Shikoku Luxury Loop Mountain to Sea 8D7N, Private Guided

Arrive at Tokushima airport at your own arrangement. Upon arrival at the airport, our representative will be waiting to transfer you to Ritsurin Garden in the city of Takamatsu.

Ritsurin Garden is one of the designated Special Places of Scenic Beauty in Japan. It is a 75-hectare property set against Mt. Shiun that features thirteen man-made hills, six ponds, oriental bridges, and a wide variety of trees and flowers such as the Crane and Turtle Pine Tree, the Evergreen Oak Tree, irises, and azaleas.

The park was originally built in the 1620s to serve as a private garden for the then leaders of Kagawa prefecture, the Ikoma Family, and after more than a century, the garden was completed and became the villa of the succeeding Matsudaira family. After the restoration of the Meiji era, it was opened to the public and has since become one of the favourites for both local and foreign tourists.

Take a break and have an afternoon tea at Kikugetsu-tei, a teahouse set right in the middle of the park. Spend some time enjoying a cup of green tea and admiring of Nan-ko pond.

Then look at the garden in a different perspective by riding a small boat that goes around the garden's main spot.

Drop off at the hotel JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu in the late afternoon.

Your hotel commands a view of Takamatsu city, the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and the changing, seasonal beauty of the nature around the ruins of Takamatsu castle (Tamamo park).

To visit the islands in the Seto Inland Sea, you can easily board a ship at nearby Takamatsu port, only 5 minutes walk from our hotel. For extended itinerary to visit Naoshima, the Art Island, and Shodoshima Island, mentioned in the famous novel ''Nijushi No Hitomi’’, please contact us to customise your itinerary.

Room Style: Western Style

Bed Type: Double/Twin shared

Bath: Ensuite bath

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Private guided walk: Temple 82 Negoro-ji, Temple 81 Shiromine-ji and finally Temple 80 Kokubun-ji, approx. 13.5 km

After your breakfast and viewing the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, experience the special pilgrimage atmosphere on the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail with your pilgrimage guide between three of the more popular Shikoku 88 Temples.

Walk through lovely scenery and visit a fine collection of temples - Temple 82 Negoro-ji, and Temple 81 Shiromine-ji.

Temple 80 Kokubun-ji
Each prefecture has a temple named Kokubun-ji, which are official state temples, founded by imperial order. The temple is home to the largest Kannon statue on Shikoku, with eleven faces and forty-two arms.

Temple 81 Shiromine-ji
It’s the site of the mausoleum of Emperor Sutoku, who is said to have been assassinated near Temple 79 in 1156. The mausoleum, located behind the temple, was built in 1414. Shiromine-ji has some of the oldest buildings on the pilgrimage, dating back to the seventeenth century. The three main buildings are overshadowed by trees.

Temple 82 Negoro-ji
It's from this temple that the name of the prefecture, Kagawa is derived. 'Kagawa' means 'incense river', and it's named after a river thought to flow from the roots of a tree in the courtyard of the temple. It's located on the same plateau as temple 81 at a height of 360 m. Interesting features of the temple include a shrine with 10,000 images of Kannon, a thousand-year-old Zelkova tree, and a statue in front of the main gate of an ox devil.

After the walk, you will be dropped off at the hotel in Kagawa. Enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine featuring carefully selected seasonal ingredients.

Kotohira Onsen Kotosankaku is located at the foot of Konbira Mountain, offering elegant relaxation and traditional Japanese hospitality. The hotel features a large communal bath with 6 types of bathtubs. WiFi is available in guest rooms.

Room Style: Japanese Style

Bed Type: Futon

Bath: Ensuite bath

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Guided walking: approx. 8 - 10 km

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the picturesque secluded Iya Valley.

Iya Valley is one of Japan's Three Hidden Valleys located deep in the mountains on rural Shikoku Island. It is particularly famous for its vine bridges, stunning scenery, and exciting white water rafting.

Historically the Iya Valley has been a difficult place to enter, and has long served as a refuge for members of the defeated Taira Clan, also known as Heike; who escaped to the region toward the end of the 12th century after losing the Gempei War between 1180 -1185. Their descendants can still be found around the tiny mountain villages that dot the region.

The Iya Valley was eventually "rediscovered" and promoted by Alex Kerr, author of "Lost Japan", who fell in love with the area after a visit.

Your local guide will guide you, exploring some of the iconic places on foot, and revealing the stories of Iya Valley.

Firstly, visit Manikin Peeing Boy Statue. At the edge of this dizzying, 200 meter high cliff stands the statue of a boy posing as if he were peeing off the ledge down to the valley below.

Then follow the valley's original road of Rt 32 northward into Iyakei to enjoy the gorge's magnificent view points, and visit the impressive "Hi-no-Ji" Bend.

Continue the great walk to Iya-no-Kazura Bashi Bridge. In the past, 13 suspension bridges constructed of mountain vines served as the main means of crossing the Iya River. Only three such bridges still exist, of which Iya Kazurabashi is the largest and most easily accessible. The 45 meter long bridge stretches 14 meters above the river and is reinforced with hidden steel cables for safety.

Enjoy lunch and soba-making at traditional soba shop, Suzuki Soba, located right above a river.

Drop off to Iya onsen. Your accommodation tonight is a beautiful tradition Japanese ryokan. The Iya Onsen Hotel is perched high up on the steep slope overlooking the Iya Valley. Offering beautiful views of the changing seasons in the Iya Valley, Iya Onsen provides elegant Japanese-style rooms. Taste the Japanese cuisine made of local produce.

Room Style: Japanese Style

Bed Type: Futon

Bath: Indoor/outdoor onsen

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Guided Mt Tsurugi hike, approx. 5 -6 hours. Easier walking options can be offerred.

After breakfast, your local guide will pick you up from hotel to climb Mt. Tsurugi for a panoramic view.

Mt. Tsurugi is 1955 meter high mountain that lies at the far end of the Iya Valley. Starting at Minokoshi, the first section will be under a canopy of maple trees which is lovely in the autumn. Stop by the Otsurugi Shrine where you can taste the mountain's renowned spring water. When you finally crest the broad summit you can enjoy the breathtaking view from various spots, or even choose to hike further to one of the neighboring peaks.

Return to your accommodation and soak in the hot spring. Enjoy Japanese Hot Pot "Omiki - nabe” today.

Ochiai Mountain Village walk, approx. 2 hours.

Visit Oku-Iya Kazurabashi Bridges (or couples bridges) in the morning. The larger of the two bridges, Husband Bridge (Otto no Hashi), stretches 44 meters across the river next to a small waterfall, while the slightly lower Wife Bridge (Tsuma no Hashi) is a 22 meter span just a little way upstream.

Then you will be transferred to Ochiai Village. From the bottom, follow the old stone footpaths up into the village, passing by the small terraced farm plots as you see the residents go about their daily life. Visit the historic Nagaoka-ke house to walk through a traditional Iya residence, and then climb further to Sansho Shrine and take a break under its cool old-growth cedar trees.

Continue up the various paths, where the view gets better with every step as the thatched roofs of the Togenkyo-Iya cottages peek out here and there. Every season offers its own unique scenery.

Finally, you arrive at your accommodation tonight - Tougenkyo-Iya. The unique mountain lodge is in the hamlet of East Iya Valley, situated at the edge of the winding lane in the deep mountain. The accommodation is an old thatched farmhouse. Although it is a pleasant old house, it is equipped with features, such as a bathroom, air conditioning, linen towels, floor heating and so on.

In the secluded village of Iya, life has not changed in many years. This timeless place offers unique opportunity for you to experience the traditional life of the Iya people, in the thatched houses far away from the hustle and bustle of modernity and the metropolis.

Room Style: Japanese Style

Bed Type: Futon

Bath: Ensuite Bath

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Private guided walk: Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage Trial Chikurinji (Temple 31) - Kochi Castle, approx. 6.5 km

Farewell to Iya Valley and embark on your journey to Kochi. Kochi is the capital of Kochi Prefecture on the southern coast of Shikoku. The city is small and friendly, with a casual atmosphere and a dose of southern flair.

Godaisan is a small mountain to the east of Kochi's downtown. It was named after a Chinese mountain by Buddhist priests visiting from China. The same visiting priests established Chikurinji Temple on Godaisan, which has since become an important stop on the Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage Trial.

After the pilgrimage walk, visit Kochi Castle. Kochi Castle is one of just twelve Japanese castles to have survived the fires, wars and other catastrophes of the post feudal age. The castle's wooden interior maintains the appearance of it Edo Period origins, and the lookout point from the castle tower's top floor offers a nice view of downtown.

Enjoy lunch at Hirome Market.

You will then be dropped off at the accommodation.

Auberge Tosayama is a French style inn surrounded by nature and clear flowing water. The cedar and cypress used on the interior fill the rooms with warmth and complement the greenery outside each window. In the spacious and airy western style rooms, you can enjoy the natural rhythm of waking with the sun and sleeping under the stars.

Enjoy the creative Japanese dishes made with fresh delicacies from the local area.

Room Style: Japanese Style

Bed Type: Futon

Bath: Ensuite Bath

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Today you will embark on a glamour road trip to Naruto via the south coast of Shikoku island.

First stop is Katsurahama. Katsurahama is a scenic beach 30 minutes south of central Kochi.

Then visit Ioki Cave, a designated natural monument of raw beauty. The place feels mysterious, unexplored and untamed, and the best part is the entrance was is just a few meters away from the main road. There are about 40 different varieties of fern and moss in the Ioki area, giving it a slightly other worldly look.

Follow the coast east to Cape Muroto. Oddly shaped rocks are scattered on the coast, with subtropical trees and beach plants thick along the coastline. The area is also well known as a “Sacred Place of Lovers”. Heart-shaped monuments marking these sacred places are at an observation deck in Muroto.

Visit Temple No. 24 - Hotsumisakiji, on the Shikoku pilgrimage. It stands at an elevation of 300 meters on the tip of Cape Muroto. The name itself means "Cape Temple", where the Japanese holy man Kobo Daishi spent years meditating and undergoing ascetic training.

In the afternoon, you will join in an Indigo Dye Workshop and print your T-shirt. Natural printing culture has been inherited from all over the country even in Japan, and among them, wood mash, bran, sake etc. are mixed based on the fermented dye "Sukumo" (Sukumo), which is made by fermenting mulberry leaves. A technique called “whey fermenting”, which is made by making use of the fermentation of is known as a traditional Japanese traditional dyeing culture.

Transfer to Naruto.

Your accommodation tonight is Naruto Park Hills Hotel Ridge, a five star luxurious auberge hotel. Surrounded by the greenery of the mountains and the gentle sound of the waves in a perfect location with panoramic views of the Naruto Straits, Naruto Park Hills Hotel Ridge offers a soothing stay. You can enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs and open-air baths while gazing at the beautiful ocean views.

Enjoy ultimate gastronomic experience at the hotel. Japanese fusion and Californian cuisine are available. Take your food to a new height with your favourite ridge wine (Alcohol is at your own expense).

Room Style: Western/Japanese Style

Bed Type: Twin bed/Futon

Bath: Ensuite Bath

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Self tour Otsuka International Museum of Art in the morning. The Otsuka Museum of Art is a "Ceramic board masterpiece art museum" with the largest exhibition space in Japan (total floor of 29,412 square meters). Inside, there are more than 1,000 replicas of priceless masterpieces of Western art selected by a committee of 6, from ancient murals to modern paintings, and collection from more than 190 art museums in 26 countries worldwide.

Transfer to Tokushima airport to meet your departing flight.