Tour of the four provinces

Duration: 12 days/11 nights
Stages: Ôsaka (KIX) – Iya – Kochi – Susaki – Ashizuri – Uwajima – Matsuyama – Kishiwada – Ôsaka (KIX)

from €2,400

Services & Rates  Option photo album

Day 1 – Ôsaka (airport) – Ôboke

• You are welcomed at Ôsaka airport by your English-speaking tour guide
• Journey to Ôboke (at the centre of Shikoku) via Tokushima
  through the gorge of Ôboke/Koboke
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel at the heart of the Iya Valley

Day 2 – The Iya Valley

• Visit to the main attractions in the western part of the valley (Katsurabashi bridge, “Manneken Pis”)
• Hike along the eastern part of the valley to Mount Tsurugi, stopping off at the other liana bridges on the way
• Relaxation in an onsen (hot spring)
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 3 – Ôboke – Kochi

• Journey from Ôboke to Kochi
• 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 4 – 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 5 – Katsura-Hama – Susaki

• Journey from Katsura-Hama to Susaki along the beautiful coastal road
• Tour of the Kinpo Bay and trek to Mount Bandagamori
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel in Susaki

Day 6 – Susaki  – Cape Ashizuri

• Journey from Susaki to Cape Ashizuri via Nakamura
• Walk in the national park and visit to the holy sites
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel close to the Cape

Day 7 – Ashizuri and surrounding area

• Visit to the Ocean National Park of Uwakai
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 8 – Ashizuri – Uwajima

• Journey from Ashizuri to Uwajima via Sukomo
• Visit to the castle and its park
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel in Uwajima

Day 9 – Uwajima – Matsuyama

• Visit to the Taga fertility shrine
• Journey from Uwajima to Matsuyama
• Stroll through the city and relaxation at the Dogo Onsen hot springs
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel in Matsuyama

Day 10 – Uchiko

• Journey to Uchiko, prosperous centre of wax production in Meiji period
• Stroll through this town where time has stood still
• Visit to a very old kabuki theatre and a history museum
• Return journey to Matsuyama
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Days 11 & 12 – Matsuyama – Kishiwada – Ôsaka (KIX)

• Journey from Matsuyama to Kishiwada
• Visit to the castle of this former fortress city south from Ôsaka
• Evening meal at a traditional sushi restaurant in the middle of a zen garden
• Overnight stay at an hotel in center of Kishiwada
• Journey 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: KIX_Terminal 2 © Kirakirameister, Mount Tsurugi © Ave 975, Kochi sunday market © 663highland, Otonashi-Jinja, John Manjiro, Kongofukuji, Kashiwajima, Ryukoin, Ishiteji, Uchikoza, © Reggaeman, Hoketsu-Pass © As6673, Uwakai © As6022014, Cap Ashizuri © Muramasa, Uwajima-jo © Vickerman 625, TagaShrine © Jpatokal, Matsuyama © Urashimataro, Fureaibashi © Aratsuku.
One picture (Yokonami Kuroshio Line) has been taken from Panoramio. Owner of the rights: Mr. Unche.