kobe, you can take a local train to Osaka or Kyoto. There’s also a shinkansen station in Kobe, so you can also go to Tokyo or Hiroshima direct from Kobe.
I used google maps to figure out trains and buses along the way!