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Driving Shikoku
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2016/9/28 21:53
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Helloy!
I was thinking of visiting Shikoku during next summer and perhaps renting a car would be an idea.
Not sure what the roads are like to drive. Are they windy or steep? Much traffic? Toll roads? Animals on the roads? Distance etc...
Since one way rental is quite expensive I should rent it in some big city like Takamatsu or Matsuyama, circling the island (not interested in Tokushima though) and returning there.
Or should I stay by train travel?
Anyone else did a rental car adventure in Shikoku?
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by Shikoku (guest)
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/9/29 11:45
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I've driven both along the bottom coast of Shikoku and through the middle in my campervan. The middle is definately a challenge, especially if you are not used to driving on Japanese mountain roads. Its also very empty, with not a huge amount to see (its more of an area to go if you - like me - enjoy solitude), except for Iya valley and the trully amazing scarecrow village at Nagoro, for me one of the highlights of Shikoku. http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/08/26/490687505/a-dying-jap...The bottom along the coast has some very scenic parts and rugged coastline and Kochi has a really nice feel to it with its trams, castle and great Sunday market. Its also a lot more developed than the middle of the island (and with better roads). On the north side, I've only really done from the west coast up as far as Matsuyama...I have a feeling its pretty built up almost the whole way along the top coast, but does include Matsuyama and the fantastic Dogo onsen on the west and the incredible Otsuka Museum of Art on the east, which I would very strongly recommend to anybody, even if they are not such a big art fan... I've driven all over Japan and for me personally, I think Shikoku drivers are among the best - or certainly, most cautious - in Japan. They tend to drive quite slowly and carefully and are great at keeping their distance. If you have not experienced driving in Japan before and may be a bit nervous, its a good place to drive, I reckon... You'll also find Shikoku people are generally quite shy, but incredibly friendly if you make the effort to approach them...
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by andy (guest)
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/9/29 11:54
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My parents rented a car from Osaka and drove Shikoku in April 2012. They had almost no prior driving experience, and no Japanese ability, but said that it was amazing and they'd do it again in a heartbeat. They had some GPS problems, but overall were good. I've never been to Shikoku so I can't comment with personal experience, but I think you'd be fine as long as you took it slow and steady :)
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by scarreddragon
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/9/29 11:58
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Btw, if you do opt for hiring a car - which I highly recommend as it will give you so much more flexibility in where you can go - do be aware that driving times are long, in spite of what may seem relatively short distances due to traffic in urban areas, the conditions of the roads in rural areas, and speed limits. NEVER believe times given on Google maps!!!
Speed limits in Japan are absurdly low (40-50km/h on most roads), but I would not advise you to go more than 12km/h above the speed limit (this is the leeway the cops give you), as fines are very hefty and a massive bureaucratic nightmare to sort out if you are a foreigner. My Australian friend got fined a couple of years back and it took us the entire morning to sort out the mess...
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by andy (guest)
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/9/29 21:47
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Thank you some very inspiring replies :)
Cant say I have been driving in Japan before but I have ridden some buses on some creepy roads, not only Japan but Norway had some really scary roads, hairnail pins, etc...
The road up to the Chuzonji lake in Nikko... hmm... but perhaps that is more maintained road than the central Shikoku.
But by central Shikoku, you mean the area away from the coastal roads?
I had an idea of doing the Shikoku henro by car, but I asume it might be a bit too time consuming, in case I want to see other stuff than temples.
I will be in Shikoku from 6-10 days in total.
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by Shikoku (guest)
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/9/29 22:29
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We rented one in Tokushima and drove to Iya Valley via the non-toll roads, routes 192 and 32. Besides avoiding tolls, this route was preferable to us because it was scenic, winding and more fun to drive. If you're not used to narrow roads with a lot of bends, avoid route 32 in particular.
Also, the cost of car rental was a big deterrent so we opted for the overnight rental with the same pick up and drop-off location and only used it for the hard to access area. From then on we used trains and ferries. You said you aren't interested in Tokushima. Do you mean the city, the prefecture or both? I'd highly recommend Iya Valley, which is in the prefecture.
In regards to speed limits, although you shouldn't exceed the signposted speeds, be aware that most other drivers go much, much faster. If you lawfully abide you'll find a queue of traffic forming behind you so try to pull over and let them pass.
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by Sal1980
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/9/29 22:54
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The most challenging part while driving in Shikoku is the region around Iya Valley/Oboke Gorge where the mt roads are narrow, winding and some parts unpaved. We under-estimated the time needed to drive around there and regrettably had to drop Nagoro, the “Valley of Dolls”.
A bit surprise to hear that you are not interested in Tokushima which is one of the popular destinations in Shikoku. It is quite nice especially it serves as a good base for a side trip to see the Naruto Whirlpools.
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by William5
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/9/30 01:56
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Well I thought mostly of Tokushima as the city. I have seen so many valleys and nature of Japan so Iya is not really priority 1 in my schedule. And the whirlpool is not really of that much interest either really.
The most fear of driving is I saw someone mentioning a road near Yatsushiro where there were several kilometers of single lane roads, where you might have to back the car up along narrow roads to let passing cars by. I would likely panic in such a situation so... well...
But I suppose going to Kochi will put me through the valley area anyway, as I dont feel like backtracking through Uwajima etc...
I remember Kochi was in one Ghibli movie as well... Ocean Waves? Out of curiosity haha...
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by Shikoku (guest)
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/10/3 23:24
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Thank you for your information as well.
There seem to be many road stations on Shikoku, are there no gas station on these?
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by Shikoku (guest)
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Re: Driving Shikoku
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2016/10/5 04:23
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Oh my, thank you so much for all the information. I really appreciate it.
I will bookmark your links and use well for the planning.
I look forward to visit Shikoku soon.
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by Shikoku (guest)
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