Every island in Japan is chock full of unique experiences. Lesser-known destinations offer authentic escapes that await your discovery. While Osaka Bay is the hub of so much activity on the mainland, a short jaunt to Awaji Island, the gateway to Shikoku, reveals unexpected delight.
Shikoku is Japan’s fourth-largest island, divided into four prefectures. Separated from the mainland by the Seto Inland Sea, Shikoku’s relative seclusion offers undisturbed nature, majestic temples, and authentic cultural experiences. The smaller islands surrounding Shikoku proudly claim a similar character, offering the adventurous traveller an incredible itinerary for island hopping across one of Japan’s most serene regions.
Awaji Island
Dynamic Awaji Island, between Shikoku and Osaka Bay, is famous for its traditional puppet theatre and – more recently – its wellness offerings. Zenbo Seinei is a luxurious Zen retreat designed by world-renowned architect Shigeru Ban, recipient of the Pritzker Prize, the highest acknowledgment in architecture. Secluded by nature, guests are encouraged to walk barefoot to feel the warmth and aroma of the unique 100-meter-long wooden deck with spectacular panoramic views. The aim is to heal and balance your mind and body, and to spend time facing yourself through meditation and yoga. The cuisine is comprised of the bounty of the surrounding nature. There are no animal products, flour, oil, or white sugar. The Japanese culture of fermentation enables flavourful nutrition that is gentle on the body. The retreat also serves its own homemade amazake and soy sauce that has not yet stopped fermenting.
Awaji Island is renowned for its beauty, and rural life, but has also become a mecca for those who love Japanese anime, manga, and games. Nijigen no Mori is a Japanese anime park “where screens and paper spread across the entire forest.” Using technology to fuse the real and digital, visitors move through landscapes as though they are inside the work. An outdoor RPG (Role Playing Game) attraction allows you to become the main character of the story and experience an adventure in the world of “Dragon Quest.” The Godzilla Interception Operation enables visitors to enter a life-size recreation of Godzilla’s mouth and perform missions on a zip line!
The “Naruto & Boruto Shinobi-zato” attraction offers daring enthusiasts a three-dimensional maze in which you experience training using scrolls to solve puzzles in this compelling take on what Westerners would recognize as an escape room.
More Adventure in the Seto Sea
Nearby, Shodoshima Island has a Mediterranean vibe. In addition to its pristine beaches and lush coastline, Shodoshima is the birthplace of olives in Japan. Here you can sample varieties of Japanese olive oil that are pure, fragrant and uniquely Japanese. Also of note is the soy sauce production and Soy Sauce Museum. At Kinryo Shoyu you can learn the traditional method of fermenting and brewing soy sauce. Taste the difference!
In the centre of Shikoku lies the Iya Valley, where visitors can enjoy farm stays and experience old-world agrarian Japan. It is also a haven for thrill-seekers who know the Yoshino River offers the most ferocious white-water rafting in Japan. Feel the rush of barreling down the river through a majestic mountain range at Mach speed with Happy Raft. Other popular activities include canyoning expeditions, tree-walking and zip-lining across the canyon with a finale of sliding down a waterfall into a deep pool to lazily drift with the current. Island hopping through the Shikoku region from Osaka Bay to the Seto Inland Sea provides some of the most rewarding experiences one can find in Japan.
Naoshima, the “Art Island,” is an artist’s refuge to create or celebrate the Setouchi Triennale Art Festival. Open-air exhibits appear on the shore, like Yayoi Kusama’s iconic black-dotted yellow pumpkin. Galleries, sculpture gardens, contemporary art museums and architectural projects are humming. Discover diverse works to admire and experience, from Claude Monet to James Turrell. This is heaven for an art enthusiast.
