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Hiroshima-Shikoku 2012/11/9 10:15
I'm planning a trip to Shikoku and in doing so I have decided to take the western first route- I want to see Fukuyama castle in Hiroshima and then Imabari castle in Ehime and go from there.

The trouble is...this western route doesnt seem to have any train services.

Does anyone know, how does a carless person like myself get across? I hear it can be walked/biked but it is an awfully long way. Is there a bus service?
by samuel (guest)  

... 2012/11/9 11:20
Depending on how much time you have you may wish to consider cycling the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi to Imabari:-
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3478.html

Highly recommended!

It will take you most of one day to cycle across, you can also overnight halfway along if you prefer which is what we did.

Alternatively, there is a highway bus service that runs from Hiroshima or Fukuyama to Imabari. They are explained on the page above.

There are also ferries which can take you from Onomichi to Imabari, also explained above.

Enjoy your trip!
by GC3 rate this post as useful

Re: Hiroshima-Shikoku 2012/11/9 11:53
There are bus services between Imabari and Hiroshima (click ) and Fukuyama (click ).

http://www.setouchibus.co.jp/
by William5 rate this post as useful

Re: Hiroshima-Shikoku 2012/11/9 11:56
Sorry for the last post; it should read

There are bus services between Imabari and Hiroshima (click ¡Ž¡-L“‡) and Fukuyama (click ¡Ž¡-•ŸŽR).

http://www.setouchibus.co.jp/

by William5 rate this post as useful

Re: Hiroshima-Shikoku 2012/11/9 14:48
Cool. Thanks. I wasn't really considering cycling across- despite sounding cool in theory I didnt fancy spending hours by the side of a motorway, but it actually looks rather pretty....cycling at least part of it and getting a bus part way is tempting....


To change topic a wee bit- any suggestions of what has to be seen in Shikoku?
I dont have the time or strong interest for the full 88 temple tour but seeing some of the choicer of the temples would be nice.
by samuel (guest) rate this post as useful

Shikoku 2012/11/9 16:12
Shikoku may not have too many "well-known" destinations in the eyes of foreign visitors but it still has a lot to offer, especially if you are into the more rural countryside of Japan. What to include and when to go depend on personal interest and available time. 2 years ago we went on a self-drive road trip for 2 weeks in Shikoku doing a clock-wise loop of the island. I had post some of our trip photos on another forum, take a look and see what are of interest to you. One popular site not included in those photos is Ritsurin Koen in Takamatsu which we had visited on another previous trip.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g294232-i525-k4024488-Photo_sharin...

by William5 rate this post as useful

Re: Hiroshima-Shikoku 2012/11/9 18:25
There is also a ferry between Hiroshima and Matsuyama.

As for Shikoku, I agree with William5 about Ritsurinkoen. Allow a few hours and also visit the tea house. Other than that, I most enjoyed Kochi castle, Uchiko, Kotohira (Kompirasan is great) and the Iya Valley. We visited all prefectures and the 4 original castles (Matsuyama, Uwajima, Kochi, Marugame), but didn't do much else in Kochi prefecture because winter isn't the best time for it's attractions (e.g. sea turtles).
by Sal1980 rate this post as useful

Re: Hiroshima-Shikoku 2012/11/11 18:15
Shikoku has many great attractions. Some places there are difficult to reach without a car but I think most of the most famous are not so difficult to access. This site does a good job of listing many of the most famous places.

As mentioned, 4 of Japan's 12 original castles are in Shikoku (Uwajima, Marugame, Matsuyama, Kochi). Dogo Onsen is one of Japan's most famous onsen, Ryugado Cave in Kami (Kochi Prefecture) is one of the top 3 caves in Japan, Ritsurin Garden is one of the largest gardens in Japan (other well-known gardens include Tenshaen and Nanrakuen in Uwajima, Makino Botanical Garden in Kochi, and Nakazu Banshoen in Marugame), Kochi has Sakamoto Ryoma sites if that history interests you, Konpirasan is a very famous shrine, there are a few famous towns with old preserved buildings (Uchiko is on this site. There is also Ozu and Unomachi in Ehime).

There are also many natural sites like the Shikoku Karst, Iya Valley, Shimanto River, Naruto Whirlpools, etc.
by Rabbityama rate this post as useful

Re: Hiroshima-Shikoku 2012/11/13 18:49
You mentioned temples specifically.

Iwaya-ji temple in Kuma Kogen is one of the most dramatic, although it's a little out of the way.
http://japantourist.jp/view/iwaya-ji-temple

A more convenient but nevertheless fascinating temple is Ishite-ji in Matsuyama.

by Rod Walters rate this post as useful

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