If there is one favorite country I could think of (aside from my own Philippines), it is Japan. With hopes of getting a multiple-entry visa, I still tried to apply this year prior to launch of Japan Visa Application Centre. Unfortunately, I got again a single-entry visa. Despite that, I still pursued my #castlegoals by booking flights and activities roughly two weeks before my departure date. I decided to use my visa rather than not using it. I’ve been to Tokyo, Kansai, Kanto, Chubu and Chugoku Regions before so this time I sought to explore the heritage sites and nature spots within Shikoku island region.
Hence, my itinerary was helmed as #SHIKOKUGOALS after the Shikoku region 四国, literally “four countries”, perfect to accomplish my different interests like riding a bus, tram, train, see the original castles and marvel at Edo-period heritage sites. I submitted my complete requirements at UHI at Dusit Branch Makati. Presenting my Shikoku Itinerary below:
Shikoku Region 四国地方 Highlights per Prefecture:
Tokushima Prefecture 徳島県
TOKUSHIMA彦根市 Prefectural capital best known for its dance festival
Awa Odori Kaikan
Tokushima Castle Ruins
Tokushima Ramen at Inotani
Tokushima City Hall
NARUTO鳴門市City well known for its whirlpools
Uzu-no-Michi for viewing whirpools
Otsuka Museum of Art
Kochi Prefecture 高知県
KOCHI高知市 Prefectural capital with original castle
Kochi Castle
Kochi Castle Museum of History
Statues of the Three Tosa Samurai
Kochi City Hall
Obiyamachi Shopping Arcade
Ehime Prefecture 愛媛県
UWAJIMA宇和島市 Secluded port town with original castle
Uwajima Castle
Bronze statue of a bullfighting champion
Uwajima Railway Type 1 Locomotive (Full-scale model)
Uwajma City Hall
MATSUYAMA 松山市 Largest city of Shikoku with a beautiful castle
Matsuyama Castle
Dogo Onsen Honkan
Dogo Onsen Station
Botchan Karakuri Clock
Bansuiso
Okaido and Dogo Onsen Shopping Arcades
Ehime Prefectural Government Office
Matsuyama City Hall
Kagawa Prefecture 広島県
MARUGAME丸亀市 Port city in Kagawa, known for its castle
Marugame Castle (already visited on previous #ChugokuGoals)
Marugame Udon (Sanuki Udon) at Ishikawa Udon
TAKAMATSU高松市Capital of Kagawa Prefecture
Ritsurin Garden
Takamatsu Castle Ruins
Shopping Arcades (longest in Japan)
Takamatsu City Hall
Wakayama Prefecture 和歌山県 (Kansai Region)
WAKAYAMA和歌山市Prefectural capital with reconstructed castle
Wakayama Castle
Wakayama Civic Library
Wakayama Historical Museum
Wakayama City Hall
Wakayama Prefectural Government Office
DAY 1: CLARK PH DEPARTURE and KANSAI JP ARRIVAL
0140H FLIGHT
0930H JAPAN ARRIVAL. Bus from KIX Airport to Tokushima Station. Go to JR Shikoku Rail Pass Sales/Exchange Office to exchange voucher for JR Shikoku Rail Pass 5 Days. Walk towards accommodation.
DINNER by going to Inotani for Tokushima ramen. Walk around the city then REST.
DAY 2: TOKUSHIMA TO KOCHI
BREAKFAST
Shikoku Pass Day 01
0735H Tokushima to Kochi Station. Walk towards Kochi Castle.
1130H Alight at Kochi Station. Ride Tosaden tram to Kochijo-mae Station. Walk towards Kochi Castle. You can use Shikoku Pass for riding Tosaden tram.
Kochi Castle Tour
LUNCH
Kochi Castle to hotel
2100H DINNER.
DAY 3: KOCHI TO UWAJIMA
0700H BREAKFAST then check-out.
0820H Kochi to Uwajima Station. Walk towards Uwajima Castle.
1207H ETA Uwajima
Uwajima Castle Tour
1200H Lunch.
Uwajima Castle to hotel. Dinner then rest.
1508H Ride at JR Matsue Station. Get a limited express seat bound to Okayama. Then ride the limited express Yakumo and alight at Okayama. Walk towards accommodation. Dinner then rest.
DAY 4: UWAJIMA TO MATSUYAMA
0500H BREAKFAST. Then morning walk towards JR Uwajima Station.
0737H Uwajima to Matsuyama Station..
0906H ETA Matsuyama Station. Walk towards Matsuyama Castle. You can use Shikoku Pass for riding Iyotetsu tram. Matsuyama Ropeway locker rent to leave your bag.
Matsuyama Castle Tour
1200H Travel to Dogo Onsen. Use Iyotetsu tram.
Explore the Dogo Onsen area. Botchan Karakuri Clock chimes every hour and every 30mins on weekends. Enjoy the show.
1500H Walk towards accommodation. Rest for a while and return to Dogo Onsen Honkan for onsen experience.
Built in 1894, Dogo Onsen Honkan has been a site for many guests, including the Japanese Imperial family. Immerse yourself in relaxation courtesy of water from 18 different springs. Since the water here is slightly alkaline, it’s soothing and ideal even for those with sensitive skin.
Fun fact: This famous bathhouse’s facade is said to have inspired a scene in the Studio Ghibli animated film “Spirited Away.”
Dogo Onsen Entrance Fee Kami-no-yu plus 300yen towel rent. Eat dinner at nearby resto for some Ehime specialty : taimeshi set meal. REST.
DAY 5: MATSUYAMA TO MARUGAME TO TAKAMATSU TO NARUTO
0500H BREAKFAST.
0915H Matsuyama to Marugame Station.
1215H Walk towards Udon Restaurant. Marugame Sanuki Soy Sauce Udon at Ishikawa Udon
1308H Marugame to Naruto Station. Walk towards bus stop.
390yen Bus fare pay with coins JR Naruto to Naruto Park. Uzu-no-Michi for Naruto Whirlpools. Explore the views near Onaruto bridge and Naruto Park.
Back to JR Naruto. 390yen Bus fare pay with coins Naruto Park to JR Naruto
Travel to Takamatsu to check-in. At Takamatsu, you can also use Shikoku Pass to ride Kotoden tram.
DINNER then rest.
DAY 6: TAKAMATSU TO TOKUSHIMA THEN OSAKA
0700H BREAKFAST
Shikoku Pass Day 05
ETD Takamatsu Station to Tokushima
Pick-up luggage at Tokushima Station Coin Locker Room. 3200yen Tokushima Station Coin Locker 4days June12-15
ETD Tokushima Station to Tokushima Port
Bus fare pay with coins Tokushima bus 4 from JR Station to Nankai Ferry Terminal
Ferry ticket 2500yen but with All Shikoku Rail Pass, you have 30% discount
1300H ETD Tokushima Port to Wakayama Port
ETD Nankai Wakayamako Station to Wakayamashi
Wakayama Castle Tour
ETD Nankai Wakayamashi Station to Shin-Imamiya
Check-in at Hotel Sunplaza beside Shin-Imamiya Station
DINNER then rest.
DAY 7: OSAKA SHOPPING DAY
Free day. Went to Osaka Castle Park to see the castle then took metro train to Namba for shopping.
DAY 8: KANSAI JP DEPARTURE AND BEIJING CN LAYOVER
0400H Wake-up Call
0517H to 0558H Shin-Imamiya to Kansai Airport(Osaka) NK03-NK32 Platform 3
Free lounge at Nodoka Lounge KIX Terminal using Trip’s free lounge access
PEK Arrival then MNL Arrival on next day. Adjust clock back to PHT (GMT+8)
#SHIKOKUGOALS SIGHTSEEING TRIP
#tokushima#kochi#ehime#kagawa#matsuyama#takamatsu#naruto
Jun11-18, 2025 (Shikoku Region)
1¥ = ₱0.4000592
Airlines: Jin Air, Air China
₱10938.32 – CRK-ICN-KIX Jin Air Booked Apr292025 with 10kg carry-on and 15kg checked baggage USD190.21)
₱1500 – Japan SE Visa processing via UHI.
₱8365 – KIX-PEK-MNL Air China via TripDOTcom 5kg handcarry and 2pcs 23kg checked baggage
Travel tax: ₱1620
Transportation:
₱450 – P2P Bus NAIA 3 (Bay 13 Arrival Area) to Clark
₱6569.56 – JR Shikoku Rail Pass 5 Days via TripDOTcom (original price JPY17000)
¥5000 – Bus ticket from Kansai Airport to Tokushima Bus Station
¥520 – Matsuyama Ropeway cable car roundtrip (as chair lift not available when rainy)
¥390 – Bus fare pay with coins JR Naruto to Naruto Park
¥390 – Bus fare pay with coins Naruto Park to JR Naruto
¥1750 – Ferry ticket 2500yen but with All Shikoku Rail Pass, you have 30% discount
¥180 – Nankai Wakayamako Station to Wakayamashi
¥930 – Nankai Wakayamashi Station to Shin-Imamiya
¥180 – JR Osaka Loop Shin-Imamiya to Morinomiya
¥240 – Osaka Metro Osaka Castle Park Tanimachi 4-chome to Namba
¥180 – Namba Station to Shin-Imamiya Station Nankai-Koya Line
¥970 – 517H to 558H Shin-Imamiya to Kansai Airport(Osaka) NK03-NK32 Platform 3
Activities:
¥700 – Kochi Castle Entrance ticket
¥700 – Uwajima Castle Entrance ticket
¥520 – Matsuyama Castle Entrance ticket
¥1300 – Dogo Onsen Entrance Fee Kami-no-yu plus 300yen towel rent
¥510 – Uzu-no-Michi for Naruto Whirlpools
Locker Rent :
¥800 – JR Tokushima Station B1F Locker Rent
¥100 – Matsuyama Ropeway Locker Rent
¥3200 – JR Tokushima Station Coin Locker 4days June12-15
Accommodation via Trip.com:
₱2582.53– Four Season Tokushima 2D1N [Non-Smoking] Standard Single / 15 Square Meters / With Bt [Standard] [Single Room]
¥200 – Fukuoka hotel tax (pay upon check-in)
₱2370.55 – Hotel Areaone Kochi 2D1N Semi Double Room₱2338.23 – Hotel Wan Osaka Ebisu (1night) Standard Double Room
₱2159.4 – Hotel Ishibashi 2D1N Semi-Double With Bath
₱1866.96 – Matsuyama Youth Hostel 2D1N Single
₱2043.99 – The Celecton Takamatsu 2D1N Standard Single Room-Non-Smoking
₱2156.77 – Hotel Sunplaza 3D2N Standard Double Room
Pocket Wifi: ₱2410.5 – Big Sky Nation Travel Wifi 4G LTE 500 MB / day BPI33 promo (waived security deposit)
Travel Insurance: ₱1194.3 – Klook PG Sompo Insurance
D0 : P2P Bus travel to Clark CRK Airport
D1: Kansai KIX Arrival, JR Pass redemption, bus to Tokushima and check-in.
D2: Tokushima to Kochi (Start using JR All Shikoku Rail Pass)
D3: Kochi to Uwajima
D4: Uwajima to Matsuyama
D5: Matsuyama to Marugame, Naruto and Takamatsu
D6: Takamatsu to Tokushima and ferry to Wakayama, then to Osaka
JR Shikoku Rail Pass on D2 to D6 stay in Japan. It saved me on purchasing individual train and tram tickets especially on long distance travels below:
Tokushima-Kochi 2.5 h ¥6,360
Kochi-Uwajima 5h ¥3,400
Uwajima-Matsuyama 1.3h ¥3,500
Matsuyama-Marugame 2h7m ¥6,360
Marugame-Naruto 2h22m ¥4,040
Naruto-Takamatsu 1.5h ¥3,370
Takamatsu-Tokushima 1h6m ¥3,370
TOTAL EXPENSES (EXCLUDING AIRFARE, FOOD AND SHOPPING): ₱36,858.74
Notes:
1. As I was hoping again to be granted Japan ME Visa, unfortunately I received Single entry visa so I pushed this trip on a short notice. I planned to take flight from Clark to check the new airport and I was amazed! Also, I booked a return flight with layover at Beijing via Air China hoping to avail a layover tour, but sadly I was not granted Temporary Entry Permit so I stayed in the airport’s lounge for 2 hours (thanks to free VIP lounge access as Diamond Tier by TripDOTcom) and spent the rest at boarding gate. Despite this, I really enjoyed this trip focusing on #castlegoals and visiting all Shikoku region’s prefectures. Bonus is the Wakayama (Kansai) prefecture.
2. Be mindful of train etiquette. Be quiet inside trains because someone might be sleeping. Priority seating for seniors, pregnant, and with kids. At escalators, normal is stand on LEFT and walk/run on RIGHT. Trains are very frequent, even the transfer is same platform. Be aware on what train to ride (local, express, semi-express, limited express, rapid express, etc) and correct platform to get to the destination. Navitime Japan Travel app and Google Maps are your best wayfinders. Very helpful and accurate.
3. JR All Shikoku Rail Pass is very worthy because it includes tram rides in certain cities and non-reserved seats even at limited express trains. You can maximize if you’ll take day trips from major city like Naruto then stay at Tokushima. For train and bus rides not covered by JR Pass, in Shikoku they prefer coins as ICs are not frequently used in this region. I only withdraw cash when necessary.
4. Stay at 7-11, Ministop, Family Mart and Lawson and bought snacks, meals not more than ¥500. The items in konbini have tax, so look on the price underneath. I usually buy 2L water because it’s cheap then refill only and bring it in hotel so I can drink inside. I also buy snacks the night before since I’m on the road at morning. Sometimes, I eat at local resto like in Tokushima with their own version of ramen. A bit expensive but very flavorful. I’m thankful to free breakfast buffets of my hotels in Kochi and Takamatsu (the best) because they’re very delicious ! I love their Western and Japanese-style breakfasts so I survived the long walks and hike in castles.
5. It is highly recommended to visit the castles in spring because of cherry blossoms but autumn foliage is fine! Note that June is rainy season in Japan so there are times that it pours. I got a downpour at Matsuyama so always bring an umbrella.
6. There is more to explore within Shikoku region that are lesser known destinations especially in the northern part where there are islands perfect for daybikers! Also the hidden nature valleys of Shikoku interior are worthy to explore. The travel brochures are very informative and there are food recommendations and where to dine so visit the nearest tourist center in JR Stations Information Center for maps and more. It became a combination of city, heritage and nature tours. Be prepared when entering original castles like Uwajima and Matsuyama as there are slippery foot paths when wet. Rest for a while between walks. Better customize your tours at your own pace so you’ll enjoy your Japan trip.
Survival apps: MAPS.ME, Japan Travel App by Navitime (for train routes) and Google Maps for Navigation. I frequently use Google Maps because of accurate info of place to visit/tourist spot. I recommend to plan your accommodation when doing multi-city trip. Avail hotels near JR stations and with free breakfast so it will be worthy.
Shikoku region is very underrated. If you like nature and chill atmosphere, this island region is definitely for you. Less crowds and peaceful paths. To those planning to visit Shikoku area, research first before purchasing on how may days you’l use the pass, so it will pay off. With plenty of options on transpo, accommodation, attractions, food and shopping, you can do it! Enjoy your Shikoku trip!
#sharingiscaring #JapanJapanSagotSaKahirapan #JapanJaFun #shikokugoals #solotrip #japantravel #endlessdiscovery #summer2025 #CastleGoals
feeling accomplished in Japan.
Ben Goes Where 