Shodoshima: Olives groves and jutting cliffs at one of the most surprising mixes of culture in Japan

Got a day or two to spare in Kagawa prefecture Take an hour’s ferry crossing from Takamatsu to the Mediterranean-like island of Shodoshima that’s famous for its mouth-watering olives and soy sauce.

The graceful island is near the fantastically popular and art-littered islands of Naoshima and Teshima. Shodoshima is a much larger island than these and is filled with more than a few surprises.Aside from delighting foodies, the island offers stunning nature, beaches, hiking trails, old towns and film locations. Discover the picturesque Greek-style windmill among the olive groves or just enjoy the olives in a variety of forms like chocolate, snacks, traditional pickles and even cosmetics in the Shodoshima Olive Garden. If you’re up for olive picking, the best time of the year is to come for the harvest in October/November, depending on the year.

After the olive binge, drop into Marukin Shoyu Soy Sauce Factory & Museum for a glimpse of the age-old industry and of course for a soy souvenir. After seeing the museum of old-school soy preparation, you should treat yourself to a soy-sauce-flavored ice cream a lot tastier than you might think!

Source: https://japantoday.com/category/features/travel/shodoshima-olives-groves-and-jutting-cliffs-at-one-of-the-most-surprising-mixes-of-culture-in-japan