Japan's hidden island: Temples & festivals in Shikoku

Travel by bus to Tokushima via Awaji-jima Island and across the world's longest suspension bridge that links the main island of Honshu to Shikoku.

Explore Tokushima town. We recommend incorporating a visit to Tokushima's most famous export to the rest of the country, the Bunraku puppet theater to see a performance.

Take a scenic coastal train ride to Takamatsu, home to one of Japan's most beautiful gardens the Ritsurin-Koen and regarded as one of the top three.

Today, take a short ferry ride to visit nearby Naoshima island and its world-class art museums. There are other modern art installations of the surrounding smaller islands if time allows.

Pick up your hire car and drive from Takamatsu to the rural and removed Iya Valley. Explore the area by car and on foot in the afternoon helped by the advanced GPS system provided with all rental cars. There is some breath-taking mountainous scenery to enjoy complete with beautiful waterfalls depending on the season.

Start this morning with some light activity — white-water rafting in the Oboke Gorge. The course is suitable for beginners and children too.

Drive to the small town of Kannonji and then drop the car off here. Take the train onward west to Matsuyama, Shikoku's principal city and oldest hot spring resort in Japan. The west has a different feel to the east of Shikoku.

Explore the castle and gardens or just relax and rewind in the hot springs of your hotel.

Travel by train across to Okayama, stopping to see another top-rated gardens including the Korakuen Garden before continuing east to Tokyo. The evening is at leisure to catch up on any last-minute sightseeing or simply enjoy your final evening in Japan wining and dining.

You will be taken to the airport by shared transfer.