- Attractions by Region -
Sea gods, art islands, and a supreme daimyo garden—tour Kagawa’s essentials.
Kotohiragu Shrine (Konpira-san)
Revered since antiquity as guardian of maritime safety, this beloved shrine’s approach of 785 stone steps to the Main Shrine is legendary.
Ritsurin Garden
A daimyo garden designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Nicknamed “a new view with every step,” it earned three stars in the Michelin Green Guide.
Shodoshima
Home to the tidal “Angel Road” and sweeping olive groves. Enjoy Seto Inland Sea nature along with soy sauce breweries and hand-stretched somen noodles.
Beloved as “Konpira-san,” home of the sea deity.
Conquer 785 steps—blessings and grand views await!
Since the Edo period, visiting Konpira ranked alongside pilgrimages to Ise. The long stone stairway to the Main Shrine is famous; those with stamina can continue to the Inner Shrine at 1,368 steps total.
The tale of the “Konpira dog” carrying a worshiper’s offerings is a charming classic. Historic shops and cafés line the route, perfect for pacing yourself and taking breaks as you climb.
Michelin three stars—Japan’s ultimate daimyo stroll garden.
A masterpiece loved by feudal lords.
With Mt. Shiun as borrowed scenery, this vast strolling garden is so meticulously designed that “each step reveals a new view.”
◆ Highlights: Glide across South Pond on the “Nanko Wasen” boat for a lordly perspective.
◆ Tip: Tea houses dot the grounds—matcha tastes even better with panoramic views (brace for the number of koi!).
◆ Access: 3 minutes on foot from JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station.
The sanctum of contemporary art—an island-wide museum.
Step into a different reality shaped by art.
From Yayoi Kusama’s “Red Pumpkin” to Ando Tadao’s Chichu Art Museum and Benesse House Museum, art pops up across the island.
The “Art House Project” repurposes old homes into installations, blending daily life and creativity. Plan ahead—one day isn’t enough. Even without deep art knowledge, the island’s atmosphere alone is pure delight.
“Japan’s Uyuni Salt Flat” — a mirror of the sky at low tide.
Capture that once-in-a-lifetime reflection shot!
At low tide the tide pools mirror the heavens. On windless evenings, the scenery is breathtaking.
For the ultimate shot, lower your camera to just above the water and include lots of sky. Many bring tripods or colorful umbrellas—but keep your phone safe from splashes!
A sandy path appears twice a day—walk across the sea.
Hold hands with someone special—your wish might come true!
During low tide, a sandbar emerges to Benten Island (a classic tombolo phenomenon). Certified as a “Lovers’ Sanctuary,” it’s beloved by couples.
◆ Viewpoint: The nearby “Promise Hill Observatory” offers a superb overlook.
◆ Tip: Low tide times vary daily—always check before visiting.
◆ Access: ~10 minutes by bus from Tonosho Port on Shodoshima.
White windmill + blue sea—Mediterranean vibes in Japan.
Borrow a “magic broom” and fly like Kiki!
The birthplace of olive cultivation in Japan, this roadside-station park also served as a filming site for the live-action “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” Brooms can be borrowed for photo ops.
Jump in front of the Greek windmill for a perfect “mid-air” photo—low camera angle helps! Don’t miss the olive-green soft serve.
A mountaintop torii at 404 m with sweeping sea views.
This view feels like a gift from the gods.
Framing Kanonji City and the tranquil Seto Inland Sea, this “torii in the sky” went viral for good reason.
The summit road is very narrow—on weekends, shuttle buses are recommended. Hiking up the stone steps from the base (~50 minutes) is rewarding (prepare for next-day sore legs!).
A “stonewall masterpiece” crowned by an elegant keep.
Gaze up at Japan’s tallest stone walls—pure grandeur.
One of just 12 castles with original keeps, Marugame’s small but graceful tenshu sits atop imposing stone walls ~60 m high. The “fan-shaped” curvature is art in itself.
◆ View: From the keep, take in the Sanuki Plain and Seto Ohashi Bridge.
◆ Tip: Climbing the steep “Mikaeri-zaka” is tough, but the payoff is huge.
◆ Access: ~10 minutes’ walk from JR Marugame Station.
Birthplace of Kobo Daishi (Kukai); head temple with vast grounds.
Receive spiritual strength at Kobo Daishi’s birthplace.
Temple No.75 of the Shikoku 88, and one of the three great sites of Kobo Daishi with Koyasan and Toji. Grounds are split into Higashi-in (birthplace) and Nishi-in (main complex).
The “kaidan-meguri” is a pitch-dark underground passage navigated by touch; reaching the exit feels like rebirth. If you’re direction-challenged, stay close to the person ahead!
One of Japan’s three most beautiful gorges—see it from the sky.
Five minutes of aerial watercolor scenery.
Born of 13-million-year-old volcanic activity, Kankakei’s surreal rock forms and the Seto Inland Sea panorama are stunning by ropeway.
In autumn, the gorge blazes with color. At the summit, try “kawarake-nage” (throwing clay saucers) to ward off misfortune—it’s oddly cathartic!
Genpei War battlefield with commanding views of city and sea.
On the roof-shaped plateau, contemplate history.
This lava tableland hosts Yashima Temple (Temple No.84), said to have been founded by monk Jianzhen.
◆ Spots: “Blood Pond,” “Prayer Rock,” and other Genpei landmarks dot the area.
◆ Tip: Try “kawarake-nage” for luck.
◆ Access: Shuttle buses run to the summit from JR Yashima Station.
Nostalgic 1930s Japan—step inside a beloved film set.
Relive the moving scenes of a classic.
Based on Sakae Tsuboi’s novel, the open set was rebuilt into a theme village. Timber schoolhouses and homes capture the Showa era’s warmth.
Overlooking the sea, it feels like you’ve entered the film. Try the “school lunch set” for full nostalgia—suddenly you’re a kid again!
See this and you’ll never worry about money—so the legend says.
Let this giant sand art boost your fortune!
A massive coin motif (122 m east-west × 90 m north-south) carved in Ariake Beach’s white sands. Legend says it was made overnight, but it’s lovingly maintained by many hands.
From Kotohiki Park’s hilltop observatory, it appears perfectly round. At night, lighting turns it golden and divine—though luck still favors the diligent!
One of the largest theme parks in Chugoku–Shikoku—rides & illuminations galore.
So much to do, one day won’t suffice!
Over 20 attractions from thrill rides to kid-friendly fun, a flower park, and an Oriental Trip area with recreated Asian ruins.
◆ Night: “Reo-mination” has repeatedly won national illumination awards.
◆ Tip: Stay at the adjacent hotel to enjoy hot springs, too.
◆ Access: ~25 min by car from Sakaide or Zentsuji IC.
One of Japan’s three great “water castles,” with seawater moats.
Feed sea bream in the moat—at a castle!
Seawater from the Seto Inland Sea fills the moats—rare in Japan. While the keep is gone, Important Cultural Properties like the Moon-Viewing and Ushitora turrets evoke its past.
Try feeding the moat’s sea bream or take a boat ride to view the garden. Next to Takamatsu Station, it’s easy to pop in between trains.
Udon pilgrimage mecca—an iconic self-serve shop in rice fields.
Perfect noodles in the perfect countryside setting.
This ultra-famous self-serve shop draws perpetual lines at lunch. The menu is delightfully simple: choose hot or cold and a size, then add tempura and toppings yourself.
Slurp at outdoor tables with pastoral views—pure bliss and well worth the wait.
A droplet-shaped building—art and nature dissolve into meditation.
Nothing—and everything—happens here.
On a hillside above the Seto Inland Sea, this museum revives rice terraces. Water wells up from countless points in the floor, forming beads that gather and vanish. That’s the entire work.
Under a pillar-free shell, sit with wind, light, and birdsong until thought fades. Less “museum,” more philosophy—time here lingers forever.
Learn Shodoshima’s 400-year soy brewing heritage amid fragrant vats.
The soy-sauce soft-serve is a must-try!
Housed in a Taisho-era factory (Registered Tangible Cultural Property), the museum displays giant cedar barrels and tools, tracing Shodoshima’s 400-year soy legacy.
◆ Scents: The air is deliciously toasty with soy aroma.
◆ Surprise: The caramel-like soy soft-serve is unexpectedly great—be brave!
◆ Area: The surrounding “Hishio-no-Sato” still hosts active breweries.
Japan’s mega-bridge project—learn its history under the real thing.
Stand beneath a giant and feel the scale.
Built to commemorate the bridge’s completion, the park includes an interactive museum and a 108-m revolving observatory tower.
Fountains, lawns, and playgrounds make it a full-day spot. Looking up at the bridge’s structure inspires awe at Japan’s engineering prowess.
Unusually close animal encounters—Japan’s most “free-style” zoo (maybe)!
You might hold a white tiger cub!
From big cats to small animals, this hands-on zoo reduces barriers between animals and people. Peacocks and goats roam freely—surprisingly close!
The highlight is seasonal encounters with white tiger cubs—prepare to lose your heart. Handmade charm and a tiny hint of thrill set it apart from big-city zoos.
Japan’s oldest surviving playhouse—Edo-era thrills revived.
Watch actors rise from the “trap room” below—Edo engineering amazes.
A National Important Cultural Property, this 1835 kabuki theater still hosts the annual Shikoku Konpira Grand Kabuki.
See hand-powered revolving stages and lifts up close—high-tech of their time. Take a seat and you might feel like shouting “We’ve been waiting!” like an Edo theater-goer.
Folk houses from four prefectures—an open-air museum at Yashima’s base.
Wander into a folktale.
Thirty-three restored houses from Edo to Taisho periods sit amid lush nature, soothing the soul as you stroll.
◆ Highlights: A replica of Iya’s vine bridge, soy sauce storehouses, sugar huts—learn past livelihoods.
◆ Bonus: The Ando-designed Shikoku Mura Gallery contrasts folk and modern architecture.
◆ Access: 5 minutes’ walk from Kotoden Yashima Station.
Good Design Award—an onsen that’s practically an art space.
Sleek design meets silky “beauty” water.
Built to redefine the onsen/sento standard, this day-use hot spring pours a silky sodium bicarbonate bath famed for smooth skin.
Unwind in open-air baths and breezy lounges, then read at the on-site book café. Beware the comfort—you might miss your train!
The master’s atelier—quiet hours conversing with stone.
Reservation only—enter a sanctum of sculpture.
The late artist’s studio and residence display 150+ works as if time stood still.
“I sculpted the Earth itself,” Noguchi said—feel that philosophy with all senses. Admission is via advance reservation (traditionally by return postcard), a hurdle that makes it all the more special.
Island of slopes, cats, and art—lose yourself in maze-like lanes.
Friendly cats greet you as you wander.
With little flat land, homes crowd delightfully up steep slopes. Just walking the labyrinthine alleys feels like adventure.
◆ Find: Art installations appear across the island.
◆ Note: It’s famed as a “cat island” — feed politely and by local rules.
◆ Access: ~40 minutes by ferry from Takamatsu Port.
“Ogre Island” of the Momotaro legend—explore a giant cave.
Maybe the ogres really lived here…
Nicknamed Onigashima for the folk tale, the summit’s man-made cave stays cool even in summer.
“Meeting rooms” and lookout posts spark the imagination. A Moai statue awaits at the exit for reasons unknown—bring your millet dumplings just in case!
Temple No.88—the pilgrimage’s completion (kechigan) site.
1,400 km end here—and begin again.
Pilgrims finishing the 88-temple, ~1,400-km circuit leave their walking staves here. The grounds glow with the relief and gratitude of those completing the journey.
You may feel inspired to attempt the pilgrimage yourself. Warm up with hand-made udon at the gate-side “Hachijuhachian.”
Touch, feed, and even swim with dolphins in a protected cove.
Make friends with dolphins!
Set in a calm Seto bay, dolphins live in natural seawater pens. Programs range from trainer experiences to shallow-water encounters.
◆ Show: The “Exciting Live” jump demo thrills up close.
◆ Tip: Dolphins are smart—approach with kindness.
◆ Access: ~5 minutes by car from Takamatsu Expressway Tsuda-Higashi IC.
At Konpira’s foot—discover the history of “Kinryo” sake.
Toast your Konpira climb with fine sake.
Learn the brewery’s Edo-era roots and the sake-making process; massive barrels and tools impress.
Best of all is the tasting corner—sample several sakes for free. After 785 steps, the flavor goes straight to the soul. Just don’t wobble on the way back down!