Top 10 hikes in Shikoku
Admin Shikoku is often overlooked by hikers and travellers in Japan, but the island’s four prefectures offers some of the best moderate (non-mountaineering) foot-on-ground hiking trails in the country. From the…
The best Iya Valley hikes
The Iya Valley in Tokushima is one of Japan’s “Three Hidden Regions” and is famous for its tall limestone gorges, historic thatched-roof houses, Nagoro doll village and the iconic Kazurabashi…
Shikoku’s best mountain huts (Yamagoya)
Shikoku is a hiker’s paradise, especially if you’re not mountaineer or rock climber and prefer to stay on your feet like me. But unlike the well-known hikes and trails of…
Mt Tsurugi 剣山 (1955m) 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,…
Mt Miune 三嶺 (1893m) Iya Valley Winter Hike
An overnight hike to Mt. Miune in Tokushima during early spring.
Mt Kobiso 小檜曽山 (1550m) 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…
Shikoku’s top waterfalls
Shikoku, one of Japan’s true hidden gems, is covered by hundreds of beautiful waterfalls eight of which are on Japan’s Top 100 Waterfall list. From Todoroki-no-taki to Nikobuchi we have…
We created a map of the best hikes in Shikoku
Hiking all of Shikoku’s beautiful mountains in one lifetime might just be impossible – but if you’d like to try this list will provide you a good place to start.…
Mt Kanbo 寒峰 (1604m) Iya Valley Day Hike
If you’re the kind of person that to escape the tourist traps and have a bit of adventure this day hike in the (increasingly) famous Iya Valley is for you!…
Kurozou Marshlands 黒沢湿原 & Tabinoshiri たびの尻滝 Iya Valley Hike
The Kurozou Marshland (Kurozou Shitsugen or 黒沢湿原) is a mountain marshland and is one of the coolest things to do in the Iya Valley. My first impression when driving into…
Mt Tenguzuka 天狗塚 (1812m) via Mt Miune 三嶺 Overnight Hike
This beautiful but challenging 18.5km+ overnight hike to Mt. Tenguzuka starts at the Iyashino Hotel and Onsen (いやしの温泉郷) near Nagoro-mura (名頃 aka the Doll Village) in the Iya Valley. The…
Mt Sanboji 三傍示山 (1105m) & Sasagamine Pass 笹ヶ峰 Three Prefectures Hike
This 8km return day hike to Sanbojiyama passes along a section of the old Tosa Highway (Tosa Kaido 土佐街道), via Sasagamine Pass (笹ヶ峰峠) and a point where the three of…