Three weeks in Shikoku

I am planning to spend 20 days on Shikoku in October/November and would like to find 4 or 5 locations to use as bases for exploring the island. We will have a car so more remote locations will be accessible.

My wife and I are both aged 72 and not interested in surfing, white water rafting, long distance hiking etc. In general we are more interested in the ordinary rather than the extraordinary. We have been to Japan before and seen large cities, castles and temples. We are now more interested in seeing how people live rather than in sunsets, majestic views and iconic buildings. A keen photographer I am more inclined to photograph the small towns, suburbs and back streets rather than grand buildings and monuments. For the same reason I�fm not keen on reconstructed heritage towns where houses are full of things to buy rather than local people living.

As I said, we would like to find 4 or 5 places where we could stay for about 4 to 5 days. Rather than the big cities we would prefer to be in or near small towns, although large enough to have restaurants, food shopping etc. with interesting sites either in the town or nearby, but also a town where I can happily spend time just walking around

Most of the information online, even those sites which talk of places �goff the beaten track�h, point to places where tourism is the town�fs major activity. I�fm looking for places where tourism is, at best, ancillary to agriculture, industry, fishing or whatever else employs the local population. Hopefully some of this forums participants who are familiar with Japan may be able to point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance, Paul

I don�ft know that much about Shikoku but I would definitely spend some time on one/several of the art islands:Teshima or Naoshima. They are nice small islands and have these amazing art projects.

I'm very interested in the answers here as I'm hoping to also spend 3 weeks in Shikoku this Autumn.
From my initial research Kochi city, Takamatsu and Matsuyama make a lot of sense as bases.

i have stayed in takamatsu before , nice little city as a base to rest but it doesn't have much to do itself and the shops closes early.

Love Takamatsu.

Maybe also try Tokushima (from where you could do a short side trip to Wakayama city and/or prefecture, which is lovely)

I�fve not been to Kochi, but would love to go and visit some sake breweries and eat seared bonito on the coast.

I�fm also very big fan of Imabari towels, so might go there if there�fs a chance of a factory tour.

Shokoku is a pretty island which has not as many foreign tourists as it deserves. I do think that 3 weeks might be a bit too long if you don't include the art islands. In 2016 I drove around Takamatsu for a week and then caught a ferry to some of the art islands. I've included my travel reports to give you some ideas:

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2479
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2487
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2492
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2484
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2496
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2498
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2501
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2507
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2505
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2508
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2509
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2510
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2511
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2514

A possible basic plan could be the following. Change or ignore it to your hearts content

Naoshima / Teshima: 3 days (no car needed)
Shodoshima: 2 days (a car would be helpful here - I've not visited but have considered visiting)
Iya Valley: 2 nights??
Takamatsu (3/4 nights)
Naruto / Tokushima (2/3 nights)
Kochi (3 nights) - I really like this area.
Uwajima Area (2 nights)
Ozu / Uchiko / Matsuyama Area (4 nights)

Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Kochi would be the obvious 1st choices. Shouldn't be more that 2 hours train ride from anywhere.

If you want more locations. Add Uji and Uwajima.

I have stayed in Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Kochi.
In Kochi prefecture, I have never been there, but I want to go to Makino Botanical Garden.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5604.html
(I passed by bus on the way to Katsurahama Beach.)
Probably, there are still many Japanese tourists because the drama was broadcast on NHK until September last year.
If I could be in Kochi on Sunday, I also wanted to go to the Sunday market.
https://www.city.kochi.kochi.jp/site/kanko/nichiyouichi.html
I went to Dogo Onsen, Tobe and Uchiko from Matsuyama.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5500.htmlhttps://www.japan-guide.com/e/...
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5550.html
http://www.tobe-kanko.jp/en/
The Ishite-ji temple near Dogo Onsen sounds interesting.
https://nehan.net/
I went to Ritsurin-Park in Takamatsu.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5400.html
I also went to Kotohira.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5450.html
I also went to Mimoka in Marugame.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5465.html
What I'm interested in in Shikoku now is Zero Waste Center in Tokushima, Mirai Konbini, Chichibugahama, and Art Island.
https://why-kamikatsu.jp/
https://mirai-cvs.jp/
https://www.mitoyo-kanko.com/chichibugahama/
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5475.html
Shimanto River is famous in Kochi Prefecture, but Niyodo Blue is also famous these days.
https://www.shimanto-kankou.com/kanko/shimanto-river/shimantoriver.htm...
https://niyodoblue.jp/
I think Ryuga-do Cave is also famous.
https://ryugadou.or.jp/english/
In this city, there is a memorial hall for Takashi Yanase, who is famous for Anpanman.
https://anpanman-museum.net/index.html
Next year, Takashi Yanase's drama will start on NHK, so this town may become popular, too.

Shikoku has lots of nice places to visit, but if you are being truthful that you want to visit places with few or no tourist attractions, it shouldn't be that difficult.

I'd say Kochi Prefecture has the widest range of these kinds of places. Lots of fishing villages and lots of sparsely populated towns and villages. Places like Sukumo, Kuroshio, Otsuki, etc. should all have some of what you want.

But really, even just going to less touristy areas of any town will take you to more residential "lived in" parts of the town.

If you still want to do activities, the knife-making experience in Kurogane seems to be appealing in part for a more authentic local experience in a more remote area:
https://visitkochijapan.com/en/activities/10159