[Kagawa Travel Guide] Enjoy Spectacular Seto Inland Sea Views and Historic Culture!

The Kotoden / JR Kururin Ticket is a one-day pass that offers unlimited rides on local JR Shikoku trains between Shido, Takamatsu, and Kotohira, as well as all Kotoden (Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad) lines.
The fare is 2,200 yen for adults and 1,100 yen for children.
Tickets can be purchased at Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket offices (JR Shikoku stations), travel agencies in Shikoku, and designated Kotoden stations.
Since it can be used to travel between Takamatsu and Kotohira, where many major tourist spots are located, it’s well worth using.

The Tosan area in eastern Kagawa is a place where you can spend a relaxing time healing your mind with charming townscapes and beautiful natural scenery, or interacting with animals.
Hiketa Townscape, which has flourished since the Edo period (1603–1868), still preserves merchant houses and soy sauce storehouses, making it a great place for a stroll filled with historic atmosphere.
Another highlight is Tsuda no Matsubara, a scenic spot selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Beaches, where a pine grove including trees over 600 years old stretches for about 1 km and also draws crowds as one of the prefecture’s leading swimming beaches.
There are also plenty of leisure spots for both adults and children, such as the Japan Dolphin Center, where you can swim with dolphins, and Shirotori Zoo, where you can interact with animals.

Located in central Kagawa, the Takamatsu City area is the prefecture’s gateway, with convenient transportation including the airport and Takamatsu Station.
While it has an urban side with many commercial facilities, it is also an area where history and nature are beautifully balanced.
Takamatsu Chuo Shopping Street, the longest arcade shopping street in Japan, is made up of eight distinctive shopping streets, so even just walking through and enjoying their differences is fun.
Nearby is Ritsurin Garden, a nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty and one of Kagawa’s must-visit sightseeing spots.
Known for “one step, one view,” it offers beautiful scenery that changes with every step, making it well worth a visit.

The Chusan area, located in the center of Kagawa, is a region where history and nature are in harmony.
Visiting spots such as Kotohiragu Shrine, which attracts many worshippers from all over Japan, and Marugame Castle, known for having the tallest stone walls in Japan, will let you experience the appeal of the Chusan area.
There are also many places of high cultural value, including the Old Konpira Grand Theater, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, and the main hall of Kanday Shrine, a National Treasure.
The Seto Inland Sea dotted with unique islands, along with magnificent natural scenery such as Jozan Fudo Falls, which has a dramatic 15 m drop, are also highlights.
Konpira Onsen Village, a hot spring area where nature and history are in harmony, is also famous.
With high-quality hot springs, a hot spring town where you can enjoy food hopping and souvenir shopping, and a wide range of accommodations, it offers visitors relaxation and comfort.
This area is recommended for those who want to enjoy a leisurely trip.

The Seisan area in western Kagawa is home to some of the prefecture’s finest scenic spots.
One of the most popular is Chichibugahama Beach, a long beach stretching about 1 km.
The surrounding scenery, including the sky and clouds, reflects on the water’s surface, creating a magical world that feels like stepping into a painting.
The sunset at Chichibugahama has also been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Sunsets, and the way the sky changes from blue to yellow to red is truly spectacular.
If you visit this area, Zenigata Sunae “Kan’ei Tsuho,” a giant sand coin design with a circumference of 345 m, is another must-see.
You can appreciate its huge scale from the ground, and from the nearby observatory you can enjoy a one-of-a-kind view of the coin pattern emerging in nature.

Shodoshima floats in the Seto Inland Sea about 23 km northeast of Takamatsu City.
Blessed with a mild climate throughout the year and known as Olive Island, it was the first place in Japan to successfully cultivate olives.
It is also rich in local specialties such as soy sauce, with a 400-year history, and Shodoshima somen, counted among Japan’s three major somen varieties, so you can enjoy delicious local food made with excellent ingredients.
That’s not all, though, as Shodoshima is surrounded by sea and mountains and filled with scenic highlights.
Particularly popular and highly recommended are Angel Road, a sandy path that appears twice a day, and Kankakei Gorge, considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful gorges.
There are also plenty of spots for leisure activities such as marine sports and swimming.

Floating in the Seto Inland Sea, Naoshima is globally popular as an “art island” where the entire island is colored by art, attracting many visitors from Japan and abroad.
One of Naoshima’s most iconic artworks is Pumpkin by avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama.
Appearing suddenly in the middle of rich natural surroundings, the work leaves an unforgettable impression and creates a dreamlike atmosphere where nature and art blend together.
Museums are scattered across the island, and among them, Benesse House Museum is especially unique, combining a museum and hotel into one and offering the dreamlike experience of staying inside a museum.
Naoshima also has a variety of local specialties, and SOLASHIO, a salt made only from Seto Inland Sea water and the heat of the sun, is a popular souvenir that can only be found here.

Day 1 of the model course focuses on popular sightseeing spots in Takamatsu City.
Start at the nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty, Ritsurin Garden, then enjoy Shishi no Reigan Observatory, which overlooks Takamatsu City, and the New Yashima Aquarium on the mountaintop.
At lunchtime, enjoy Sanuki udon, a must-eat when traveling in Kagawa.
The day ends with relaxing and recovering from your travels at the hotel.

Day 2 is a plan that starts with a visit to the historic Kotohiragu Shrine, followed by the nationally designated Important Cultural Property Old Konpira Grand Theater and Marugame Castle.
Experience Japan’s history and culture for yourself.

Chichibugahama Beach is a long beach stretching about 1 km along the coastline of Mitoyo City.
Because silhouettes reflected on the water’s surface look like a mirror, it is called the “Mirror of the Sky” and is popular as a scenic spot.
The view, where the boundary between sky and ground disappears and everything seems to float, is magical.
Its appearance is so similar to the Uyuni Salt Flats that it is even called “Japan’s Uyuni Salt Flats.”
Just after sunset, you can enjoy a beautiful gradient as the sky shifts from orange to deep blue.
Visit Chichibugahama Beach and take photogenic pictures that will become unforgettable memories.

Located in northeastern Takamatsu City, Yashima is part of Setonaikai National Park and is designated as both a national Historic Site and Natural Monument.
Covered with a horizontal hard rock layer known as a mesa, it is a table-shaped plateau partly surrounded by steep cliffs, giving it the appearance of a large roof.
Its highest point is about 300 meters, and it measures about 5 km north to south and about 2 km east to west.
There are several observatories at the summit where you can enjoy panoramic views of Takamatsu City and the island-dotted beauty of the Seto Inland Sea.
Its beauty has earned selections among Japan’s 100 Best Sunsets, 100 Best Night Views, and 100 Best Moon Views in Japan.

Located in northwestern Mitoyo City, Mt. Shiude is one of Kagawa’s finest scenic spots, offering sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea.
The scenery created by the sea and its many islands is breathtakingly beautiful.
The view changes its expression depending on the time of day and is enjoyable at any time, but evening is especially recommended.
You can admire the sunset slowly sinking between the islands and the Seto Inland Sea glowing orange.
In spring, around 1,000 cherry trees bloom in full, and the mountain is also known as a famous cherry blossom spot where you can enjoy flowers with the sea as a backdrop.

When it comes to Kagawa food, Sanuki udon is essential.
Sanuki udon is known for its light dried sardine broth and firm, chewy noodles.
The texture is irresistible, with both elasticity and a satisfying bite.
Kake udon, bukkake udon, zaru udon, and many other serving styles are also part of Sanuki udon’s appeal.
Try different varieties and find your favorite style of Sanuki udon.
Kagawa ranks first in Japan in both udon production and consumption, and there are more than 600 udon shops in the prefecture.
It is so beloved nationwide that many tourists come not only from within the prefecture but also from other parts of Japan just to eat Sanuki udon.
Each shop has its own特色 in noodles and broth, so be sure to compare different places.

Honetsukidori is a hearty dish of bone-in chicken seasoned with spices and roasted whole.
There are two types: mature chicken (called oya), known for its firm bite, and young chicken (called waka), which is softer and easier to eat.
Both have crispy skin, and the more you chew, the more rich flavor spreads through your mouth.
It began in the 1950s when the owner of a restaurant in Marugame City saw a scene in a movie where bone-in chicken was eaten in a bold way. After much trial and error, the current style of honetsukidori was perfected.
Today, it has spread nationwide from Marugame City and has become one of Kagawa’s signature dishes after udon.

Oiri is a traditional Japanese sweet from western Kagawa, made into small ball shapes about 1 cm in diameter.
It is an elegant treat with a delicate, smooth texture and gentle sweetness.
It is crisp on the outside and melts in your mouth the moment you eat it.
The name “oiri” carries the meaning of “keeping one’s heart rounded and working diligently,” and it is often handed out at celebratory occasions such as births and weddings.
Its colorful pastel appearance is also distinctive, with shades such as pink, yellow, pale green, and light blue. Different shops offer different assortments, so find one you like and take it home as a souvenir.