These days it is easy for visitors to reach Shikoku (one of Japan’s four main islands) by road or railway, since three massive bridges have been constructed to link the island to Honshu. Shikoku is an interesting island to visit and offers a good mix of historic, cultural, and outdoor attractions. Many visitors come to make a spiritual pilgrimage along the Shikoku Pilgrimage Route, which includes 88 Buddhist temples and several other sacred sites; walking the entire route would take about a month but you can sample a few of these peaceful places in a day or two using a car or bus. You can try canoeing or rafting on the Shimanto River, and hiking Mount Ishizuchi is very popular. In addition, you can visit the botanical gardens, go whale watching, and sample local food specialties.

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