Shikoku Island Nature and Food Highlights Tour

On the first day, after arriving in Matsuyama, your guide will meet you at the airport or the train station. Then, the adventure begins with a guided visit to Matsuyama Castle, with beautiful views of the city and a cable car ride to the top. Afterwards, you can experience the legendary Ishiteji temple, the 51st temple of the famous Buddhist pilgrimage, the Shikoku Henro.

Later, enjoy the architecture and relax in the healing waters of Japan’s oldest hot spring, Dogo Onsen. The inspiration for the famous animation “Spirited Away”, the recently restored hot spring boasts a history stretching back 3,000 years.

In the evening, you can enjoy a meal of fresh seafood from the Seto Inland sea paired with local sake and craft beer brewed just down the street from the famous hot spring.

Today you will ride an e-bike to explore the towns of Ozu and Uchiko. There are still many traditional buildings, such as Ozu Castle, and you’ll have the chance to tour around the beautiful architecture. The natural scenery that changes with the seasons is also wonderful, and during the spring season, you can feel the breath of spring as fresh mossy greenery invites you to enjoy the lively chirping of birds!

Uchiko, a neighboring town of Ozu City, prospered for about 100 years in the hunting and paper manufacturing industries, and we will cycle around the beautiful architecture, culture, and nature of the surrounding area, with Uchiko-za, a symbol of the entertainment of the townspeople in those days, as the centerpiece. On this day, there will be free time to relax and recover from a busy start to the trip as well!

You will go from Ozu City to Yusuhara City in Kochi Prefecture this morning (1 hour). The headwaters of the Shimanto River, said to be the last clear stream in Japan, has vast mountain villages and steep terrain with elevations ranging from 220 m at the lowest point to 1,455 m at the highest point. Shikoku Karst, one of the three major karsts in Japan, is also called the "Switzerland of Japan" for its idyllic scenery of white limestone rocks, green grass and grazing cattle. Here, you will also switch to e-bikes and enjoy the magnificent highland scenery and rare highland plants while cycling this magical landscape.

Today you will head further south in Kochi to a part of the Ashizuri-Uwajima Sea National Park which has a richly varied archipelago of seascapes. Visitors can experience natural landscapes such as cliffs and caves caused by sea erosion, subtropical marine life, coral communities and vegetation. First, in the morning, you will head by private car for about an hour to participate in the Nametoko Gorge Nature Tour. On this tour, you will trek about 3 km along the Nametoko Gorge, where a clear stream glides over a huge monolith. You can see beautiful valley scenery with waterfalls, rapids, and pools with beech and maple trees along the riverbanks.

In the afternoon, you’ll head for Cape Ashizuri, the southernmost cape on Shikoku Island. The private car will take you about 2.5 hours to the hotel for the day. This is one of the largest resort areas in Shikoku, with panoramic ocean view rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean, allowing you to enjoy the luxury of the magnificent natural surroundings. There will be time for stargazing at night – enjoy!

Following breakfast at your hotel, you’ll join a Cape Ashizuri exploration cruise at Cape Ashizuri Isa Fishing Port. Afterwards, go cycling to experience the rias coastline that characterizes the Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park's Ashizuri area. You’ll enjoy the spectacular scenery of the cliffs and the local people who live in harmony with the sea here. Lunch will be served at SODABUSHI Café. Here in Tosashimizu City, which accounts for 80% of the national share in the production of Soda-bushi, it is used by professional chefs as dashi for udon and soba noodles. At the SODABUSHI Café, visitors can taste freshly shaved Soda-bushi rice, dashi chazuke and dashi soup.

In the afternoon, a guide will lead you through its attractions, and then you will explore the area with ebikes, including an observation tower where you can see underwater. Afterwards, you will change to a private car for a 2-hour drive along the Pacific Ocean, and check in at today's hotel. You can relax in the hot spring baths after an adventure-filled day!

Visit the site of bonito landings and auction, a representative of Kochi Prefecture's food culture. Afterwards, you will enjoy a freshly caught bonito breakfast. Taisho Market is the place to taste the freshest bonito caught in the neighboring waters of Kochi Prefecture, which is famous for its bonito. You will then head to the Niyodo River, the clearest river in Japan.

Take a walk along the Nakatsu Gorge Trail to enjoy the natural scenery of the river, which is so clear that it is called "Niyodo Blue”. After a one-hour drive in a private car, check in at Yunomori, an inn with hot spring baths for the day.

You will head to a Chinkabashi Bridge, a symbolic scenic spot in Kochi, and cycle along the clear Niyodo River on ebikes. After the cycling tour, go to Ino-cho, Kochi Prefecture, one of the three major paper production centers in Japan, to participate in a workshop to make Tosa washi paper and to learn and experience the history and culture of Tosa washi, which boasts more than 1,000 years of history. Afterwards, finally head to Kochi City, the final destination of the trip. After a 30-minute drive in a private car, you will check into a hotel in Kochi City. In the evening, you will join guide team for a free participation party to celebrate Kochi's unique party culture, "Okyaku".

On your final day, visit the center of Kochi to experience the history and culture of the city. You will end the tour with a visit to Kochi Castle, the History Museum, the Yosakoi Pavilion. It’s then time to say goodbye as the adventure comes to an end.