SHIKOKU’S HIDDEN GEMS: THE STUNNING VIEW OF SHIKOKU KARST

When you drive along the mountain road that leads to Shikoku Karst, a magnificent plateau opens up before your eyes. You are surrounded by idyllic scenery with slowly whirling windmills and gently rolling hills scattered with white limestones, a landscape rarely seen in Japan. On the border of Ehime and Kochi Prefectures, Shikoku Karst extends for 25km and is 3km wide. The summit of the karst reaches 1485 meters at Tengu Plateau. The cattle roaming the meadow look as if they are pastured at the ranch of heaven.

Tengu Plateau has Tengu-no-mori (Forest of Tengu) at its peak, from which a gentle slope begins, surrounded by glorious white birch and red pine trees. You can enjoy it throughout the year: it is filled with fresh green leaves in spring, is a campsite and ideal place for a summer exodus, displays splendid autumn leaves in fall and offers a perfect ski site during winter. You can enjoy the refreshing walking trail toward Tengu-no-mori as well as the other walking paths including Therapy Road, which all have curative effect on visitors.

In addition to the stunning scenery of the plateau, Tengu-no-mori offers a splendid panorama of the Shikoku Mountains; you can even see the vast Pacific Ocean when the weather is good. There are lodges and a campsite close to the forest, which allow you to stay and appreciate a picturesque sunset over the vast land, a sky full of stars or sunrise at dawn. They are simply overwhelming!

From Ehime
[Address]　Nishidani Kumakogen-cho Kamiukena-gun, Ehime
[Getting there] 95-minute drive from Matsuyama IC

From Kochi
[Address]　 Nishidani, Kumakogen-cho Seiyo city, Kochi
[Getting there] 80-minute drive from Susaki IC