Shikoku Karst:Stunning Plateau of Limestone and Cows

A 360-degree majestic panorama of the sky, grassland, clouds, and milk cows awaits for you at Shikoku Karst.It's a different kind of nature with limestones scattered all over the plateau.If you're looking for something different, and for an adventure through a scenic area of rural Japan, then visit Shikoku Karst.At the peak, you'll feel like you can almost touch the sky.

“Road on top of the Sky”

For nature aficionados who want to experience something different in Japan, the Shikoku Karst may be the perfect destination. In Japanese, people call Shikoku Karst the “road of the sky” or “road on top of the clouds” and here’s why.

Karst is not a term many of us are familiar with. It's an area of land made up of limestone or soft rocks that dissolve in water. The Shikoku Karst plateau extends for 25 km from east to west and 3km from north to south, traversing one city and four towns. Lying on prefectural boundaries of Ehime and Kochi prefectures, Shikoku Karst is one of Japan’s three largest karst landscapes. With an altitude of 1,000m (xx ft) to 1,485m, it is the highest elevated among them, offering a majestic vista of the plateau’s surrounding mountains. When you are at the peak, you’ll see clouds up close or under you, making you feel like you’re in some fairytale.

With green grasslands, alpine plants, and milk cows roaming around freely on the land, the area is beautiful all year long. Considering the heavy snow, however, it’s best to visit between April and October—which is also the only time you’ll see cows walking around the karst plateau (the cows go back to their farms during the winter months). Driving through is an excellent way to enjoy the Shikoku Karst and here are some major spots you shouldn’t miss.

Popular Spots in Shikoku Karst

shikoku karst Oonogahara

Located in the west side of Shikoku Karst, Oonogahara is the oldest landform in Ehime prefecture. In the northern region a large and pristine buna forest still remains where there is a 1.2 km hiking trail. Ponies and cows walk around freely in the plateau. The area is famous for its limestone caves, and the one that is designated as a national treasure of Ehime’s Seiyo city has an altitude of 720 meters, 390 meters in length with an inside height of 3 to 5 meters.

Godan Kogen

About a half-an-hour drive from Oonogahara, this area is the center of Shikoku Karst. It is the area with the most scenic landscapes of milk cows and limestone. Medurudaira

Known as the “roof of Shikoku,” this is the area where you’ll see floating clouds under you, majestic panorama vista of the mountains, and milk cows roaming around and munching on grass all at once. It’s a quick drive from Godan Kogen, and it’s one of the most popular spots, especially in the summer. Here there is a camping site, cottages, a restaurant and a farm. The camping site has a 360-degree panoramic view, and you’ll see tents with families and couples immersing themselves in the serene atmosphere of the Karst plateau. The sky feels so close that you feel like you can almost touch it. The milk cows sleeping on the grassland are people-friendly, and usually, they continue to sleep even if you walk up close. Most of the milk cows there are owned by livestock farmers in Ehime prefecture, and every year from spring to fall, the Medurudaira farmers take care of them by letting them walk around in the karst. There are about 130 of them in total.

Visitors staying overnight look forward to stargazing. With little pollution, the night view is spectacular, with twinkling stars filling up the night sky.

Tengu Kogen

At an elevation of 1485m, this highland overlooks all the smaller mountains surrounding the plateau. On a sunny day, you can see all the way down to the Pacific Ocean. With white birch and red pine trees in the Tengu forest, walking the three-hour hiking trail here is a great way to take your mind off everyday things and enjoy forest therapy. It’s on the east side of the Shikoku Karst, and after passing by the Tengu tunnel, you’ll reach Kochi prefecture.

Relax in the Pristine Plateau

shikoku karst Experience the beauty of rural Japan by visiting Shikoku Kurst. Soothe your body and soul with forest therapy as you drive/bike/walk through the mountains ,and don't forget to stop by Medurudaira farm for some fresh milk ice-cream. Stay overnight and your eyes will be glued to the millions of twinkling stars in the night sky.

How to Visit

Take a plane from Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) to Ehime (Matsuyama) which is about 1.5 hours.

From there, the recommended way to visit Shikoku Karst is by car or motorcycle. From Matsuyama city, it’s about a 2.5-hour drive. From Kochi city, it’s about a 2.5-3 hour drive. The scenic drive through the Shikoku Karst takes about two hours. If you want to use public transport, understand that transportation is limited and there is no way to go from Ehime area so you will have to go from Kochi. Take the train from JR Kochi station to Susaki then transfer to another bus to Yusuhara then get off at Shinta. Take a taxi from Shinta to Tengusou and there in front of you is the Shikoku Karst. There are only a few buses that go out to Shinta in a day, so plan carefully before you head out.

If you are fit and adventurous, you can also consider biking there by renting a sports bike. It’s a hilly ride of about 80km from Matsuyama city to Shikoku Karst. Why not bike up the mountains, all the while appreciating the nature surrounding you and feel the scenery change as you reach the Shikoku Karst? Just remember to bring water and snacks because there are close to zero convenience stores and vending machines along the way.

Shikoku Karst
Address: Nishitani, Kumakōgen-chō, Kamiukena-gun, Ehime prefecture, 791-1802
Tel: +81-(0)892-21-1111