Kagawa

Takamatsu, Naoshima

Kagawa is a cultural gem known for art, food, and sunshine. Taste authentic Sanuki udon, visit the sacred Kotohira Shrine, and explore Naoshima Island, where contemporary art by world-famous artists like Yayoi Kusama blends with seaside scenery. With its gentle Seto Inland Sea views and creative spirit, Kagawa is small but full of inspiration.

From Tokyo: 1h 15m

From Osaka: Shinkansen / Local train 1h 40m

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Discover hidden charms in each city and town through our visual map.

Kagawa

Ayagawa Town

Ayagawa Town, located in central Kagawa, is the root of udon culture, with legends naming it the "birthplace of Sanuki Udon." In the idyllic rural landscape, legendary udon shops loved by locals are dotted throughout, allowing you to experience the essence of "Udon Prefecture." The town also features the scenic beauty of the Ayagawa River canyon and "Takinomiya Tenmangu Shrine," famous for its weeping cherry blossoms. Recently, stylish cafes in old houses and local fruit dessert shops have increased, making it ideal for a food-focused trip. It is a town where you can enjoy a rich journey surrounded by peaceful...

Kagawa
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Kagawa

Utazu Town

Utazu Town, despite having the smallest area in Kagawa Prefecture, is a town where unique history and new vitality coexist. Having a history of flourishing with salt pans, you can enjoy strolling through retro townscapes in the "Komachi" (Old Town) area lined with ancient temples. On the other hand, the new seaside town area houses "Gold Tower," boasting one of Shikoku's highest heights, and the latest "Shikoku Aquarium," making it a modern tourist hub. Both old and new charms are compactly gathered, and the location overlooking the Great Seto Bridge close by is superb. With cafes and accommodation utilizing traditional...

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Kagawa

Higashikagawa City

Higashikagawa City, located at the eastern end of Kagawa Prefecture, is a city where craftsmanship lives on, known as a producer of traditional "Wasanbon" sugar and as the "Town of Gloves" boasting a 90% domestic share. The old townscape of the Hiketa district, continuing since the Edo period, features red walls and soy sauce breweries, conveying former port town prosperity. Unique tourist spots like the "Japan Dolphin Center," where you can interact with dolphins, and the "Shirotori Shrine" built on the sea are also attractive. Through experiences like molding Wasanbon, a traditional Japanese sweetness, and historical strolls, you can deeply...

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Kagawa

Sanuki City

Sanuki City, located in eastern Kagawa Prefecture, is a city blessed with beautiful coastlines and rich mountains, overflowing with nature's bounty. It features many open spectacular spots such as "Tsuda-no-Matsubara," where centuries-old pine trees stretch for about 1 km, and the panoramic view from the "Ogushi Peninsula" jutting into the Seto Inland Sea. It is also home to Okubo-ji, the "completion temple" (Kechan-no-tera) of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, where the thoughts of pilgrims ending their long journey gather. Local specialties like grapes, wine, and fresh seafood are also major attractions. Away from the city hustle, it is a perfect...

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Kagawa

Sakaide City

Sakaide City, the Shikoku gateway to the Great Seto Bridge, is a city with dynamic landscapes woven by one of the world's largest bridges and calm archipelago beauty. From the Seto Ohashi Memorial Park, you can experience its overwhelming scale up close and be amazed by the harmony between man-made beauty and nature. Sakaide is also associated with the Manyoshu poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro and Emperor Sutoku, with historical sites evoking deep romance scattered throughout. While powerful night views of the industrial zone spread along the coast, rich nature like Goshikidai also coexists, showing various expressions. Furthermore, top-class udon shops...

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Kagawa

Zentsuji City

Zentsuji City, known as the birthplace of Kobo Daishi (Kukai), is a temple town that developed around "Sohonzan Zentsu-ji," which is particularly important among the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage sites. Walking through the city, historic temples and old townscapes remain everywhere, allowing you to feel the deep spiritual culture of Kagawa Prefecture. Zentsuji City is also famous as the producing area of "Square Watermelons," and those unique specialties are a topic of conversation worldwide. It is a city where discoveries are made with every step, including gourmet food using the local specialty "Daishimochi" (glutinous barley) and the warm hospitality that...

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Kagawa

Kan-onji City

Kan-onji City, located at the western tip of Kagawa Prefecture, is a city of history and faith dotted with the grand sand art "Zenigata Sunae" and temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. From the beautiful coastline of the Seto Inland Sea to the "Torii in the Sky" (Takaya Shrine) where a torii gate stands on a summit about 400 meters high, numerous spectacular spots with varied terrain exist. Additionally, the "Iriko" (dried sardines) caught at Ibukijima boast Japan's top quality, and famous Sanuki Udon shops utilizing that deep umami line the city streets. With the heat of the traditional "Chosa Festival"...

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Kagawa

Mitoyo City

Mitoyo City, located in western Kagawa Prefecture, is a treasure trove of spectacular views and fruits that has recently jumped into the spotlight due to "Chichibugahama" becoming world-famous. Its greatest attractions are dynamic natural beauties such as the Shonai Peninsula, where the legend of Urashima Taro remains, and Mt. Shiudeyama, where thousands of cherry trees dye the mountain in spring. Additionally, there are many observation spots with panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea archipelago, and the scenery of the calm sea and islands captures the hearts of visitors. Furthermore, fruit cultivation like peaches, grapes, and mandarins utilizing the warm...

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Kagawa

Tonosho Town

Tonosho Town, one of the gateways to Shodoshima, is a vibrant port town known for having the "Dobuchi Strait," certified by Guinness World Records as the world's narrowest strait. There are old streets called "The Labyrinth Town," and strolling through the unique town layout created to prevent pirate invasions is an experience that tickles the adventurous spirit. It is also the hub for "Angel Road," a sandbar appearing only at low tide, and is packed with tourist charms. Art pieces are displayed around the port, and modern convenience coexists comfortably with the island's unique leisurely time. You can also touch...

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Kagawa

Kotohira Town

Kotohira Town, which flourished as the temple town of Kotohira-gu Shrine, is a charming town where history and vitality from the Edo period can be felt upon stepping inside. On both sides of the approach, udon restaurants, souvenir shops, and galleries converted from sake breweries line up, overflowing with the energy of worshippers climbing the stone stairs. It also houses the "Old Konpira Grand Theatre (Kanamaru-za)," Japan's oldest theater, where you can feel the breath of traditional Japanese performing arts up close. In recent years, stylish cafes and inns renovated from old folk houses have increased, allowing for a town...

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Takamatsu City

Takamatsu City, the prefectural capital of Kagawa, is a "port town where urbanity and nature harmonize" overlooking the archipelago beauty of the Seto Inland Sea. Historical sites such as Ritsurin Garden, Japan's largest stroll-style daimyo garden, and the Takamatsu Castle ruins, which drew seawater into the moat, are dotted throughout the city area. It is also the hub for ferries heading to world-class art islands, with many travelers constantly coming and going. The city center features the longest arcade shopping street in Japan, where you can fully enjoy shopping and the local gourmet "Sanuki Udon." With a calm sea spreading...

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Kagawa

Marugame City

Marugame City, the central city of western Kagawa Prefecture, is a castle town that flourished around "Marugame Castle," which features one of only 12 remaining original keeps in Japan. It is also known as the production center of "Marugame Uchiwa" fans, which boast a major national share, and the traditional craftsmanship still lives on today. Walking through the city, you'll encounter historical sites alongside sophisticated art spots like the Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art (MIMOCA). Additionally, as the birthplace of "Honetsukidori" (bone-in chicken), its spicy and juicy chicken dishes are immensely popular among international tourists as Kagawa's soul food...

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Kagawa

Kagawa Prefecture

Kagawa Prefecture, the smallest prefecture in Japan, is a "sacred place for art and food" visited by travelers from all over the world. Facing the Seto Inland Sea, it is dotted with beautiful islands such as Naoshima and Shodoshima. It also boasts many historical sites, including Ritsurin Garden, one of Japan's finest daimyo gardens, and Kotohira-gu Shrine, a place people wish to visit at least once in their lives. And when it comes to Kagawa, it's all about "Udon." Known by the nickname "Udon Prefecture," the prefecture is lined with numerous udon shops, and there are always long lines of...

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