Experience
Drifting Beneath the Bridges of Japan’s Last Clear Stream A Houseboat Journey on the Shimanto River
Overview
The Shimanto River is the longest river in Shikoku, stretching 196 kilometers. Because there are no large dams on its main stream, it is widely known as “Japan’s last clear stream.”
In 1993, Kochi Prefecture decided to preserve the submersible bridges of the Shimanto River basin as part of the region’s living cultural heritage. In 2009, the landscape of the river basin, including these bridges, was designated an Important Cultural Landscape of Japan.
A journey by roofed houseboat offers a quiet and distinctive way to experience the river. As the boat moves slowly across the water, visitors can view the famous chinka-bashi (沈下橋)—bridges without railings, designed to sink beneath the water when the river rises—up close.
Highlights
From the boat, visitors can see a way of life shaped by the river—something that can only be encountered here.
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A landscape shaped by 47 submersible bridges.
Including its tributaries, the Shimanto River has 47 submersible bridges. These bridges are intentionally built without railings so that driftwood does not become trapped and damage them during floods. They are a form of practical wisdom born from living with the river, and that wisdom has become part of the scenery itself.
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Taste the blessings of the Shimanto River on board.
One of the boat operators, Shimanto no Ao, offers meals featuring the flavors of the river, including salt-grilled sweetfish, grilled eel, river shrimp, and dishes made with small freshwater fish. Full-course meals are available only on chartered boats, while regular scheduled boats serve meals in a boxed-lunch style.
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A moment of rest in one of the pilgrimage’s most demanding sections.
Shimanto City lies roughly halfway between Temple No. 37, Iwamotoji, and Temple No. 38, Kongofukuji. The distance between these two temples is nearly 100 kilometers, making it one of the most challenging stretches of the entire Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. After walking such a long road, entrusting yourself for a while to the calm surface of the clear river can become a gentle moment of rest on the journey of dogyo ninin—walking together with Kobo Daishi.
Information
※Shimanto no Ao is introduced here as one representative example. For further details, please refer to the official website of the Shimanto City Tourism Association.※Please note that prices, services, and reservation methods, including meal arrangements, are current as of the time of writing and may be subject to change.
- Nearest Temple：
- Located along the route between Temple No. 37, Iwamotoji, and Temple No. 38, Kongofukuji
- Duration：
- Approximately 60 minutes for the regular “casual enjoyment” course
- Price：
- Adults ¥2,000; children ¥1,000, including tax, as of June 2026. Please check the latest information before visiting.
- Language：
- The Shimanto City Tourism Association offers assistance and reservation support for international visitors. English support on individual operators’ official websites should be confirmed in advance.
- Booking：
- Regular scheduled boats give priority to reservations (same-day boarding may be possible when seats are available). Meal plans and chartered boats require advance reservation. Meal reservations must be made by noon on the previous day.
- Website：
- Shimanto City Tourism Association