Looking at a map, you'll see that these two popular hot spring resorts are connected by the JR Dosan Line. A must-ride is the limited express tourist train called "Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari." If you stay for several nights, you can fully enjoy Konpira and Iya. The concept of the train is "adult outings." In Tokushima, there is a custom called "yusan," in which children take a packed lunch and head into the mountains and fields on occasions such as the Doll's Festival. "Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari" is a modern take on this outing as a casual and enjoyable train journey. The interior of the train is decorated in a Japanese style based on the concept of "Japanese atmosphere." Guests can enjoy meals made with local ingredients from Kagawa and Tokushima, tourist information and hospitality from attendants, and scenic views of the area along the line from the train windows.

Mount Zozu was a landmark for people sailing the Seto Inland Sea. Kotohira Shrine has been cherished as the guardian deity of the sea. The enshrined deities are Omononushi-no-Mikoto and Emperor Sutoku, and in addition to being the god of the sea, he is also beloved as the god of agriculture, production, medicine, and more. If you're relaxing in the Konpira Onsen village right in the heart of the shrine, be sure to make a pilgrimage to Konpira. Climbing the 785 stone steps leading up to the main shrine is a challenge, but the sense of accomplishment when you reach the finish line and the view from the observation deck are exceptional. Walking sticks are also available for rental.

Shikoku is synonymous with the pilgrimage route. For those who want to make the pilgrimage but can't seem to make it, we recommend the Seven Temple Pilgrimage. Visiting seven of the 88 sacred sites associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai, from the 71st temple, Yatani-ji, in Kagawa Prefecture, to the 77th, Doryuji, in one day is said to bring the same merit as visiting all 88 sacred sites in Shikoku. The 12th year of the Kansei era (1800) of the "Shikoku 88 Temples and Shrines of Famous Places," states, "A person with good legs who visits all seven of these seven temples with these stamps is said to have completed a pilgrimage to Shikoku." Most of the temples are located in the vicinity of the neighboring station, Zentsuji. Each temple enshrines a "Seven Lucky Gods' Patient Buddha," and by making the pilgrimage while feeling the presence of Kukai, the "Great Master," in your heart, you are said to be blessed with seven blessings. Stamp books are also sold at each temple.

↓ Approximately 60 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by car

↓ Approximately 7 minutes on foot or 2 minutes by car

↓ About 45 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by car

↓ About 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by car

↓ Approximately 70 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by car

↓ Approximately 70 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by car

An isolated island surrounded by steep mountains and deep gorges, Iya is a world completely different from what you might imagine. It is a place where you can encounter unknown natural environments. The mist rising from the fantastical land as far as the eye can see, the dense jungle-like trees and moss along the deep valleys, and the rivers create a landscape unique to Iya. It is truly beautiful and moving. It is a mysterious place unlike any other in the world. The world that spreads out among the mountains is like a paradise, and this place, where people live quietly as if trapped in time forever, is also known as "a thousand-year hide-and-seek."

Iya is a place unlike any other in Japan, with homes built on mountain slopes, a rare sight in Japan. Thatched houses dot the landscape, stretching along the slopes of fields, offering views of the river far below. This unique rural landscape offers a truly otherworldly experience. Many of the old houses remaining in Iya have no ceilings, revealing exposed beams and thatched roofs. Apparently, they were originally built to earn external income by hanging tobacco from beams and drying it in the smoke of the hearth. Experience the wisdom of life born from this isolated natural environment with your own eyes! Tours of old houses are available, accompanied by a local driver and guide. In addition to visiting tourist spots like Kazurabashi Bridge, which is associated with the legend of the Heike clan, you can also stroll through the old houses and villages that remain in the area and enjoy hiking. This guide will introduce you to the legends of Iya, which you won't learn about just by visiting, as well as current life in the area, from the perspective of the local residents.