With the introduction of the “dual-mode vehicle”,which can travel on both roads and railroads, the Asa Coast Railway started offering unprecedented services.
It is a novel transport that combines the best parts of rail and bus travel that visitors are welcome to try.
The Oboke Sightseeing Boat offers wonderful views of marble sculpture-like crystalline schists produced by erosion as it travels down Yoshino River in about half an hour.
Visitors can enjoy scenery that changes with the seasons, from lush greenery in the summer to crimson foliage in the autumn and snow in the winter.
Japan’s tangible folk cultural heritage
The Kazura Bridge is located in the remote Iya Valley, steeped in the Heike clan’s tragic tales.
The bridge (about six tons) is 45 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 14 meters above the river and is made of hardy kiwi vines.
In the olden days, it was the only bridge providing transport links in the deep, mountainous valley. It is now replaced every three years.
Tokushima’s treasure, Mount Bizan, stands 290 meters tall and is in the heart of Tokushima Prefecture.
The ropeway from the Awa Odori Kaikan, where visitors can see Tokushima’s traditional Awa dance, takes visitors to the summit of Mount Bizan, which offers a panoramic view of the city and Awaji Island.
Naturo whirlpools are a natural phenomena that occur when massive whirlpools form in the Naruto Straits between Tokushima Prefecture’s Naruto and Hyogo Prefecture’s Awaji Island.
These powerful whirlpoolsy may spin and expand up to 20 meters in diameter, making them the largest in the world.
Visitors can view the powerful whirlpools from above on the Onaruto Bridge or up close from a sightseeing boat.
The second largest island on the Seto Inland Sea is located in the heart of Setonaikai National Park.
It offers many attractions, including the Kankakei Gorge, one of Japan's three greatest gorges, Angel Road, and Shodoshima Olive Park.
The island is famous for its soy sauce, somen noodles, tsukudani, sesame oil, and masonry, and it is where olives were first cultivated in Japan.
This glass-walled gallery opened the summer of 2022, allowing visitors to experience various aspects of Yashima over different periods of time and seasons.
Magnificent views of the Seto Inland Sea, its islands, and the city of Takamatsu may be seen from the viewing gallery. Discover the nightscape that made the list of “100 Best Nightscapes of Japan” and “100 Best Sunsets of Japan.”
Ritsurin Garden is acknowledged as Japan's “special place of scenic beauty” and is the country's largest Cultural Property Garden. It is an early Edo period, circuit-style garden, with cleverly placed six ponds and thirteen hills cleverly placed .
“Ippo ikkei,” or “one step, one view”, is the name given to the splendor the garden provides with its 1,000 carefully manicured pine trees and seasonal scenery.
Constructed 66 meters above sea level atop Mount Kame, Marugame Castle is renowned nationwide as the “great castle of stone walls” with breathtaking, distant views from its north side.
This unique castle from the Edo period is one of only 12 timber structures still standing in Japan and is recognized as an important cultural property.
With an area of 8.47 square kilometers and an estimated population of 8,500, Kotohira is the second smallest town in Kagawa Prefecture by both physical size and population.
It is situated roughly in the center of the prefecture. Despite its modest size, the Kotohira-Gu, famed for Sakuni’s Konpira deity, drew many pilgrims from ancient times.The town thrived as the shrine’s gate-front town and is now one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations that symbolizes Shikoku.
This town is proud of having the oldest theater in Japan, the Konpira Grand theater, also known as Kanamaruza, recognized nationally as a significant cultural asset on a national level and hosts the Shikoku Konpira Kabuki every spring.
Six train cars, including the original “0 Series”, are on display at the Shikoku Railway Cultural Center.
The Sogo Shinji Memorial Hall honors Shinji Sogo, the fourth president of the National Railway, and the Tourism Exchange Center provides sightseeing information and souvenirs., are also located in the center.
The 70-kilometer-long Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road spans the straits, connecting Hiroshima Prefecture’s Onomichi and Ehime Prefecture’s Imabari.
While cycling in the pleasant sea breeze, cyclists can take in the spectacular view of Setouchi’s many islands and a beautiful bridge.
Dogo Onsen prides itself on its three millennia history.Visitors can enjoy free-flowing hot springs at three different spas: the iconic Dogo Onsen Honkan, the Asuka-style Dogo Onsen Bekkan Asuka no Yu, and the local favorite Tsubaki no Yu.
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50 km southwest of Matsuyama, Ozu is the seat of the prefectural government.
Its 432 square meters are primarily mountainous, with the exception of the city center. City center of Ozu is located within the Ozu Valley, where the River Hiji flows into the Iyo Nada Sea. It has a population of approximately 40,000.
The lower valley of River Shimanto is home to the Shimanto City. River activities such as sightseeing cruises, canoeing and standup paddle boarding are very popular, as are the submersible bridges which stand in a landscape unchanged from the olden days. Freshwater fish such as eel and sweetfish are must-tries.
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A statue of local hero Sakamoto Ryoma with incredible beach views
Katsurahama is one of the most scenic spots in all of Kochi Prefecture. The beach has been known as a popular place to view the moon since ancient times and the scenery has even been described in the lyrics of a famous Kochi folk song, yosakoi bushi.
Set against a backdrop of green pine trees and an azure sea, a statue of the local samurai hero Sakamoto Ryoma gazes out over the Pacific Ocean. If you want to know more about Ryoma, one of the most famous samurai in Japan, check out The Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum located nearby.
“The entire area is called Katsurahama Park, and includes shops and even the Katsurahama Aquarium. The “Umi-no-Terrace” shopping zone, was tastefully renovated in 2022. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs and has some great cafes and restaurants to check out.
※Swimming at Katsurahama Beach is prohibited due to the strong currents and big waves.”
The botanical gardens opened 1958 to honor the achievements of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, the father of Japanese botany. The 3000 botanical species contribute vibrant colors to each of the four seasons.
Some must-sees for visitors include the tropical plant greenhouses and the theater screening the gardens’ original works to learn about the mysteries of plants (multilingual).
Two museums dedicated to the creations of beloved comic artist Takashi Yanase
The Anpanman Museum is a celebration of the superhero Anpanman, a much loved character from children’s picture books and TV animation. The museum was built in Kochi Prefecture because Takashi Yanase, the character’s creator, was raised here. For those unfamiliar, the long-running series follows the adventures of Anpanman, a superhero with an anpan (a fluffy bread filled with red bean paste) for a head, who protects the world from a nemesis called Baikinman.
The museum is hugely popular among fans, both adults and children alike, and features a large number of Anpanman paintings and original picture books the author created specifically for the museum. The world of Anpanman is brought to life here with recreations of places from the cartoon, such as the the Bread Factory (home to another character called Uncle Jam) and Baikin Castle, the lair of the infamous Baikinman.
The Poem and Märchen Gallery is on the same grounds and is dedicated to Yanase’s artwork from Shitomeruhen (Poem and Märchen) magazine, a publication he ran from 1973 until 2003, which was mainly filled with art, stories and poems contributed by readers and budding artists. The magazine covers and illustrations created by Yanase have a delightful whimsical quality which transcend language.
Both are part of the Takashi Yanase Memorial Museum facilities, which also include a pleasant park with statues of Anpanman characters, annexes that host special exhibitions and a child-friendly hotel inspired by Yanase’s worlds.
The garden at Giverny, designed by Claude Monet, has been recreated in Kochi, where it is the only garden in the world officially recognized as “Monet’s Garden” by France.
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