Drive past grazing cows on limestone highlands
Shikoku Karst is a high grassy plateau on the island of Shikoku, its slopes dotted with white limestone rocks, where cattle graze in the meadows from spring to autumn. Drive the ridge road between the pastures, pull over to watch the cows, and look out over row after row of mountains. You need a car, best rented in Matsuyama or Kochi, and the road is open only from April to late November, so check road conditions before you set out.
A meadow on the Ehime side of the plateau where cattle graze from spring to autumn, often right beside the road. Park in a pull-out and watch them wander between the white limestone rocks. Keep a little distance and do not feed them.
A stretch of the plateau a short drive on from Himekuru-daira, where white rocks poke out of the grass and the view opens onto ridge after ridge of mountains. It makes a good place to stop the car and take a break. Fog can roll in quickly here, so allow time to wait for it to clear.
The eastern end of the plateau, on the Kochi side, where the road runs across open grassland under a wide sky. Stop along the way to rest with the mountain ridges all around you. It is easiest to reach from Kochi Prefecture, since the road from the Ehime side closes in winter.