Shikoku: Japan's Fourth Main Island, Not a City

Common misconception: Shikoku is a region/island, not a city. It's the smallest of Japan's four main islands, tucked between the Seto Inland Sea (north) and the Pacific Ocean (south).

The Four Prefectures of Shikoku

Getting There

• Air: Matsuyama (MYJ), Takamatsu (TAK), Kochi (KCZ), Tokushima (TKS) — all domestic + some Asia routes.
• Bridge: Three Honshu–Shikoku Bridge Expressways (Kobe–Naruto, Okayama–Kagawa, Hiroshima–Imabari) carry road/rail.
• Ferry: Multiple routes from Wakayama, Osaka, Kobe, Okayama to various Shikoku ports.

Why Visit

Pilgrimage (88-temple Shikoku Henro), cycling the Shimanami Kaido, uncrowded onsen, distinct regional cuisine, and a slower pace than Honshu/Kyushu.