Shikoku is the smallest island of Japan among the four major ones. It is also perhaps the least visited area of Japan. Shikoku is the least populated island of Japan. The region of Shikoku is divided into four prefectures which are—Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi and Tokushima. In terms of area, Shikoku ranks 50 th among the other islands of the world.
Some archaeologists have carried out excavations in the area which have proved that Shikoku was one of the earliest civilized areas of Japan. The main function of the island was primarily to act as a cultural pathway. Just before the Edo period, when Japan was toned apart due to civil wars, Shikoku became an important trade link between Japan and the Asian mainland.
The region of Shikoku mainly has a mild climate with frequent typhoons and heavy summer rains. The highest rainfall in the area can reach up to 266 cm in a year. In general, the climate is of a humid subtropical type.
Most of the population is concentrated along the coastal areas. The chief towns of Shikoku are Matsuyama and Takamatsu. There are few natural resources in the region and large scale industries are also very few, but the conditions are expected to change after land reclamation is carried out in the area.
The island of Shikoku is divided into eastern and western parts by a group of mountains. Most of the inhabitants live in the northern part and the largest cities of the region are also located in Shikoku. Mount Isizuchi is the highest mountain of Shikoku. The southern part of Shikoku is less populated and mountainous. The major occupation of the people is farming, especially because the eastern part of the island has wide alluvial and fertile areas.
Shikoku is connected to Honshu with the help of ferry and air services. The region was not adequately developed before the construction of several bridges which connect Shikoku with the other islands. There are many ferry routes between Shikoku, Honshu and Kyushu. Within the island, there is a close web of national highways which connects the major populated areas. The Shikoku Railway company serves the island. There are many airports in Shikoku and all of them have flights to Tokyo and other important Japanese cities.
Shikoku is well-known for its 88-temple pilgrimage of temples associated with the priest Kukai. Many pilgrims from all over the world come to this sacred place every year. There are few other tourist attraction spots in Shikoku.
