Two days and one night: stay in Takamatsu or Kotohira?
Stay one night in Takamatsu for garden, castle and harbour walks. For a shrine-focused trip, stay in Kotohira and climb next day. Reduce or omit day-two visits for a final morning departure.
Choose a 1 night, 2 days itinerary
Walk within Takamatsu
Spend one night in Takamatsu for garden, castle-site and harbour walks.
Walk within Takamatsu →1 night, 2 daysStay in Kotohira
Spend one night in Kotohira to rest near the shrine approach and climb to the main shrine the next day.
Stay in Kotohira →Walk within Takamatsu
Spend one night in Takamatsu for garden, castle-site and harbour walks.
Day 1 · Tamamo Park and Takamatsu Port
Visit the park and harbour around arrival. If the gate hours do not fit, move the park to another visiting day.
- Takamatsu accommodation and JR Takamatsu Station → Tamamo Park entrance
Walk about 3 minutes from JR Takamatsu Station to Tamamo Park. A late arrival outside gate hours may prevent a visit today.
Current admission and gate hoursTakamatsu City visiting guide
- Tamamo Park → Takamatsu Port and accommodation
Explore the castle site and moat, then walk by the harbour. Eat near the station and go to your booked accommodation.
Current admission and gate hoursTakamatsu City visiting guide
Park gates close at different times. Check the gate you will use.
Day 2 · Ritsurin Garden
Walk Ritsurin Garden on the final day and return to Takamatsu-Chikko by Kotoden. Choose the visit and return train around your departure.
- Accommodation in Takamatsu → Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station
Go to Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko, a different station from JR Takamatsu. From Kawaramachi accommodation, you can start at nearby Kotoden Kawaramachi, but check that segment’s fare.
- Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen Station
Take a train towards Kotohira and alight at Ritsurin-Koen. Adult fare: JPY 250 one way; the stated costs include JPY 500 return from Takamatsu-Chikko. Choose your travel-date service from the official timetable.
Kotohira Line timetableCurrent timetable listTakamatsu-Chikko fares
- Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen Station → Ritsurin Garden east gate and garden
The official 7-minute walk is from Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen Station to the garden. Use the east gate, buy admission and explore. Do not confuse it with north-gate access from JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi. Adult admission: JPY 500; October hours 06:00–17:30. Ticketing, visiting and rest are excluded from the 7 minutes. Recheck other months and storm-warning notices.
- Ritsurin Garden and east gate → Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen Station
Leave through the east gate and retrace your walk to Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen Station. Allow time to reach the gate from within the garden and walk about 7 minutes to the station.
- Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen Station → Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station
Take a Takamatsu-Chikko-bound train from Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen. After arrival, continue to your next destination.
- Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Your booked departure boarding point
Add accommodation access if you need to stop there. For the airport, go to JR Takamatsu Station and board the airport limousine at bus stand 3. Adult JPY 1,300 is excluded from stated costs. Choose the official operating date/expected arrival around flight check-in deadlines. Intercity JR trains depart JR Takamatsu; Kotoden trains depart Takamatsu-Chikko.
Airport limousine use and monthly changesAirport limousine fares and city boarding points
Garden opening/closing times vary by month. Distinguish east- and north-gate departure stations.
Included items: The subtotal includes JPY 500 for Ritsurin Garden, JPY 300 for Tamamo Park and JPY 500 for return Kotoden trains between Takamatsu-Chikko and Ritsurin-Koen.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport transfers, separately used accommodation-to-station/boarding-point transport and extra travel cost more. Garden boats and tea houses are excluded.
For one adult, with Kotoden starting at Takamatsu-Chikko. Check your segment’s fare if starting elsewhere.
Fees and seasonal hoursCurrent admission and gate hoursTakamatsu-Chikko fares
Stay in Kotohira
Spend one night in Kotohira to rest near the shrine approach and climb to the main shrine the next day.
Day 1 · Kotohira shrine-approach shopping street
Walk the approach’s shopping street and rest in town on arrival. Climb the main-shrine steps tomorrow.
- Takamatsu arrival point and Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Kotoden Kotohira Station
Take a Kotohira-bound train from Takamatsu-Chikko to Kotoden Kotohira. It differs from JR Kotohira Station; distinguish names in booking screens and accommodation directions.
Kotohira Line timetableCurrent timetable listStation-to-approach and steps guide
- Kotoden Kotohira Station → Omotesando and shrine-approach shops
Tourism guidance gives about 10 minutes on foot from Kotoden Kotohira to Omotesando, not from your accommodation or to the main shrine. Explore the shops, allow a meal at an open restaurant and exclude the shrine climb today. Then rest at your booked Kotohira accommodation.
Rest around the approach shops today; climb the main-shrine steps tomorrow.
Day 2 · Kotohira-gu main shrine
Visit the main shrine after your Kotohira overnight stay, then return to Kotoden Kotohira for a Takamatsu-bound train.
- First steps of the shrine approach → Kotohira-gu main shrine
The main-shrine gate opens 07:00–17:00. Official guidance gives about 1 hour one way to climb 785 steps from the first step. Descending, rests and accommodation-to-start access need extra time.
- Kotohira-gu main shrine → First approach steps and shopping street
Descend along the same approach. The official 1 hour describes the climb; do not assume the same descent time. Eat in the shopping street if there is time before your train.
- Kotoden Kotohira Station → Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station
Return from Kotoden Kotohira on a Takamatsu-Chikko-bound train. Adult fare: JPY 780 one way; JPY 1,560 return is included. Choose your date’s return from the official timetable. Airport access after Takamatsu-Chikko costs extra.
Kotohira Line timetableKotohira return faresCurrent timetable list
- Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Your booked departure boarding point
Move from Takamatsu-Chikko to JR Takamatsu. Airport buses leave JR station stand 3; adult JPY 1,300 is excluded. Choose a timetable service matching flight check-in deadlines. For another city, check JR trains from JR Takamatsu.
Airport limousine use and monthly changesAirport limousine fares and city boarding points
Both ascent and descent need stamina and time. For a final morning departure, move the shrine visit to an earlier day.
Included items: The subtotal includes JPY 1,560 for return Kotoden trains between Takamatsu-Chikko and Kotohira.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport transfers, separately used accommodation-to-station/boarding-point transport and extra travel cost more. Kotohira-gu’s subsidiary halls and prayers are excluded.
For one adult, with Kotoden starting at Takamatsu-Chikko. Check your segment’s fare if starting elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Do listed admission/transport costs include accommodation and meals?
No. Takamatsu’s JPY 1,300 includes one adult’s two park entries totalling JPY 800 and return Kotoden to Ritsurin-Koen JPY 500. Kotohira’s JPY 1,560 covers only return Kotoden. 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 guide ·
- Current admission and gate hours ·
- Takamatsu City visiting guide ·
- Official shrine hours ·
- Station-to-approach and steps guide ·
- 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 ·