The limestone formations date back to the Paleozoic era, roughly 250 to 300 million years ago.
The plateau is part of the Shikoku Karst Prefectural Natural Park, encompassing diverse flora such as the rare alpine plant 'hime-sayuri'.
It is one of Japan's few locations where you can observe open-range cattle farming on a high-altitude plateau.
The karst topography is primarily composed of 'dolines', or circular sinkholes, formed by the dissolution of carbonate rock.
At night, the high elevation and low light pollution make it a popular destination for stargazing.
The Tengu-kogen area features a distinct wooden boardwalk path that winds through the densest clusters of limestone rocks.
Shikoku Karst is a high-altitude limestone plateau straddling the border of Ehime and Kochi prefectures at an elevation of approximately 1,400 meters. The landscape is defined by thousands of protruding white limestone rocks scattered across rolling, verdant alpine meadows. It is one of the three major karst formations in Japan, characterized by karst sinkholes and rocky outcrops formed by the erosion of Paleozoic limestone. The area remains a primary grazing ground for Japanese brown cattle, which roam freely across the plateau during the summer months. The Karst Road (Prefectural Road 383) runs along the ridge, providing panoramic views that extend to the Pacific Ocean and the Seto Inland Sea on clear days. Trails throughout the area range from gentle meadow walks to more rugged climbs up to Tengu-kogen. The high elevation results in temperatures significantly cooler than the surrounding lowlands, making it a distinct microclimate.
The Tengu-kogen ridge, where the contrast between the white limestone rocks and green grass is most pronounced.
Bring a windbreaker or light jacket even in summer, as temperatures drop significantly once the sun sets.
Stay on designated trails to protect the sensitive alpine meadow ecosystem.
Check road conditions before driving, as heavy fog can reduce visibility to near zero on the ridge road.
Attempting to drive the Karst Road during heavy fog or during the winter season when the road is frequently impassable due to snow.
The roads leading to the karst are frequently closed to all traffic during winter months due to heavy snowfall.
Maintain distance from grazing cattle; do not feed or provoke the livestock.
