Sanuki Udon Tour and Kotohira-gu — Kagawa's Soul Food and Sacred Mountain Shrine

Though Kagawa is Japan's smallest prefecture, it is known nationwide for its soul food, Sanuki udon, and for art islands such as Naoshima. Above all, the firmly chewy Sanuki udon symbolizes Kagawa's food culture. And Kotohira-gu, long beloved as Konpira-san, is a popular sacred site famed for its long stone stairway. In the temple town of Kotohira, you can enjoy Sanuki flavors and faith at once, a staple of a Kagawa journey.

Highlight: Konpira-san (Kotohira-gu)

If you visit Kagawa, a shrine you will want to worship at is Kotohira-gu in Kotohira Town. Long cherished as Konpira-san, a guardian deity of the sea, it has drawn faith from across the country. From the approach to the main shrine, a long stairway of 785 steps continues. Climbing step by step is hard work, but along the way are atmospheric buildings, a study hall, a treasure house, and other sights, and the view of the Sanuki Plain opens up as you ascend. Climbing farther from the main shrine to the inner shrine (Izutama Shrine) brings the total to 1,368 steps. The sense of achievement on reaching the main shrine and the fine view are exceptional.

Kotohira's Udon and the Approach

The long stone approach to Kotohira-gu is lined with souvenir shops and eateries, offering the bustle unique to a temple town. Sanuki udon shops are scattered around Kotohira, and stopping in before or after worship for a bite is the standard. The flavor born of strong chewiness and an iriko-dashi broth is exceptional, and you can enjoy styles to your taste such as kake, bukkake, and kamatama. Choosing local wagashi sweets or Konpira souvenirs is another pleasure of walking the approach. Fortifying yourself well with Sanuki udon before or after the long stairway climb is the way to spend a day here.

Nearby Sights

Near the approach stands the Kyu Konpira Ozashibai (Kanamaruza), known as one of Japan's oldest surviving playhouses, where you can tour the historic wooden architecture. It is a precious spot to sense up close the construction of an Edo-period theater. Kotohira is also known as a hot-spring town, so after worship you can soak slowly and ease your travel fatigue. Udon, worship, a playhouse, and hot springs, sights gathered in a compact area, are the charm of Kotohira.

Enjoying the Seasons

Sanuki udon and Kotohira-gu can be enjoyed year-round, but the long stairway climb is best in comfortable spring and autumn. Spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage color the approach and precincts, easing the fatigue of the climb. In summer the climb makes you sweat, so cooler morning hours and frequent hydration are recommended. In winter the crisp air makes the view of the Sanuki Plain from the main shrine stand out all the more.

Access and Basic Information

Access is within walking distance to the Kotohira-gu approach from JR Kotohira Station on the Dosan Line or Kotoden Kotohira Station. It is reachable by train from the Takamatsu area and can be enjoyed as a day trip combined with udon hopping. The stairway is a long 785 steps to the main shrine, so comfortable shoes are essential. There are teahouses to rest along the way. Near the approach entrance, bamboo walking sticks are sometimes lent out, so those unsure of their legs can use one for peace of mind.

Practical Travel Notes

• Wear comfortable shoes. It is 785 steps to the main shrine, and a round trip to the inner shrine adds many more. Choose non-slip shoes like sneakers.
• Stick rental. Bamboo walking sticks can sometimes be borrowed near the approach entrance. Use one if unsure of your legs.
• Hydrate frequently. You sweat especially in summer. Bring a drink and take breaks without overdoing it.
• Eat udon in the morning. Udon shops around Kotohira also often close early or sell out. Fuel up before worship.
• Allow time. Even the round trip to the main shrine takes a while. If going to the inner shrine, allow much more.
• Worship etiquette. Kotohira-gu is a place of faith. Be quiet and considerate of other worshippers.

A Word of Advice

Kotohira is Kagawa's classic area where you can enjoy Sanuki udon hopping and worship at Kotohira-gu, famed for its 785 steps, all at once. The stairway is long, so prepare comfortable shoes and water and start in the cool morning hours. Udon shops often close early too, so fuel up well before worship. Spend a day that satisfies both body and soul, one only Kagawa can offer.

📚 Sources

Visiting hours, the prayer reception desk, and treasure house information for Kotohiragu are provided on the official Kotohiragu website. For the udon shops around Kotohira and the historic Kanamaruza (Kyu Konpira Oshibai) theater, the public information of Kotohira Town and the Kagawa prefectural tourism association is helpful. The number of stone steps and highlights can also be checked on the on-site information boards. Fees, hours, and access may change, so please confirm the latest details on official sources before you go.

Visitor Checklist

• Time needed: Allow about two to three hours for the round trip to the main shrine, or roughly half a day if you continue to the inner shrine.
• What to bring: With 785 steps to the main shrine and 1,368 to the inner shrine, wear comfortable shoes and carry water. In summer bring a hat and stay hydrated.
• Suggested route: Fuel up at an udon shop on the approach, climb the 785 steps to the main shrine, continue to the inner shrine (Izutama Shrine) if you have energy, and view Kanamaruza on the way down.
• Etiquette: This is a place of worship, so keep quiet and be considerate of other visitors.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Number of stone steps (official): There are 785 stone steps in all from the main approach to the Main Shrine, taking about 30 minutes one way. From the Main Shrine (251 metres above sea level) to the Okusha (Izutama Shrine) it is a distance of about 1.2 kilometres and 583 stone steps, making a total of 1,368 steps from the main approach.
• In summer the Okusha path opens earlier: The Okusha path is normally open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but from July 12 to September 30, 2026 it can be used from 7:00 a.m. (a heatstroke countermeasure by Kotohira-gu Shrine).
• Measures against the heat in the precincts (in effect in 2026): The waiting room of the Ryokutaiden (at the 785th stone step, air-conditioned), normally available only to those receiving prayers, is opened as a free rest area; water is sprinkled in the precincts at regular intervals; and tents with mist sprayers are set up. In addition, the rest room of the Takahashi Yuichi Museum at the 431st stone step can be used (air-conditioned and free of charge; eating and drinking are prohibited inside the building, including the rest room).
• There are 2 places in the precincts where you can buy drinks: The vending machine at the 431st stone step (which accepts cashless payment by smartphone as well as cash) and "Cafe & Restaurant Kamitsubaki" at the 500th stone step.
• Museum facilities (Treasure House, Omote Shoin and Takahashi Yuichi Museum): All are open from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). Admission to the Treasure House and the Omote Shoin is 800 yen for general visitors, 400 yen for high school and university students, and free for junior high school students and younger; the Takahashi Yuichi Museum is 500 yen for general visitors, 300 yen for high school and university students, and free for junior high school students and younger. A combined ticket for all 3 buildings is 1,500 yen for general visitors and 800 yen for high school and university students.
• Opening days differ from facility to facility: According to Kotohira-gu's official "Museum Facilities Opening Day Calendar," in July 2026 the Treasure House opens only on Saturdays and Sundays and on July 20 (a public holiday), the Omote Shoin is closed on Tuesdays, and the Takahashi Yuichi Museum is open every day. The combination changes from month to month, so you need to check the calendar before visiting (Shrine Office, TEL 0877-75-2121).
• Photography inside the exhibition rooms: From April in Reiwa 8 (2026) onwards, photography inside the exhibition rooms of the Treasure House, the Takahashi Yuichi Museum and the Omote Shoin continues to be permitted.
• Old Konpira Grand Playhouse (Kanamaruza): 1241 Otsu, Kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Prefecture (TEL 0877-73-3846). Open from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30); admission is 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for junior high and high school students and 200 yen for elementary school children; open all year round (it may be closed when performances are held). There is no car park (visitors are advised to use public transport).
• Town-run car parks: The town-run West Station-Front Car Park (831-3 Enai, Kotohira-cho) has space for 53 ordinary cars and 5 large buses and is open 24 hours all year round, costing 200 yen an hour for ordinary cars (with a maximum of 1,000 yen within 24 hours) and 400 yen an hour for large vehicles and buses (maximum 2,000 yen). The town-run East Station-Front Car Park (827-6 Enai, Kotohira-cho) has space for 87 ordinary cars at 200 yen an hour (with a maximum of 1,000 yen within 24 hours), but it opens only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays and over the New Year period (December 29 to January 3) and cannot be used on weekdays.

* Opening hours, regular closing days and sell-out times of individual udon restaurants around Kotohira are not published collectively on the official websites of Kotohira Town or Kagawa Prefecture. * Whether walking sticks are lent near the entrance to the approach, and any charge for them, is not published on the official websites of Kotohira-gu Shrine or Kotohira Town. (Sources: Kotohira-gu Shrine official website, "Worship Guide: Main Shrine," "Worship Guide: Okusha," "Heatstroke Countermeasures in Effect," "Treasure House (Regular Exhibition)," "Omote Shoin (Regular Exhibition)," "Takahashi Yuichi Museum (Regular Exhibition)," "Museum Facilities Opening Day Calendar," "On Permission for Photography inside the Museum Facilities"; Kotohira Town, "Old Konpira Grand Playhouse (Kanamaruza)," "Town-Run West Station-Front Car Park," "Town-Run East Station-Front Car Park")