Hikes & walks
Kankakei Gorge hike up to Mount Hoshigajo
寒霞渓
A full-day hike up through Kankakei to the highest peak in the Seto Inland Sea
14 mapped places
Hikes & walks
寒霞渓
A full-day hike up through Kankakei to the highest peak in the Seto Inland Sea
Ryokans and onsen
小豆島国際ホテル
A relaxed base on Shodoshima, right opposite Angel Road.
Hikes & walks
柏島
A short but spectacular coastal walk between Kannon Rock and Odo observatories, followed by a visit to the quiet island of Kashiwajima.
Hikes & walks
足摺岬
A short coastal walk past a lighthouse, temple and dramatic Pacific cliffs at Shikoku’s southern tip.
Ryokans and onsen
A distinctive hotel stay on Shikoku’s remote southern coast
Hikes & walks
竜串海岸 & 見残し海岸
Walking on ancient rock formations from in the Ashizuri Uwakai National Park
Hikes & walks
佐田沈下橋 - 三里沈下橋
A 7km loop pairing the Shimanto River's most iconic "chinkabashi" or submersible bridges.
Ryokans and onsen
なごみ宿安住庵
A quiet hilltop ryokan for the Shimanto River and Cape Ashizuri route
Hikes & walks
四国カルスト
An easy ridge walk across Shikoku Karst with open grassland, white limestone outcrops, wide mountain views and a quiet route from Hoshifuru Village Tengu to Mezurudaira.
Ryokans and onsen
雲の上の温泉
A distinctive hot spring complex beside a gallery built by Kengo Kuma, combining outdoor baths with mountain views and an unusual architectural setting.
Ryokans and onsen
雲の上のホテル 別館
Kumo no Ueno Hotel Annex in Yusuhara is a Kengo Kuma-designed hotel above the town market, useful for the Shikoku Karst, nearby hikes, and a short stay in Kochi's mountains.
Hikes & walks
中津渓谷
Walk beneath forest canopies, cross quiet bridges, and follow the sound of waterfalls through Nakatsu Gorge, a peaceful nature escape in Kochi Prefecture.
Hikes & walks
安居渓谷
A relaxed gorge walk through Kochi’s Niyodo Blue country, following crystal-clear river pools, mossy paths and waterfalls to the two-tiered Hiryu no Taki.
Ryokans and onsen
中津渓谷 ゆの森
Yunomori is a small traditional inn set beside the Nakatsu River, with quiet Japanese-style rooms, an on-site onsen, and a peaceful riverside feel.
みちのく潮風トレイル
A thousand kilometres of coastline, rebuilt after disaster.
A hidden gem in Kochi's mountains
Kengo Kuma is one of Japan’s best-known contemporary architects, and Yusuhara is a remote mountain town in Kochi with an unexpected cluster of his wooden public buildings.
The sweet spot between affordable and a proper onsen: Dormy Inn is the chain I keep coming back to.
Skip the coffee shop — conbini coffee is just as good for a fraction of the price.
Free or near-free bike rental is available in more Japanese cities than you might expect.