Shikoku is getting popular among foreign tourists. Shikoku consists out of four (Tokushima / Kagawa / Kōchi / Ehime) prefectures. One of the charms of Shikoku is that you can find beautiful scenery of Japan. Besides there are many historical and natural places, sea, mountains, rivers and hot springs. This time we’ll show you events held in Shikoku in April.
Event for traditional cultural experience and learn history
１. Big Hina matsuri February.18.2018 – April. 8 .2018
source:I LOVE TOKUSHIMA
”Big Hina matsuri” You can feel spring from this event in Katsuura. Hina matsuri is a traditional girl’s festival to wish growth and prosperity of children in Japan. This festival often held while the peach blossoms are blooming. So it also called “Momo no sekku (Peach's festival)”. This Big Hina matsuri which held at Ningyō- bunka- kōryūkan (Doll Cultural Exchange Center) is the biggest festival in Katsuura. You see a pyramid-shaped 100-tiered stand for displaying dolls in the middle of the place. You also see around 300 stands displaying about 30.000 dolls from all over Japan. During this festival, “Hina ichi(market)” is also held. So that you can buy local products of Katsuura. Besides
you can enjoy to watch “Awa odori( Awa Dance Festival )”, “Otedama enbu (dancing and juggling with small bean bags)” . “Ningyō Jōruri( traditional Japanese puppet theatre)”
played by “Katsuura-za”. Don’t miss it! This festival began in 1988 for the promotion of Katsuura and to preserve the tradition of doll culture. This year, 2018 is the 30th anniversary. Join the biggest doll festival in Japan and meet beautiful dolls!
Schedule
February .18. 2018 – April. 8.2018
9:00 - 16:00
Access & Address
・Place
Ningyō- bunka- kōryūkan (Doll Cultural Exchange Center)
・Nearest station and travel time from the station
Tokushima Bus, Bus stop” Ningyō-bunka-kōryūkan mae” nearby
・Travel time from the terminal station of the city
From Tokushima Station about one hour by bus
・Address 35-1 Tsukinose, Ikuna Katsuuragun Katsuuracho, Tokushima
・Map
Admission & reservation
General 300yen / Elementary school students 100yen
No reservation required
Official website
2. HANA HARU FESTA
April .21.2018 & April.22.2018
Awaodori (Awa Dance Festival) in spring “HANA HARU FESTA” is the biggest festival in Tokushima. This festival is held at around Aibahama Park. You can enjoy to watch the real Awaodori for free at an outdoor gallery or Awa Dance Spring Stage. Awaodori is a dance original from Tokushima and a Japanese traditional historical culture of about 400 years. Just watching the exciting dancing get energy. You also can enjoy delicious dishes at this festival. Popular event “Gourmet & shopping (for local products)” is also held .Other events are “Experience traditional crafts / entertainment” such as Aizome( natural indigo dyeing) or Ōtani-yaki(Ōtani ware), “FM Radio Tokushima special
Live” show. You can enjoy Tokushima for 2 days with dancing, delicious local foods and products. You’ll find the charm of Tokushima and local town from this festival. So let’s visit!
Schedule
April .21.2018 & April.22.2018
10:00 - 17:00
Access & address
・Place
Awagin Hall( Tokushima Arts Foundation for Culture), Aibahama Park, Shinmachi boardwalk, and other places around Shinmachi River Park
・Nearest station and travel time from the station
JR Tokushima Station 5-minute walk
・Travel time from the terminal station of the city
From Tokushima airport about 40 minutes by bus
・Address Aibacho Tokushima-shi,Tokushima
・Map
Admission & reservation
Free of charge
No reservation required
Official website
Event for enjoy nature
3. Special Place of Scenic Beauty
Ritsurin Garden illumination in spring
Late March.2018 - Early April.2018（plans）
source: mainichi.jp
Ritsurin Garden is located in Takamatsu-city and one of the most famous historical daimyo (feudal lord) gardens in Japan. This garden is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty of Japan.
This garden is owned by the prefecture and it is said that National Treasures of Japanese garden. There are six ponds and thirteen landscaped hills. You see beautiful view of the garden and the surrounding scenery from the hills. During the period sakura(cherry blossoms) are blooming, you can enjoy the illumination mainly at the north garden. The weeping cherry, Someiyoshino (cherry blossoms) and pine trees are illuminated at the evening. Full bloom flowers are floating in the dark and the garden is surrounded by a fantastic atmosphere. Beautiful cherry blossoms, green color of pine trees, cherry blossoms reflected on the surface of a lake. You must see!
Schedule
Late March.2018 - Early April.2018（plans）
18:00 - 21:00
Entrance until 20: 30
Access & address
・Place
Ritsurin Garden
・Nearest station and travel time from the station
JR Ritsurin Koen Kitaguchi Station 3-minuts walk
Kotoden Bus , bus stop “Ritsurin koen mae” nearby
・Travel time from the terminal station of the city
From Takamatsu Airport about 30 minutes by bus
・Address 1-20-16 Ritsurinchō Takamatsu Kagawa
・Map
Admission & reservation
Visit free
※Entrance fee is required
Adults / 410yen
Elementary and junior high school students / 170yen
Preschool –aged children / free
No reservation required
Official website
https://www.my-kagawa.jp/ritsuringarden
4. Sakura (cherry blossoms) at Matsuyama castle Late March to early April.2018
source:mainichi
Matsuyama castle in Matsuyama city is located on the top of the Katsuyama mountain with a height of 132 meters. Ninomarushisekiteien (park) is located on the mountain foot.
At this big Japanese castle, you can find more than 200 trees of Someiyoshino / tsubakikanzakura / Shiogamazakura, / Yaezakura. (cherry blossoms). You can enjoy for a longer period the cherry blossoms because of differences of blooming time. Early April is the best season to enjoy cherry blossoms. The nice view of cherry blossoms and castle are photogenic so don’t forget to bring a camera. The wonderful view of Matsuyama city from the top of the mountain where you can reach by ropeway. Let’s enjoy the cherry blossoms and spring landscape of Matsuyama.
Schedule
Late March to early April .2018
Honmaru Square open
March /5:30 - 21:00 April / 5:00 - 21:00
Access & address
・Place
Matsuyama castle
Mountain peak Honmaru Square
・Nearest station and travel time from the station
Ropeway Chōjaganaru Station 10-minute walk
・Travel time from the terminal station of the city
From Matsuyama Airport about 50minutes by bus& ropeway
・Address 1 Marunouchi Matsuyama, Ehime
・Map
Admission & reservation
Visit free
※Fee for ropeway / lift is required
Entry fee for the castle is required
No reservation required
Official website
Event with kids
5.< Kōchi > Koinobori (carp streamer ) fly above river
April. 15. - May 12.2018
source: 40010rocco
Shimanotogawa(river) is a popular river among tourists because of the majestic water flow. Koinobori( carp streamer ) Park is located near this river. It’s a good place to watch
Koinobori fly above river. It held every year from April to May. A famous event whereby about 500 Koinobori fly above the Shimanto river from the park to opposite side. The colorful Koinobori fly between the river and sky. You must see! Besides near the Koinobori Park, Todoroki Park which is located opposite side of Shimanto Taishō Station, you can see about 3000 red, pink, white azaleas during this period. Let’s enjoy Japanese spring season!
Schedule
April. 15. - May 12.2018
All day ※Possible to be changed the date depending on the weather
Access & address
・Place
Koinobori (carp streamer ) Park
・Nearest station and travel time from the station
Tōkawa Station 5-minute walk
・Travel time from the terminal station of the city
From Kōchi Station about 2 hours and 32 minutes by train & walk
・Address Tōkawa, Shimantocho, Kōchi
・Map
Admission & reservation
Free of charge
No reservation required