🐋 Tokushima / Kochi · 2–3 days
Shikoku’s Pacific Coast: Tokushima to the Shimanto River
Shikoku’s wild south coast by car: surf beaches, Cape Muroto’s geopark, Katsurahama at Kochi and the clear Shimanto River — 9 michi-no-eki on the pilgrimage coast.
Shikoku’s Pacific side is the island at its wildest: the surf coast of southern Tokushima, the raw basalt point of Cape Muroto (a UNESCO Global Geopark), Kochi’s castle town and market street, and finally the Shimanto — celebrated as Japan’s last clear river, crossed by low-water bridges with no railings.
The road shadows the henro, the 88-temple pilgrimage that has circled Shikoku for 1,200 years — you’ll share michi-no-eki parking lots with white-clothed walkers. Shishikui Onsen makes the natural overnight: a hot spring and lodging right at the roadside station, steps from a surf break.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Hinano Sato Katsuura 道の駅 ひなの里かつうら · Tokushima
Michi-no-Eki Hinano Sato Katsuura (道の駅 ひなの里かつうら) is a government-designated roadside station in 勝浦郡勝浦町, Tokushima, Japan, registered in 2011 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 26 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 10:00–16:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Wajiki, Washi No Sato and Kubou No Sato Nakagawa.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Nakatsumine (3.6 km) · ⛰Mt. Shiroyama (5.2 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Wajiki 道の駅 わじき · Tokushima
Michi-no-Eki Wajiki (道の駅 わじき) is a government-designated roadside station in 那賀郡那賀町, Tokushima, Japan, registered in 1998 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging, a tourist-information desk and an observation deck. There is free parking for about 24 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Washi No Sato, Hinano Sato Katsuura and Momiji Kawa Onsen.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Tairyuji (3.3 km) · 📸明谷梅林 (3.9 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Hiwasa 道の駅 日和佐 · Tokushima
Michi-no-Eki Hiwasa (道の駅 日和佐) is a government-designated roadside station in 海部郡美波町, Tokushima, Japan, registered in 2004 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 57 cars and 8 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:30. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Momiji Kawa Onsen, Washi No Sato and Wajiki.
Nearby: 🏯Hiwasa Castle (0.5 km) · 📸爆弾投下跡 (0.8 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Shishikui Onsen 道の駅 宍喰温泉 · Tokushima
Michi-no-Eki Shishikui Onsen (道の駅 宍喰温泉) is a government-designated roadside station in 海部郡海陽町, Tokushima, Japan, registered in 1996 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a local-products shop, lodging and EV charging. There is free parking for about 29 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Hiwasa, Momiji Kawa Onsen and Tano Eki Ya.
Nearby: 📸鈴が峯のヤッコソウ発生地 (1.7 km) · ⛰Mt. Suzugamine (1.7 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Kiramesse Muroto 道の駅 キラメッセ室戸 · Kochi
Michi-no-Eki Kiramesse Muroto (道の駅 キラメッセ室戸) is a government-designated roadside station in 室戸市, Kochi, Japan, registered in 1996 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 48 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 10:00–20:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Tano Eki Ya, Ooyama and Shishikui Onsen.
Nearby: 🗿Cape Gyodo (1.4 km) · 📸へんろ道 (1.4 km)
- 6 Michi-no-Eki Yasu 道の駅 やす · Kochi
Michi-no-Eki Yasu (道の駅 やす) is a government-designated roadside station in 香南市, Kochi, Japan, registered in 2001 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and showers. There is free parking for about 73 cars and 2 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:00–21:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Miyoshi Nuno, Nangoku Kaze Ryou Sato and Ooyama.
Nearby: 🌄手結内港・手結港可動橋 (0.7 km) · 📸芸西メランジュ (2.6 km)
- 7 Michi-no-Eki Kawausono Sato Susaki 道の駅 かわうその里すさき · Kochi
Michi-no-Eki Kawausono Sato Susaki (道の駅 かわうその里すさき) is a government-designated roadside station in 須崎市, Kochi, Japan, registered in 1998 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 101 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 7:30–16:30. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Nakatosa, Fuse Ke Saka and Aguri Kubokawa.
Nearby: 🗿Yamasakihana (1.6 km) · ⛰Mt. Kaizoji (2.3 km)
- 8 Michi-no-Eki Nakatosa 道の駅 なかとさ · Kochi
Michi-no-Eki Nakatosa (道の駅 なかとさ) is a government-designated roadside station in 高岡郡中土佐町, Kochi, Japan, registered in 2017 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 68 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kawausono Sato Susaki, Aguri Kubokawa and Fuse Ke Saka.
Nearby: 🗿Koginohana (8.3 km) · 🗿Yamasakihana (8.4 km)
- 9 Michi-no-Eki Aguri Kubokawa 道の駅 あぐり窪川 · Kochi
Michi-no-Eki Aguri Kubokawa (道の駅 あぐり窪川) is a government-designated roadside station in 高岡郡四万十町, Kochi, Japan, registered in 1998 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 82 cars and 7 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Shikoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Nakatosa, Nabura Tosa Saga and Shimanto Taishou.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Gozaishonomine (6 km) · 🏛Kayodo Hobby Museum (13 km)
Make this route yours — load all 9 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Onsen baths and beds along this route (Tokushima / Kochi · 4 with onsen / 5 with rooms)
- ♨ Shishikui Onsen 道の駅 宍喰温泉 · Tokushima 775-0502, Tokushima · on the route
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Washi No Sato 道の駅 鷲の里 · Naka-chō, Tokushima · ~5 km off the route -
Momiji Kawa Onsen 道の駅 もみじ川温泉 · Naka-chō, Tokushima · ~11 km off the route -
Tosa Washi Kougei Mura 道の駅 土佐和紙工芸村 · Ino, Kochi · ~22 km off the route -
Yusuhara 道の駅 ゆすはら · Yusuhara, Kochi · ~26 km off the route -
Ki No Kaori 道の駅 木の香 · Ino, Kochi · ~44 km off the route
♨ All 143 michi-no-eki with an onsen bath🛏 All 81 michi-no-eki with rooms on site♨🛏 All 46 michi-no-eki with both onsen and rooms📍 Every michi-no-eki in Tokushima📍 Every michi-no-eki in Kochi
Route tips
- Katsurahama beach and the Sakamoto Ryoma statue near Kochi city are a short detour off this route.
- Kochi’s Hirome Market (katsuo tataki seared over straw) is worth timing lunch around.
- The coast between Hiwasa and Muroto has sea-turtle nesting beaches in summer — beaches close at night.
- Follow the Shimanto River inland from Kubokawa for the chinkabashi sunken bridges — the classic finish.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Shikoku Pacific coast
How many days do you need for the Shikoku Pacific coast route?
2–3 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 240 km of driving with 9 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Tokushima and ends at Shimanto (Kubokawa). Load all 9 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
Year-round; whale watching Apr–Oct.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →