Shikoku

fourth largest island of Japan

Shikoku しこく (四国) is the smallest of Japan's four main islands.[1] About 4 million people live there, fewer than on any of the other main islands.

A map of Japan with the island of Shikoku highlighted in brown

The island lies south of Honshu[2] and east of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Strait. A bridge connects it to Honshu.

Farming is a very important business in Shikoku. Citrus fruits are an important product. Shikoku is the home of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage of the Shingon sect of Buddhism.

Regions change

Shikoku region covers the entire island.[3]

The name Shikoku literally means "four countries" in Japanese. Shikoku was made of four old "countries" or provinces that are now prefectures. In other words, each prefecture has a modern name and an old provincial name. The old names are still used sometimes, especially for foods, music, or art.

Cities change

Points of interest change

Castles change

There are twelve original castles that are left in Japan and Shikoku is home to four of them.

  • Marugame Castle, Marugame
  • Kōchi Castle, Kochi
  • Matsuyama Castle
  • Uwajima Castle, Uwajima.

Temples and Shrines change

The 88 Temple Pilgrimage is a famous but difficult 1,647-kilometer circle around the entire island. Serious pilgrims may choose to complete the 88 Temple Circuit on foot. Other people uses buses.

Related pages change

References change

  1. Library of Congress Country Studies, Japan (LOC),"Geography". Retrieved 2012-2-13.
  2. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). "Shikoku" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 857.
  3. LOC, "Shikoku". Retrieved 2012-2-13.
  4. Nussbaum, "Ehime" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 170; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Ehime Prefecture, Regional Information[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2012-4-6.
  5. Nussbaum, "Kagawa prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 446; JETRO, Kagawa Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.
  6. Nussbaum, "Kōchi prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 538; JETRO, Kōchi Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.
  7. Nussbaum, "Tokushima prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 980; JETRO, Tokushima Prefecture, Regional Information Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-4-6.

Other websites change

  Media related to Shikoku at Wikimedia Commons