🐋 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, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 26 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00 第四月曜日定休日（祝日の場合は営業、翌火曜日が定休日）. 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.
- 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, a park and an accessible restroom. 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.
- 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 local-products shop, EV charging, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 57 cars and 8 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 【産直館】 9:30–17:30 定休日：毎週水曜 【物産館】9:00–17：30 無休. 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.
- 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 cafe, a local-products shop and lodging. 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.
- 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 local-products shop, a museum or gallery and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 35 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（レストラン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.
- 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, a campground and showers. There is free parking for about 92 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.
- 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 local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, a baby room and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 101 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 1F 9:00–17:30、2Fレストラン 11:00–17:00. 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 Nakatosa, Fuse Ke Saka and Aguri Kubokawa.
- 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 72 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00(各店舗ごとに異なる). 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.
- 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 81 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.
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 →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?