In the realm of olives, typhoons and the giant ficus

Duration: 12 days/11 nights
Stages: Ôsaka (KIX) – Kishiwada – Hiwasa – Muroto – Kochi – Iya – Shodoshima – Himeji – Ôsaka (KIX)

from €2,275

Services & Rates  Option photo album

 Day 1 – Ôsaka (airport) – Kishiwada

• You are welcomed at Ôsaka airport by your English-speaking tour guide
• Journey to Kishiwada, a former fortress city
• Visit to the castle, historical jewel of the town
• Evening meal at a traditional sushi restaurant in the middle of a zen garden
• Overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

 Day 2 – Kishiwada – Hiwasa

• Travel to Wakayama and ferry crossing to Tokushima
• Journey via Tokushima to Hiwasa, the surfer and turtle paradise
  on the east coast of Shikoku
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel
  between rice fields and the ocean

Day 3 – Hiwasa and surrounding area

• Panoramic road between Hiwasa and Mugi town
• Tour of the attractions in Hiwasa: Temple on the Shikoku pilgrim trail, castle, turtle centre and Ebisu cave
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 4 – Cape Muroto

• Journey from Hiwasa to Muroto-Misaki, the wildest cape of Shikoku
• Rest of the day is free. Recommendation: Stroll along the coast and visit the temple in the mountains overlooking the sea
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel directly on the cape

Day 5 – Kochi

• Journey from Muroto-Misaki to Kochi. Stopover in Akaoka and a visit to the Ekin art museum
• In Kochi, a tour of the castle and castle gardens
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel, with sake tasting

Day 6 – Kochi – Katsura-Hama

• Stroll through the Nichiyoichi Sunday market
• Choice of visits: City centre, Godaisan Mountain, paper museum,
  anime museum (Anpanman)
• Journey to Katsura-Hama, a beach to the south of Kochi
• Visit to the park dedicated to Sakamoto Ryoma, the hero of the Meiji Restoration
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel directly on the beach front

Day 7 – Ôboke and trip to the Iya Valley

• Journey from Katsura-Hama to Ôboke via Kochi
• Visit to the main attractions in the western part of the valley (Katsurabashi bridge, “Manneken Pis”)
• Relaxation in an onsen (hot spring)
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel in the heart of the valley

Day 8 – The Iya Valley

• Hike along the eastern part of the valley to Mount Tsurugi, stopping off at the other liana bridges on the way
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 9 – Ôboke – Shodoshima

• Journey from Ôboke to Kusakabe (on Shodoshima) via Takamatsu
• Walk along the “Angel Road” (3 small islands that can only be reached at low tide)
• Visit to the “Olive Park”, the centre of olive production on Shodoshima
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

Day 10 – Exploration of Shodoshima

• Visit to a soy sauce production plant
• Trek in the mountainous heart of the island and descent by cable car through the gorge of Kankakei
• Visit to one of the 88 temples along the pilgrim trail
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 11 & 12 – Shodoshima – Himeji – Ôsaka (KIX)

• Ferry crossing to Himeji
• Visit to the castle and stroll through the city
• Journey to Ôsaka airport KIX via Kobe
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a hotel close to the airport
• Return flight (not included in the tour)

Photo credits

Most of the photos that appear in this description are the property of Fukuchan Ryoko Olivier Baubrand. All rights reserved.
A few photos, however, has been taken from Wikipedia Commons. They are titled “Wikipedia” and are subject to the licence CC BY-SA 3.0.
Owners of the rights: Himeji castle © Bernard Gagnon, Kobe Ferry Terminal © 663highland, Kansai Airport Finnair © Carpkazu.