Tokyo → Okayama → Naoshima → Matsuyama → Iya Valley → Kōchi → Tokushima → Awaji → Tokyo

Tokyo → Okayama Distance: ≈ 650 km Driving time: 7 – 8 h Follow the Tōmei and Sanyō Expressways west, crossing the plains past Nagoya and Kobe. Break at Himeji Castle before reaching Okayama, a compact city with one of Japan’s three great gardens. Visit: • Kōraku-en Garden – spacious lawns and maple-lined ponds. • Okayama Castle – black-walled “Crow Castle” beside the Asahi River. Overnight stop: Michi-no-Eki Kibiji – 15 min from Kōraku-en. Facilities: 24-h toilets, restaurant, craft shop, no showers. Nearby onsen: Saidaiji Onsen (8 km). Okayama → Naoshima Art Island Distance: ≈ 60 km + ferry Driving time: 2 h (total) Drive to Uno Port and take the short ferry to Naoshima, Japan’s most celebrated art island. Museums and outdoor works dot the coast — from Benesse House and Chichu Art Museum to Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkin sculptures. Overnight stop: Naoshima Tsutsujiso RV Park – south-coast beach site. Facilities: 24-h toilets, café, kitchen, showers (06:00–22:00). Nearby onsen: Naoshima Bath “I ♥ Yu” (art-themed public bath). Naoshima → Matsuyama (Dōgo Onsen & Castle Town) Distance: ≈ 180 km + ferry Driving time: 4 – 5 h Take the ferry to Takamatsu and cross Shikoku’s inland hills towards Matsuyama, capital of Ehime. Visit Matsuyama Castle and soak in Dōgo Onsen, Japan’s oldest bathhouse, with wooden architecture and a nostalgic atmosphere. Overnight stop: Roadside station Kazahaya-no-sato Fuwari – on the coastal highway south of the city. Facilities: 24-h toilets, restaurant, seaside promenade, showers (08:00–21:00). Nearby onsen: Dōgo Onsen Honkan (12 km). Matsuyama → Iya Valley (Gorges & Vine Bridges) Distance: ≈ 150 km Driving time: 3 – 4 h Cross central Shikoku into the remote Iya Valley, a deep gorge of turquoise water and forested cliffs. Walk the Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, visit the Biwa Waterfall, and stop at local soba cafés overlooking the river. Overnight stop: Michi-no-Eki Oboke – riverside base. Facilities: 24-h toilets, restaurant, souvenir shop, coin showers, rafting centre. Nearby onsen: Iya Onsen (9 km) – outdoor baths reached by cable car. Iya Valley → Kōchi (Pacific Coast & Markets) Distance: ≈ 170 km Driving time: 4 h Descend through forest roads to the Pacific. Kōchi is lively yet easy-going — known for its Sunday Market, fresh tuna, and the hilltop Kōchi Castle. Walk the beach at Katsurahama, a favourite local sunset spot. Overnight stop: Michi-no-Eki Niyodo Blue Park – named after the vivid Niyodo River. Facilities: 24-h toilets, café, farm shop, coin showers. Nearby onsen: Ino Onsen (11 km). Kōchi → Tokushima (Naruto Whirlpools) Distance: ≈ 190 km Driving time: 4 – 5 h Follow the east-coast road along quiet fishing harbours and pine-lined beaches. Near Naruto Strait, catch the tide change to see the famous Naruto Whirlpools, visible from the bridge or sightseeing boat. Tokushima City is known for Awa Odori dance and handmade udon. Overnight stop: Michi-no-Eki Uzushio – beside the Naruto Bridge viewpoint. Facilities: 24-h toilets, café, souvenir shop, no showers. Nearby onsen: Naruto Onsen (5 km). Tokushima → Awaji Island → Tokyo Distance: ≈ 560 km Driving time: 7 – 8 h Cross the spectacular Ōnaruto Bridge to Awaji Island — gardens, sea views, and fresh seafood. Stop at Awaji Hanasajiki Flower Park before rejoining the Kobe – Osaka expressways and returning east to Tokyo. Optional stop: Michi-no-Eki Kusatsu (Shiga) – good halfway rest. Facilities: 24-h toilets, restaurant, shop, no showers. Nearby onsen: Ogoto Onsen (13 km).

Tokyo → Okayama Approx. 650 km · 7–8 hours Okayama → Naoshima Art Island Approx. 60 km + ferry · around 2 hours Naoshima → Matsuyama Approx. 180 km + ferry · 4–5 hours Matsuyama → Iya Valley Approx. 150 km · 3–4 hours Iya Valley → Kōchi Approx. 170 km · around 4 hours Kōchi → Tokushima Approx. 190 km · 4–5 hours Tokushima → Awaji Island → Tokyo Approx. 560 km · 7–8 hours