Kagawa may be the smallest prefecture in Japan, but it has a lot to offer. It’s home to 26 of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, the art islands Naoshima and Teshima, “olive island” Shodoshima, and the vibrant port city of Takamatsu. Just an hour by train from Okayama, Takamatsu provides visitors an easy gateway to the lesser-known of Japan’s four main islands. Here’s a quick guide.
Kagawa prefecture is connected to Okayama by the Seto Ohashi Bridge. Built in 1988, it’s the longest combined rail-road bridge in the world. The double decker design, with a highway on top and railway below, spans about 13 km (8 mi) across the Seto Inland Sea. From JR Okayama Station, you can take the Seto-Ohashi Line over the bridge right to Takamatsu Station. The journey takes just under an hour and costs 2,500 yen.
From Takamatsu Station, it’s a quick ride over to the 400-year-old Ritsurin Garden, one of the city’s biggest attractions. There are a couple of ways to get there, but one of the easiest is to take the Local Hiketa on the Kotoku Line to Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station. The train ride takes just 5 minutes (240 yen) and the North Gate of the garden is just a 3-minute walk from there. You could also take the Rainbow Loop bus (25 min; 200 yen) or walk (30 min) from the station to the garden.
During the Edo Period, Takamatsu (then known as the Sanuki Province) was a bustling castle town, ruled by the Matsudaira Clan. They were a powerful samurai family, originally from Mikawa Province (modern-day Aichi prefecture), and are said to be the lineage from where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, emerged.
During the family’s reign, they built a sprawling garden at the foot of Mount Shiun in Takamatsu, then a bustling castle town. Spanning 75 hectares (1855 acres), the strolling garden was the family’s private retreat for 11 generations. It features six ponds and 13 landscaped hills, and is full of beautiful trees, including thousands of pines.
Ritsurin was opened to the public in 1875 and is designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. It was also awarded three stars (“worth a special journey”) in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. Visitors can stroll the garden at their leisure, take boat rides on the ponds, and enjoy traditional sweets and beverages at the many restaurants and cafes.
It takes about 2-3 hours to see everything, but you could easily spend an entire day there depending on what you want to do. Tickets for the garden cost 500 yen and can be purchased at either of the two gates. The boat rides cost 850 yen and last 30 minutes. For more info on opening hours, which vary by season, check the website here.
After exploring the garden, I recommend exiting at the East Gate where, just outside, you will find the Ritsurin-An Gift Shop. Here, you can buy some really nice local products that are a little more upmarket than the ones you’ll find at the souvenir stores inside the garden. There’s a wide range of products made in Kagawa, from delicious food to local crafts. Some unique items include olive chocolate and liquor made from the plums that grow inside Ritsurin. The products change seasonally, so there’s always something new to discover.
From the Ritsurin-An Gift Shop, walk north until you get to Hachimandori, then make a right. At the second street, on your left, you’ll see the entrance to Tamachi Shopping Street. This covered shopping arcade eventually links up with Minamishinmachi Shopping Street, and then Marugamemachi Shopping Street, to make up one of the longest shopping arcades in Japan.
The 470-m (1542-ft) area has about 860 shops in total, including the recently-opened Pokemon Center. (Fun Fact: Slowpoke has been the official mascot of Kagawa since 2018. That’s because, in Japanese, Slowpoke is Yadon, which sounds like udon, which is the signature dish of Kagawa.) The Takamatsu Art Museum is also nearby, where you can see some cool exhibitions.
The shopping arcade runs all the way up near Takamatsu Castle, and just before you exit, you’ll walk through the central plaza, which is covered by a 20 m (66 ft) high glass dome. It’s said to have been inspired by the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy.
Walk for 10 more minutes and you’ll come to Takamatsu Castle Park. Takamatsu Castle was one of Japan’s rare “water castles,” with a seawater moat that draws directly from the Seto Inland Sea. The castle keep was destroyed during the Meiji Period, though there are plans to reconstruct it, and few of the original buildings remain, but it’s still a sight to behold. It’s placement provides a stark contrast between 16th century architecture and that of modern times. You can see the original moats and walls, along with the Asahimon Gate and the Ushitora and Tsukimi turrets.
There’s also an exhibition hall, which was constructed in 1917 as a residence and government office, where tea ceremony and ikebana classes are now held. The castle park also features a garden, and a canal where you can take a boat tour. Tickets cost 200 yen for the castle park and 500 yen for the boat tour.
To the east of the castle park, about a 10-min walk away, is Kitahama Alley. This historic row of warehouses has been converted into a modern shopping street with cafes, shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Its a quiet, cozy spot where you can grab a coffee or meal and browse some arts and crafts at the end of a long afternoon.
From Kitahama Alley, it’s just a 15-minute walk back to Takamatsu Station. If you have some time, you can head to Takamatsu Symbol Tower, which is just a block north of the station. On the 29th floor, there’s an observation space where you can take in some georgeous views of the city and the Seto Inland Sea. If not, there’s always the souvenir stores inside the station for a quick browse before you catch your train.
There’s plenty more to see and do in Takamatsu, and Kagawa as a whole, but if you’re short on time and aren’t staying in the area, this day-long walking tour is a great way to get a feel for the city and experience some of its top attractions. All the ticket prices cited in this article are current as of December 2025 and all the places mentioned are starred on the map below.
