in early october, I'm going to japan: specifically shikoku, a large island off the southern side of the mainland. i've been lucky enough to visit japan several times, both with friends for leisure and with family as more of a guide / translator. this trip is my family's attempt at a slower-paced, more relaxing trip.

i've been to shikoku before, specifically matsuyama, the largest city on the island. however, this was simply a convenient endpoint of the shimanami kaido, a bike route that, via bridges, spans the gap between shikoku and the mainland. i enjoyed how laid back and quiet the area was, as well as the amazing nature.

kochi - 4 nights

my family and i will fly into kochi, the second most populous city on shikoku. kochi is along the southern coast and is known for its citrus, fresh fish, and blue waters. i'm especially excited to visit the botanical garden and the nearby chikurin temple. i'm also planning to pick out some new glasses from jins.

saijo - 3 nights

we will then take a train to saijo, a small town on the northern side of the island. there are some amazing shrines and temples that i'm excited to visit but, the main reason we are visiting is to observe the saijo festival, the dates of which luckily aligned with our plans.

matsuyama - 5 nights

two trains later, we will arrive in matsuyama. matsuyama is known for its public bathhouses, literary culture, and cute shopping streets. i'm hoping to pick up a few things for friends and myself, and if time allows, i may take a ferry to beppu for the day. we also have a day trip down to uchiko, a town known for its wax production and other local crafts.

final notes

i'll probably post more about the trip, either a post per city, or one big wrap-up post at the end. i'm not quite sure what format is best for this, but i love the idea of a little digital travel journal of some sort. also, i've been around japan lot, so if you want any tips / ideas, feel free to reach out : )