Mount Hoshigajo Park (Shodoshima)

Rising above the eastern side of Shodoshima, the largest island in the eastern Seto Inland Sea, Mount Hoshigajo is the highest point on the island and a superb, if lesser-known, viewpoint. Its name, meaning the castle of stars, hints at its lofty, atmospheric setting. Standing at over eight hundred metres, its summit area looks out across the whole of Shodoshima, the surrounding sea and the constellation of islands that make the Setouchi one of Japan's most cherished seascapes, with the mountains of Shikoku and Honshu ranged along the horizon.

Hoshigajo sits directly beside the famous Kankakei Gorge, one of Japan's three most beautiful ravines, and the two attractions form a natural pairing. From the Kankakei plateau, reached by a spectacular ropeway or a winding mountain road, walking trails lead up to Hoshigajo's twin peaks and the remains of an old mountain fortress that once stood here, giving the summit both a historical dimension and a commanding outlook. The combination of dramatic gorge scenery and island panorama makes this corner of Shodoshima the scenic climax of the island.

Autumn is the signature season. When the maples of Kankakei Gorge blaze crimson and gold, the whole plateau becomes one of western Japan's premier foliage destinations, and the elevated views from Hoshigajo let you take in the colour spreading across the ridges with the blue sea beyond. Spring brings fresh green and blossom, and the clear light of the cooler months sharpens the long sea views, so the summit rewards a visit across much of the year, though the autumn spectacle is the one that draws photographers from afar.

Shodoshima itself is a rewarding destination that easily fills a day or more, known for its olive groves, soy-sauce breweries, terraced rice fields, the tidal Angel Road sandbar and its own miniature pilgrimage route. Adding the summit of Hoshigajo and the Kankakei Gorge gives an island trip a genuine high point, both literally and figuratively, and ties the coastal and mountain sides of Shodoshima together.

Reaching Hoshigajo takes a little effort, which keeps it uncrowded. Ferries run from Takamatsu to Shodoshima in around an hour, and from the ports a drive up toward the Kankakei plateau, followed by a short trail, brings you to the summit and its lookouts; the gorge ropeway offers a scenic alternative for the final climb. The upper trails are moderate and best tackled in proper footwear. For travellers exploring Shodoshima, the top of Mount Hoshigajo offers the island's grandest panorama and, in autumn, one of the most beautiful mountain-and-sea views in all of Setouchi.