Shikoku Region Travel Guide

I advise you to come from the city of Wakayama (the biggest island - Honshu), by boat. Its is not a long trip (2 hours max) and you can appreciate the cost. When you arrive to Tokushima, do not stay there but take the train (I advise you to have a list of all the stops written in roman letter and Kanji), which goes along the south-east coast. Then you stay a few days in Hiwasa. This little city is not visited by tourists. You can visit a turtle museum and if you go there during the second week of August, you will see little turtles rising from the sand and go directly to the see. Other things to do in Hiwasa: visit a temple, a great walk along the coast (go to the information center).

One of the best experiences i had in Japan was spending 2 nights on Chiiori, it's a fantastic old house with thatched roof, run by a volunteer organization. Meals are prepared in a fireplace in the middle of the living room. the volunteers are fantastic, and the mountains are so tranquil you'll easily forget you're in Japan.

It's around Oboke in Iya valley, contact them in the link above.