Shikoku Self-Drive Guide 2026: Japanese License Translation and Car Rental, SEP Expressway Pass, Iya and Shimanto Mountain Roads, and an Eight-Day Loop Route

Must-Drive Roads in Shikoku: An Eight-Day Loop Route and Mountain Driving in Practice

This section is the core of driving in Shikoku. We first give an eight-day loop route in and out of Takamatsu Airport as a skeleton, then break down the stretches that really need skill, such as the Iya Valley and the Shimanto River.

Road conditions change with weather, construction and season, so be sure to check road closure information for the day before you set out.

Eight-Day Loop Route: In and Out of Takamatsu, Avoiding Long Mountain Drives on Consecutive Days

Mountain drives never fall on consecutive days. On Day 1, you pick up the car in Takamatsu and visit Ritsurin Garden and the udon shops. On Day 2, you head to Tokushima to see the Naruto whirlpools and the Awa Odori Kaikan. On Day 3, you go into the Iya Valley to see the vine bridge and Oboke, and you stay overnight at a hot spring inn in the mountains so you do not drive again.

On Day 4, come down to Kochi to see Katsurahama and the Hirome Market. On Day 5, follow the Shimanto River to its submersible bridges and stay in Shimanto City or at Cape Ashizuri. On Day 6, head north via Uwajima to Matsuyama to visit Matsuyama Castle and Dogo Onsen. On Day 7, follow the Seto Inland Sea coast back to Kagawa, visit Kotohira-gu Shrine, and watch the sunset at Chichibugahama in the evening. On Day 8, return the car at Takamatsu Airport. Each day’s travel is kept within three hours, and mountain roads are concentrated only on Days 3 and 5.

Iya Valley: Single-Lane Two-Way Traffic on National Route 439 and Prefectural Route 32

Iya Valley roads hug gorges with many blind curves and narrow widths. Japanese netizens rank National Route 439 and Tokushima Prefectural Route 32 as difficult “kyodo” (rough) roads. Some stretches are only one lane wide but carry two-way traffic.

Reverse to a passing place for large oncoming buses or trucks. Three tips: check the roadside round mirror before blind curves; tap the horn lightly before entering it; and if a local car tailgates, pull into an open passing place and let it pass.

Iya Kazurabashi and Oboke: Two Spots to Park the Car Before You Explore

The Iya Kazurabashi is a suspension bridge woven from vines. The stream runs directly beneath your feet as you cross, and the gaps between the planks are wide enough to make your knees go weak. It is one of Shikoku’s most famous experiences. A paid car park nearby can have queues in busy season.

At Oboke Gorge, a sightseeing boat ride of about 30 minutes shows the crystalline schist on both banks from the water. The two sights are about 20 minutes apart by car, so they fit smoothly into the same day. Admission and boat fares may change, and boats do not run in heavy rain or at high water, so check that day’s operations before you go. Mobile signal in this area also comes and goes, so save your navigation route offline in advance.

Shimanto Submersible Bridges: No Guardrails, and Never Pass Another Car on the Bridge

Submersible bridges (chinkabashi) let floodwater flow over them, with no guardrails. Dozens sit along the Shimanto River, most famously the Sada and Iwama submersible bridges. Crossing one is Shikoku’s signature drive, yet it demands the most discipline.

Never pass vehicles on the bridge. Check the far end; if traffic comes, wait at the bridge end. Lower both windows to judge tire distance and exit quickly. Keep to 10 km/h down the middle; it is very safe. If unsure, park and walk across to take photos.

The Navigation Trap: Take the Longer Route Rather Than Cut Through Industrial Roads

This is where driving most often goes wrong. Japanese car navigation and Google Maps sometimes route for the shortest distance onto deep-mountain industrial roads under two meters wide, where mirrors brush branches. No passing room exists, and reversing out is almost impossible.

Stick to national or major prefectural roads. If navigation sends you onto a small unnumbered road, switch to a longer route on a larger road. An extra 30 minutes beats getting stuck in the mountains. Never take a hairline-thin, unnamed map line.

Mountain Roads at Night: No Street Lights in the Shikoku Mountains, So Be at Your Hotel by 17:00

Thick fog forms very easily in the Shikoku mountains in the afternoon, and visibility can drop to only a dozen or so meters within minutes. When that happens, turn on your front and rear fog lights and hazard lights immediately and slow down to a speed at which you can stop at any moment.

Time planning matters even more: the Shikoku mountains have no street lights at all, and the difficulty of narrow roads and blind curves multiplies after dark. We strongly recommend scheduling all mountain driving in daylight and arriving at that night’s hot spring inn or hotel before 5 p.m. This is also why the eight-day route places the Iya Valley night’s lodging in the mountains, so that once you check in, you do not have to drive down at night.

Naruto Whirlpools: Easy Expressway Driving, but You Need the Right Tide Time

The stretch from Takamatsu to Tokushima is almost entirely expressway, with easy conditions, making it a good warm-up. The Naruto whirlpools are in the Naruto Strait; drive to the Naruto Park car park and walk to Uzu-no-Michi, or go to the port to take a whirlpool-viewing boat.

Whirlpools depend on the tide, and only a few times a day do they become big. Spring-tide and neap-tide days differ greatly, so always check that day’s tide table before deciding what time to arrive, otherwise you will drive for two hours and see only calm water. The car park often fills up in busy season and on long weekends, so set out early. Please rely on on-site notices for admission and boat fares.

Kochi City: Parking at Katsurahama and the Drinking Problem at Hirome Market

Katsurahama is Kochi’s signature beach, with a statue of Sakamoto Ryoma standing on the cliff facing the Pacific. It is about a 30-minute drive from central Kochi, with paid car parks nearby that are tight on holidays.

In the evening, Hirome Market in Kochi is the core of the food scene, with charcoal-grilled seared bonito (tataki) and local sake as its signatures. Japan has zero tolerance for drunk driving, so if you drive that night, you cannot drink at all. The practical solution is to book a hotel within walking distance in the city, park your car there, and walk to eat. This is the night of the trip most worth adjusting your lodging for.

Shimanto to Matsuyama: Allow Three Hours for the Drive North via Uwajima

Head north from Shimanto City to Matsuyama via Uwajima, along Ehime’s southwest side. The distance is long, and some stretches are not expressway, so the drive usually takes around three hours. This is the most easily underestimated day of the eight-day route, so do not squeeze in more sights.

After arriving in Matsuyama, Matsuyama Castle sits on a hilltop in the city center and can be reached by ropeway or chairlift. Dogo Onsen Honkan is one of Japan’s oldest hot springs. Parking in central Matsuyama is expensive by Shikoku standards, so confirm hotel parking when booking. If you stay in Dogo Onsen that night, most inns have their own car parks, so parking there is easier than parking in the city.

Back to Kagawa: The Steps of Kotohira-gu and the Sunset at Chichibugahama

The return follows the Seto Inland Sea coast, and the two highlights in Kagawa that day are one active and one calm. The approach to Kotohira-gu has 785 stone steps up to the main shrine, about two hours round trip, so wear comfortable shoes. Several paid car parks sit near the start of the approach.

Chichibugahama is a beach that went viral in recent years as a “mirror of the sky”: at low tide with no wind, the water reflects the sky, and it is most beautiful at sunset, so check the tide table before you go. The car park is free but fills up in the evening, so arrive an hour early. The two places are about an hour apart by car, which fits neatly into one day.