• Ritsurin Garden - Ritsurin Koen (栗林公園) is a scenic garden located in Takamatsu City, established by local feudal lords during the early Edo Period. Renowned as one of Japan’s finest gardens, it is often suggested that Ritsurin Koen should be included among the “three most beautiful gardens of Japan,” alongside Kanazawa’s Kenrokuen, Mito’s Kairakuen, and Okayama’s Korakuen.

The expansive park boasts numerous ponds, hills, historic trees, and charming pavilions, divided into a Japanese-style garden in the south and a Western-style garden in the north. The gardens are set against the backdrop of the wooded Mt. Shiun, providing a stunning example of borrowed scenery.

• Takamatsu Castle - Takamatsu Castle (高松城, Takamatsujō), also known as Tamamo Castle, was constructed in 1590 near the Seto Inland Sea. It is one of the few Japanese castles built along a waterfront, featuring saltwater moats that draw directly from the sea. The Ikoma Clan governed from the castle for 54 years before their fief was transferred to the Matsudaira Clan, relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun, who retained the region for the rest of the Edo Period.

The keep of Takamatsu Castle was demolished during the Meiji Period, but there are plans to reconstruct it in the future. A significant milestone was reached in 2013 when the restoration of the castle tower’s foundation was completed after many years of effort.

• Takamatsu Marugamemachi Shopping Street - Located in Takamatsu’s city center is a long, covered shopping arcade, extending from Takamatsu Castle to Ritsurin Koen. Comprising various stores, restaurants, and two department stores, it is claimed to be the longest covered shopping arcade in Japan, with a total length of nearly 2.7 kilometers.

The northern end of the shopping arcade near Takamatsu Castle and Mitsukoshi Department Store has recently been transformed into a large plaza and shopping center with high-end stores like Louis Vuitton and Coach. Lion Dori, a side street running parallel to the main shopping street, primarily features restaurants, including those serving Sanuki Udon.

• Yashima - Yashima (屋島, lit. “roof island”) is a flat-topped mountain just outside Takamatsu’s city center. It was the site of a significant 12th-century battle during the Gempei War between the Taira and Minamoto Clans. Here, the Taira were defeated in what was to be their final battle before their ultimate downfall.

Around the flat summit are attractions related to the mountain’s history as a battleground, including a Monument to the Battle of Yashima and Chinoike (“blood pond”), a pond said to have turned red with blood after the victorious Minamoto washed their swords in it.

Yashima offers spectacular views of Takamatsu and the Seto Inland Sea. Near the many viewpoints around the mountaintop are shops where visitors can purchase small clay discs, which are thrown off the mountain for good luck. This symbolizes the victorious Minamoto warriors discarding their headpieces after defeating the Taira.

• The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum - Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) was a distinguished Japanese American artist, sculptor, and landscape designer. Although born, educated, and based in the United States, Isamu Noguchi maintained a workshop in Japan and spent months working there towards the end of his nearly 65-year career. Noguchi’s major works include bridges at the Hiroshima Peace Park, Moerenuma Park in Sapporo, the garden at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and an influential line of modern furniture designs, among others.
• Shikoku Mura Village - Shikoku Mura (四国村, lit. “Shikoku Village”) is an open-air museum located at the base of Yashima. This delightful hillside park preserves and showcases traditional buildings and structures that have been relocated here from across Shikoku Island.

Among the exhibited buildings, primarily dating from the Edo and Meiji Periods, are several farmhouses and storehouses, as well as various traditional workshops that produced goods such as sugar and soy sauce.

• Sunport Takamatsu - Sunport Takamatsu is the name of the recently redeveloped business and shopping district around JR Takamatsu Station and Takamatsu Port, not far from Takamatsu Castle and the terminal station of the Kotoden Railways, Takamatsu-Chikko Station.

Takamatsu Port was the main entry point to Shikoku until the Seto Ohashi Bridge opened in 1988. Today, the port continues to offer ferry connections to several nearby islands, including Shodoshima, Naoshima, Megijima, and Ogijima.

• Kagawa Museum - The Kagawa Museum is an excellent place to visit for those interested in learning more about the broader Kagawa Prefecture, of which Takamatsu is a part.

The museum features numerous galleries and exhibits that narrate the story of the prefecture, showcasing items such as weaponry and ancient textiles.

It is important to note, however, that much of the signage is in Japanese.

• Takamatsu Symbol Tower - The Takamatsu Symbol Tower is renowned as the tallest building in all of Shikoku, constructed in 2004. It offers several observation platforms from which visitors can enjoy views of the harbor and the sea.

The building also houses a shopping mall with a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Despite being a popular tourist attraction, it is worth visiting for some of the best views around Takamatsu.

• Takamatsu City Museum of Art - This impressive inner-city gallery is a testament to Takamatsu’s vibrant art scene. The light and spacious renovation of a former Bank of Japan building is a stroke of curatorial brilliance, complemented by intriguing exhibitions on rotation from across Japan and the world. It often remains open until 7pm during special exhibitions.
• Ogijima Island - Ogijima (男木島), the brother island of nearby Megijima, is located in the Seto Inland Sea, a leisurely 40-minute ferry ride from Takamatsu. Home to around 150 residents, the island is just two kilometers long and one kilometer wide.
• Megijima Island - Megijima (女木島) is a small island just off the port of Takamatsu, less than four kilometers long and one kilometer wide. Accessible via a short ferry ride from Takamatsu, the island is home to about 140 people and, besides two small villages and some fields, consists mostly of forested mountains.
• Sanuki Mingeikan - This museum in Ritsurin-kōen showcases local crafts, household goods, furniture, and roof tiles in its four halls, dating back to the Tokugawa dynasty.

• Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Takamatsu
• Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
• Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from ‘What to expect’ list

• Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
• Private Vehicle
• You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
• Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Explore Takamatsu in a unique and efficient manner with this value-for-money journey guided by a government-certified, multi-lingual expert.

Takamatsu, a vibrant port city, is celebrated for various aspects like Takamatsu Castle, the local delicacy Sanuki-udon, and Ritsurin Koen, one of Japan’s most stunning gardens. It also acts as the entry point to numerous splendid islands in the Seto Inland Sea, making it an ideal location to delve into the area.

Share your interests with us and we’ll tailor a six-hour tour that best suits you!

Note1: Kindly pick your preferred locations from a provided list in the tour details to form your personal itinerary.
Note2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certificate, issued by the Japanese government necessitates extensive knowledge and comprehension of Japanese culture and history.

• This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.