The Shikoku region is the smallest of Japan's Four Main Islands (四大島, Yondaitō) and is often one of the most overlooked destinations. Most of the developed regions are around the coast of the island, while most of the center of the island remains mountainous and undeveloped. As such, it is best explored by car, as public transport connections are infrequent and slow.
The northern regions consisting of Ehime Prefecture (愛媛県, Ehime-ken) and Kagawa Prefecture (香川県, Kagawa-ken) are well-connected to Honshu (本州, Honshū). Ehime Prefecture is famous for its mikan (蜜柑, Mandarin Orange), Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama, and is the southern end of the Shimanami Kaido cycling route. Kagawa Prefecture is famous for its udon (うどん), Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園, Ritsurin Kōen) in Takamatsu (高松), and the island of Shodoshima (小豆島, Shōdoshima), popular for its olives, shoyu (醤油, Shōyu, Soy Sauce) and somen (素麺, Sōmen).
The eastern portion is home to Tokushima Prefecture (徳島県, Tokushima-ken) and is famous for the uzushio (渦潮, Whirlpool) of Naruto, whitewater rafting on the Yoshino River (吉野川, Yoshino-gawa), as well as the kazurabashi (蔓橋, Vine Bridge) and onsens (温泉, Hot Spring) of Iya Valley.
The southern portion plays host to Kochi Prefecture (高知県, Kōchi-ken) that spans almost the entire southern coast of Shikoku island and is famous for its Katsuo Tataki (鰹たたき, Seared Bonito). The city of Kochi is home to Hirome Market, Kochi Castle, and Ryugado Cave. West Kochi is famous for the Shikoku Karst, a limestone plateau, Kashiwajima, a popular diving and snorkelling spot, and for water sports on the Niyodo River and Shimanto River, famous for their clear waters.
