Shikoku (四国) is one of the five main islands of Japan, and probably the least popular one among tourists. Yet, it hosts one of the world’s biggest contemporary art festival, Setouchi Triennale (瀬戸内国際芸術祭) every three years. For this reason, the Ghibli power is never a spotlight for the provinces, as the artistic image is overwhelming.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (live-action), Shodoshima
Instead of reference, they actually shot the live-action at Shodoshima Olive Park. It is the first farm that successfully planted olives in Japan.
Nowadays, it is being used as a Kiki X Olive theme park. There are brooms for free rental, remember to hook it back on the rack besides the concierge.
There are varies props for people to get instagrammable pics. Trend is to capture the moment of jumping with the broom, to imitate Kiki, the witch trainee riding it.
Kiki’s home in the movie, actually exists as a shop. It’s close to the olive branches, you can collect olive leaves and DIY your own bookmark.
A mile from the Olive Park main attractions, there is a building called ‘Sun Olive‘, which has an open-air hot spring with phenomenal sea view.
Access
There are ferries from many nearby cities. The fastest and most frequent service is from Takamatsu. After you get off the pier, take the Shodoshima Olive bus and get off at the Olive Park.
Spirited Away, Matsuyama
Matsuyama has many historical features.
From the train station to trams, all of them are in antique style. But still, Matsuyama is relatively busier than Takamatsu.
Dogo Onsen is a hot spring facility, where the ‘Honkan‘ part (oldest building) is being used as the reference for Spirited Away’s bath. The building is a Meiji Period wooden public bathhouse dating from 1894.
There were quite a lot of people (it was holiday in Jap), we had to buy the ticket from the box office, and enter later at the assigned time. There are different packages mainly defined by floors, mine include snacks and reserved seats on the 2nd floor. 1st floor is the big area and 3rd floor has private rooms.
Everyone get changed to Yukata in the restroom at the very beginning. On the 2nd floor, there were good shampoo (Shiseido tsubaki), soap and hairdryer, there was nothing when I went to the 1st floor. But the main onsen is on the 1st floor…not that impressive though, but the one on 2nd floor is just like a bigger bathtub. You wear the yukata when you travel among the floors and take it off at the locker room outside each bath.
After you finished bathing, they will give you traditional snacks, cookies (eaten before I took a pic sorry) and refillable tea. (I bought the milk) There is a shop right next to the resting space, selling souvenirs and beverages. Surprisingly, the price was quite cheap, soap was 200 yen and towels were less than 1000.
Before you go, a staff will show you around the building, in your preferred language. You can visit the terrance and look back to the city.
Access
Take the JR Shinkansen to Matsuyama station, change to trams and get off at ‘Dogo Onsen’ station. You need to walk pass the entire souvenir street to see the building.
Bonus
Relatively not popular Ghibli titles, ‘Whisper of the Heart’ and ‘Pom Poko’, both referenced a small town in western Tokyo, ‘Seiseki Sakuraga oka’ (聖蹟桜ケ丘). Almost everything of ‘Whisper of the Heart’ are based on the town, so it’s a must-go if you are a fan. Reach by Keio Line from Shinjuku.
Norms & Weirdos 