A search for "Japan Travel" leads to pictures that depict the Japan every traveler dreams of: ancient temples and shrines, towering mountains, steaming hot springs, mouth-watering food, and quaint streetscapes. These photos are often taken along Japan's "Golden Route," the well-trodden circuit that has defined inbound Japanese tourism for decades.
But the images often omit the current reality of this circuit: one can barely snap the photo for the throngs of domestic and international tourists who now choke Kyōto, Miyajima, Mt. Fuji, and other of Japan's most famous travel hubs. This state of overtourism along Japan's Golden Route creates cultural and economic conundrums for localities and leaves travelers wondering whether the "real Japan" of their imagination still exists.
On Shikoku, it does.
Shikoku, the smallest and least developed of Japan's main islands, is the destination for adventure travelers who want to experience the best of Japan without elbowing through a sea of tourists. Its size means that even on a single weeklong journey you can experience the best of Shikoku and, in turn, the best of Japan.
This is exactly the concept behind our Best of Shikoku by Ebike and SUP Tour. Over the course of a week, travelers get up close and personal with the highlights of Shikoku's natural wonders, including cycling on the Shimanami Kaido and around Mt. Ishizuchi, Western Japan's highest peak, and paddling on the otherwordly Niyodo River. Along the way you charge up with local delicacies, relax in some of the best hot springs in Japan, take in the sacred aura of shrines and temples, and look behind the scenes at Shikoku's world-class artisanship.
The best of Japan awaits in Shikoku.
