Takamatsu guide
Ritsurin Garden, the Yashima plateau above an old battlefield, and a port right by the station with boats to the art island of Naoshima and to Shodoshima. This is the home of Sanuki udon.
Things to see 9 classics
"Classics" and "Hidden gems" are this site's editorial picks, not a measured popularity ranking.
- 1
Ritsurin Garden
An Edo-period feudal lord's garden set against Mt. Shiun, with six ponds and thirteen landscaped hills. You can also tour the pond by boat.
- Nature
- History & buildings
about 1.5 hrPaid entryWheelchair & stroller friendly
Train · About 25 min from Takamatsu ・ Kotoden to Ritsurin-Koen Station, then about 10 minutes on foot ・ 2.4km
- 2
Naoshima
An island of contemporary art: the red pumpkin at the port, the Chichu Art Museum and art in old houses. Some museums need reservations.
- Museums
- Nature
about 6 hrPartly paidFine on a rainy dayPartly step-free
Ferry · About 75 min from Takamatsu ・ About 50 minutes by ferry from Takamatsu Port to Miyanoura Port ・ 14km
- 3
Yashima
A flat-topped, roof-shaped mountain. There are lookouts over the Inland Sea and a 12th-century battlefield, plus Yashima-ji Temple.
- Views
- History & buildings
- Temples, shrines & churches
about 2 hrFree
Bus · About 50 min from Takamatsu ・ Kotoden to Kotoden-Yashima Station, then about 10 minutes by shuttle bus ・ 5.1km
- 4
Kotohira-gu Shrine (Konpira-san)
A much-loved shrine to the guardian of seafarers. It is 785 stone steps up to the main hall, past rows of souvenir shops.
- Temples, shrines & churches
- History & buildings
- Views
about 2 hrFreeMany stairs or slopes
Train · About 100 min from Takamatsu ・ Kotoden to Kotoden-Kotohira Station (about 1 hour), then climb the steps ・ 29km
- 5
Shodoshima (Angel Road)
A sand path to small offshore islands appears only at low tide. Check the tide times before you go.
- Nature
- Views
about 4 hrFree
Ferry · About 90 min from Takamatsu ・ About 1 hour by ferry (35 minutes by fast boat) to Tonosho Port, then about 10 minutes by bus ・ 19km
- 6
Takamatsu Castle Ruins (Tamamo Park)
Castle ruins whose moats are filled with seawater, with sea bream swimming in them. Right next to the station and the port.
- History & buildings
- Nature
about 60 minPaid entryPartly step-free
Walk · About 5 min from Takamatsu ・ 400m
Show on map
ClassicsHidden gems
Suggested routes
Times assume a 9:00 start. Travel times are estimated from distance and vary with waiting and crowds.
From the castle by the port to Ritsurin Garden
Leave 9:00 → until about 14:00 (about 5 hr)
- 9:00Takamatsu
about 5 min on foot
9:05Takamatsu Castle Ruins (Tamamo Park)stay about 60 minabout 8 min on foot
10:13Kitahama Alleystay about 45 minabout 17 min on foot
11:15Takamatsu Central Shopping Arcades (Marugamemachi)stay about 60 minabout 15 min by transport
12:30Ritsurin Gardenstay about 1.5 hr
Eat udon in the shopping arcades, then take Kotoden to Ritsurin Garden.
Plan this routeYashima and Shikoku Mura
Leave 9:00 → until about 15:05 (about 6 hr)
- 9:00Takamatsu
about 35 min by transport
9:35Shikoku Mura Museumstay about 2 hrabout 15 min by transport
11:50Yashimastay about 2 hrabout 15 min by transport
14:05Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum Japanstay about 60 min
The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum needs a reservation. Without it, allow about 3 hours.
Plan this route
When to go
A dry Seto Inland Sea climate all year. Island hopping is most comfortable in April–May and October–November. August is hot, averaging about 28°C.
Point at a month to see its temperature and precipitation.
Temperature (line: average; band: low to high)
Precipitation (mm)
Typical seasons
Cherry blossoms (Ritsurin Garden)
Sanuki Takamatsu Festival
Autumn leaves (Ritsurin Garden)
Show as a table
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High (℃) | 9.7 | 10.5 | 14.1 | 19.8 | 24.8 | 27.5 | 31.7 | 33 | 28.8 | 23.2 | 17.5 | 12.1 |
| Avg (℃) | 5.9 | 6.3 | 9.4 | 14.7 | 19.8 | 23.3 | 27.5 | 28.6 | 24.7 | 19 | 13.2 | 8.1 |
| Low (℃) | 2.1 | 2.2 | 5 | 9.9 | 15.1 | 19.8 | 24.1 | 25.1 | 21.2 | 15.1 | 9.1 | 4.3 |
| Rain (mm) | 39.4 | 45.8 | 81.4 | 74.6 | 100.9 | 153.1 | 159.8 | 106 | 167.4 | 120.1 | 55 | 46.7 |
Temperature and precipitation are Japan Meteorological Agency normals (1991–2020, Takamatsu). Seasons are typical timings and can shift by a week or two each year. JMA data
Main ways to get around
Kotoden (Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad)
From Takamatsu-Chikko Station, about 5 minutes on foot from JR Takamatsu, to Ritsurin Garden, Kotohira and near Yashima. Its three lines split at Kawaramachi.
Boats from Takamatsu Port
To Naoshima, Shodoshima, Megijima and Ogijima. The port is about 5 minutes on foot from the station, with a different pier for each route. Check the last boat back first.
JR Marine Liner rapid (Okayama – Takamatsu)
About 55 minutes from Okayama to Takamatsu across the Seto Ohashi Bridge. This is the connection from the Shinkansen.
Yashima summit shuttle bus
Runs from JR Yashima Station and Kotoden Yashima Station, via Shikoku Mura, up to the top of Yashima.
Airport limousine bus
About 45 minutes from Takamatsu Airport to Takamatsu Station, also stopping at Ritsurin Garden and Kawaramachi on the way.
Getting to Takamatsu
“Classics” and “Hidden gems” are our editors' picks, not a measured popularity ranking. Travel times are estimates. Please check prices, opening hours and operating days with the official sources before you go.
Photo and data credits
Pine gardens of Ritsurin Garden below Mt. Shiun KimonBerlin (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Engetsu Bridge arching over a pond in Ritsurin Garden ブルーノ・プラス (CC BY-SA 4.0) / A ferry arriving at Miyanoura Port on Naoshima 663highland (CC BY 2.5) / The flat-topped plateau of Yashima rising near the sea KimonBerlin (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Stone steps and torii leading up through the trees at Kotohira-gu Immanuelle (CC BY 4.0) / Angel Road on Shodoshima, a sandbar linking islands at low tide 663highland (CC BY 2.5) / Takamatsu Castle's Ushitora turret reflected in the moat 663highland (CC BY 2.5). Cropped and resized.
Local food
Regional dishes handed down in Kagawa. Many are home and community cooking, so not every dish is served at restaurants.
Kankanzushi
カンカンずし
“Kankanzushi” is a preserved food that has been passed down since the Edo period. It originated in the Kamobe area of Sanuki City and has been passed down throughout most of Sanuki City.
- Where it is made
- The Tosan region
Konnyaku no hachihai (Simmered Konjac(=yam cake) )
こんにゃくのはちはい
A regional dish of konjac simmered with ingredients such as Satoimo, carrots, Shiitake mushrooms, and others in Dashi (=Japanese soup stock).
- Where it is made
- Tosan Regions, Chusan Regions
Dojou-Jiru (Pond loach Soup)
どじょう汁
"Dojou-jiru" is a dish simmered vegetables like gobou(=burdock root) , satoimo (=Japanese taro) or Japanese leek, with freshly made udon noodle to prevent from summer fatigue, and was prepared…
- Where it is made
- Chuusan region and a part of Tousan region
Anmochi zouni
あんもち雑煮
Zoni" is a soup made with white miso paste, round rice cake with sweet bean paste, daikon radish cut into round slices to wish for family happiness, and kintoki carrots.
- Where it is made
- All over the prefecture
Shouyu mame
しょうゆ豆
Dried fava beans are roasted and soaked in soy sauce, sugar, and red pepper paste while still hot.
- Where it is made
- All over the prefecture
Shippoku udon
しっぽくうどん
In Kagawa Prefecture, "shiko-udon" is a dish made by simmering several kinds of vegetables and abura-age (fried bean curd), which are harvested in the fall and winter, in a soup stock made from…
- Where it is made
- All over the prefecture
“Find places serving it” opens a map app search for the dish name and the place name. The results are not chosen or recommended by this site. Please check with the shop whether it serves the dish.
Source: “Our Regional Cuisines” (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), edited by this site (imported 2026-11-15) https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/market/k_ryouri/index.html. Names, areas and ingredients are as written on the source pages; descriptions are excerpts of the original text. No photos are used. This page is not made or endorsed by the ministry.