• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

Shikoku Japan

INTRODUCTION

Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan’s archipelago. Located off the south east coast of the main island, Shikoku includes countless islets, but only encompasses around 20,000 square kilometers. Divided by a mountain range peaking at just under 2000 meters, Shikoku is mostly agricultural, with some copper mining.

Kochi Castle was constructed in 1600, following the epic Battle of Sekigahara, by Yamauchi Kazutoyo, who governed Shikoku for Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1950, the castle became a National Treasure, du to its remaining intact and not being a post war reconstruction. It is the primary tourist attraction on Shikoku.

The castle gave rise to a village that grew into the largest on the island, and soon became the capital city of Kochi.

The 13 km Great Seto Bridge, a sister bridge of California’s Golden Gate Bridge, connects the two islands along central Shikoku. The bridge opened in 1889.

Also in 1889, the city of Matsuyama was founded. Now one of the largest cities on the island, Matsuyama is best known for its Onsen, a traditional hot springs based bathhouse, fresh fruit and pottery. There are several historic sites to explore, including several temples associated with the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Takamatsu was founded in 1890, as the political center for the island.

In the early to mid 1900s, author Masanobu Fukuoka developed his now commonplace farming techniques on the island. Shikoku is also famous for the Shikoku Pilgrimage, commemorating a pilgrimage by renowned Buddhist monk Kukai, who visited 88 temples on the island in 774. Walking the pilgrimage will take modern visitors one or two months to complete.

Today, the majority of the nearly five million residents live in the north. The main route to the island of Honshu is by the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway through the northern city of Naruto. The expressway greatly increased traffic to the island, and promoted greater trade.