Two days: stay in Takamatsu or Kotohira?
Stay one night in Takamatsu for garden, castle-site and harbour walks. If main-shrine worship is your priority, stay in Kotohira and climb the next day. For a final-day morning departure, shorten or omit day-two viewing.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Walk around Takamatsu
Stay one night in Takamatsu for garden, castle-site and harbour walks.
Walk around Takamatsu →2 days / 1 nightStay in Kotohira
Stay one night in Kotohira to rest near the shrine approach before climbing to the main shrine the next day.
Stay in Kotohira →Walk around Takamatsu
Stay one night in Takamatsu for garden, castle-site and harbour walks.
Day one: Tamamo Park and Takamatsu Port
Visit the park and harbour according to your Takamatsu arrival time. If you cannot reach the gate during opening hours, move the park visit to another day.
- Takamatsu accommodation or JR Takamatsu Station → Tamamo Park entrance
Go to Tamamo Park, about three minutes' walk from JR Takamatsu Station. A late arrival outside gate hours leaves no time for today's park visit.
Current admission and gate hoursTakamatsu City visitor guidance
- Tamamo Park → Takamatsu Port and accommodation
Explore the castle site and moat, then walk around the harbour. Eat near the station and continue to your booked accommodation.
Current admission and gate hoursTakamatsu City visitor guidance
Park gates close at different times. Check the hours for your chosen entrance.
Day two: Ritsurin Garden
On the final day, walk Ritsurin Garden and return by Kotoden to Takamatsu-Chikko Station. Choose garden time and a return train to fit your departure.
- Takamatsu accommodation → Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station
Go to Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station, which is separate from JR Takamatsu Station. From Kawaramachi accommodation, use nearby Kotoden Kawaramachi Station and check that section's fare.
- Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Kotoden Ritsurinkoen Station
Take a train towards Kotohira and get off at Ritsurinkoen Station. Adult fares are JPY 250 one way; the subtotal includes JPY 500 return from Takamatsu-Chikko. Choose services for your date from the official timetable.
Kotohira Line timetableCurrent timetable listTakamatsu-Chikko fares
- Kotoden Ritsurinkoen Station → Ritsurin Garden east gate and gardens
The official seven-minute walk runs from Kotoden Ritsurinkoen Station to the park. Go to the east gate, buy admission and explore. This differs from JR Ritsurinkoen-Kitaguchi Station's north-gate approach. Adult admission is JPY 500; October hours are 06:00–17:30. Ticketing, viewing and rests are extra to the seven-minute walk. For other months or storm warnings, check operating notices again.
- Ritsurin Garden and east gate → Kotoden Ritsurinkoen Station
Leave through the east gate and retrace your walk to Kotoden Ritsurinkoen Station. Allow time within the garden to reach the gate, then about seven minutes to the station.
- Kotoden Ritsurinkoen Station → Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station
Take a Takamatsu-Chikko-bound train from Kotoden Ritsurinkoen Station. After arrival, continue towards your next destination.
- Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Your booked departure boarding point
Allow extra travel time if collecting luggage at accommodation. For the airport, go to JR Takamatsu Station and take the Takamatsu Airport limousine from bus stand 3. The adult JPY 1,300 fare is excluded from the subtotal. Choose operating dates and scheduled arrival from the official airport timetable to meet flight check-in deadlines. JR trains to other cities depart from JR Takamatsu Station; Kotoden departs from Takamatsu-Chikko.
Airport limousine use and monthly changesAirport limousine fares and city boarding points
Ritsurin Garden's opening and closing times vary monthly. Distinguish the stations serving the east and north gates.
Included items: Ritsurin Garden JPY 500; Tamamo Park JPY 300; return Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko–Ritsurinkoen JPY 500.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport travel, separate travel between accommodation and stations or boarding points and extra journeys cost more. Garden boats and teahouses are excluded.
The subtotal is per adult, with Kotoden fares calculated from Takamatsu-Chikko. For another starting station, check the relevant section's fare.
Fees and seasonal hoursCurrent admission and gate hoursTakamatsu-Chikko fares
Stay in Kotohira
Stay one night in Kotohira to rest near the shrine approach before climbing to the main shrine the next day.
Day one: Kotohira shrine-approach shops
Walk the approach shopping street and rest locally on arrival in Kotohira. Climb the main-shrine steps tomorrow.
- Your Takamatsu arrival point or Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Kotoden Kotohira Station
Take a Kotohira-bound train from Takamatsu-Chikko and get off at Kotoden Kotohira Station. It differs from JR Kotohira Station; distinguish the names when booking and finding accommodation.
Kotohira Line timetableCurrent timetable listStation-to-approach and stair guidance
- Kotoden Kotohira Station → Omotesando shrine approach and shops
The tourism association gives about ten minutes' walk from Kotoden Kotohira Station to Omotesando. This is not the time to your accommodation door or the main shrine. Walk the shopping street, allowing time to eat at an open shop; leave the main-shrine steps for tomorrow. After eating, continue to your booked Kotohira accommodation and rest.
Rest around the approach shops today and climb the main-shrine steps tomorrow.
Day two: Kotohiragu main shrine
After a night in Kotohira, visit the main shrine, return to Kotoden Kotohira Station and take a Takamatsu-bound train.
- First step of the shrine approach → Kotohiragu main shrine
Main-shrine gates open 07:00–17:00. Official guidance gives about an hour one way to climb the 785 steps from the first step to the main shrine. Descent, rests and travel from accommodation are extra.
- Kotohiragu main shrine → First shrine-approach step and shops
Descend by the same approach. The official one-hour estimate is for climbing; do not apply it unchanged to the descent. Eat in the shopping street if there is time before your train.
- Kotoden Kotohira Station → Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station
Return on a Takamatsu-Chikko-bound train from Kotoden Kotohira Station. Adult fares are JPY 780 one way; JPY 1,560 return is included in the subtotal. Choose your return service from the official timetable. Airport travel after reaching Takamatsu-Chikko is separate.
Kotohira Line timetableKotohira return faresCurrent timetable list
- Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Your booked departure boarding point
Walk from Takamatsu-Chikko to JR Takamatsu Station. The airport limousine leaves from JR station bus stand 3; its adult JPY 1,300 fare is excluded. Choose a service meeting flight check-in deadlines from the official timetable. For another city, check trains at JR Takamatsu Station.
Airport limousine use and monthly changesAirport limousine fares and city boarding points
Climbing and descending the main-shrine steps both need time and energy. For a final-day morning departure, move worship to an earlier day.
Included items: Return Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko–Kotohira JPY 1,560.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport travel, separate travel between accommodation and stations or boarding points and extra journeys cost more. Shrine annex admission and prayer services are excluded.
The subtotal is per adult, with Kotoden fares calculated from Takamatsu-Chikko. For another starting station, check the relevant section's fare.
Frequently asked questions
Do itinerary admission and transport costs include accommodation and meals?
No. Takamatsu's JPY 1,300 covers two park admissions totalling JPY 800 and return Kotoden Ritsurinkoen JPY 500 per adult. Kotohira's JPY 1,560 covers return Kotoden only. Airport travel and other personal spending are extra.
Fees and seasonal hoursCurrent admission and gate hoursTakamatsu-Chikko faresKotohira return fares
Official sources and check dates
- Fees and seasonal hours ·
- Official access information ·
- Current admission and gate hours ·
- Takamatsu City visitor guidance ·
- Official shrine hours ·
- Station-to-approach and stair guidance ·
- Current timetable list ·
- Kotohira Line timetable ·
- Takamatsu-Chikko fares ·
- Kotohira return fares ·
- Airport limousine fares and city boarding points ·
- Airport limousine use and monthly changes ·