The karst plateau was amazing, and the autumn leaves were perfect, creating a vast view that was very moving, but the road to get there was just too narrow. It was a weekday, so it was empty.
I strongly recommend avoiding busy seasons and times if possible.
It was extremely cold, even in November, so I recommend dressing warmly.
The Shikoku Karst Prefectural Natural Park in Kochi Prefecture boasts a breathtaking "pastoral landscape in the sky," a combination of vast grasslands dotted with white limestone formations and grazing cattle. The panoramic view from Prefectural Road 383 (Shikoku Karst Traverse), known as the "Road to the Sky," is particularly spectacular, and at night, you can enjoy a sky full of stars.
Main Highlights
⦿ Landscape of White Limestone and Grasslands: Considered one of Japan's three major karst regions, the sight of white limestone formations scattered across the grasslands is often referred to as "Japan's Switzerland."
⦿ Grazing Cattle: From spring to autumn, you can enjoy the sight of cattle grazing on the vast plateau.
⦿ "Road to the Sky": Prefectural Road 383 (Shikoku Karst Traverse) is known as the "Road to the Sky," a scenic drive offering magnificent panoramic views.
⦿ Starry Sky: At night, you can gaze upon a sky full of stars in areas such as the Sky Plateau.
⦿ Ohbikiwari and Kowari: The giant cracks formed by the earthquake at the end of the walking trail from Tengu Plateau are designated as a national natural monument.
How to Enjoy
⦿ Driving: Enjoy the magnificent scenery by car along the "Road to the Sky."
⦿ Hiking/Trekking: Take a stroll while viewing the karst topography up close, walk along the therapy road, or explore the alpine plants and primeval forests. You can also enjoy cycling, camping, and stargazing.
Access
⦿ Shikoku Karst Prefectural Natural Park spans Tsuno Town, Yusuhara Town, and Niyodogawa Town on the Kochi Prefecture side, and Kumakogen Town, Seiyo City, and Uchiko Town on the Ehime Prefecture side. In other words, Shikoku Karst Prefectural Natural Park spans both Kochi and Ehime Prefectures.
We stopped by as a family of four on a sunny day, just after 6:30 PM, while out for a drive.
The temperature was a perfect 25 degrees Celsius, making for a very pleasant escape from the heat. What was truly wonderful was the scenery at this time of day. The setting sun illuminated the green meadows and white rocks in an orange glow, creating a magical atmosphere quite different from the daytime.
Avoiding the heat and aiming for the cooler evening hours was absolutely the right decision. Seeing such a magnificent sunset with my family created a wonderful summer memory.
I visited this place because it's a famous tourist spot in Shikoku, but I wasn't really sure what to see. I thought maybe the rocks were the main attraction, and there were several places along the road where you could park, so I looked around from there. Personally, I found the wind turbines more interesting, but the wind was so strong that it was difficult to even stand. There are toilets at the Karst Terrace. Since I visited on a weekday, there was almost no one there.
