Which Kagawa attractions should you choose?
For a leisurely walk among pines and ponds, choose Ritsurin Garden. For castle ruins and a moat beside the harbor, visit Tamamo Park. Climb the stone steps to Kotohiragu’s main shrine, or look over the Seto Inland Sea from Yashimāru. For Monet’s paintings alongside architecture, choose Chichu Art Museum on Naoshima. Each visit needs different time and transportation, from shrine steps and summit shuttles to museum reservations and boats.
Attraction Fees and Directions
Ritsurin Garden
栗林公園
Take your time among Ritsurin Garden’s pines and ponds. The view changes as you follow the paths and look across the garden from different angles. Admission does not include boat rides or the teahouse. Match your station to the East or North Gate to make the return trip easier.
- AdmissionAdmission costs ¥500 for adults and ¥170 for elementary and junior high school students; preschool children enter free. Boat rides and the teahouse cost extra.
- HoursIn October, the garden opens 6:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. It opens 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in January and December, 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. in February, 6:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. in March, 5:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. in April–May, 5:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. in June–August, 5:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. in September, and 6:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in November. The garden may close temporarily during a storm warning.
- Getting thereFrom Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen Station, walk about 7 minutes toward the East Gate. From JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station, walk about 3 minutes toward the North Gate. These are the official access walking estimates; allow additional time for traffic lights, tickets, and your garden visit. Stations with “Ritsurin” in their names are separate stations.
- What to seeWalk among the pines and ponds to see how the garden changes with your viewing angle.
Fees and Seasonal HoursOfficial Access GuideRitsurin Garden’s Pines, Ponds, and Walking Scenery
Tamamo Park
玉藻公園
For castle ruins and moats near the harbor, visit Tamamo Park. Its moat draws in seawater. This is not a castle keep interior tour, and opening hours depend on the gate you use.
- AdmissionGeneral admission is ¥300. Check the official conditions for free admission for visitors under 18 and students.
- HoursIn October, the West Gate opens 6:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and the East Gate opens 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Gate hours change in other months. The park closes December 29–31.
- Getting thereWalk about 3 minutes from JR Takamatsu Station; the park is beside Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station. Remember which gate you entered through to find your way back to the harbor or station.
- What to seeExplore the former Takamatsu Castle grounds and the seawater moat.
Current Admission and Gate-Specific HoursTakamatsu City Visitor GuideTakamatsu City: Tamamo Park’s Seawater Moat
Kotohiragu Shrine
金刀比羅宮
In Kotohira, follow the shopping street on the shrine approach, then climb to Kotohiragu’s main shrine. The main shrine is 785 stone steps up. Choose a day trip or an overnight stay with time for the shrine, shops, ascent, descent, and rest breaks.
- Separate admission chargesThe shrine approach and its associated museums have different visitor arrangements. Museum admission and prayer fees are separate. Check each museum’s official admission prices and hours before visiting.
- Shrine hoursThe Great Gate opens 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; the main shrine gate opens 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The official estimate from the first stone step to the main shrine is about 1 hour one way. Add time for the descent and breaks. Check the shrine’s official hours.
- Getting thereFrom JR Kotohira Station or Kotoden Kotohira Station, walk about 10 minutes to the shrine approach. This does not mean the main shrine is 10 minutes from the station. Follow the designated pedestrian approach; do not take a vehicle road where walking is prohibited.
Shrine’s Official HoursStation-to-Approach Walk and StairsWalking-Route Cautions
Yashimāru
やしまーる
Yashimāru’s observation spaces look out over the Seto Inland Sea and Takamatsu. General admission is free; paid exhibitions and transportation cost extra. You need to connect from a station below the mountain to a summit shuttle, so plan the trip back down too.
- AdmissionGeneral admission is free. Paid exhibitions, parking, and transportation are separate.
- HoursYashimāru opens 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. It stays open until 9:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and days before public holidays. It closes Tuesdays, or the next weekday when Tuesday is a public holiday. Late opening does not mean the return bus runs late.
- Getting thereFrom JR Yashima Station or Kotoden Yashima Station, take the shuttle to Yashima Sanjo, then follow signs on the summit to the facility. The official walking estimate of about 10 minutes starts at Yashima Sanjo Kanko parking lot. After getting off at Yashima Sanjo, locate the tourist parking lot, Yashimaji Temple, and Yashimāru (number 11) on the official summit map, then follow the walking path toward Yashimāru. Check the main entrance on the facility leaflet too. Allow extra time to find the path and walk after getting off. Adult one-way shuttle fares are ¥340 from JR Yashima Station and ¥300 from Kotoden Yashima Station. Choose both the outbound summit shuttle and the return service from the official timetable for your visit date. The direct bus from Takamatsu Station stop 7 costs ¥700 one way and runs under Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, and specified school-break conditions; do not assume it runs every weekday. Yashima Sanjo Kanko parking lot · 屋島山上観光駐車場
Official Walk from Sightseeing Parking to the FacilityCurrent Yashimaru OperationsCurrent Shuttle Fares and TimetableOfficial Yashima Summit MapYashimaru Shuttle Access and Main Entrance Layout
Miyanoura Port on Naoshima
Miyanoura Port直島 宮浦港
To visit Naoshima from Takamatsu, choose a boat from Takamatsu Port to Miyanoura. This is a different route from boats departing Uno Port.
- FaresAdult one-way fares are ¥680 for the ferry and ¥1,590 for the high-speed boat. Two one-way ferry fares total ¥1,360 round trip.
- Outbound and return sailingsCheck the official route timetable for your outbound sailing and final return on your visit date. Boat types use different tickets and sales counters. Confirm service status and whether the boat is full on the day.
- BoardingThe official walking estimates to the port are about 5 minutes from JR Takamatsu Station and about 3 minutes from Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station. Ferry tickets go on sale 40 minutes before departure; high-speed boat tickets go on sale 30 minutes before departure at a different counter. The two counters are about 3 minutes apart on foot, so identify the counter for your boat first. Shikoku Kisen does not accept ordinary passenger boarding reservations; boarding is first come, first served. Weather and sea conditions can cause delays or cancellations.
Chichu Art Museum
地中美術館
Visit Chichu Art Museum to see Monet’s Water Lilies and Tadao Ando’s architecture together. Most of the building is underground, but natural light changes the appearance of its artworks and spaces throughout the day. Reserve admission for a specific date and time, then coordinate your outbound and return boats and island buses.
- Admission and reservationsOnline adult admission costs ¥2,500 on weekdays and ¥2,700 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. On-site prices are ¥2,800 and ¥3,000 respectively. Visitors 15 and under enter free. Reserve a date and time. On-site tickets are not sold when online tickets are sold out.
- HoursThe museum opens 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:00 p.m. It closes Mondays, or the following day when Monday is a public holiday. The museum closes for maintenance January 12–March 19, 2027; do not include a visit during that period. For other dates, check both the opening calendar and reservation screen.
- Getting there from the portFrom Miyanoura Port, take the town bus to Tsutsuji-so, then the free shuttle to the Chichu Ticket Center. On the official map around Benesse House, G marks the ticket center and shuttle stop. Follow the pedestrian path toward Chichu Art Museum, shown separately to the southwest. Arriving at the ticket center is not the same as entering the museum. Allow time to walk to the entrance and wait for admission, and choose a bus that gets you there for your reservation.
- Art and architectureSee Monet’s Water Lilies in a building designed by Tadao Ando. Natural light changes the appearance of the artworks and spaces.
Facility and ReservationsDate-Specific Opening CalendarChichu Art Museum’s 2027 Maintenance Closure NoticeTown BusFree ShuttleOfficial Chichu Ticket Center and Museum Access Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Which station should I use for Ritsurin Garden?
From Kotoden Ritsurin-Koen Station, walk about 7 minutes toward the East Gate. From JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station, walk about 3 minutes toward the North Gate. These are separate stations. Allow additional time for tickets and your garden visit.
Is the main shrine only ten minutes from Kotohira Station?
The roughly 10-minute walk is from the station to the shrine approach. From the first step, you need to climb 785 steps to the main shrine. The official estimate of about 1 hour is for the ascent. Add time for the descent and breaks.
Official Sources and Verification Dates
- Fees and Seasonal Hours ·
- Official Access Guide ·
- Current Admission and Gate-Specific Hours ·
- Takamatsu City Visitor Guide ·
- Shrine’s Official Hours ·
- Station-to-Approach Walk and Stairs ·
- Walking-Route Cautions ·
- Official Walk from Sightseeing Parking to the Facility ·
- Current Yashimaru Operations ·
- Current Shuttle Fares and Timetable ·
- Facility and Reservations ·
- Date-Specific Opening Calendar ·
- Town Bus ·
- Free Shuttle ·
- Takamatsu–Miyanoura Timetable, Fares, and Boarding Points ·
- Ritsurin Garden’s Pines, Ponds, and Walking Scenery ·
- Takamatsu City: Tamamo Park’s Seawater Moat ·
- Chichu Art Museum’s 2027 Maintenance Closure Notice ·
- Official Yashima Summit Map ·
- Yashimaru Shuttle Access and Main Entrance Layout ·
- Official Chichu Ticket Center and Museum Access Map ·