Page 19 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

SHIKOKU
PAGE 246 Isolated for centuries, Shikoku still feels
like a backwater, and is all the more
charming for it. The least explored of
the Japanese islands, it offers a glimpse
of the country as it used to be. The
charming castle town of Matsuyama,
with its clattering trams and ancient
hot spring, is a great base from which
to explore the island, while the more
adventurous might attempt to master
the famous 745-mile- (1,200-km-)
long 88 Temple Pilgrimage.
Best for
Rural charm
Home to
Benesse Art Site Naoshima
Experience
Walking the historic 88 Temple Pilgrimage,
which white-robed pilgrims believe atones
for the worst transgressions

KYUSHU Best for
Steaming onsen
PAGE 260 Active volcanoes, rolling grasslands, bubbling hot springs, Home to
and outgoing locals combine to give this island a very
Fukuoka, Nagasaki
different feel to the rest of the archipelago. City-wise,
bustling Fukuoka and beautiful Nagasaki are two of Experience
Japan’s most cosmopolitan metropolises, showcasing A soak in the outdoor hot
springs of Sakurajima, an
Kyushu’s historic role as Japan’s gateway to the rest of active volcano
the world. The menu on the island reflects this cultural
melting pot: unctuous Hakata ramen or crisp lotus
roots satisfy hungry tummies, while shochu, made
from sweet potatoes, leaves a fiery taste.

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