Shikoku

Shikoku しこく (四国しこく) is the smallest of Japan's four main islands.^[1] About 4 million people live there, fewer than on any of the other main islands.

The island lies south of Honshu^[2] and east of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Strait. A bridge connects it to Honshu.

Farming is a very important business in Shikoku. Citrus fruits are an important product. Shikoku is the home of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage of the Shingon sect of Buddhism.

Regions

Shikoku region covers the entire island.^[3]

The name Shikoku literally means "four countries" in Japanese. Shikoku was made of four old "countries" or provinces that are now prefectures. In other words, each prefecture has a modern name and an old provincial name. The old names are still used sometimes, especially for foods, music, or art.

Ehime, formerly Iyo Province – to the west^[4]
Kagawa, formerly Sanuki Province – to the north^[5]
Kōchi, formerly Tosa Province – to the south^[6]
Tokushima, formerly Awa Province – to the east^[7]

Cities

Kōchi – home of "Yosakoi" and many local sights
Matsuyama, Ehime – is best known for the old hot springs at Dogo Onsen
Takamatsu, Kagawa – the largest city in Shikoku
Tokushima – home of the Awa Odori festival in August
Uwajima – has a fertility shrine and wrestling bulls
Naruto – the east gate of Shikoku.

Points of interest

Cape Ashizuri – a scenic cape at the southernmost point of Shikoku
Iya Valley – a remote but beautiful mountain valley
Kotohira – the site of the Kompira-san shrine
Mount Ishizuchi – the tallest peak in Shikoku

Castles

There are twelve original castles that are left in Japan and Shikoku is home to four of them.

Marugame Castle, Marugame
Kōchi Castle, Kochi
Matsuyama Castle
Uwajima Castle, Uwajima.

Temples and Shrines

The 88 Temple Pilgrimage is a famous but difficult 1,647-kilometer circle around the entire island. Serious pilgrims may choose to complete the 88 Temple Circuit on foot. Other people uses buses.

Related pages

References

↑ Library of Congress Country Studies, Japan (LOC),"Geography". Retrieved 2012-2-13.
↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). "Shikoku" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 857.
↑ LOC, "Shikoku". Retrieved 2012-2-13.
↑ Nussbaum, "Ehime" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 170; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Ehime Prefecture, Regional Information^{[permanent dead link]}. Retrieved 2012-4-6.
↑ Nussbaum, "Kagawa prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 446; JETRO, Kagawa Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.
↑ Nussbaum, "Kōchi prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 538; JETRO, Kōchi Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.
↑ Nussbaum, "Tokushima prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 980; JETRO, Tokushima Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.

Other websites

Media related to Shikoku at Wikimedia Commons

Murdoch's map of provinces, 1903

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[1] Library of Congress Country Studies, Japan (LOC),"Geography". Retrieved 2012-2-13.

[2] Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). "Shikoku" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 857.

[3] LOC, "Shikoku". Retrieved 2012-2-13.

[4] Nussbaum, "Ehime" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 170; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Ehime Prefecture, Regional Information^{[permanent dead link]}. Retrieved 2012-4-6.

[5] Nussbaum, "Kagawa prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 446; JETRO, Kagawa Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.

[6] Nussbaum, "Kōchi prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 538; JETRO, Kōchi Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.

[7] Nussbaum, "Tokushima prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 980; JETRO, Tokushima Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.

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