Shikoku Onsens

Given their location on a different island from Honshu, Shikoku onsens are some of the most overlooked. But this isolation is what makes Shikoku so great!
This is especially true if you’re looking for classic everyday Japanese scenery as seen Spirited Away and Suzume.

You can drive up any random mountain in Shikoku and find onsen hotels steeped in history (trust me, I’ve done this!)
But you won’t be disappointed by Shikoku’s main onsen locations either:

Dogo Onsen (Ehime): Over 3,000 years old, this is Japan’s oldest hot spring. Inside, you’ll find a maze of wooden corridors and staircases.
These famously served as inspiration for the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away.

Iya Valley Onsen (Tokushima): This remote valley features hot springs accessible only by cable car, nestled deep in gorges near ancient vine bridges.

Konpira Onsen (Kagawa): This is the perfect place to recover after climbing a grueling 1,368 stone steps to the Kotohira-gu’s famous inner shrine.

Be careful when visiting Shikoku’s onsens. You wouldn’t be the first to leave the modern world behind and never want to return…
What are you waiting for? Shikoku awaits!