Other areas of interest:
Kinosaki, Amanohashidate (can be day trip from Osaka/Kyoto)
Matsue, Izumo (Needs overnight stay as the rather scenic train ride from Okayama is long)
Originally Posted by
ksandness
Shikoku is lovely, but I spent several days there in 2012 without encountering another Westerner, so it may be intimidating for a first-time visitor.
Lots of HK / Taiwanese / Korean tourists, with direct LCC flights to Takamatsu. Language is not an issue at places frequented by tourists all over Shikoku.