Takamatsu City: Walking the Gateway of Shikoku and the Sacred Ground of Sanuki Udon

Takamatsu City, the capital of Kagawa Prefecture, is Shikoku's gateway facing the Seto Inland Sea. Flourishing as a transport hub linking Honshu and Shikoku, it is a city rich in tourism resources such as Ritsurin Garden, the Takamatsu Castle ruins, and ferry routes to the Seto Inland Sea islands. As the heart of Udon Prefecture, it is an ideal base for Seto Inland Sea travel where sightseeing and gourmet food can be enjoyed at once.

Michelin Three-Star Ritsurin Garden

Ritsurin Garden, a nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty, is a strolling-style daimyo garden awarded the top three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japon. On its vast grounds sit six ponds and thirteen artificial hills, and the view that borrows the backdrop of Mt. Shiun changes with the seasons. A boat cruise around the ponds aboard a traditional wooden vessel and matcha savored while gazing at the garden from a teahouse are exceptional. Tended by successive lords since the early Edo period, the garden is picture-perfect from any angle.

Tamamo Park (Takamatsu Castle Ruins) with Its Seawater Moat

Tamamo Park, developed from the Takamatsu Castle ruins, is a nationally rare sea castle drawing Seto Inland Sea water into its moat. The moat-cruise experience aboard a wooden boat, with sea bream swimming below, even includes feeding. The surviving Important Cultural Property watchtowers such as the Moon-Viewing Watchtower are worth seeing, and its location right by the station and port is a plus, easy to drop into right after arrival or during a transfer wait.

Udon Culture and One of Japan's Longest Shopping Arcades

The Takamatsu Central Shopping District, about 2.7 kilometers long, is one of Japan's longest arcade shopping streets, comfortable to walk even on rainy days. Famous Sanuki udon restaurants are scattered through the city, and touring noodle-making shops or the Udon Taxi guided by a dedicated driver are popular. Many shops open early and close in the early afternoon, so morning is the best time for udon hopping.

A Base for Seto Inland Sea Art

Takamatsu Port is the gateway to Seto Inland Sea art tourism, with ferries to Naoshima, Teshima, Shodoshima, Megijima, Ogijima, and more. It also serves as a base for the Setouchi Triennale held once every three years, bustling with travelers from Japan and abroad during sessions. Station, port, garden, and shopping district are compactly gathered, so getting around efficiently on foot and by rail is another charm of Takamatsu.

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring and autumn, when garden strolls and island hopping are pleasant, are especially recommended. Spring brings cherry blossoms at Ritsurin Garden and the castle ruins, early summer lush leaves, and autumn foliage, letting you enjoy the gardens seasons. In summer the arcade offers shade from the sun, and Seto Inland Sea sunsets at the port are a highlight. In Triennale years, the city's appeal as a base for island hopping rises further beyond the usual seasons.

Access and Basic Information

From Honshu, it is about one hour from Okayama on the JR Rapid Marine Liner. Connecting via the Shinkansen at Okayama gives access from the Kansai and Tokyo areas. From Takamatsu Airport to the city center is about 40 minutes by limousine bus. Highway buses run from Osaka, Kobe, Okayama, Matsuyama, and elsewhere. Within the city, Kotoden (Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railway), buses, and walking make getting around easy, with the main sights gathered in the center.

Practical Travel Notes

• Base yourself around Takamatsu and Takamatsu-Chikko stations. The castle ruins, port, and shopping district are within walking distance. Store your luggage and walk light.
• Eat udon in the morning. Popular shops often open early, close in the early afternoon, and sell out. Morning hopping is the sure bet.
• Check ferry times for island hopping. Takamatsu Port is the base. Plan including the last boats both ways.
• Mind the festival sessions. During the Triennale, lodging and ferries are crowded. Book accommodation early to be safe.
• Enjoyable even in rain. With one of Japan's longest arcade shopping streets, you can keep exploring even if the weather turns.
• Sights coverable in half a day to a day. Combining Ritsurin Garden, Tamamo Park, udon, and the shopping district makes a full day.

A Word of Advice

Takamatsu is a travel base where Kagawa's star attractions, a famous garden, a sea castle, udon, and island hopping, gather in a compact center. Enjoy it efficiently by pacing your day: udon in the morning, the garden at leisure, and the islands with the last boat confirmed. It is especially crowded during festival sessions, so arrange lodging and ferries early.

📚 Sources

Fees and opening hours of Ritsurin Garden and Tamamo Park (the Takamatsu Castle ruins), ferries to the Seto Inland Sea islands, and the dates of the Setouchi Triennale can be checked in the official information of Kagawa Prefecture, Takamatsu City, each facility, and the festival. For the Takamatsu Central shopping arcade and the udon taxi, Takamatsu City tourism guidance is helpful. It is also worth checking udon shop hours in advance. Fees, hours, and access may change, so please confirm the latest details on official sources before you go.

Visitor Checklist

• Time needed: Combining Ritsurin Garden, Tamamo Park, udon, and the arcade makes a full half-day to full-day itinerary.
• What to bring: The center is walkable and reachable by tram, but wear comfortable shoes for garden strolls. Udon shops are most reliable in the morning, so start early.
• Suggested route: Base yourself near Takamatsu Station and Takamatsu-Chikko Station, then go Tamamo Park, Ritsurin Garden, an udon crawl, and the Takamatsu Central arcade. Check the last ferry if you island-hop.
• Rainy days: With one of Japan's longest arcades, you can keep exploring the town even in bad weather.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Ritsurin Garden opening hours: Open all year round (closed temporarily when a storm warning is issued for the Takamatsu area). Opening hours vary by month: 7:00 to 17:00 in January, February and December; 6:30 to 17:00 in March and November; 6:00 to 17:30 in October; and 5:30 to 19:00 in July. There is no lighting inside the garden, and it becomes dark about 30 minutes after sunset.
• Ritsurin Garden admission (revised on 1 June 2025): Admission is 500 yen for adults and 170 yen for children (elementary and junior high school students); for groups of 20 or more it is 400 yen for adults and 140 yen for children, and an annual passport is 3,180 yen per person. Free of charge for pre-school children. Admission is free on 1 January and on 16 March (the anniversary of the garden's opening). The traditional wasen boat cruise on the South Pond is 850 yen for adults and 420 yen for children (a one-hour private charter for up to 6 people is 10,200 yen), and at Kikugetsu-tei matcha is 800 yen for adults and 500 yen for children, while sencha is 600 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
• Ritsurin Garden parking: The East Gate car park (30 cars and 13 buses) and the car park in front of the North Gate (32 cars). Rates are 100 yen per 25 minutes for small vehicles and 510 yen per 30 minutes for large vehicles. Overnight parking after closing time is charged under a different rate system and vehicles cannot be brought in or taken out, so you need to contact the Ritsurin Garden Tourism Office (087-833-7411) in advance.
• Tamamo Park (Historic Site of Takamatsu Castle): Admission 300 yen, 240 yen for groups of 20 or more, season pass 1,800 yen. Free of charge for those under 18 and for elementary, junior high and high school students. Closed from 29 to 31 December. Gate opening times differ by gate and by season: from April to May the West Gate is open 5:30 to 18:30 and the East Gate 7:00 to 18:00; from June to August the West Gate is open 5:30 to 19:00 and the East Gate 7:00 to 18:00; and from December to January the West Gate is open 7:00 to 17:00 and the East Gate 8:30 to 17:00. Reciprocal discounts are available with Ritsurin Garden, the Kagawa Museum and the Takamatsu Art Museum (show your dated ticket; valid only on the day of admission and the following day).
• Castle boat experience (Tamamo Park): Runs from 1 March to 30 November every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 15:30 (except between 12:00 and 13:00), and is closed from December to February. The fare is 500 yen for adults (high school students and older) and 300 yen for children (aged 5 and over), including a commemorative souvenir of the ride, a costume to borrow and feed for the sea bream (park admission is charged separately). Free parking is available, and it is about a 5-minute walk from JR Takamatsu Station.
• Rail travel between Okayama and Takamatsu: The JR Marine Liner rapid service takes about 55 minutes over an operating distance of 71.8 km, with a one-way fare of 1,660 yen (the fare after JR Shikoku's revision of 20 May 2023).
• Takamatsu Airport limousine bus (Kotoden Bus): From Takamatsu Airport it is about 23 minutes and 900 yen to Ritsurin-koen-mae, about 30 minutes and 900 yen to Kawaramachi, about 40 minutes and 1,000 yen to Takamatsu-Chikko, and about 45 minutes and 1,000 yen to JR Takamatsu Station / the ferry terminal (children pay half fare in every case). The timetable changes every month in line with flight arrivals and departures.
• Udon Taxi: A registered trademark of Kotobus Co., Ltd.; the operating company in Takamatsu City is Setouchi Taxi. Reservations are taken by the Kotobus Reservation Centre on 050-3537-5678 (10:00 to 12:00 / 13:00 to 18:00, open all year round). Fares were revised from 16 March 2026.
• Setouchi Triennale: In 2025 it ran for 107 days, with a spring session from 18 April to 25 May, a summer session from 1 to 31 August and an autumn session from 3 October to 9 November, closing on 9 November.

* The dates of the next Setouchi Triennale have not been officially announced. * Opening hours and regular closing days of individual Sanuki udon restaurants are not published collectively on the prefectural or city official websites. (Sources: Official website of the Special Place of Scenic Beauty Ritsurin Garden (visitor guide, notice of admission fee revision, parking guide); Takamatsu City, "Tamamo Park: Opening Hours and Admission"; Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association, "Castle Boat Experience (Historic Site of Takamatsu Castle, Tamamo Park)"; Takamatsu Airport official website, "Bus Information"; Kotoden Bus, "Takamatsu Airport Limousine Bus Fares"; Udon Taxi official website; Setouchi Triennale official website)