My final thoughts on Shikoku
At the end of my week in Shikoku, I boarded my plane in Tokushima with a heavy heart. I was moved by the relaxed pace of life here, in comparison to the rest of Japan. When you travel Shikoku, you can expect serenity, tranquillity, tradition and calm.
For me, the clear highlights were watching the sunrise at the mountaintop Kasurabashi Hotel Onsen, visiting the Benesse Art Gallery, soaking up the scenery of the Iya Valley and trying the delicious food I was presented with every day.
I cherish the memories of my time in Shikoku and I feel privileged to have experienced a side of Japan many others miss. The overall lasting impression isn’t so much about what I did, but how it made me feel. Japan is not just a destination - it is an emotion.