What special characteristics does the Shikoku region have?
The island of Shikoku, consisting of the four prefectures of Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, and Kochi, is blessed with a warm climate. The population is around 4.2 million. Shikoku was linked with Honshu in 1988 when the 12.3-kilometer (7.6-mile) Seto Ohashi Bridge for auto and rail traffic opened. Many ferries continue to ply the sea route. Steelmaking and chemical industries have grown up along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea; in addition, many kinds of fish are farmed, including young yellowtail. On the plains of Kochi on the Pacific coast, eggplant, green peppers, cucumber, and other vegetables are grown in greenhouses. Winters are relatively warm and wet, and forestry is extensively carried out in the mountainous areas. The coast has great natural beauty, boasting coral and remarkable tropical fish. Photo courtesy of Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority.
