About us

Mihoko Hirashima grew up watching international travellers pass through Shikoku, following the famous 88-temple pilgrimage route. Over time, she noticed something missing. Many visitors experienced the route without fully engaging with the places between the temples — the working landscapes, the small communities, and the traditions that continue quietly alongside daily life. They passed through without meeting the indigo dyers of Tokushima, without hearing the stories of papermakers in Ehime, without understanding the patience and pride behind a bonsai farmer’s work.

Mihoko believed Shikoku deserved a slower, more considered way of exploring. She imagined journeys designed around movement and connection — cycling and walking routes that followed local rhythms, led by people with deep, lived knowledge of the land. Not just guides, but residents whose lives are shaped by these roads, trails, and communities.

That idea became EXPLORE SHIKOKU.

Today, we design and operate carefully curated cycling, hiking, and walking journeys across Shikoku and the Seto Inland Sea region, complemented by cultural and thematic experiences. We are not a conventional tour company. We are a collective of locals who share a commitment to thoughtful travel, local access, and meaningful encounters.

Our team includes bonsai farmers who have refined their craft over generations, indigo producers working with traditional techniques, artisans preserving centuries-old paper-making methods, experienced local hikers who know every mountain pass, and business owners deeply embedded in their communities. Their knowledge shapes the routes we follow, the places we pause, and the stories we share along the way.

When you travel with us, you’re not simply covering distance. You’re moving through Shikoku and the Seto Inland Sea with insight, context, and care — experiencing these landscapes through the perspectives of the people who call them home.

Below, you’ll find our team members and their specialist areas.