If you are planning a trip to Japan this summer, where art and nature blend, let’s pay attention to Shikoku, a recommended destination for the Japanese travel platform Rakuten Travel.
Shikoku, one of Japan’s four largest islands, is a place with a variety of local colors, including traditional villages, hot springs, and local food, along with the tranquil island scenery.
Recently, it has been spotlighted as a healing destination not only among the MZ generation but also among family travelers.
사진 확대 Naoshima View called Art Island / Photo = Rakuten Travel
In particular, this year is the year when the Setouchi International Arts Festival, a global art festival held every three years, is held, which is a good time to enjoy emotional art travel.
During the art festival, several islands in the Setouchi Inland Sea are transformed into one huge outdoor art museum.
On islands such as Naoshima, Desima, and Shodoshima, you can enjoy the works of world-class artists in nature.
Naoshima Island, which represents the Setouchi International Art Festival, has world-class contemporary art works installed throughout the village, providing a unique experience of facing art in everyday life.
Desima Island is also in the spotlight as a travel destination where tranquil natural scenery and modern art are harmonized, and the Desima Museum of Art located inside the island adds to the lingering effects of the trip.
Shodoshima Island, which has a warm Mediterranean climate, is famous as Japan’s first olive plantation, and the olive field and greenery park combined with the blue sea complete the exotic atmosphere.
If it’s your first trip to Shikoku or you’re worried about moving routes, it’s worth paying attention to Takamatsu, which has good accessibility and infrastructure. It is perfect as a starting point for travel as it has convenient ferries and various accommodation facilities.
If you expand your journey from Takamatsu to Matsuyama, a historical hot spring city, you can feel the deep charm of Shikoku.
For the season of the Setouchi International Arts Festival, Rakuten Travel is offering up to 15% discount coupons for accommodations in nearby areas, including Takamatsu.
If you book a flight ticket to Takamatsu through Air Seoul together, you can also receive a pass ticket to the art festival, so it is a recommended time if you are planning a healing trip in a small Japanese city.
사진 확대 Takamatsu Castle with traces of the Edo period / Photo = Rakuten Travel
One of Takamatsu’s representative tourist attractions is Takamatsu Castle, one of Japan’s three major fortresses that has traces of the Edo period.
Some stone walls, watchtowers, and gardens are beautifully preserved, so you can feel the atmosphere of samurai culture at the time, and the moat surrounding the castle has also prepared programs that are good for family tourists to enjoy, such as boarding a cruise ship or feeding sea bream.
사진 확대 Rithrin Park / Photo = Rakuten Travel
If you want to get out of the city center and enjoy a leisurely time in nature, Rithrin Park is perfect. The garden, which covers about 7.67 million square meters (about 230,000 pyeong), combines six ponds and 13 landscaping hills, allowing visitors to enjoy the changing scenery every four seasons.
At the traditional tea house located in the park, you can rest while looking at the Japanese-style garden, making it perfect for a solo rest as well as an emotional travel destination with lovers and parents.
사진 확대 Accessible JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu located right in front of Takamatsu Station / Photo = Rakuten Travel
The recommended accommodation is JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu. It is located right in front of Takamatsu Station and boasts excellent accessibility with a 5-minute walk to Takamatsu Port.
From the high-rise guest room, you can view the Setouch Inland Sea, providing enough rest just by looking out the window.
The interior is decorated with a classic yet modern atmosphere, and the breakfast buffet consists of menus using local seasonal ingredients, so you can enjoy the local taste in abundance.
JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu was recognized for its excellent service operation by winning the Rakuten Travel Bronze Award for four consecutive years from 2019 to 2022.
If you want to experience Shikoku’s charm in more depth, I recommend Matsuyama, located in the northwest of Shikoku.
사진 확대 Matsuyama Castle Spring Scenery / Photograph = Rakuten Travel
In particular, Matsuyama is receiving favorable responses from travelers who want a reasonable trip by providing various free admission benefits for Korean tourists.
Matsuyama Castle is located on a hill overlooking the city center, and is one of 12 waterfront angles that have preserved the original form of the Edo period almost entirely.
If you go up by cable car, you can enjoy not only the view inside the castle, but also the open view of Matsuyama city at a glance.
If you want to experience Japan’s hot spring culture properly, you cannot forget the main building of the Dogo Hot Spring with 3,000 years of history. This wooden structure, also designated as an important Japanese cultural property, offers a variety of hot spring experiences with an antique exterior.
From “Kaminoyu” and “Damanoyu,” which are public baths, to “Yushinden,” which was a bathroom exclusively for the imperial family, a variety of baths have been prepared to suit your taste.
사진 확대 Dogo Hot Spring Funaya / Photo = Rakuten Travel
Dogo Hot Springs Funaya, a five-minute walk from the main building of Dogo Hot Springs, is a hot spring ryokan with a tradition of about 390 years, which naturally blends with the atmosphere of a quiet and cozy hot spring village.
It has a variety of types of rooms, including traditional tatami rooms, royal suites built in the style of Sukiya, a traditional Japanese architecture, and special rooms featuring works by artists from Matsuyama.
In the accommodation, there is a large large bathhouse that uses Dogo hot spring water as it is, and the Japanese outdoor garden also operates a space where you can enjoy foot baths, making it suitable for lovers and family travelers.
Kaiseki cuisine, which is neatly prepared as seasonal ingredients in the Shikoku region, is also one of Funaya’s great attractions.
Dogo Hot Springs Funaya maintains a 4.7 out of 5 Rakuten Travel guest ratings and is a high-quality accommodation certified as Japan Quality.
It is evaluated as a space where you can experience Omotenashi, Japan’s unique hospitality culture, and meticulous service.
AloJapan.com