What’s On in Shikoku, Japan
The smallest main island — the 88-temple pilgrimage, the Naruto whirlpools and udon country.
104 listings
Awa Odori Festival
Japan's largest dance festival sees 1.3 million spectators watch thousands of performers dancing through the streets of Tokushima.
Naoshima Art Island
A small Seto Inland Sea island transformed into a world-class contemporary art destination by the Benesse Art Site.
Dōgo Onsen Honkan
Japan's oldest hot-spring bathhouse, a fairy-tale Meiji-era wooden building said to have inspired Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away.'
Uchiko Historic Townscape
A remarkably preserved Edo-to-Meiji merchant town famous for its wax-trade mansions, kabuki theatre and unhurried rural pace.
Oboke Gorge Sightseeing Boats (Oboke Kyōkoku)
Glass-bottomed sightseeing boats drift through a gorge of emerald water flanked by dramatic marble cliffs in Tokushima's interior.
Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage (Shikoku Henro)
Follow the 1,200-year-old footsteps of Buddhist monk Kōbō Daishi across 1,200 km of mountain trails, coastal roads, and ancient temple steps.
Ritsurin Kōen Garden, Takamatsu
Considered Japan's finest strolling garden, this 300-year-old feudal masterpiece frames sculpted pines against the backdrop of Mount Shuin.
Shodoshima Olive Island & Seto Inland Sea Experience
Japan's olive-growing heartland — a sun-drenched Seto Inland Sea island where Greek-inspired groves, terraced soy fields, and film-set gorges await.
Yosakoi Matsuri
Kochi's electrifying dance festival where 20,000+ performers parade streets wielding naruko clappers to pounding contemporary beats.
Niihama Taiko Matsuri
Fifty massive golden mikoshi floats called taiko are shouldered by rival teams in one of Shikoku's most spectacular autumn festivals.
Tosa Reihei Matsuri (Tosa Grand Festival)
An ancient two-day Shinto procession at Tosa Shrine where samurai-costumed retinues escort the deity's portable shrine through cedar forest paths.
Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, Iya Valley
Cross a swaying 45-metre suspension bridge woven entirely from wild mountain vines above the emerald Iya River gorge.
Hirome Ichiba Market, Kochi
Kochi's beloved indoor food market where dozens of stalls serve bonito tataki, Tosa sake, and local dishes to convivial communal tables.
Kotohiragu Shrine (Konpira-san), Kotohira
Climb 1,368 stone steps to one of Japan's most revered maritime shrines, rewarded by sweeping views over the Sanuki Plain.
Awa Jurobe Yashiki Ningyo Joruri Puppet Theatre
Watch master puppeteers perform UNESCO-listed Awa ningyo joruri bunraku at the historic Jurobe Yashiki estate in Tokushima.
Uwajima Ushioni Matsuri
Uwajima's signature summer festival features the thunderous ushioni sea-monster parade, bullfighting, and a dazzling waterfront fireworks finale.
Cape Ashizuri (Ashizurimisaki), Tosashimizu
Stand at Japan's dramatic southernmost Pacific cape, framed by white camellia forests and thundering ocean cliffs at the tip of Shikoku.
Matsuyama Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
Matsuyama's hilltop castle — one of Japan's original 12 surviving castles — glows above a sea of 200 cherry trees in peak spring bloom.
Awa Odori Kaikan Dance Experience, Tokushima
Learn Awa Odori's distinctive hands-high dance steps from professional performers at Tokushima's dedicated year-round dance hall.
Oboke Gorge White-Water Rafting
Raft Class III–IV rapids through the dramatic marble-walled Oboke Gorge on the Yoshino River, Shikoku's premier white-water run.
Kochi港まつり花火大会 (Kochi Port Festival Fireworks)
Brilliant summer fireworks burst over Urado Bay as Kochi's port festival reaches its spectacular nightly climax.
徳島市花火大会 (Tokushima City Fireworks Festival)
One of Tokushima's premier summer events, launching thousands of shells above the Yoshino River in late August.
高松みなと祭り花火大会 (Takamatsu Port Festival Fireworks)
Thousands of fireworks erupt above the Seto Inland Sea during Takamatsu's beloved port festival each August.
今治みなと祭り花火大会 (Imabari Port Festival Fireworks)
Imabari's summer port festival culminates in a dazzling fireworks show over the Seto Inland Sea in mid-July.
松山まつり野球拳おどり花火 (Matsuyama Festival Fireworks)
Matsuyama's biggest summer festival closes with a spectacular fireworks finale above the city's historic riverbanks.
四万十川花火大会 (Shimanto River Fireworks Festival)
Japan's last free-flowing river glows with fireworks reflections during this intimate riverside summer festival.
鳴門市うずしお花火大会 (Naruto Whirlpool Fireworks Festival)
Fireworks explode above the famous Naruto Strait, where tidal whirlpools churn beneath a canopy of summer colour.
宇和島われい祭り花火大会 (Uwajima Warei Festival Fireworks)
Uwajima's grand Warei Festival ends with a magnificent fireworks display over the bay in late July.
阿南市花火大会 (Anan City Fireworks Festival)
Anan's coastal fireworks festival lights up the Pacific shoreline of southern Tokushima each August.
仁淀川花火まつり (Niyodo River Fireworks Festival)
Japan's clearest river, the Niyodo, shimmers with reflections during this enchanting summertime fireworks matsuri.
善通寺市花火大会 (Zentsuji City Fireworks Festival)
Fireworks soar above the birthplace of Kōbō Daishi, lighting up the sacred temple town of Zentsuji each summer.
宿毛市夏祭り花火大会 (Sukumo Summer Festival Fireworks)
Remote western Kochi's summer festival fireworks burst over Sukumo Bay in a spectacular coastal display.
Kochi Castle Cherry Blossom Hanami
One of Japan's top 100 cherry blossom spots, Kochi Castle glows pink against its Edo-era stone walls.
Takamatsu Chuo Park Cherry Blossom Festival
Takamatsu's central park erupts in cherry blossoms, drawing families and revellers for classic hanami picnics.
Shiroyama Park Cherry Blossom Viewing, Matsuyama
Matsuyama Castle's hilltop park offers spectacular sakura scenery accessible by ropeway above the city.
Zentsuji Temple Cherry Blossom Hanami
Japan's largest wooden temple complex, birthplace of Kobo Daishi, blooms gloriously with hundreds of cherry trees each spring.
Uwajima Castle Cherry Blossom Hanami
Uwajima's rare original castle keep rises above a hillside carpeted in cherry blossoms each April.
Tokushima Shinmachi Riverwalk Cherry Blossom Promenade
Stroll along the Shinmachi River as cherry petals drift over the water in central Tokushima city.
Imabari Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
Imabari Castle's water moat mirrors blooming cherry trees in a rare seaside castle hanami spectacle.
Shimanto River Cherry Blossom Sightseeing Cruise
Drift along Japan's last free-flowing river as cherry blossoms frame its legendary chinkabashi submersible bridges.
Chikurinji Temple Cherry Blossom, Mount Godaisan
Temple 31 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage on Mount Godaisan pairs a moss-carpeted garden with vivid spring cherry blossoms.
Mount Tsurugi Alpine Cherry Blossom Trekking
Hike Shikoku's second-highest peak as late-blooming mountain cherry trees dust the alpine trails in pink.
Besshi Dosan Festival Cherry Blossom Parade, Niihama
Niihama's Besshi Dosan Festival celebrates the historic copper mine heritage with a spring parade under flowering cherry trees.
Marugame Castle Cherry Blossom Hanami
Japan's tallest natural stone castle walls are crowned with cherry blossoms in a dramatic Kagawa spring scene.
Oboke Gorge Autumn Foliage
Dramatic crimson and gold maples blaze above the emerald rapids of Oboke Gorge in Tokushima's mountainous interior.
Iya Valley Kohankei Autumn Leaves
The remote Iya Valley's terraced slopes erupt in vivid autumn colour, framing thatched farmhouses and misty ravines.
Mount Tsurugi Autumn Foliage Trekking
Shikoku's second-highest peak blazes with early alpine koyo as trekkers follow ridge trails through wind-sculpted beech forests.
Ritsurin Kōen Autumn Koyo Viewing
Over 200 Japanese maples and centuries-old pines ignite with autumn colour across Ritsurin Kōen's six ponds and hills.
Nikobuchi Autumn Festival, Shikoku Karst
The Shikoku Karst plateau's golden grasslands and scarlet maples merge in a high-altitude autumn spectacle on the Kochi-Ehime border.
Godaisan & Chikurin-ji Temple Autumn Foliage
Ancient cedar and maple trees surrounding Chikurin-ji Temple on Mount Godaisan glow crimson above Kochi city in late autumn.
Ishite-ji Temple Autumn Foliage, Matsuyama
Colourful maples and ancient moss-covered stone lanterns line the atmospheric approach to Matsuyama's celebrated Ishite-ji Temple.
Ryūgadō Cave & Autumn Foliage Park, Tosa
Explore one of Japan's three great limestone caves then emerge to maple-lined hills blazing with late-autumn colour in Tosa.
Iya Onsen Autumn Foliage Ryokan Experience
Soak in a cliff-side open-air hot spring suspended above the Iya River gorge while autumn maples blaze on the canyon walls.
Ōzuchidani Maple Valley Autumn Colour, Ehime
Thousands of wild maples carpet the steep slopes of Ōzuchidani, one of Ehime's most celebrated koyo valleys.
Zōzan Forest Autumn Walk, Kotohira
Stroll the forested slopes of Zōzan hill beside Kotohiragu Shrine as maples and ginkgos blanket the stone stairways in autumn gold.
Omogo Valley Autumn Foliage, Ehime
Omogo Valley's rugged rock faces and pristine stream are draped in vivid autumn colour, one of Ehime's top koyo secrets.
Tosa Tosho-gu Shrine Autumn Grand Festival
An ancient procession at Tosa Tosho-gu Shrine featuring samurai costumes, mikoshi, and classical court music through historic Kochi streets.
Saijo Danjiri Matsuri
Saijo's famous danjiri festival sees over 80 elaborately carved wooden floats paraded to the Kamo River in a dramatic midnight ritual.
Tokushima Awa Ningyō Joruri Festival (Awaodori Kaikan Stage)
A dedicated outdoor celebration of Tokushima's 400-year-old ningyo joruri puppet tradition with open-air stage performances and craft demonstrations.
Konpira-san Taisai Grand Festival
Kotohiragu Shrine's grandest annual festival featuring a stately mikoshi procession, traditional performing arts, and the rare opening of inner shrine precincts.
Uwajima Warei Taisai (Bull Sumo & Ushioni Parade)
Uwajima's most beloved summer festival combines bull sumo bouts, the fearsome Ushioni dragon-lion parade, and dazzling waterfront processions.
Nagoro Scarecrow Village & Iya Valley Cultural Festival
Explore the famous scarecrow-populated hamlet of Nagoro deep in the Iya Valley, combined with autumn folk craft demonstrations and mountain food traditions.
Tosa Kuroshio Matsuri (Kochi Sea & Bonito Festival)
A lively seaside celebration honouring Kochi's katsuo (skipjack tuna) fishing heritage with straw-fire tataki cooking, boat races, and Kuroshio Current lore.
Higashi Iya Bon Odori & Mountain Obon Festival
A hauntingly beautiful mountain Obon festival in remote Higashi Iya where lantern-lit bon odori dancing honours ancestors against dramatic gorge scenery.
Matsuyama Kanko Matsuri (Dogo & Castle Town Festival)
Matsuyama's main summer street festival unites the historic Dogo Onsen district and castle town in parades, mikoshi, and the spirited Yakyuken Odori dance.
Zentsuji Taisai Grand Temple Festival
The grand annual festival of Zentsuji Temple—birthplace of Kobo Daishi—with torchlit processions, esoteric Buddhist ceremonies, and massive camphor tree rituals.
Shimanto River Ayu Fishing & Kawa no Eki Summer Festival
Join local fishermen on Japan's last free-flowing river to experience traditional cormorant-style ayu fishing and feast riverside on freshly grilled sweetfish.
Besshi Dōzan Festival (Copper Mine Heritage Parade)
Niihama's spring festival commemorating the legendary Besshi Copper Mine with period-costume processions, miners' folk songs, and industrial heritage exhibitions.
池田夏祭り花火大会 (Ikeda Summer Festival Fireworks)
Brilliant fireworks burst over the Yoshino River gorge in the mountain town of Ikeda, painting the canyon walls in colour.
宿毛みなと祭り花火大会 (Sukumo Port Festival Fireworks)
Sea-launched shells light up the remote Sukumo Bay in western Kochi, creating dazzling mirror reflections on calm Pacific waters.
土佐清水あしずり祭り花火大会 (Tosashimizu Ashizuri Festival Fireworks)
Dramatic fireworks above the Cape Ashizuri headland celebrate the wild Pacific coastline at the southernmost tip of Shikoku.
新居浜市夏まつり花火大会 (Niihama Summer Festival Fireworks)
One of Ehime's largest hanabi events, Niihama's summer fireworks feature over 3,000 shells above the Seto Inland Sea.
大洲市夏まつり花火大会 (Ozu Summer Festival Fireworks)
Fireworks soar above the Hiji River beside Ozu Castle, illuminating one of Shikoku's most picturesque old castle towns.
龍馬まつり花火大会 (Ryoma Festival Fireworks, Kochi)
Spectacular fireworks honour Sakamoto Ryoma's legacy during Kochi's Ryoma Festival, bursting over the city's riverside with patriotic flair.
伯方島花火大会 (Hakata Island Fireworks Festival, Ehime)
Island fireworks light up the Seto Inland Sea from Hakata Island, famous for its salt, with shells reflected across tranquil island waters.
丸亀お城まつり花火大会 (Marugame Castle Festival Fireworks)
Marugame's original stone-walled castle provides a dramatic silhouette as thousands of shells explode above it each August.
琴平夏まつり花火大会 (Kotohira Summer Festival Fireworks)
Fireworks bloom above the sacred mountain of Konpira-san, casting a golden glow over the famous 1,368-step stone stairway.
小松島みなと祭り花火大会 (Komatsushima Port Festival Fireworks)
Komatsushima's working fishing port transforms for one summer night as fireworks burst over masts and sea-weathered quays.
東予みなと花火大会 (Toyo Port Fireworks Festival, Ehime)
The paper-industry city of Shikokuchuo lights the Seto Inland Sea sky with vivid fireworks from the Toyo coastal waterfront.
室戸市みなと祭り花火大会 (Muroto Port Festival Fireworks)
Shells erupt over the wild Pacific at Cape Muroto, a UNESCO Geopark headland battered by Kuroshio ocean currents.
Godaisan Kōen Cherry Blossom Viewing
Hilltop park beside Chikurin-ji temple offering sweeping cherry blossom views over Kochi city and Tosa Bay.
Ritsurin Kōen Spring Hanami
Stroll beneath 200 cherry trees reflected in the tranquil ponds of one of Japan's finest Edo-era stroll gardens.
Matsuyama Castle Cherry Blossom Festival (松山城桜まつり)
Over 200 cherry trees transform the hilltop grounds of Japan's last remaining original castle into a sea of pink blossoms.
Senkō-ji Temple Cherry Blossom Hanami, Tokushima
A serene temple hillside on the Bizan cable-car route blanketed in cherry blossoms with sweeping views of Tokushima city.
Ōzu Castle Cherry Blossom Hanami
Picnic beneath cherry blossoms at Ōzu's reconstructed hilltop castle, dubbed the 'Kyoto of Iyo' for its preserved Edo townscape.
Kotohira-gū Shrine Cherry Blossom Pilgrimage Walk
Climb 785 stone steps to Kotohira-gū shrine through a corridor of flowering cherry trees on one of Shikoku's most iconic pilgrim stairways.
Harimaya-bashi Cherry Blossom Canal Walk, Kochi
Stroll along the cherry-blossom-draped canal walkways beside Kochi's beloved Harimaya-bashi bridge, one of Japan's top three disappointing sights turned spring gem.
Hirayama Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Imabari
A spirited community hanami festival in Imabari's largest park with food stalls, live music, and views stretching to the Seto Inland Sea islands.
Yoshino River Cherry Blossom Boat Cruise
Drift along the Yoshino River, Shikoku's longest waterway, beneath tunnels of cherry blossoms lining its famous embankments.
Makino Botanical Garden Spring Cherry Blossom Exhibition
Explore over 50 cherry varieties including rare wild species in the garden dedicated to Japan's 'father of botany', Dr Tomitaro Makino.
Warei Shrine Cherry Blossom Hanami, Uwajima
Cherry blossoms frame the striking sea-facing torii gate of Warei Shrine, Uwajima's most beloved sacred site on the southern Ehime coast.
Zentsuji Temple Pilgrimage Cherry Blossom Walk
Walk the lantern-lined approach to Zentsuji, birthplace of Kūkai and headquarters of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, beneath a canopy of spring cherry blossoms.
Nishi-Iya Valley Autumn Foliage Boat Cruise
Drift through the emerald Yoshino River gorge as crimson maples and golden ginkgos blanket the sheer limestone cliffs.
Tsurugi-san Ropeway Autumn Koyo Viewing
Ride the Tsurugi-san Ropeway to a panoramic ridge where subalpine forest blazes gold and orange above the clouds.
Ritsurin Kōen Autumn Evening Illumination (夜の特別観覧)
Ritsurin Kōen's UNESCO-listed strolling garden glows after dark as spotlights transform maple-fringed ponds into living paintings.
Nakatsu-kyo Gorge Autumn Foliage Walk
Walk the riverside path through Nakatsu-kyo Gorge as granite boulders and wild maples create one of Ehime's most photogenic koyo corridors.
Dogo Onsen Autumn Koyo Bath Retreat
Soak in Japan's oldest hot spring beneath Matsuyama's autumn maples, then stroll the castle hill for sweeping koyo views.
Shōsan-ji Temple (Temple 12) Autumn Pilgrimage Foliage
Ascend the 'Henro's Navel' mountain temple via a steep cedar and maple forest trail that burns with colour during October's peak koyo.
Niyodo River Autumn Canoe & Koyo Experience
Paddle the legendary cobalt-blue Niyodo River through a corridor of golden ginkgos and scarlet maples as Kochi's mountains peak in colour.
Makino Botanical Garden Autumn Foliage Season
Walk winding paths through 3,000 plant species on forested Godaisan hill as the botanical garden blazes with late-autumn colour.
Garyū Sansō Villa Autumn Garden Viewing, Ōzu
Admire perhaps Shikoku's finest private villa garden as maples frame a Meiji-era sukiya pavilion cantilevered over the Hiji River gorge.
Kotohira-gū (Konpira-san) Autumn Stone Steps Foliage
Climb Konpira-san's famous 785 stone steps through a burnished tunnel of maples and camphor trees glowing in late-autumn gold.
Shimanto River Chinkabashi Bridges Autumn Foliage Walk
Stroll between Japan's longest series of submerged low-water bridges as the Shimanto River's forested banks glow amber and gold.
Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge Autumn Koyo
Cross Iya Valley's ancient wisteria vine bridge swaying above a gorge framed by some of Shikoku's most dramatic autumn foliage.