If you visit Kagawa prefecture in Japan, first try udon (thick Japanese noodles). Speaking of Kagawa, “udon” is famous. There are many delicious udon restaurants in Kagawa Prefecture. It is popular not only with locals but also with tourists.
On this page, we will guide you through your trip to Kagawa, including its charms, places to visit and things to do.
Table of Contents
Outline of Kagawa
Map of Kagawa
Geography and Climate
Kagawa Prefecture is located in the northeastern part of Shikoku. This prefecture, together with Okayama Prefecture on the other side of the Seto Inland Sea, is easy to spend with a temperate climate.
The Sanuki Plains stretch out into all the north, and all the Seto Inland Sea is dotted with 116 islands of any size, including Shodo shima Island.
Major cities such as Takamatsu city are in the Sanuki Plain. In the southern part of the prefecture, mountains ranging in altitude of 1000 meters are connected.
The center of Kagawa Prefecture is Takamatsu City. This city was founded and has prospered as a castle city since Takamatsu Castle was built here in 1588.
With the opening of the Great Seto Bridge in 1988, it was connected to Honshu by land. As a result, Takamatsu has become an important gateway to Shikoku and a convenient starting point for exploring Shikoku.
Access
Airport
There is Takamatsu Airport in Kagawa Prefecture. At this airport, scheduled flights are operated with the following airports.
International flights
Seoul / Incheon
Shanghai / Pudong
Taipei / Taoyuan
Hong Kong
Domestic flights
Tokyo / Haneda
Tokyo / Narita
Okinawa / Naha
From Takamatsu Airport, it takes 40 minutes by direct bus to JR Takamatsu station.
Railway
Shinkansen is not operated in Kagawa Prefecture. However, Kagawa Prefecture is the gateway to Shikoku Island. From Takamatsu station, Yosan line and Kotoku line are operated. And from Tadotsu station, Dosan line is operated.
There are several passes available for efficient travel in Shikoku. >>Click here for details.
Udon
Authentic Sanuki Udon in Takamatsu City, Kagawa, Japan = shutterstock
It may be a bit odd, but if you go to Kagawa prefecture, I recommend that you eat udon before first going to a sightseeing spot. Udon is a cheap, delicious and healthy dish.
People in Kagawa Prefecture love udon. There are a lot of udon restaurants in this area. Of course, they eat udon at home. A lot of udon is sold at the supermarket.
I have been to Takamatsu city and Marugame city many times. When I go to a udon restaurant in this area, people eat udon really deliciously. It is a very fun scenery. When I see this scene, I realize that I came to Kagawa prefecture.
>>Please check Udon restaurant information on Trip Advisor!
Benesse Art Site Naoshima
Naoshima Island view Towards Ocean with Clouds and Sky and Fores = shutterstock
Kagawa prefecture faces the calm Seto Inland Sea. On the offshore islands there are art museums related to “Benesse Art Site Naoshima”. Recently, these islands are very popular among tourists.
“Benesse Art Site Naoshima” is the collective name for all art-related activities on the islands of Naoshima and Teshima in Kagawa Prefecture and on Inujima island in Okayama Prefecture.
Naoshima, in particular, is an art lover’s paradise. This tiny island is dotted with contemporary art museums, galleries and installations. The Benesse House Museum and the Chichu Art Museum are must-see attractions in Naoshima.
I introduced Benesse Art Site Naoshima in an article about Japanese museum.
>>If you want to know the tour menu of Naoshima, click here!
Chichibugahama Beach
Chichibugahama in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku = Shutterstock
Chichibugahama is a popular spot for taking pictures like the Uyuni Salt Lake, a famous sightseeing spot in Bolivia, South America. This is a beach about 1 km long along the coastline of Mitoyo City in the western part of Kagawa Prefecture.
In the past, it was a healing beach where only locals could leisurely watch the sunset or come for a swim in the summer. In recent years, however, Chichibugahama Beach has become a very popular spot since the beautiful photos taken at sunset became a hot topic on social media.
To take photogenic photos at Chichibugahama Beach, you need some tricks. Please refer to the following.
Timing
・Days when low tide and sunset overlap
*Please check >>Tide table of Mitoyo City Tourism Exchange Bureau HP
・Days when there is no wind and the surface of the water is not rippling
・Magic Hour just before or after sunset
Shooting method
・Hold the camera just above the surface of the water
・Position the photographer just in front of the tide pool
・The person in the picture is positioned on the sea side of the tide pool
・ Take a pose with a small number of people, or capture the moment when you move a lot!
Chichibugahama beach recedes about 500m at low tide, so you can walk to the sea level offshore. When taking pictures, it is recommended to take off your shoes and walk barefoot.
>>Please check the Chichibugahama beach information on Trip Advisor!
Ritsurin Garden
Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture = Shutterstock
Ritsurin Garden, located in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, is a Japanese garden that is highly appreciated by foreign tourists. It was built in the late 16th century. Since then, the successive daimyos who ruled this land have been developing. With a land area of 750,000 square meters including the mountains behind it, this garden has many old trees from that time. In the latter half of November, the autumn colors are spectacular.
>>Please check the Ritsurin Garden information on Trip Advisor!
Marugame Castle
Marugame Castle
Marugame Castle is a landmark of Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture. It is one of only 12 wooden castle towers in Japan and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The stone wall of Marugame Castle is about 60m high, which is the highest in Japan. Its characteristic curve is a unique one called “slope of the fan”.
A beautiful castle in harmony with the surrounding nature. You can also take a tour inside, and the view of the Seto Inland Sea from the top floor is especially spectacular.
>>Please check the Marugame Castle information on Trip Advisor!
Thank you for reading to the end.
If you want to check the tour menu and deals for the entire Kagawa prefecture, click here.
Now, let’s plan to make your vacation in Japan the best experience ever!
Back to "Best of Shikoku Region"
