Three days and two nights: Kotohira or Yashima?
Choose Kotohira for main-shrine worship and shops on day two, or Yashimaru for elevated sea/city views. Kotohira uses return Kotoden; Yashimaru uses a shuttle from JR Yashima. Keep two Takamatsu nights and split garden/castle visits across the surrounding days.
Choose a 2 nights, 3 days itinerary
Garden and Kotohira return trip
Spend two nights in Takamatsu for a garden walk and main-shrine visit, with Kotohira on the middle day.
Garden and Kotohira return trip →2 nights, 3 daysYashima views and Takamatsu
Spend two nights in Takamatsu with Yashima on the middle day for mountain views alongside the garden and castle site.
Yashima views and Takamatsu →Garden and Kotohira return trip
Spend two nights in Takamatsu for a garden walk and main-shrine visit, with Kotohira on the middle day.
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 · Kotohira-gu main shrine
Visit Kotohira-gu’s main shrine, explore the shops and return to Takamatsu. Allow climbing, descent, meals and rest time together.
- Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station → Kotoden Kotohira Station
Take a Kotohira-bound train from Takamatsu-Chikko to its terminus, Kotoden Kotohira, distinct from JR Kotohira. Choose both services in Kotoden’s official timetable.
Kotohira Line timetableCurrent timetable listStation-to-approach and steps guide
- Kotoden Kotohira Station → Shrine-approach entrance
Walk about 10 minutes from Kotoden Kotohira to Omotesando. The stair climb to the main shrine is excluded from that time.
- First steps of the shrine approach → Kotohira-gu main shrine and shops
Official guidance gives about 1 hour one way for the 785-step climb from the first step, plus descent and rest. After the shrine, eat and rest in the shopping street before returning to the station.
Station-to-approach and steps guideWalking-route precautionsOfficial shrine hours
- Kotoden Kotohira Station → Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station
Take a Takamatsu-Chikko-bound train from Kotoden Kotohira. Eat dinner in Takamatsu and rest at the same accommodation.
Allow ascent, descent and rest time for the main-shrine steps.
Day 3 · Ritsurin Garden
After yesterday’s Kotohira trip, walk Ritsurin Garden on your final day and return to Takamatsu-Chikko.
- 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 return Kotoden trains from Takamatsu-Chikko: JPY 500 to Ritsurin-Koen and JPY 1,560 to Kotohira.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport transfers, separately used accommodation-to-station/boarding-point transport and extra travel cost more. Garden boats/tea houses and Kotohira-gu subsidiary halls/prayers 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 faresKotohira return fares
Yashima views and Takamatsu
Spend two nights in Takamatsu with Yashima on the middle day for mountain views alongside the garden and castle site.
Day 1 · Ritsurin Garden
First check whether arrival leaves enough time before that day’s garden closing. For late arrival, move the garden and adjust that day’s travel too.
- Your booked Takamatsu accommodation → Takamatsu-Chikko and Ritsurin-Koen stations
Take a Kotohira-direction Kotoden train from Takamatsu-Chikko to Ritsurin-Koen. Walk towards the east gate. If late arrival leaves too little visiting time, swap the garden with another day.
- Ritsurin-Koen Station → Ritsurin Garden east gate
Walk about 7 minutes to the east gate. Ticketing, visiting and rest need extra time. Compare arrival with that month’s closing to decide if there is enough time.
Fees and seasonal hoursOfficial access guideKotohira Line timetable
- Ritsurin Garden and Ritsurin-Koen Station → Accommodation in Takamatsu
Return from the same station towards Takamatsu-Chikko. You may alight at Kawaramachi for food, but recheck that segment’s fare. Then return to your Takamatsu accommodation.
Garden opening/closing times vary by month. Distinguish east- and north-gate departure stations.
Day 2 · Yashimaru
Go from your accommodation to JR Takamatsu Station.
- Takamatsu accommodation and JR Takamatsu Station → Yashima summit shuttle stop outside JR Yashima Station
Take a JR Kotoku Line local train towards Hiketa from Takamatsu and alight at Yashima. Leave the gates for the station-front summit shuttle stop. Compare your date’s JR and shuttle timetables and allow transfer time.
- Outside JR Yashima Station → Yashima-Sanjo stop and Yashimaru
Take the summit shuttle to its terminus at Yashima-Sanjo. Locate the tourist car park, Yashimaji and number 11 Yashimaru on the official summit map, then follow the path to Yashimaru’s main entrance. Its leaflet marks that entrance separately. Beyond the official 10-minute walk from the tourist car park, allow time after alighting to find your route. See the views, eat and rest on the summit. Paid exhibits and food are excluded from stated costs.
Current shuttle fares and timetableOfficial walk from tourist parking to the facilityYashimaru current operationOfficial Yashima summit mapYashimaru shuttle access and main-entrance plan
- Yashimaru → Yashima-Sanjo stop and JR Yashima Station
Return to the summit stop and take a JR Yashima Station-bound shuttle. Late facility hours do not mean a matching last shuttle; choose your return bus first.
- JR Yashima Station → JR Takamatsu Station and the same accommodation
Take a Takamatsu-bound local train from JR Yashima, then eat and rest at the same accommodation. Return local-train JPY 560 plus station-start shuttle JPY 680 total JPY 1,240. Limited express travel needs an extra charge.
Yashimaru closes Tuesdays or the next weekday if Tuesday is a public holiday. Evening opening and evening shuttles are separate; check both the facility calendar and bus notices.
Day 3 · Tamamo Park
Finish at Tamamo Park the day after Yashima’s views, then move to Takamatsu Station or the port.
- Accommodation in Takamatsu → Tamamo Park west gate
Navigate from your accommodation to the west gate near JR Takamatsu/Takamatsu-Chikko. The official 3 minutes is from the JR station, not your accommodation. City guidance places the west gate by these stations and the east gate by parking/the prefectural museum.
Takamatsu City visiting guideCurrent admission and gate hours
- Tamamo Park west gate → Park visit and west gate
Pay JPY 300 adult admission and explore the castle site and moat. October gates: west 06:00–17:30, east 08:30–17:00. Other months differ by gate; closed 29–31 December. Use the west gate you entered to plan your accommodation return. Do not include both sightseeing and lunch before a morning departure.
Takamatsu City visiting guideCurrent admission and gate hours
- Your booked Takamatsu accommodation after visiting → Your booked departure boarding point
For the airport, board the limousine at JR Takamatsu stand 3. Adult JPY 1,300 is excluded. Choose official operating dates/expected arrivals around flight check-in deadlines. Intercity JR trains leave JR Takamatsu; Kotoden trains leave Takamatsu-Chikko.
Airport limousine use and monthly changesAirport limousine fares and city boarding points
Check closing times by gate. For early departure, visit the park earlier and go to the station.
Included items: The subtotal includes JPY 500 for Ritsurin Garden, JPY 300 for Tamamo Park, JPY 500 for return Kotoden trains to Ritsurin-Koen, JPY 560 for return JR trains between Takamatsu and Yashima and JPY 680 for return shuttles between the station and summit.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport transfers, separately used accommodation-to-station/boarding-point transport and extra travel cost more. Garden boats/tea houses and Yashimaru paid exhibits/parking are excluded.
For one adult, with Kotoden starting at Takamatsu-Chikko; check other starting fares separately. Daily totals: garden/Kotoden JPY 1,000 first, Yashima JR/shuttle JPY 1,240 second, Tamamo Park JPY 300 last, totalling JPY 2,540.
Fees and seasonal hoursCurrent admission and gate hoursTakamatsu-Chikko faresJR fare tableCurrent shuttle fares and timetable
Frequently asked questions
Does Yashimaru’s late opening mean late buses?
Evening opening and shuttles are separate. This course descends in the afternoon; staying into the evening needs a separately confirmed travel-date return.
Yashimaru current operationCurrent shuttle fares and timetable
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 ·
- Walking-route precautions ·
- Official walk from tourist parking to the facility ·
- Yashimaru current operation ·
- Current shuttle fares and timetable ·
- Current timetable list ·
- Kotohira Line timetable ·
- Takamatsu-Chikko fares ·
- Kotohira return fares ·
- JR fare table ·
- Airport limousine fares and city boarding points ·
- Airport limousine use and monthly changes ·
- JR Shikoku station/line timetables ·
- Official Yashima summit map ·
- Yashimaru shuttle access and main-entrance plan ·