Ten days across Japan's smallest main island and the sea around it, by ferry, by mountain road and by bicycle.
Art islands, a vine bridge over a mountain gorge, one of Japan's oldest hot springs, and the sea crossed by bicycle.
Day 1
Takamatsu: Arrival + Ritsurin Garden
Fly from Tokyo to Takamatsu, a little over an hour. Private transfer into the city. Late afternoon in Ritsurin Garden, a feudal lord's garden of ponds and pine, with matcha in the old teahouse. Dinner of fish from the Inland Sea.
Day 2
Naoshima: The Art Island
Morning ferry across the Inland Sea to Naoshima. Chichu Art Museum, built into the hillside so daylight falls on Monet, James Turrell and Walter De Maria. Timed entry, booked ahead. Afternoon in Honmura, where artists have worked inside old houses of the fishing village. The night on the island.
Day 3
Teshima: Rice Terraces and Water
Short ferry to Teshima. Teshima Art Museum, a white shell above the terraced rice fields where water gathers and moves slowly across the floor. Lunch of island produce. Late afternoon ferry back to Takamatsu.
Day 4
Into the Mountains: Oboke Gorge
Sanuki udon for breakfast at a noodle shop that opens early for the locals. Drive south into the mountains of Tokushima. A boat through Oboke Gorge between walls of green stone. Overnight in the Iya Valley.
Day 5
Iya Valley: The Vine Bridge
Cross the Iya Kazurabashi, 45 metres of vine hung 14 metres above the river and rebuilt every three years. Walk the stone-walled slopes of Ochiai, a hamlet of old farmhouses climbing the side of the valley. Dinner of river fish and Iya soba.
Day 6
Uchiko: The Wax Merchants' Street
Drive west across Shikoku to Uchiko, a town that grew rich on Japanese wax. The old merchant street of Yokaichi-Gokoku and a wax maker's house kept as a museum. On to Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama for the night.
Day 7
Matsuyama: Castle and Dogo Onsen
Ropeway up to Matsuyama Castle, one of twelve original castle keeps left in Japan. Afternoon at Ishite-ji, a temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage. Evening bath at Dogo Onsen Honkan, the wooden bathhouse at the heart of one of Japan's oldest hot spring towns.
Day 8–9
Shimanami Kaido: Across the Sea by Bicycle
Transfer to Imabari and ride the Shimanami Kaido, around 70 kilometres of bridges and island roads to Onomichi, over two days. Electric bicycles, and your luggage goes ahead by car. Oyamazumi Shrine on Omishima, lemon groves on Ikuchijima, and a night on the islands.
Day 10
Onomichi + Departure
Morning walk through the hillside temples and lanes of Onomichi, above the strait you crossed. Short train to Fukuyama for the shinkansen to Osaka or Tokyo.
Highlights
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Naoshima and Teshima
Two islands where contemporary art sits among fishing villages, rice terraces and hills above the sea.
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Iya Valley
A deep mountain gorge with a bridge of vines and hamlets that still farm the slopes.
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Dogo Onsen
One of Japan's oldest hot spring towns. Its wooden main bathhouse is an Important Cultural Property.
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Shimanami Kaido
Islands linked by bridges between Shikoku and Honshu, crossed by bicycle at your own pace.
This is a sample itinerary. Every STAYGO trip is written from scratch.
You pay hotels, ryokan, restaurants and guides directly, at their own rates. We add no markups and take no commissions. The Signature planning fee is USD 3,500 for your group, for a journey of 7–14 days. Longer or more complex journeys are planned as Bespoke.
During the trip, you reach us through the STAYGO app and WhatsApp. We agree our response hours with you before you leave.
