A course to trace the undiscovered landscapes of Japan: Hyogo and Shikoku

Kansai International Airport is an international hub airport with a rich network of international and domestic flights.
It is used by many people as a 24-hour maritime airport with multiple 4,000m-class runways, and as an airport that coexists with the local community and environment.​
A new international flight area will open on December 5, 2023, including a walk-through duty-free shop!

Rokko Garden Terrace, one of Japan's best viewing spots, offers a panoramic view stretching from the Akashi Strait to the Osaka Plain and Kansai International Airport.
Rokko Shidare, a natural observation deck that resembles a large tree standing on top of Mt. Rokko, not only offers beautiful views, but also allows you to enjoy interactive art pieces.

Only meat from Tajima cattle born and raised in Hyogo Prefecture that meets certain standards can be given the title of Kobe beef.
The secret to the deliciousness of Kobe beef is the "marbling" - the state in which the marbling (fat) with a melting point so low that it melts at body temperature is finely integrated into the muscle.
Scientific analysis has also revealed that the beef is rich in inosinic acid and oleic acid, which are the keys to its deliciousness.
Enjoy carefully selected Kobe beef in a restaurant with a calm atmosphere and heavy brick construction.

The aquarium will have its grand opening in June 2024. There will be 19,000 exhibits of 560 species.
There is plenty to see, including the only killer whale exhibit in western Japan, the Dolphin Stadium where you can observe dolphins up close, and exhibits that recreate the natural environment of the Seto Inland Sea.

At the Orcas Stadium, you can watch a spectacular killer whale performance, enjoying the dynamic performance with the ocean of Suma spreading out at the back of the pool as a backdrop.
Additionally, at the buffet restaurant "Blue Ocean Orcas Stadium" on the first floor, you can dine while watching the orcas through an acrylic screen.

It is the only hot spring in Japan that is counted among both the Three Oldest Springs and the Three Most Famous Springs of Japan.

You can enjoy baths with different spring qualities, including Arima's specialty "Kinsen," a brown spring that contains iron and salt, and the "Ginsen," a colorless, transparent spring that is popular among women for making your skin smooth.

The main street, Yumotozaka, has the atmosphere of a traditional hot spring town. There are many long-established stores and stylish shops that blend into the retro atmosphere of the town, so you can enjoy a stroll.

A promenade built inside the bridge girder, approximately 47m above sea level and with a total length of 317m.
On a clear day, you can see not only Awaji Island, but also Osaka Bay and the Seto Inland Sea. In the center there is an observation lounge and a floating restaurant.

The Japanese macaques that come to Awajishima Monkey Center live in groups of about 350. These wild macaques come from the mountains at around 9am, spend the day near the feeding area, and return to the mountains in the evening.

Generally, Japanese macaques value hierarchy, with the boss monkey at the center, and are highly aggressive creatures, but the monkeys here are gentle and highly tolerant, a very rare characteristic that has earned them the nickname "Awaji Monkeys." Their kind behavior, which supports the weaker monkeys, also soothes those who see them. This is the only place where you can be surrounded by monkeys and take commemorative photos with them.

*The monkeys' behavior changes depending on the season, and there are days when they are not at the feeding area.

Awajishima South Parking Area
(outbound) is the last service area on Awaji Island on the Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway.
In addition to buildings such as a food court and shops, the area also has gazebos and benches where you can take a break and enjoy the views of the surrounding trees.

"Hiwasaya" in Minami-cho, Kaifu-gun, Tokushima Prefecture is famous for its freshly caught sashimi and fried Awaodori chicken. Particularly popular is the set meal "Kaizan Gohan," a luxurious dish that allows you to taste both local fish and Awaodori chicken. The restaurant is renovated from an old house, so you can enjoy your meal in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Sea Turtle Marine Cruise, which starts at Hiwasa Port in Minamicho, Tokushima Prefecture, a spawning ground for sea turtles, takes you on a fishing boat operated by local fishermen to tour the spectacular scenery of Muroto-Anan Coast Quasi-National Park.
The 13-kilometer, 40-minute cruise allows you to see the beauty of nature's formations up close, such as the huge 30-meter-high Ebisu Cave and the strangely shaped rocks of Senba Cliffs. Another unique feature of this cruise is that you can learn about the legends and folk tales associated with the land from the guide's commentary.
We also recommend the fisherman's meals that make generous use of the bounty of the Pacific Ocean (e.g. abalone curry, fisherman's meal with spiny lobster and abalone, etc. Ingredients vary depending on the season).

At MUROTO base55 you can enjoy glamping in Muroto Geopark. At night you can spend a luxurious time gazing at the magnificent starry sky. The sophisticated rooms are decorated with Scandinavian furniture from interior manufacturer IKEA. Some rooms come with an open-air bath and a tent sauna, perfect for refreshing yourself.

Proceed east from Aki City along National Route 55, and you will find Iogi-do along the road just outside the city area. When you step off the concrete road, you will be greeted by a view that will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time tens of thousands of years ago.
This cave is a natural sea cave that was created by wave erosion when the area was surrounded by the sea, and is approximately 5 meters high, approximately 4 meters wide, and approximately 40 meters long. The back of the valley leads to a valley, and there is usually enough water to soak your feet in it. In some places, shell fossils can be seen on the walls of the cave.

At the Uchiharano Pottery Museum, you can make original pottery by hand twisting and painting. There is also a training building that can be used by the general public for school, club, learning, recreation, etc. (Reservation required)

In addition, at the attached glass workshop, you can enjoy burner work experiences such as melting glass rods using a burner to create dragonfly beads and other accessories, as well as sandblasting experiences that blow sand onto glass products and add original pictures and letters. Masu. (Reservation required)

This restaurant is adjacent to the shirasu processing plant of Aki Suisan Co. The restaurant is integrated with the shirasu processing plant, and offers fresh shirasu.
There is also a direct sales counter where you can buy local specialties and products that can only be purchased here, such as “Jako Soft,” a soft-serve ice cream topped with an abundance of chirimen-jako (dried baby sardines).

One of Japan's leading limestone caves, it is about 4km long and was created over 175 million years. It is designated as a national natural monument and historic site. About 1km is open to the public, and you can enjoy the mysterious scenery as if you are exploring.
Near the exit of the cave, there are traces of cave dwelling life from the Yayoi period, and in particular, the Yayoi-style pottery "God's Pot" wrapped in travertine is rare even on a global scale and will take you to a world of far ancient times. We also recommend the adventure course, where you go through a place so narrow you have to kneel down by the light of a headlamp. You can also see the long-tailed cockroach, a national special natural monument, at the attached rare bird center.

You can see animals lively and active in a natural environment on a large site. People under 18 years old can enter the zoo for free, and there are events where you can interact with the animals and feed them.
You can meet a variety of animals, including cute animals such as red pandas, as well as animals that live in the tropics, jungles, and African savannas. By the way, the very active shoebill (an animal that is famous for rarely moving...) is also popular.
The zoo also has a restaurant, a grassy playground, and a fun and educational animal science museum, so you can enjoy yourself all day long.
It was also ranked number one in TripAdvisor's 2020 ranking of zoos and aquariums in Japan.

An all-you-can-eat strawberry picking experience is available from January to early June.
The last reception is until 16:00, and it will end as soon as the red fruit of the day is gone.
Adult price is 1,880 yen from January to March, 1,680 yen from April to June

"Hibari Shokudo" in Kochi Prefecture is a famous restaurant for its large portion dishes, rumored to be the "holy land of large portions". Located along National Route 32, many customers from inside and outside the prefecture visit in search of large portions.

The specialty is the large portion "katsudon". Even the regular size is so densely packed with katsu that you can't see the rice, and the rice is also piled high, making it very satisfying to eat. The "mini size" is prepared so that even those with small appetites can enjoy it, and it is said to be the regular size at a regular restaurant. Not only is it large, but the taste is authentic and the menu is also rich. In addition to katsudon, there are various menus such as oyakodon, gyudon, and gibier dishes. The restaurant was opened with the owner's wish in mind: "If you've made the effort to come all the way to this mountain town, I want you to eat your fill." It has become a place of relaxation for locals and tourists alike.

Where the Yoshino River crosses the Shikoku Mountains, the valleys formed by the erosion of crystalline schist show a myriad of strange sights. You can enjoy the deep valleys and conglomerate schist (designated a natural monument by Tokushima Prefecture) and the beauty of the valleys in every season.

The long-awaited Forest Adventure opened in 2017 in the scenic Iya Valley, which has been awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide! The sloping terrain is a must-see! You can also zip slide along the first-class river Iya Valley. Once you leave the tunnel of trees, the beautiful emerald green river spreads out below you. With a height difference of 50m from the river and a length of over 360m, it is one of the longest zip lines in Japan. The thrill is immeasurable.

A Kazurabashi (Vine Bridge) is a primitive suspension bridge made from kudzu plants such as the wild quince (Shirakuchikazura). The most famous one is in Zentoku, Nishiiyayamamura, Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture. There are two more bridges further inland, in Sugo, Higashiiya, the same city. There is also one in Ikeda Town, Imadate County, Fukui Prefecture, built for tourism purposes with the cooperation of craftsmen from Higashiiya, and all of these bridges are for people only.

[Lunch. Local food]
This is a self-service udon restaurant in Ayagawa-cho, Kagawa Prefecture. As an antenna shop for the long-established noodle manufacturer "Sanuki Foods," you can taste handmade udon on the spot. Kagawaya Main Store has other stores in addition to the Ayagawa store, and is visited by many people from inside and outside the prefecture. If you like udon, this is one of the udon restaurants that represents Kagawa that you should visit at least once. As an authentic udon restaurant of Sanuki udon, it not only offers udon dishes such as kake udon, bukkake udon, and kamaage udon, but also a wide variety of side dishes such as kakiage, tempura, inari sushi, rolled sushi, rice balls, and oden. Please note that many udon restaurants in Kagawa are only open during the day.

Large shopping mall

Takamatsu Airport is an airport located in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture.

Ako Onsen is located on a hill along the coast facing the Harima Nada Sea, and is a hot spring resort that offers a spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea.
The hot spring contains a lot of minerals and has a smooth texture. It is said to have a high heat retention effect, and due to its excellent spring quality it is also known as "Hot Spring of Resurrection" and is loved by many people.