Setouchi Tourism Lemon 
Kagawa Prefecture, famous nationwide as the “Udon Prefecture,” is an attractive tourist destination facing the Seto Inland Sea with a wealth of nature, history, culture, and local food. There is a wide variety of tourist attractions, including Takamatsu Castle, one of Japan’s three major water castles, Ritsurin Park, which has three Michelin stars, Kotohira Shrine, affectionately known as Konpira-san, and the world-class scenic views of Shodoshima.
In this article, we will introduce 50 tourist spots that you must visit when traveling to Kagawa Prefecture, organized by area. It also covers accommodation, local food, hot springs, and access information to remote islands. Please use this information to plan your trip to Kagawa.
Tourist spots in Takamatsu area [Kagawa tourism center]
The Takamatsu area, centered around JR Takamatsu Station and Takamatsu Port, is the center of Kagawa’s main sightseeing spots. It is known for its three-star Michelin garden, the site of the Genpei War, and the gateway to the Setouchi Triennale.
[Takamatsu City] Ritsurin Park, a special scenic spot | Michelin 3-star Daimyo Garden
[Takamatsu City] Takamatsu Castle ruins Tamamo Park | One of Japan’s three major water castles floating on the sea
[Takamatsu City] Yashima | A table-shaped lava plateau with a spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea, the stage of the Genpei War
[Takamatsu City] Shikoku Village Museum | An open-air museum with 33 old folk houses lined up at the foot of Mt. Yashima
[Takamatsu City] Kagawa Prefectural Museum | Comprehensive museum where you can experience wearing Juni-hitoe and armor
[Takamatsu City] Kitahama Alley | A photogenic commercial complex that makes use of a seaside warehouse district
[Takamatsu City] Takamatsu Central Shopping Street | Japan’s longest straight arcade shopping street
[Takamatsu City] Takamatsu City | Kagawa prefectural capital and a port town that is the gateway to Shikoku
Gourmet restaurants in Takamatsu area
[Takamatsu City] Udon Honjin Yamada-ya Main Store | Authentic Sanuki Udon that is a registered tangible cultural property of the country
[Takamatsu City] Zaigo Udon Honke Waraya | Kamaage udon at a famous thatched-roof restaurant at the foot of Yashima
[Takamatsu City] Udon cuisine Goyashiki | Famous restaurant where you can enjoy udon and Kaiseki cuisine at the same time
[Takamatsu City] Mamehana | Enjoy Japanese lunch with Takamatsu ingredients
[Takamatsu City] Garden Cafe Ritsurin | Creative Italian cuisine in Ritsurin Park
[Takamatsu City] Café Umie | A hidden cafe in Kitahama alley overlooking the Seto Inland Sea
[Takamatsu City] Strawberry shop Sky Farm | Sweet strawberry picking using aerial cultivation
[Takamatsu City] Nakano Udon School Takamatsu School | A long-established udon school popular for its handmade udon experience
Accommodation in Takamatsu area
[Takamatsu City] Sunny Day Hostel | A stylish Western-style guest house near Takamatsu Station
Tourist spots in the Shodoshima area [Holy place for movies and literature]
Shodoshima, the island of olives, is a representative remote island of Kagawa Prefecture in the Seto Inland Sea. It is known as the filming location for the movie “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “Twenty-Four Eyes,” and in recent years has become an important base for the Setouchi Triennale.
[Shodoshima] Angel Road | A sacred place for lovers that appears only twice a day
[Shodoshima] Kankakei | Famous spot for autumn leaves, known as one of Japan’s three most beautiful valleys
[Shodoshima] Shodoshima Olive Park | Kiki’s Delivery Service filming location, Greek windmills and Mediterranean scenery
[Shodoshima] Marukin Soy Sauce Memorial Museum | The world of Shodoshima soy sauce with a 400-year history
[Shodoshima] Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village | Movie location theme park that recreates a Showa era fishing village
[Shodoshima] Nakayama Senmaida | Spectacular terraced fields selected as one of Japan’s top 100 rice terraces
[Shodoshima] Yamaroku soy sauce | A soy sauce brewery on Shodoshima that preserves the tradition of brewing in wooden barrels
[Shodoshima] Soy Village | An area where the tradition of Shodoshima, the town of soy sauce and tsukudani, lives on
[Shodoshima] Nakabuan | Taste Shodoshima’s hand-stretched somen and raw somen
[Shodoshima] OLIVAZ | Italian food using olives from Shodoshima
[Shodoshima] Shodoshima hot spring village | Shodoshima hot spring resort with spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea
Tourist spots in Kotohira and Zentsuji area [Sato of Faith]
This area is home to some of Kagawa’s most representative holy places of faith, including Kotohira Shrine, affectionately known as “Konpira-san,” and Zentsuji, the birthplace of Kobo Daishi Kukai. Hot spring inns and famous udon restaurants line the approach.
[Kotohira Town] Kotohira Shrine | The main shrine of the sea god spreads out at the end of 785 stone steps
[Kotohira Town] Kanamaruza (formerly Konpira Grand Theater) | Japan’s oldest existing playhouse
[Kotohira Town] Cafe&Restaurant Kamitsubaki | Shiseido parlor hideout in Konpira-san precincts
[Kotohira Town] Konpira Hot Spring Village｜A hot spring village popular as a lodging for worshiping Konpira-san
[Kotohira Town] Nakano Udon School Kotohira School | Udon experience that you can stop by after visiting Konpira-san shrine
Accommodation in Kotohira area
[Kotohira Town] Kotohira Onsen Kotosankaku | Hot spring inn located on the approach to Konpira-san
[Kotohira Town] Kotohira Kadan | Founded 430 years ago, one of the oldest hot spring inns in Shikoku
[Kotohira Town] Hotel Second Stage | Reasonable business hotel near Konpirasan approach
Tourist spots in the Kannonji/Mitoyo area [Treasure trove of spectacular views]
This area is home to many photogenic spots that have been rapidly increasing in popularity in recent years, such as Chichibugahama, “Japan’s Uyuni Salt Lake,” Takaya Shrine, the torii gate in the sky that has become a hot topic on social media, and a scenic park above the clouds. You can fully enjoy the natural beauty of western Kagawa.
[Mitoyo City] Chichibugahama | A beach with a spectacular sunset view called Japan’s Salar de Uyuni
[Kannonji City] Torii in the sky Takaya Shrine | Spectacular spot for the “Torii in the sky” built on the top of Mt. Inazumi at an altitude of 404m
[Kannonji City] Unbenji Summit Park | Sky swing and spectacular view of the mountaintop terrace
[Mitoyo City] Mt. Shimodeyama | Famous spot for cherry blossoms and hydrangeas overlooking the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea archipelago
[Mitoyo City] Drifting Post Office | Awashima post office that accepts letters with unknown destinations
[Kanonji City] Chosa Hall | Experience the Taikodai of the Toyohama Chosa Festival all year round
[Kannonji City] Toyonen Pond Dam｜National Important Cultural Property, a stone dam resembling a medieval European castle
[Kannonji City] Zenigata Sunae (Kotohin Park) | A gigantic sand painting with a diameter of 122m depicting Kanei Tsuho
[Kanonji City] Ichinomiya Park | A coastal park overlooking the sunset over the Seto Inland Sea
[Mitoyo City] Seagull parking lot | A photogenic spot near Chichibugahama that looks great on SNS
Tourist spots in the Marugame, Utazu, and Sakaide areas
Utazu/Sakaide is located at the foot of Marugame Castle and Seto Ohashi Bridge, which boasts the highest stone wall in Japan. It is an attractive area that combines the view of the Seto Inland Sea with modern art and history and culture.
[Marugame City] Marugame Castle | A famous castle with 12 existing castle towers that boasts the tallest stone wall in Japan
[Marugame City] Marugame City Genichiro Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art | A famous architectural museum of contemporary art located in front of Marugame Station
[Marugame City] Nakatsu Banshoen | Kyogoku family feudal lord garden built in the Edo period
[Marugame City] Kaifutei | Taste Setouchi’s seasonal Kaiseki cuisine inside Nakatsu Banshoen
[Utazu Town] Aquarium in the sky “Sorakin” | Fantasy space of goldfish overlooking the Seto Inland Sea
[Utazu Town] Shikoku Aquarium | One of the largest aquariums in Shikoku where dolphins dance with the Seto Inland Sea in the background
[Sakaide City] Seto Ohashi Memorial Park | A seasonal natural park overlooking Seto Ohashi Bridge
Tourist spots in Sanuki, Higashikagawa, and Tadotsu areas
An area in the eastern part of Kagawa Prefecture where nature and history remain. It is home to Sanuki City’s Okushi Natural Park and a tourist exchange hub that tells the history of Higashikagawa City’s salt and soy sauce brewing.
[Sanuki City] Okushi Nature Park | A leisure spot with a spectacular view of approximately 100 ha that juts out into the Seto Inland Sea
[Higashikagawa City] Salt Lake Hiketa | A complex spot where you can enjoy the sea and salt in Hikita
[Higashikagawa City] Sanshu Izutsu Yashiki｜Tourism and exchange base utilizing a merchant house that prospered in soy sauce brewing
[Sanuki City] Oyster Watanabe | Enjoy fresh oysters from Shido Bay over charcoal grill
[Manno Town] Sanuki Mannou National Government Park | The only national park in Shikoku, a vast natural space of 350 ha
[Tadotsu Town] Seafood Delicious Hamakaido Tadotsu Main Branch | Seafood Izakaya where you can enjoy over 400 menu items
Base route for Setouchi Triennale and remote islands
Kagawa’s remote islands, such as Naoshima, Teshima, and Inujima, which are the locations of the Setouchi Triennale, can be accessed via multiple ferry routes. We have compiled a list of the main routes that will help you plan your artistic island trip.
Takamatsu-Miyaura (Naoshima) route
Takamatsu-Megijima-Ogijima route
Takamatsu-Tonosho (Shodoshima) route
Takamatsu-Honmura (Naoshima)-Ieura (Teshima) route
Miyaura (Naoshima) – Ieura (Teshima) – Inujima route
Marugame-Ushijima-Main Island route
Basic information you should know before traveling to Kagawa Prefecture
[Kagawa Prefecture] Kagawa Prefecture | Udon Prefecture, a travel destination in Setouchi, the gateway to Shikoku
[Kagawa Prefecture] Kagawa Prefecture’s climate｜Setouchi climate with warm temperatures and little rainfall throughout the year, making it easy to travel
[Kagawa Prefecture] Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Brochure | Summary of official tourism materials useful when planning a trip to Kagawa Prefecture
[Mitoyo City] Mitoyo City | A city in western Kagawa with many scenic spots such as Chichibugahama and Mt. Shimode
[Kanonji City] Kanonji City | A city in the southwestern part of Kagawa with many attractions such as Zenigata Sunae and the Torii Gate in the Sky
[Takamatsu City] Kotoden JR Kururi-n Ticket | Convenient round-trip ticket that allows you to visit Kagawa’s main tourist spots in one day
Model course for sightseeing in Kagawa Prefecture
1 night 2 days plan (Takamatsu + Kotohira Shrine)
Day 1: Takamatsu Airport → Ritsurin Park → Takamatsu Castle Ruins Tamamo Park → Lunch at Yashima → Overnight at a hotel in the city.
Day 2: After breakfast, go to Kotohira Shrine. After climbing the 785 stone steps and visiting the shrine, we had lunch at Kamitsubaki. The afternoon ends with a udon tour.
2 nights and 3 days plan (Shodoshima + Mainland)
Day 1: Takamatsu Port → Shodoshima (Tonosho Port) by ferry → Angel Road → Kankakei Ropeway → 1 night at Shodoshima Onsen Village.
Day 2: Marukin Soy Sauce Memorial Museum → Stroll around Soy Village → Twenty-Four Eye Movie Village → Take the ferry to the mainland. 1 night stay in Takamatsu city.
Day 3: Chichibugahama → Mt. Shimode or Tenku no Torii Takaya Shrine → Visit Konpira-san in Kotohira → Return home.
Frequently asked questions about Kagawa Prefecture tourism
Q1. When is the best season to visit Kagawa?
Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are the best seasons for sightseeing. Spring is the best time to see the cherry blossoms at Ritsurin Park and Marugame Castle, and autumn is the best time to see the autumn leaves at Kankakei Valley. The best view of Chichibugahama Beach is from May to September, when low tide and sunset coincide.
Q2. How many days do you need to travel around Kagawa?
If you want to visit only the main sightseeing spots, we recommend 1 night and 2 days, if you want to include Shodoshima, 2 nights and 3 days, and if you want to tour the islands at the Setouchi Triennale, we recommend 3 nights and 4 days or more.
Q3. How to access Kagawa?
Airplane: Takamatsu Airport (direct flights available from Tokyo, Haneda, Okinawa, and Narita). Shinkansen: Approximately 1 hour by Rapid Marine Liner from Okayama Station. Ferry: Accessible from Kobe, Shin-Okayama, and Himeji via Shodoshima.
Q4. Do I need a rental car?
You can sightsee within Takamatsu City, Kotohira, and Shodoshima by bus, train, and route bus. Renting a car is convenient for Chichibugahama, Tenku no Torii, Okushi Natural Park, etc.
Q5. What are the recommended local foods in Kagawa Prefecture?
In addition to Sanuki udon, we have a wide variety of gourmet dishes that make use of local ingredients, such as bone-in chicken, rare sugar, Wasanbon, olives (from Shodoshima), and soy sauce beans.
Summary｜Kagawa Prefecture tourism is a destination full of charm that can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons
Kagawa Prefecture, known as the birthplace of Sanuki udon, is also a tourist destination packed with charm in each season. Famous castles and gardens with a sense of history, spectacular beaches in the Seto Inland Sea, hot spots that look great on social media, remote islands that are the setting for art festivals, and a food culture typified by Sanuki udon. Please use the 50 spots introduced in this article as a reference to create your own Kagawa travel plan.
Photo provided by:shikoku-guide.com
