Overview
Shikoku is Japan's smallest main island, sitting south of the Seto Inland Sea and divided into Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi. For travel planning, it is a slower, more regional island than Kansai, Kanto, or northern Kyushu: Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Tokushima, and Kochi are the main urban gateways, while Naruto, Marugame, Kotohira, Imabari, Uwajima, Niihama, Saijo, Ozu, Shimanto, and the Iya Valley help define the wider route map.
What the region is known for
The region is known for the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, Dogo Onsen, Awa Odori, Sanuki udon, original castles, Seto Inland Sea islands, whirlpools, river valleys, capes, mountain roads, and a quieter travel rhythm than Japan's largest city regions. Matsuyama is the largest city and a natural base for Dogo Onsen, Matsuyama Castle, local trams, and western Ehime trips. Takamatsu is a practical northern gateway, useful for Ritsurin Garden, port access, Kagawa udon routes, Kotohira, Marugame, Shodoshima, Naoshima, Teshima, and rail movement from Okayama.
Tokushima is the eastern gateway for Awa Odori, Naruto whirlpools, the first temple of the 88-temple route, ferry movement from Wakayama, and access toward the Iya Valley. Kochi is the southern gateway, known for Kochi Castle, markets, food, Yosakoi energy, river routes, surf coast, Cape Ashizuri, and slower travel toward Shimanto and the Pacific side. Imabari connects naturally with the Shimanami Kaido, while Uwajima, Ozu, Saijo, Niihama, Marugame, Kotohira, Naruto, and Shimanto each suit more specific castle, shrine, cycling, river, coast, or regional-road itineraries.
Main gateways
Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Tokushima, and Kochi are the main city bases, each with rail stations, hotels, buses, and nearby airports or port routes. Takamatsu is often the simplest rail entry from Honshu because trains from Okayama cross the Seto Ohashi Bridge. Matsuyama Airport, Takamatsu Airport, Kochi Ryoma Airport, and Tokushima Awaodori Airport can make sense for direct access, while ferries, express buses, and the Shimanami Kaido add useful non-rail approaches from Honshu and Kansai.
Getting around and onward travel
Shikoku rewards realistic routing. JR Shikoku and local rail connect the main cities, but journey times can be long and some routes are indirect. Highway buses, ferries, trams, local buses, taxis, cycling routes, and rental cars are often part of the plan, especially for the Iya Valley, Shimanto River, Cape Ashizuri, interior temples, rural pilgrimage stops, and coastal towns. A base that looks close on a map may still involve a mountain road, a limited train schedule, or a slow bus connection.
Where to stay
Choose Takamatsu when the trip needs the easiest Honshu rail connection, Seto Inland Sea island access, Ritsurin Garden, udon routes, or movement toward Kotohira and Marugame. Choose Matsuyama for Dogo Onsen, castle sightseeing, local trams, western Ehime, and a broader city base. Choose Tokushima for Awa Odori, Naruto, eastern Shikoku, ferry movement, or the start of the pilgrimage route. Choose Kochi when the trip is built around the southern coast, Kochi Castle, markets, Shimanto, Cape Ashizuri, or a road-heavy itinerary. Choose Imabari, Uwajima, Ozu, Kotohira, Marugame, or rural onsen and pilgrimage towns when the trip is built around a specific route rather than a single city base.
Good to know
Shikoku is a broad real-world region, and the linked city cards on this page are a selected coverage set rather than a complete list of every major Shikoku destination.