Tokushima

Buying tickets in advance on KKDay can directly enter the vortex. I pre-printed the QR Code out for the hardcopy staff to scan, very convenient. He will then be given a pamphlet on how the vortex was formed and a postcard as a souvenir.

I was able to easily get to the art museum I'd always wanted to visit by bus, from the station to the entrance. It was just as convenient as a tour bus. The price was also a great deal as a package deal, so I'll definitely use the same plan again next time.

I arrived at Fukura Port, the southern tip of Awaji Island, on a whirlpool cruise. I landed at Iwaya Port by boat from Akashi Port, the birthplace of Japan, and then traveled for a day and a half by Awagami Awahime Bus and Awaji Kotsu buses. I boarded the whirlpool cruise. It was a dream hour, a fitting end to my trip. The guide's free-flowing commentary as we gazed at the sea and searched for the whirlpools, and her recommendations for great shops and souvenirs based on her own experiences, made me realize that this is true hospitality. Thank you, Okawa Nagisa, for your tour guidance. I had a wonderful time. The shirasu soft serve ice cream was a challenge to clean up after the spilled shirasu. From Fukura to Honshu, it was only an hour by express bus, and I was back to reality in no time at all. Awaji Island was so much fun!

JR tickets are very convenient, offering a variety of travel days to create a customized itinerary. Since Shikoku's fastest train is the Limited Express, luggage larger than 20 inches doesn't require additional paperwork. Even during peak season, I didn't need to book tickets in advance; there were always plenty of seats available. This included tickets for the Rinkoku Electric Railway and the ferry to Shodoshima, so make the most of it! I bought three-day tickets, enough for a preliminary tour of Shikoku: from Takamatsu to Tokushima, from Tokushima to Kochi, then back to Takamatsu to visit Naoshima, Shodoshima, and the Rinkoku area. It's worth mentioning that Shikoku trains feature different cartoon characters; be sure to take pictures and compare them – each has its own unique charm.

Although the weather wasn't great—overcast and drizzling—having a chartered car was very convenient. We originally planned to go to Ziyun Chushan, but gave up due to the bad weather. However, even though there were many dark clouds at the Lion Spirit Observatory, it was still worth it, and the green-plated car was safe and reliable.