Moopon

1. Once visitors exit immigration and customs at Kansai Airport, visitors will be on the 1st floor. Follow the signs for “Railways”, taking one of the 4 escalators or 3 elevators to arrive at the 2nd floor.

2. Once on the 2nd floor, follow the signs to one of several walkways and walk across the road to Kansai-airport Station. Visitors need to exit the air terminal building to arrive at the JR Station (two separate buildings connected by a walkway). Two train companies use Kansai-airport Station: JR (blue/green) and Nankai (orange). Only JR can take visitor to the platform Haruka departing from. DO NOT use Nankai.

3. Before entering tickets gate, find JR Ticket Office where visitors can purchase ticket or reserved ticket for JR train.(there is a huge sign in English above their head).JR ticket office staff may or may not speak English, but they can read place names and train types written in the Roman alphabet. 

4. With one’s tickets, go through JR ticket gate and take an escalator to get to Platform 4.

Kadoya  one of the art house project

Kadoya was the first art house completed. This nearly 200-year old house was restored using Japanese plaster, smoked cedar board, and traditional tiles. Artworks on display include a LED display set in a pool of water, a window turned into a digital display and an unconventional Japanese scroll painting.

Works:Tatsuo Miyajima
Closed : Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m-4:30p.m
Admission: 410yen

Go'o Shrine (護王神社)

Designed by Sugimoto Hiroshi
Go'o Shrine is an old Shinto shrine enshrined from the Edo period that has been restored with a modern makeover by Artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. An optical glass staircase leads from the worship hall to an underground chamber that represents the unity of heaven and earth. Visitors may enter the underground chamber from a narrow side entrance.

Hiroshi Sugimoto
He was born in Japan in 1948. A photographer since the 1970s, his work deals with history and temporal existence by investigating themes of time, empiricism, and metaphysics.

Closed: Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m - 4:30p.m
Admission: 410 yen

The Chichu Art Museum (地中美術館, Chichū Bijutsukan) is a unusual modern art museum built into a hillside overlooking the southern coast of Naoshima. The museum building, designed by Ando Tadao and itself a work of art, is mostly located underground and solely utilizes natural light to illuminate the artwork. This creates a viewing experience that is deeply influenced by the surrounding natural environment.

The museum has been built around quite a small collection of art. The first gallery shows large murals from Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" series. This is followed by a few works by James Turrell, who uses light as a medium. They include the "Open Sky" room from his "Skyspaces" series which has sister exhibits around the world including the 21st Century Museum in Kanazawa. Finally, the deepest part of the Chichu Museum houses the "Time/Timeless/No Time" installation by Walter De Maria.

Tickets are purchased at the museum's ticket center which is located a short walk downhill from the museum entrance. The ticket center has a small cafe and waiting area as only a limited number of visitors are allowed to the museum at one time. There are also coin lockers available since bags and cameras are not allowed in the museum and must be stowed before entering.    
Access info                                                                        
There are one or two buses per hour from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal via Honmura to the Tsutsujiso bus stop at the east gate of the Benesse House (15 minutes, 100 yen), from where it is possible to walk (30 minutes) or take a free shuttle bus to the Chichu Art Museum (10 minutes). Or the museum is about a two kilometer bicycle ride (10 minutes) or walk (30-40 minutes) from the Miyanoura ferry terminal.

From the Chichu Art Museum it is just a few minutes on the free shuttle bus to either the Lee Ufan Museum or the Benesse House. It is also possible to walk between the museums (5 and 15 minutes respectively).                                                      

Chichu Art Museum
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October to February) 
Admission ends one hour prior to closing time
Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Infrequent irregular closures for maintenance
Admission: 2060 yen

The 007 Museum is devoted to the James Bond novel "The Man with the Red Tattoo" by Raymond Benson. The story is set partially on Naoshima; however, it was never made into a movie. The purpose of the museum is to bring attention to the novel with the hope that it will eventually be adapted to film.

Exhibits include fan art and scenes from "The Man with the Red Tattoo" and a short movie titled "From Naoshima with Love", which was filmed on Naoshima and close by Takamatsu. In addition, there are posters and paraphernalia from actual Bond movies, especially from the movie "You Only Live Twice", so far the only James Bond movie set in Japan.  
Access info                           
The 007 Museum is a short walk from the Miyanoura Ferry Terminal.      

Schedule &cost       
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: New Year holidays
Admission: Free
English information is available on its Website.

Kompirasan, officially known as Kotohiragu, is the main shrine of multiple Kompira shrines found around Japan that are dedicated to sailors and seafaring. It is located on the wooded slope of Mount Zozu in Kotohira and the approach to Kompirasan is a laborious series of 1,368 stone steps.

Over many centuries, Kompirasan had been revered as a mixture between Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine, until it was officially declared a shrine in the beginning of the Meiji Period during government efforts to separate the two religions. Nevertheless, the previous symbiosis is still visible in Kompirasan's architecture which displays both Shinto and Buddhist elements.                                                              

Kompirasan is a highly popular site visited by pilgrims from across the country despite being one of the most difficult shrine approaches in Japan. The approach begins amongst a touristy shopping arcade filled with souvenir shops and Sanuki Udon restaurants, from where it is a 785- step climb (about 45 minutes) past a number of auxiliary shrine buildings and museums to the main hall of the shrine.

Next to the main hall is a viewpoint overlooking Kotohira Town, and the Ema Hall which exhibits plates and pictures of ships, battleships and even space rockets whose crews sought the protection of the shrine. A real mini submarine is also displayed.
For the tourists have enough energy it is an additional 583 steps (an additional 45 minutes) along a paved, forested path to the inner shrine (Okusha) of the complex.
Most visitors only make it up to the main hall; however, Those unable (or unwilling) to make the climb, can hire a palanquin (5300 yen one way or 6500 yen round trip) up to the main hall or take a bus (see details below).  

Access info
The start of the long approach to Kompirasan is a 10 to 15 minute walk from JR Kotohira and Kotoden Kotohira Stations.

Takamijima Island, a part of Shiwaku Island Chain in the Seto Inland Sea, is a small beautiful island with deep historic roots.
The name Takamijima literally translates to “high view island.” This may be explained by Mount Ryouzan which lies in the center of the island. 

Visitors may wish to visit the southern part of the island where the Hama District is.
Here is the Takami Hachiman Shrine. Visitors will find a unique graveyard here as well.
The graves on this island have a dual burial system.  
There is one grave which holds the remains of the deceased.
The other grave is for family members to visit and pay their respects to the deceased.
 

On the north end of the island was the Itamochi District.
However, due to the depopulation crisis affecting rural areas of Japan, no one lives in the Itamochi District anymore.
Most of the island residents, less than 100 people, live primarily in the small fishing village located on southeastern shore.
Visitors will find homes and fish factories north of the port with many friendly cats prowling nearby hoping for a sample or scrap.
 

Visitors wandering through the Ura District located 50 meters into the mountains will encounter the maze of narrow stone
walled alleys reflecting a time when foot traffic was all a village encountered.
The homes built during the Edo period are preserved here as well.
This traditional island scenery has earned this area a few appearances on the big screen.
However, most of the homes do not any people living there, making this district a ghost town as well.
 

Being one of the venues of the Setouchi Triennale, a modern art festival with multiple
locations among the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, Takamijima is working hard to revive its population and economy.
Hoping to rebrand itself as a home to contemporary art, two of the art pieces from the festivals have a permanent home on the island.
It is unfortunate, however, that the public viewing of the pieces is rare.
 

Access Information:
1.  Access to Tadotsu Station (nearest train station to Takamijima)
*from Marugame Station—Board the local JR train to Tadotsu Station.
  The one way journey is 5 minutes with a cost of 210 yen.
**from Takamatsu Station—Board the local or limited express JR train to Tadotsu Station.
  The one way journey is 30-55 minutes with a cost of 660 to 1930 yen.
**from Okayama Station—Board the local or limited express JR train to Tadotsu Station.
  The one way journey is 45-60 minutes with a cost of 1110 to 2810 yen.

2.  From Tadotsu Train Station to Tadotsu Port
**By foot—15-20 walk
**Taxi—Short Taxi Ride
3.  Tadotsu Port to Takamijima
By Ferry—There are 4 ferries daily to the Takamijima.
The one way journey will take 25 minutes with a cost of 480 yen.


 

Kochi City(高知), the capital of Kochi Prefecture, located in Shikoku has both the convenience of city lifewith tram transportation available in the downtown area as well
as an abundance of nature where the simple pleasures in life can still be experienced. 

There are numerous places to visit in Kochi.  
One of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Chikurenji Temple is located on Mount Godaisan.
The Kochi Castle, one of the 12 original Japanese castles, is located in the downtown area.
An original castle is a castle which remained intact after the feudal period.
One of the key figures of the Meiji Restoration, Sakamoto Ryoma is from Kochi.
The Sakamoto Ryoma Museum is located at Katsurahama Beach.

In addition to just looking, visitors may wish to partake in the local seafood which is fresh and delicious.
The local delicacy, slightly broiled bonito is particularly popular among the locals and visitors.
The Hirame Market is large food court type building where inexpensive but fresh seafood can be purchased and consumed.
In addition to eating, the city holds the Yosakai Festival in the summer, which is fun for all!


 

Seafood lovers must visit Koichi, the southernmost prefecture of Shikoku, and try their specialty katsuo no tataki (鰹のタタキ).  
Katsuo is the fish bonito with katsuo no tataki to mean the bonito out layer has been lightly broiled.
 Traditionally, this is done over a straw fire.
Katsuo no tataki is served with finely chopped green onions, ginger and garlic.
 Visitors can dip the piece of fish into salt or soy sauce with vinegar before consuming.

There is no “katsuo no tataki” specialty store.
However, visitors can visit any seafood restaurant or izakaya in Kochi to try this fresh, super delicious seafood. 

Bonito flakes are used for seasoning in many foods.
It is also used for the stock in miso soup.
Kochi’s katsuo-bushi (bonito flakes) are among the best in Japan.
Visitors will find many store in Kochi selling katsuo (bonito) related souvenirs.


 

Within downtown Kochi in Shikoku lies Mount Godaisan, famous for its beautiful views of the city.
A group of visiting Chinese priests named Mount Godaisan after a mountain in China.

And on Mount Godaisan lies Chikurinji Temple, number 31 on the Shikoku Pilgrim Map.
Visitors interested in cultural as well as scholastic Buddhist training should visit Chikurinji Temple.
This temple was founded by the same group of visiting Chinese priests who named the mountain. 

Within the temple grounds, visitors will come across various beautiful halls and structures.  
The 5-story pagoda on the temple grounds is breathtaking.
 In addition, for a small fee, visitors can enter the treasure hall as well as the hondo (main hall).
Within the treasure hall, Buddhist statues as well of precious Buddhist scrolls are displayed.  
From the hondo, visitors can view the temple’s well maintained garden.

Chikurinji Temple
Hours: 8:30 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: Free (grounds), 400 yen (treasure hall and hondo)

Visitors may wish to visit the Makino Botanical Garden near Chikurinji.
Named after Dr Makino Tomitaro, visitors can enjoy the outdoors park, greenhouse, and walkways, this garden holds.  
There are several museum halls on the property where visitors can learn about Dr Makino and his research.

Makino Botanical Garden
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: December 27th to January 1st 
Admission: 720 yen

Access Information:
Via Bus:
From the JR Kochi Station, board the My Yu Bus.  
The one-way journey takes about 25 minutes.  
The following day pass options are available:
*600 yen for unlimited journeys between Kochi Station and Godaisan 
*1000 yen for unlimited journeys between Kochi Station, Godaisan and Katsurahama Beach.
NOTE: Day passes are only valid for the day they have been purchased.
Via Taxi:
From the JR Kochi Station to the summit of Godaisan, the one-way journey will take about 20 minutes with a cost of 1500 yen.  


 

Kochi Castle, in downtown Kochi City, Shikoku, is one of the twelve original Japanese castles.
An original castle is a castle which has survived fires, wars and other disasters of Japan’s post feudal ages.  

The castle was built between 1601 and 1611.
 However, due to a fire, the main building were reconstructed in 1748.
Designated as “important cultural properties”, the castle building holds local treasures and important artifacts.

In Japan, though the lord rules from the castle, his residence was in a separate palace.
 In the case of Koichi castle, the main tower was used both as a command center and the Yamauchi lords residence.

The castle’s old fashioned wooden interior reflects the Edo time period.
And from the once lookout point located at the top floor of the castle tower, visitors can enjoy views of the city.

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30) 
Closed: December 26th to January 1st 
Admission: 420 yen