Top 5 Hikes in the Iya Valley
Amon Bradshaw The Iya Valley in Tokushima is one of Japan’s “Three Hidden Regions,” famous for its tall limestone gorges, historic thatched-roof houses, and the iconic Kazurabashi (vine bridges) across the Iya…
Mt Kajigamori 梶ヶ森 Day (or Overnight) Hike Kochi
A moderate but well located (accessible by train) hike in the heart of Shikoku. Kajigamori is not the biggest and most beautiful mountain around but it is accessible by train…
Mt Kamegamori, Japan 瓶ヶ森 Hike
Kamegamori (瓶ヶ森, 1897m) sits on the border of Tokushima and Kochi Prefectures and spectacularly overlooks the famous (and tallest on Shikoku) Mt Ishizuchi. It is short and fairly easy 3km…
Shikoku’s Best Mountain Huts
Shikoku is a hiker’s paradise, especially if you’re not mountaineer and prefer to stay on your feet like me. But unlike the well-known hikes and trails of the Northern Alps…
Mt Tsurugi 剣山 Day Hike
Mt Tsurugi 剣山 is easily the most well known hike in the Iya Valley. The climb offers an accessible way to experience the peaks of Shikoku, featuring an optional single…
Tokushima’s best waterfalls in one weekend
If waterfalls were tastes; Shikoku’s waterfalls would be umami. Yes, Shikoku has all of the usual ingredients that make a waterfall great: clear water.. check, mountains.. check, deciduous trees.. check,…
Amegamori 雨ヶ森 Day Hike in Kochi
Mt. Amegamori (雨ヶ森, 1387m) in Niyodogawa Town, Kochi is a fairly straight forward day hike accessible by car. Worth doing if you’re living nearby or in the area you’ll pass…
Heikedaira 平家平 & Kanmuriyama 冠山 Day Hike
Have you ever heard The Tale of the Heike or the Genpei war? On April 25th 1185 the Genji clan fleet defeated the Taira (aka Heike)-clan fleet in the Shimonoseki…
Hijiri Shrine, Ochi-cho 聖神社越知町 Short Hike
A hidden shrine, tunnel, bridges and waterfalls await you on this short and easy half-day walk in Ochi-town (越知町), Kochi Prefecture, Japan. If you find yourself nearby and have half…
Mt Miune 三嶺 Iya Valley Winter Hike
An overnight hike to Mt. Miune in Tokushima during early spring.
Mt Shiraga 白髪山 本山町 Day Hike
Mt Shiraga is a relatively short and easy hike (白髪山, 1469m) starting in Motoyama-cho (本山町) in Kochi, Japan. There are quite a number of mountains in Japan with this name…
Mt Bandagamori 蟠蛇森 Day Hike
This hike to Mt Bandagamori (蟠蛇森, 769m) is a 6.1km return hike with a solid 648m of elevation gain that starts and finishes at the Sodayama Shrine (桑田山神社) (or the…
Mt Kobiso 小檜曽山 Winter Hike
This 5.2km day hike to Mt. Kobiso (小檜曽山, 1550m) crosses the prefectural border into Tokushima and gives a great view to Mt Miune, Tenguzuka and the Iya Valley. It is…
Elliot’s Map of Shikoku Campsites
Compiled by a long term resident of Kochi, Elliot, and added to by us this map highlights some of the best campsites in Shikoku’s Ehime and Kochi prefectures. Camping is…
Washioyama 鷲尾山 Day Hike
If you’re looking for a day hike or trail run with great views while you’re in Kochi City Mt Washio (or Washioyama) at 303m is a solid option. The hike…