Western route (Osaka → Shikoku → Onomichi) — 7 days

Osaka to Shikoku and back via Onomichi: Awaji Island and Naruto’s whirlpools, the Iya Valley’s vine bridges, Kochi and Matsuyama’s castles, the Shimanami Kaido island-hopping route, and Miyajima’s floating torii.

Don't miss

Setoda “Lemon Island” gelato mid-Shimanami.

• Day 1 — Osaka → Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (world’s longest suspension bridge) → Awaji Island (mythology island) → Naruto whirlpools (Uzunomichi walkway over the strait) (drive ~2h). Stay Naruto/Awaji. — Route map
• Day 2 — Naruto → Iya Valley (vine bridges, kazurabashi) → Oboke Gorge (boat ride through steep cliffs) (drive ~3h). Stay Iya. — Route map
• Day 3 — Iya → Mt. Tsurugi (foliage, peaks early Oct) → Kochi: Katsurahama Beach + Sakamoto Ryoma statue, Kochi Castle (one of 12 original), Hirome Market (katsuo no tataki, sawachi), Godaisan (Chikurinji, Ryoma overlook) (drive ~3h). Stay Kochi. — Route map
• Day 4 — Kochi → Shimanto River (chinrinkyo submerged bridges, “Japan’s last clear stream”) → Ozu (castle town on Hiji River, Garyu Sanso villa) → Uchiko (preserved wax merchant town) → Matsuyama: Matsuyama Castle (original castle) + Dogo Onsen (Japan’s oldest bathhouse, Spirited Away inspiration), tai-meshi dinner (drive ~4h). Stay Matsuyama. — Route map
• Day 5 — Matsuyama morning → scenic drive Rte 378 “Yuyake Koyake Line” (sunset coastal road south: Shimonada Station — seaside platform, Futami Seaside Park — Japan’s 100 best sunsets, Nagahama Bridge — oldest drawbridge in Japan; ~1.5h round trip) → Botchan Train (retro streetcar) + Ishite-ji Temple (51st pilgrimage temple) → Shimanami Kaido (70 km island-hopping cycle route, tolls ~¥5,000) → Onomichi (temple walk, Senkoji) (drive ~4h). Stay Onomichi. — Route map
• Day 6 — Onomichi → Hiroshima: Peace Memorial Park + Atomic Bomb Dome, okonomiyaki → Miyajima: Itsukushima Shrine (floating torii) (drive ~2h). Stay Miyajima. — Route map
• Day 7 — Miyajima morning (Itsukushima Shrine, Momijidani) → return car → evening shinkansen home (no car day). — map

Highlights

🌊 Naruto whirlpools — the Uzunomichi walkway over the roaring strait

🌉 Iya Valley vine bridge — the kazurabashi vine bridge across the gorge

⛩️ Itsukushima floating torii — the shrine gate rising from the tide

♨️ Dogo Onsen — Japan’s oldest bathhouse, the Spirited Away inspiration

🌉 Akashi Kaikyo Bridge — the world’s longest suspension bridge

🏯 Matsuyama Castle — one of 12 original keeps above the city

Local food & drink

• Katsuo no tataki — Kochi’s straw-seared skipjack, rare inside, with ponzu and garlic
• Sawachi ryori — Kochi’s ceremonial sashimi platter feast
• Tai meshi — Ehime’s whole sea-bream rice pot, the Dogo Onsen classic
• Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki — layered cabbage, noodles, egg, pork
• Grilled Seto oysters — creamy Hiroshima Bay oysters at Miyajima’s stalls
• Onomichi ramen — flat noodles in chicken-pork shoyu broth with back-fat
• Kochi dry sake — among Japan’s driest sake, pairs with katsuo
• Setouchi lemon chuhai — bright lemon highball from Onomichi’s citrus
• Ehime mikan juice — Japan’s #1 mandarin region, pressed fresh Don’t miss: Setoda “Lemon Island” gelato mid-Shimanami.