Where to stay and what to choose first in Kagawa

Near Takamatsu Station and Takamatsu Port

The station/port area in Kagawa Prefecture (香川県) suits JR and ferry connections. Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station is also here but is separate from JR Takamatsu Station. A harbour-area hotel does not have the same walking distance to every boat’s boarding point.

Takamatsu–Miyanoura timetable, fares and boarding points2026-10-08Current admission and gate hours2026-10-09

Near Kawaramachi

Kawaramachi suits shopping-street meals and Kotoden journeys within the city or towards Kotohira. On ferry days, travel to the port first.

Kotohira Line timetable2026-10-08Takamatsu-Chikko fares2026-10-08

Kotohira

Choose Kotohira for a night in the neighbourhood after the shrine approach, rather than rushing back to the station. Compare all-Takamatsu stays separately from a course with one Kotohira night.

Station-to-approach and steps guide2026-10-08Walking-route precautions2026-10-08Kotohira Line timetable2026-10-08

Tamamo Park and Takamatsu Port on arrival

Start near the station with the castle site/moat, then walk the harbour. If late, check gate opening and move the park to another day. A harbour stroll differs from boarding a boat.

Current admission and gate hours2026-10-09Takamatsu City visiting guide2026-10-08

Ritsurin’s pines and ponds

Follow garden paths among pines and ponds. Use the east gate from Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen or north gate from JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi, two separate stations. October closes at 17:30. On departure day, allow the walk back to your station.

Official access guide2026-10-08Fees and seasonal hours2026-10-09

Kotohira shrine and shopping-street walks

Climb 785 steps for Kotohira-gu’s main shrine. Rest at the shops during a day trip, or stay overnight and climb next morning. Official roughly 1 hour is one-way ascent from the first step, excluding descent/rest. Choose around the return train and final departure.

Official shrine hours2026-10-08Station-to-approach and steps guide2026-10-08

Yashima and Naoshima need different return connections

Yashima needs a downhill shuttle; Naoshima connects a museum shuttle, town bus and ferry. Yashimaru’s late opening does not mean equally late return buses. To see both, use separate days such as the four-night Takamatsu course.

Yashimaru current operation2026-10-09Current shuttle fares and timetable2026-10-09Takamatsu–Miyanoura timetable, fares and boarding points2026-10-08Free shuttle2026-10-09Town bus2026-10-09

Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen → garden east gate

Walk about 7 minutes towards the east gate after alighting; ticketing and visiting are extra. For the north gate, start at JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi.

Official access guide2026-10-08

JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi → garden north gate

Walk about 3 minutes from the JR station towards the north gate, not 3 minutes from Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen. Choose your exit gate and return station beforehand too.

Official access guide2026-10-08

Takamatsu-Chikko → Kotohira → shrine approach

Take the Kotoden Kotohira Line to Kotohira and walk about 10 minutes to the approach. This is not station-to-main-shrine time; add the climb. Choose the Takamatsu-Chikko return train from the official timetable too.

Kotohira Line timetable2026-10-08Station-to-approach and steps guide2026-10-08Walking-route precautions2026-10-08

JR Yashima → Yashima-Sanjo → Yashimaru

Change at JR Yashima to the summit shuttle, adults JPY 340 one way/JPY 680 return. The official 10-minute walk starts at summit tourist parking. After alighting at Yashima-Sanjo, follow map number 11 towards Yashimaru. Check its main entrance in the leaflet and allow walking time. Choose downhill buses separately from facility hours.

Current shuttle fares and timetable2026-10-09Official walk from tourist parking to the facility2026-10-08Official Yashima summit map2026-10-09Yashimaru shuttle access and main-entrance plan2026-10-09

Takamatsu Port → Miyanoura → Tsutsuji-so → Chichu

After the Miyanoura ferry, take a town bus to Tsutsuji-so then a free Chichu-bound shuttle. Return shuttle→town bus→Takamatsu ferry. Ferry/high-speed counters differ; ordinary boarding is first come, first served. G on the official map is Chichu ticket centre/shuttle stop. Follow the path to the separately marked museum southwest of it; add the entrance walk and queue.

Takamatsu–Miyanoura timetable, fares and boarding points2026-10-08Town bus2026-10-09Free shuttle2026-10-09Facility and reservations2026-10-09Official Chichu ticket-centre/museum access map2026-10-09

Onward travel to other cities

Choose routes in the transport guide for destinations outside Kagawa. Budget inter-prefecture travel separately.

JR Shikoku station/line timetables2026-10-09

Separate All Shikoku train coverage from other transport

Eligible Kotoden/JR trains can use the pass, but Naoshima boats, town buses and Yashima shuttles cost extra. Ordinary tickets are cheaper for these Kagawa courses alone. If adding JR in other prefectures, recompare actual journeys and consecutive dates.

All Shikoku Pass revision for issues from 1 October 20262026-10-09All Shikoku Pass terms effective 1 October 20262026-10-09Takamatsu-Chikko fares2026-10-08Kotohira return fares2026-10-08JR fare table2026-10-08

What the Takamatsu Sunport camera shows

The original Sunport feed shows harbour water, quays and part of the waterfront path, based on CMS playback on 9 October 2026. It does not show park interiors, museums or island buses, or establish boat operation, capacity or boarding queues. Check Shikoku Kisen notices for services.

Sunport Takamatsu · サンポート高松

CMS Sunport official camera list2026-10-09CMS Sunport original camera feed2026-10-09Takamatsu–Miyanoura timetable, fares and boarding points2026-10-08