Sakura Tours Exclusive tour "From Tokyo to Shikoku Island and back!"

Shikoku Island is the smallest of the main Japanese islands. It is a sanctuary of antiquity and tradition, here you will see a quiet Japanese province and get acquainted with the old way of life.

Detailed program

Day 1: Tokyo

In the morning arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport, meet with Russian-speaking guide, transfer to Tokyo by private transportation (distance 20 km, travel time 25-30 min.).

12:00-17:00 Tokyo Tour:

Oriental Gardens and Parks of the Imperial PalaceIt is located in the very center of the capital. During the Edo period (early 17th to late 19th centuries), it was the palace of the Shogun, the supreme military ruler of Japan. The palace became the Emperor's residence in 1868, after Emperor Meiji moved here from Kyoto. The complex now features a European-style park, as well as a beautiful Japanese garden with a tea house and a pond inhabited by imperial carp.
You can visit the busiest intersection in the world. It's located in the neighborhood Shibuya Station. By the way, the crossroads has not once become a place for filming movies and clips. For example, it is one of the locations in the movie "Translation Difficulties".
You'll be able to see monument to Hachiko the dog - one of Tokyo's most famous landmarks. For several years, the Akita Inu dog came to Shibuya Station, sat down and waited for his master, Hidesaburo Ueno. The professor traveled to a Tokyo neighborhood to give lectures, but died one day during class. The dog became a symbol of loyalty and devotion, and today there is a monument in his honor at the station, near which Japanese people often schedule meetings.
Observation deck on the 52nd floor of the tower Mori Tower - Roppongi Hills, a fashionable residential and shopping complex that offers fantastically beautiful scenery in the central part of evening Tokyo. It also regularly hosts contemporary art exhibitions.

17:00 Check-in at the hotel in Tokyo. Rest.

Day 2. Tokyo-Okayama

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

9:00 Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

Transfer to Tokyo railway station (10-15 minutes).

Independent transfer by shinkansen train to Okayama (3 hours 15 minutes travel time).

13:00-18:00 A walk around Okayama and the famous Kurashiki canals:

Kurashiki is an area in Okayama Prefecture centered around the city of Kurashiki. Kurashiki's heyday was during the period when the region controlled the delivery of goods to the Edo shogunate.

Because the logistics of the Edo period (1603-1868) meant using ships to transport goods, the streets of the historic Kurashiki Bikan neighborhood were built along the river.

There are many attractions in the area including. monogatari kan museumwhere visitors can learn about the historic Kurashiki Bikan neighborhood.
It is also possible to realize a boat ride on the Kurashiki River and look into O'Hara Art Museumwhere the works of famous artists are exhibited.
Noteworthy and Great Seto Bridge (Seto Ohashi)It connects Kurashiki and Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku Island. Seto Ohashi connects the islands of the Japan Inland Sea. Enjoy the ride while watching the beautiful scenery of the Inland Sea of Japan from the window.

After the tour stop at a hotel or Japanese ryokan in Kurashiki. Rest.

Day 3. Okayama - Island. Naoshima

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

In the morning, transfer to the port of Uno (50 min. by car), from where a ferry sails to the "artistic" island of Naoshima.

Transfer to the island by ferry (only 20 min.).

Naoshima is a small island of about 3,400 people located in the Inland Sea of Japan. The American magazine Conde Nast Traveler named Naoshima one of the "seven places in the world to visit".

The island is also mentioned in Raymond Benson's James Bond novel The Man with the Red Tattoo.

Benesse Art Site Naoshima Project - is an attempt to create an entirely new form of perception of space and experience by combining elements of contemporary art and architecture with the beauty of nature.
The Benesse Art Site Naoshima is home to many unique locations and projects: for example, Benesse House Museumdesigned by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, where you can stay overnight, and Art House ProjectIn the framework of which artists transform old houses into new "works of art".
Tadao Ando also designed. Titiu Art MuseumThe museum's permanent exhibition features works by contemporary artists James Turrell and Walter De Maria, whose lives are closely linked to Naoshima Island. A deeper appreciation of the beauty of the paintings can be found by strolling through the museum's garden.
You can also see a performance of the classic Japanese puppet theater Bunraku. What makes Bunraku on Naoshima Island special is that all the performers are women, which is unique to Japan.
Along with these art projects, the people of Naoshima Island are also actively involved in conservation activities. You can visit metal and industrial waste recycling plants. Be sure to book at least a week in advance. Here again, everything is in naming order, and you should specify the objects to be visited.

In the evening, a stopover at the hotel.

Day 4. Takamatsu-Naruto

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

Transfer by ferry to Takamatsu (50 min. by ferry or 25 min. by speedboat).

12:00-18:00 Takamatsu tour (with lunch):

Ritsurin Garden (Ritsurin Koen) is one of the most famous historical gardens in Japan. The garden is located in the city of Takamatsu and is considered one of its main attractions. The garden features a tea house, various types of folk art and craft exhibits, and various folk art and craft items available for sale.
For lunch in Takamatsu, the famous local dish is a must-try "Sanuki-Udon" - A nutritious soup based on flavorful dashi fish broth with thick noodles.
Tamamo Park (Ruins of Takamatsu Castle). The park is located on the site of a former castle that was built in 1588, but all that remains of the castle today are the stone walls, towers and moat. The most notable feature of the castle is that it was surrounded by the ocean.

18:00 Hotel accommodation in Takamatsu. Rest.

Day 5. Naruto-Tokushima

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

Transfer by car to Naruto (75 km, 1-1.5 hours by car).

Admiring Naruto's grand bridge and (if you're lucky) spotting the famous giant of Naruto's whirlpools! (2-3 hours)

The strait between Naruto City and Awaji Island is 1.3 kilometers wide. The current increases and then decreases the water level in the Inland Sea twice a day, also twice a day, thus creating a water level difference of up to 1.5 meters between the Pacific Ocean and the Inland Sea.

Four times a day, the water in the strait flows at a speed of approximately 13-15 km per hour. During spring floods, the water speed can reach 20 km per hour, creating whirlpools up to 20 m in diameter.

Naruto's whirlpools can be seen from ships or from the bridge Onarutoover the strait.

After lunch, transfer to Tokushima city (30 minutes from Naruto).

The symbol of Tokushima is Mount Bidzan - it's visible from anywhere in the city, as well as the traditional settlement of Udatsu, Wakimachi, an area that was crowded with merchants during the Edo period (1603-1868). Tokushima was the place where indigo dyes were produced, and the house of merchant Yoshida, who became rich from trading in indigo raw materials, can still be seen today.
In addition, Tokushima is famous for its summer festival, which takes place in August and is unique with traditional Awa-Odori dances. More than 100,000 people participate in the dance show and it is truly impressive.
There's also museumwhich is called the Awa-Odori Hall - where you can enjoy the Awa-Odori dance at any time of the year. Need specific places to visit!

18:00 Check-in at one of the hotels or ryokans in Tokushima.

Day 6. Iya Valley

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

Transfer by car to the Iya Valley (90 km, 2 hours on the road). Duration of the excursion is 5-6 hours.

Iya Valley is located in Miyoshi in Tokushima Prefecture. Iya-gawa River stretches for 10 km, it flows downhill through mountainous areas where every 10-100 meters there are steep cliffs and precipices. The V-shaped gorge of the river is full of greenery - this creates a magical atmosphere.
Nearby is the Iya Hot Spring, near which you can stay overnight in one of the traditional Japanese hotels. The open-air bathtub at this hotel, located at an altitude of 170 meters, offers a magnificent view of the water. valley panorama. You can get there by cable car.

After the tour, transfer by car to Matsuyama (150 km, 2-2.5 hours by car). Or you can stay overnight at one of the ryokans in the Iya Valley.

Day 7. Matsuyama

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 - 17:00 Matsuyama City Tour:

Matsuyama is the largest city on the island of Shikoku. There are several must-see places in the city, such as Japan's famous Dogo-onsen Thermal Spring Spa and Matsuyama Castle.

Matsuyama CastleSituated on top of a 132-meter high hill in the city center, it is the symbol of the city. The castle and its surroundings, surrounded by a moat, are a historical site. The hilltop can be reached by cable car or chairlift in a few minutes or on foot in less than 30 minutes.
The castle tower offers a panoramic view of the entire city, the Inland Sea of Japan and even on Mt. Ishizuchi when the weather is nice. The castle is also famous for its cherry blossoms in spring.
After visiting the castle and the thermal springs, you can take a walk along the retro street styleThe city center, lined with souvenir shops and cafes, runs from the cable car terminal to the Okaido Tram Station. Behind the station is the city center with department stores and shopping arcades.
It's also worth looking into Sakano Ueno Kumo Theme MuseumThe museum is based on the historical novel by Ryotaro Shiba. The museum building was designed by Tadao Ando, one of the world's leading architects.
Next to the museum is Villa Bansuisobuilt in the French style in 1922 as the second home of a former ruler from the Matsuyama clan.

17:00 Return to the hotel, relax at the hot springs.

Day 8. Onomichi

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

Transfer by express train to Imabari station (40 min.).

Next, we rent bicycles and with light backpacks we take an unforgettable bike ride along the scenic route Shimanami Kaido to Onomichi! This route can also be traveled by car, enjoying the beautiful views and having an unforgettable photo shoot!

Arrival in Onomiti. Stay at the hotel. Rest.

Day 9. Onomichi

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

10:00-16:00 Onomiti City Tour:

Onomichi is an unusual harbor town on the shores of the inland Sea of Japan in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture.

Onomichi is known for standing among the mountains. Many attractions are located on their slopes, so tourists have to climb up narrow mountain paths through residential areas. For example, the famous Onomichi Temple Trail leads up and down the mountains past 25 temples.

Despite its small size, Onomichi has made significant contributions to the country's literature and film industry. It is the birthplace of revered writers and directors, and many movies and television series have been filmed here. This part of the city's history is celebrated in several museumsmost of which are located along of the Temple Road or close to it.

After touring Onomichi, transfer by train to Hiroshima (1.5 hrs.). Check-in at a hotel or ryokan in Hiroshima or near the city.

Day 10. Hiroshima and Miyajima Island

9:00 Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

Transfer with a guide by car to the harbor.

10:55 - 11:00 Transfer by guided ferry to Itsukushima Island (Miyajima Port).

11:00 - 16:00 Hiking around Itsukushima Island.

Itsukushima Island, also known as Miyajima Island, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been sacred for over 1,500 years.

Itsukushima Shrine - one of the most revered, it adds a special beauty to the island's landscape; its huge red torii gates, standing gracefully in the waters of the bay, are as much a symbol of the Land of the Rising Sun as Mount Fuji-san. Itsukushima Shrine, dedicated to the three sea goddesses, daughters of the Shinto god Susanoo, was founded in 593, at a time when Shintoism, the "Way of the Gods," was Japan's main religion and Buddhism was just taking its first steps. The shrine building is famous for its thatched roofs and bright orange-colored exterior elements. Standing on stilts just above the water at high tide, it seems to float on the sea surface.
Famous torii gateThe camphor wood shrine, made of camphor wood, is sixteen meters high and 160 meters from the temple. Since the sixteenth century, the sanctuary has been the site of a traditional Noh theater, which is used in the sacred performances of Jin-No (April 16-18).
To the southwest of Itsukujima Shrine is a modern building treasuriesThe museum is a collection of about four thousand objects, over one hundred of which have the status of Important Cultural Property or National Treasure of Japan. These include medieval fans, katana swords, armor, masks, and a collection of famous Buddhist sutra scrolls once belonging to the local Heike samurai clan.
To the south of Itsukushima Shrine is located Tahoto Pagodaerected in 1523. It offers a beautiful view of Itsukushima Shrine and the bay.

OPTION! At Itsukushima Jinja Temple you can request a private Bugaku ritual - a monk in special clothes will perform a sacred dance and offer prayers to the gods for your health, happiness and well-being. The duration of the ritual is 15-20 minutes.

The most important temple on Miyajima Daiseyin. It is located on the slopes Misen Mountain. Its summit can be reached by cable car (15 min.) or on foot (1.5 h).

16:10 - 16:20 Return transfer by ferry to Miyajima-guchi harbor.

16:30 - 17:00 Transfer with a guide by hotel car to Hiroshima.

Return to the hotel. Rest at the hot springs. Exquisite Japanese dinner "kaiseki" at the hotel.