Every autumn, Chosa festivals are held in communities around Shikoku. “Chosa” are large taiko floats that are dedicated to local guardian deities in gratitude for the bounty of autumn, conveying prayers for good crops and abundant catches of fish, as well as thanks for peaceful life. Chosa festivals trace their roots back to Kyoto’s Gion festival, and the floats are elaborately decorated to delight the deity who visits during the festival. This route carries guests to one of these autumn festivals in the community of Toyohama in Kagawa Prefecture, where groups of men gather to lift the massive chosa into the air in an exhilarating and dynamic display. Afterward, guntu sails slowly onward to the Geiyo Islands, among the most iconic areas of Setouchi, weaving through island-filled waters to spend the final night off the coast of Omishima. Enjoy a glimpse of the passionate festivals and quiet nature of Setouchi on this well-rounded itinerary.