Which Kagawa attractions should I choose?
Choose Ritsurin Garden for leisurely walks among pines and ponds, or Tamamo Park for harbour-side castle grounds and moat. Climb Kotohiragu's stone steps to the main shrine, or look over the Seto Inland Sea from Yashimāru. For Monet's art and architecture, choose Naoshima's Chichu. Time and travel differ: shrine steps, summit shuttles and booked museum admission with boats all need planning.
Attraction fees and directions
Ritsurin Garden
栗林公園
Walk leisurely among Ritsurin Garden's pines and ponds, with scenery changing as your viewing direction shifts along the paths. Boats and teahouses cost extra to admission. Distinguish the east and north gates according to your starting station for an easier return.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 500 for adults or JPY 170 for primary and junior high school students; preschool children enter free. Boats and teahouses cost extra.
- HoursThe garden opens 06:00–17:30 in October, 07:00–17:00 in January and December, 07:00–17:30 in February, 06:30–18:00 in March, 05:30–18:30 in April–May, 05:30–19:00 in June–August, 05:30–18:30 in September and 06:30–17:00 in November. Storm warnings can cause temporary closure.
- DirectionsWalk about seven minutes from Kotoden Ritsurinkoen towards the east gate, or three from JR Ritsurinkoen-Kitaguchi towards the north gate. These official access estimates exclude traffic-light waits, ticketing and viewing. Stations with 'Ritsurin' in their names are not all the same station.
- What to seeWalk among pines and ponds for garden scenery that changes with your viewing direction.
Fees and seasonal hoursOfficial access informationRitsurin Garden pines, ponds and walking scenery
Tamamo Park
玉藻公園
Visit Tamamo Park near the harbour for the old castle site and seawater moat. This is not a castle-keep interior visit; hours differ by entrance.
- AdmissionGeneral admission costs JPY 300. Check official conditions for free admission for under-18s and students.
- HoursIn October, the west gate opens 06:00–17:30 and the east gate 08:30–17:00. Entrance hours vary in other months. The park closes 29–31 December.
- DirectionsThe park is about three minutes' walk from JR Takamatsu Station, beside Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko. Remember your entrance for an easier return to the harbour or station.
- What to seeExplore former Takamatsu Castle's site and seawater moat.
Current admission and gate hoursTakamatsu City visitor guidanceTakamatsu City: Tamamo Park's seawater moat
Kotohiragu Shrine
金刀比羅宮
Walk along Kotohira's approach shopping street before climbing to Kotohiragu's main shrine, reached by 785 stone steps. Choose a day trip or local night allowing worship, shopping-street walks and rests between climbing and descending.
- Separate admission feesThe shrine approach and annex museums have different visitor arrangements. Annex admission and prayer services cost extra. For annex visits, check official fees and opening hours separately.
- Worship hoursThe Great Gate opens 06:00–18:00 and the main-shrine gates 07:00–17:00. Official guidance gives about an hour one way from the first stone step to the main shrine; descent and rests are extra. Check the shrine's official hours.
- DirectionsWalk about ten minutes from JR Kotohira or Kotoden Kotohira Station to the shrine approach, not to the main shrine. Follow the signed approach rather than vehicle roads where pedestrians are prohibited.
Official shrine hoursStation-to-approach and stair guidanceWalking-route precautions
Yashimāru
やしまーる
Yashimāru's viewing spaces overlook the Seto Inland Sea and Takamatsu. General entry is free; paid exhibitions and transport are extra. Connect from a station below to a summit shuttle and arrange your return journey.
- EntryGeneral entry is free. Paid exhibitions, parking and transport cost extra.
- HoursThe facility opens 09:00–17:00, extending to 21:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and the day before public holidays. It closes Tuesdays, or the next weekday when Tuesday is a public holiday. Late opening does not mean return buses run late.
- DirectionsTake a Yashima Sanjo shuttle from JR Yashima or Kotoden Yashima Station, then follow facility signs on foot. The official ten-minute walk starts at the summit tourist car park. After alighting at Yashima Sanjo, identify the car park, Yashimaji Temple and number 11 Yashimāru on the official summit map, then take the Yashimāru path. Check the leaflet's main-entrance location. Allow separate route-finding and walking time after alighting. Adult one-way shuttle fares are JPY 340 from JR Yashima or JPY 300 from Kotoden Yashima. Choose outward and downward services together from the official timetable. The direct service from Takamatsu Station stand 7 costs JPY 700 one way and runs subject to Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and specified school-holiday conditions, not every weekday. Yashima Sanjo Kanko parking lot · 屋島山上観光駐車場
Official walk from tourist car park to facilityCurrent Yashimāru opening informationCurrent shuttle fares and timetableOfficial Yashima summit mapYashimāru shuttle access and main-entrance plan
Naoshima Miyanoura Port
Miyanoura Port直島 宮浦港
For Naoshima, choose a Miyanoura sailing from Takamatsu Port. This differs from the Uno Port route.
- FareAdult one-way fares are JPY 680 for the ferry or JPY 1,590 for the high-speed boat. Two one-way ferry fares total JPY 1,360 return.
- Outward and return sailingsCheck your date's outward and last return services in the official sailing timetable. Tickets and offices differ by vessel type; check current operations and capacity.
- BoardingOfficial port access is about five minutes' walk from JR Takamatsu or three from Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko. Ferry tickets go on sale 40 minutes before departure; high-speed tickets go on sale 30 minutes before, at separate offices about three minutes apart on foot. Identify the correct office first. Shikoku Kisen does not take regular boarding reservations; boarding is first come, first served. Weather and sea conditions may delay or cancel sailings.
Chichu Art Museum
地中美術館
Choose Chichu Art Museum for Monet's Water Lilies and Tadao Ando's architecture. Most of the building is underground, but natural light changes the appearance of art and spaces over time. Book dated, timed admission, then arrange return boats and island buses.
- Admission and bookingOnline adult admission is JPY 2,500 weekdays or JPY 2,700 Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. On-site prices are JPY 2,800 and JPY 3,000 respectively; ages 15 and under enter free. Book a date and time. On-site tickets are not sold when online admission is sold out.
- Opening hoursThe museum opens 10:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:00. It closes Mondays, or the following day when Monday is a public holiday. Maintenance closure runs 12 January–19 March 2027; do not schedule Chichu then. For other dates, check both the opening calendar and booking screen.
- Directions from the portTake the town bus from Miyanoura to Tsutsujiso, then the free shuttle to Chichu Ticket Center. G marks the Ticket Center and shuttle stop on the official Benesse House area map. Walk southwest towards the separately marked museum. Reaching the Ticket Center is not museum admission. Allow the entrance walk and queue separately, choosing a bus that reaches your booked slot in time.
- Art and architectureSee Monet's Water Lilies in Tadao Ando's building, with the art and spaces changing in appearance under natural light.
Facility and bookingDate-specific opening calendarChichu Art Museum 2027 maintenance closure noticeTown busFree shuttleOfficial Chichu Ticket Center and museum access map
Frequently asked questions
Which station serves Ritsurin Garden?
Walk about seven minutes towards the east gate from Kotoden Ritsurinkoen, or three towards the north gate from JR Ritsurinkoen-Kitaguchi. These are separate stations; ticketing and viewing are extra.
Is the main shrine ten minutes from Kotohira Station?
Ten minutes is the station-to-approach walk. The main shrine needs a 785-step climb, with the official hour applying to the ascent. Allow descent and rests separately.
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 ·
- Walking-route precautions ·
- Official walk from tourist car park to facility ·
- Current Yashimāru opening information ·
- Current shuttle fares and timetable ·
- Facility and booking ·
- Date-specific opening calendar ·
- Town bus ·
- Free shuttle ·
- Takamatsu–Miyanoura timetable, fares and boarding points ·
- Ritsurin Garden pines, ponds and walking scenery ·
- Takamatsu City: Tamamo Park's seawater moat ·
- Chichu Art Museum 2027 maintenance closure notice ·
- Official Yashima summit map ·
- Yashimāru shuttle access and main-entrance plan ·
- Official Chichu Ticket Center and museum access map ·