Speak with local mountain villagers and learn how they live in harmony with nature. Stay in a farmhouse or other traditional home to experience local customs and foods firsthand. Take in the surrounding nature with a trek through sacred Mount Tsurugi.
The Takatsu River is a clear, transparent stream. You can enjoy kayaking in the clearest water in Japan. You can choose from single-seater or two-seater kayaks according to your preference.
In December of 2018, the newly renovated Lantern Onomichi Garden (LOG) opened to visitors. Located on Mount Senko not far from Senko-ji Temple, this former apartment complex offers guest lodgings, a garden, and singular shopping and dining experiences. At the LOG restaurant, seasonal freshness is the focal point of every dish, and each meal is made with ingredients that conjure an image of the locals who produced them. The facility also holds frequent workshops and public events with themes that highlight regional foods, local traditions, and the wisdom of living in accordance with the seasons.
The visual appeal of Onomichi has been likened to “a miniature garden straight from the middle ages.” It is a city where historic temples and shrines—some containing national treasures—line the winding streets, and whose higher slopes give views that look out across the sprawling coastal landscape. Notable artistic figures have also found Onomichi’s scenery captivating: novelist Shiga Naoya (1883-1971) stayed at a residence not far from the LOG, and director Ozu Yasujiro’s 1953 masterpiece Tokyo Story begins here. In fact, the town’s aspect has changed very little from the views recorded in the film’s opening scene.
Located at its head, the Onomichi U2 facility has twenty-eight rooms for lodgers, on-site bike rentals, shops, and restaurants featuring hand-selected local ingredients. Visitors seeking a more aquatic experience can book rooms on the “guntû,” a nineteen-room cruise ship that circles the Seto Inland Sea. Passengers can dine on Inland Sea specialties and participate in cultural excursions, like purchasing fish under the guidance of local experts.
Since early times, Sanuki udon has been a staple food for local households. Sanuki Udon is characterized by the firmness of its noodle, and there are various varieties including shippoku udon and uchikomi udon, which are made with seasonal vegetables and meat. A particularly sumptuous take on Sanuki udon is olive beef udon, which brings together the excellence of beef from olive-fed cattle and a premium local wheat called Sanuki no Yume.
Two relatively recent innovations in the grand traditions of Sanuki cuisine are olive yellowtail. Look also for Sanuki San Fruit, locally branded fruits that have been cultivated for sweetness. One other Kagawa dish incorporating seasonal ingredients that must be mentioned is kankan-zushi, sushi made with spring Spanish mackerel caught in the Setouchi area.
In addition to the clear waters of the Kinokawa River, the development of local agriculture owes much to chagayu, or tea rice porridge, which has long been a staple of local fruit farmers. This hearty dish is a harmonious blend of rice and the pleasant bitterness of the tea. Also called okaisan, tea rice porridge has been handed down as a local tradition with deep roots on the Kinokawa dinner table.
Many visitors are drawn to Shikoku to walk the pilgrimage route, which provides time for serious reflection and contemplation. The many attractions of Sanuki are also great additions to your social media feed and will leave your followers astounded.
Visit local farms to buy the region’s famous fruit, or even pick it yourself while enjoying the beauty of the orchards. Purchase not only jam, but a variety of innovative fruit products such as sushi, pasta, and dessert confections, all made with local fruit. Events are held to provide nutritional education, particularly about fruit, and to promote the many benefits that fruit offers.
