{"id":75380,"date":"2021-01-29T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=75380"},"modified":"2024-05-20T12:01:46","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T03:01:46","slug":"shikoku-shodoshima-setouchi-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/shikoku-shodoshima-setouchi-islands\/","title":{"rendered":"Shikoku\u2019s Shodoshima: Explore the Beauty and Culinary Quality of the Setouchi Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Recently gaining popularity as an art-centric, culture-rich destination, Kagawa\u2019s Seto Islands are not short of attractions. The Setouchi Islands, or \u2018Seto Islands\u2019, refers to a collection of islands dotting the Seto Inland Sea between Shikoku and mainland Honshu. Home to pristine beaches<\/strong>, spirituality<\/a>, incredible food, <\/strong>and modern art attractions<\/a><\/strong>, hopping across the Seto islands is a great way to see a multi-faceted side of Shikoku. On my first visit to the area, I enjoyed exploring Shodoshima<\/strong>, but while the visit was brief, it was sweet and left me hungry to come back very soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Konpira San: A Shrine Climb Marathon Up Stone Steps to Kotohiragu Shrine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before I hopped on a ferry at Takamatsu port for Shodoshima island, I had to first stop at the spiritual centerpiece of Kagawa and the head shrine of a Japan-wide collection of Kotohira shrines and Konpira shrines dedicated to sailors and seafaring, Konpira san<\/strong> (also known as Kotohiragu shrine<\/strong>). It\u2019s said that the Kotohiragu shrine was settled here about 3,000 years ago, and ever since the Muromachi period, it\u2019s become an incredibly popular pilgrimage destination.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Konpira
The hike up to Kotohiragu shrine is worth it to see the head shrine dedicated to sailors and seafaring. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Located in the middle of Mount Zozu overlooking Kotohira Town, visitors must make the arduous but worthwhile 785 stone <\/span>step climb to reach the head shrine<\/strong>. This journey will take most around 30 minutes to three-quarters of an hour, but once you get to the terrace, it\u2019s worth it for the views of Kotohira Town alone. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"views
A 30-minute hike up Mount Zozu will give you spectacular views of Kotohira Town.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

For a little local tip, before, or maybe after as a treat, make your way to Kaohken<\/strong>, a cute bustling bistro-style diner <\/strong>that\u2019s locally famous for its stylish take on the yoshoku<\/em> (Western-influenced Japanese food) classic hamburger steak. It\u2019s a scenic destination for a leisurely lunch, facing out onto the Kanakura River. T<\/span>he menu features a roster of Japanese-western classics like curry and omurice <\/em>(Japanese omelet rice). But the star is the soft, succulent hamburger steaks \u2014 which for western folks, is a hamburger patty topped with sauce and vegetables \u2014 and it\u2019s the ultimate in comfort food craving satisfaction with a fun local twist. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"torii
Check out the large torii gate at Kotohira Town.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Shodoshima: The Olive Island With So Much to Offer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once I\u2019d clocked Konpira san, it was off to the busy Takamatsu port to take a casual cruise to Shodoshima (aka Shodoshima Island) for the night. A popular day trip spot from Kagawa Prefecture, Okayama Prefecture,<\/strong><\/span> and even Osaka<\/strong>, Shodoshima is the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and, according to legends, one of the first islands born to the gods in Japan\u2019s creation myth<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its Mediterranean appeal, excellent culinary options, and long-reaching spiritual significance, it\u2019s still a fascinating pocket of Shikoku, that while may be growing in popularity, still feels delightfully untouched by foreign tourism influence. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Shodoshima Island has a climate that’s perfect for<\/span> olive growing. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Mito no Sato: Stylishly Classic Japanese Accommodation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My home for the night was Mito no Sato<\/a>, a unique modern Japanese accommodation<\/strong> that balances stylish contemporary features with classic Japanese design. It\u2019s an old home turned modern guest-house<\/strong>, and a Mito no Sato is a \u2018farmhouse,\u2019 also called nouka minshuku<\/em> (farmer’s inn.) Still<\/span>, its hospitality, stylish design, and contemporary living features feel more like a ryokan-homestay hybrid than anything else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Japanese
Stop for the night at traditional Japanese home-turned-modern guest house of Mito no Sato.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rather than one large facility, Mito no Sato\u2019s layout is like a network of buildings that house various slightly different Japanese style rooms, suitable for solo travelers, couples, and families alike. Within the facility, there\u2019s also an on-site communal bath that can be used privately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was fast to learn that when it comes to culinary offerings, Mito no Sato truly shines. The hotel\u2019s kitchen offers classic Japanese style cuisine featuring plenty of delicious local produce from the Shodoshima area \u2014 think abundant spreads of fresh sashimi, crisp, delicious nori (seaweed). But the decedent olive-fed Yellowtail <\/span>and olive-fed pork was a real highlight, soft, deep, and rich in flavor; it\u2019s no question Shodoshima locals take their food seriously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"traditional<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"japanese<\/figure>\n
Enjoy the hotel’s fresh local produce and seafood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As part of my stay, I was invited to join a guided e-bike tour<\/strong>. The route took me around the scenic sights of the hotel\u2019s corner of Shodoshima, winding through the historical wooden house lined streets and stopping off at some of the island\u2019s most influential and sacred sites. We stopped off at a small hilltop temple, where the guide informed me that while Shikoku\u2019s 88 Temple Pilgrimage is one of the country\u2019s most famous sacred routes, Shodoshima has its own collection of 88 temples<\/strong>, all as impressive as the last. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore the island by bike and visit Shodoshima’s collection of temples.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shodoshima: Japan’s Olive Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Known as the birthplace of Japan\u2019s olive cultivation, Shodoshima is incredibly proud of its olive histor<\/strong>y<\/strong>. The warm climate <\/span>makes it ideal for growing perfect, plump juicy olives. There are olive picking opportunities, olive-based restaurants, and even olive trees growing mere steps away from public playgrounds, which is where I stopped to learn from a local expert about the best olives to pick and how exactly to pick them. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"picking
Make olive picking a part of your rich experience on Shodoshima. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested, guests are also invited to take part in the olive harvesting process, where once done, they\u2019re sent off to become a range of products from oil to skincare, soap, and even used as a product for fabric dyeing. It should be noted that the olive harvest experience is held in October and November during the olive harvest season.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"olives<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yamaroku Shoyu: More Than Just a Soy Sauce Brewery<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The iconic Yamaroku Shoyu brewery was t<\/span>he next stop on my whirlwind visit to the Setouchi Islands. Beyond olives, the island is known as one of the most soy sauce-centric destinations in Japan<\/strong>. It\u2019s home to around 20 soy sauce factories and boasts a history of soy sauce production that goes <\/span>back four centuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a proudly legacy and tradition driven producer of soy, one that harks back to the island\u2019s Edo period (1603-1868), when these Seto Islands were some of the key food producers in Japan. They produced large quantities of the salt, sake, and shoyu<\/em> (soy sauce), particularly shoyu<\/em>, which was actively produced in Shodoshima for much of the Edo period. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Shodoshima’s soy sauce history harks back to the Edo Period and is famous for its uniquely sweet flavors. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yamaroku <\/span>Shoyu was actually featured in the \u2018Salt\u2019 episode of the hit 2018 Netflix series Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat<\/em>, thanks largely to its unique soy production methods. Here they use something called \u2018kioke\u2019 wooden barrels that feed and create the ideal environment for beneficial bacteria that lives within the barrels and gives the sauce that deep, distinct umami flavor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike cheaper mass-produced soy, which is thin and salty, Yamaroku <\/span>Shoyu\u2019s blend is complex and rich, like a fine wine. It\u2019s so tasty and balanced that it can be enjoyed on ice cream. I was wary at first, but, wow, it\u2019s an incredibly delicious salty-sweet, almost a caramel-like combination, and highly recommended.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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Try one of the local delights:soy sauce on ice<\/span>cream! <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Natural Phenomenon of Angel Road<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before I departed Shodoshima, I had two final destinations to visit, Angel Road, and the Yokai Art Museum<\/strong>. A spot incredibly popular with local tourists, Angel Road is a natural phenomenon. Here the path or \u2018road\u2019 appears and disappears with the tide. At low tide, you can walk all the way across to the tiny Yoshima island. A popular place for couples, it\u2019s said that your wish will come true if you cross holding hands with an important person (like a romantic partner). <\/p>\n\n\n

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Angel Road is a popular destination to visit Yoshima Island at low tide. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Japanese Ghosts and Demons at Yokai Art Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finally, it was time to visit some of Japan\u2019s spookier residents at the Yokai Art Museum<\/strong>. For those uninitiated, yokai are Japan\u2019s version of spirits. They have no distinct shape or form but rather are fluid; according to Japanese folklore, they lurk everywhere, unknowable and unseen by the human eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"yokai<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Visit Shodoshima’s Yokai Art Museum to learn about Japanese folklore and to see the many artworks within the museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I wasn\u2019t sure what to expect at Shodoshima\u2019s Yokai Art Museum, but what I discovered was a fascinating, enthralling way to explore art. It\u2019s a unique and contemporary look at the visual interpretations of these creatures, displayed in a very special setting. The artwork consists of various mediums, but the most striking has to be the sculptures; some are realistic while others are abstract and even immersive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than being confirmed to one building, the Yokai Art Museum consists of a network of buildings and old homes dotted throughout the neighborhood of Tonosho. If you do make it to Shodoshima, be sure to buy a ticket, grab a map, download the museum\u2019s app, and explore the district and the fascinating, enchanting, and at times the spooky world of the yokai \u2014 as well as the neighborhood in which its located \u2014 at your own pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting to Shodoshima<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way is via ferry departing Takamatsu or Okayama. The journey takes about an hour each way from Takamatsu, and some options stop at Tonosho, Kusakabe, Ikeda, and Sakate ports on Shodoshima. Three ports near Okayama provide ferry connections to Shodoshima. They are Shin-Okayama Port, Uno Ferry Terminal, and Hinase Port. Alternatively, Shikoku Ferry also operates car ferries between Himeji and Shodoshima\u2019s Fukuda Port. Kobe Shodoshima Jumbo Ferry operates multiple ferries between Kobe and Sakate Port on Shodoshimaevery day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Konpira san<\/strong> \u91d1\u5200\u6bd4\u7f85\u5bae
892-1, Kotohira, Nakatado District, Kagawa 766-8501
Opening hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
Official<\/span>Kotohiragushrine Website<\/span><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Kaohken<\/strong> \u679c\u685c\u8ed2
266, Kotohira, Nakatado District, Kagawa 766-8501
Tel: 0877-85-3998
Opening hours: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Mito no Sato<\/strong> \u4e09\u90fd\u306e\u90f7
671 Konoura, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu- gun, Kagawa 761-4308
Tel: 0879-62-8818
Official Mito no Sato Website<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Shodoshima Olive Park <\/strong>\u5c0f\u8c46\u5cf6\u30aa\u30ea\u30fc\u30d6\u516c\u5712
<\/strong>1941-1 Nishimura-kou, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa 761-4434
Opening hours: 8:30am-5:00pm
W: https:\/\/www.olive-pk.jp\/en\/index.html<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Yamaroku Shoyu<\/strong> \u30e4\u30de\u30ed\u30af\u91a4\u6cb9<\/span>
\u3012761-4411 Kagawa, Shozu District, Shodoshima, Yasuda, \u75321607
Opening hours:<\/strong> 9:00 am – 5:00 pm 
Official Yama-roku Shoyu Website<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Angel Road <\/strong>\u30a8\u30f3\u30b8\u30a7\u30eb\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9
\u3012761-4661 Kagawa, Shozu District, Tonosho, Ginpaura
https:\/\/shikoku-tourism.com\/en\/see-and-do\/10086<\/span><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Meiro no Machi (Maze Town) Yokai Art Museum\uff08MeiPAM\uff09<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u5c0f\u8c46\u5cf6\u30fb\u8ff7\u8def\u306e\u307e\u3061\u3000\u30a2\u30fc\u30c8\u30d7\u30ed\u30b8\u30a7\u30af\u30c8\u3000MeiPAM\uff08\u30e1\u30a4\u30d1\u30e0\uff09
405 Ko, Tonosho, Shozu District, Kagawa 761-4106, Japan
Opening hours:<\/strong> 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Yokai Art Museum Website<\/a> <\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n