Shikoku (四国) is the smallest of Japan's four main islands, with a land area of 18,800 square kilometers. One of the least visited of all the islands, the majority of travelers consist of Buddhist pilgrims, visiting the 88 shrines found on the island. The largest city is Matsuyama, renowned for Matsuyamajo, one of the last original castles left in Japan, completed in 1628.[1]
It is also the native birthplace of the Shikoku dog (四国犬), which was recognised as a "National Living Monument" by the Japanese Crown in 1937.
The other three principal Japanese islands are Honshu, Kyushu and Hokkaido.