Takamatsu, Kagawa · Things to do
Things to Do in Takamatsu: 8 Places with Hours, Prices and Access
8 things to do · checked October 23, 2026
8 things to do in Takamatsu, from the city centre outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 23, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Ritsurin Garden栗林公園
Historic garden · Ritsurin
A garden of about 75 hectares with six ponds and thirteen artificial hills, nearly 400 years old and listed as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Matcha is served at the Kikugetsu-tei teahouse inside (9:00–16:30, last entry 16:00; adults ¥800, children ¥500, tea included).
- Access
- About 7 minutes on foot from Kotoden Ritsurin-koen Station; about 1 minute from the Ritsurin-koen-mae bus stop; about 7 minutes by car from JR Takamatsu Station.
- Price
- Adults ¥500; children ¥170
2Yashima and Yashima-ji Temple屋島・屋島寺
Plateau, viewpoint and pilgrimage temple · Yashima
A volcanic plateau peninsula about 293 m high on the east side of Takamatsu. Yashima-ji, temple 84 of the Shikoku pilgrimage, stands on its southern ridge; the treasure house beside the main hall holds Genpei war picture scrolls among the temple's treasures.
- Access
- Yashima summit shuttle bus (Takamatsu Station direct service) from Takamatsu Station stop F, via Hyogomachi, Kotoden-Yashima Station and Shikoku Mura: 4 round trips a day, on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and during 18 July–31 August and 25 December–7 January.
3Shikoku Mura Museum四国村ミウゼアム
Open-air museum · Yashima
An open-air museum of 33 buildings moved here from the four Shikoku prefectures and rebuilt, with the Shikoku Mura Gallery designed by Tadao Ando.
- Access
- Kotoden Shido Line to Kotoden-Yashima Station, then 5 minutes on foot; or JR Kotoku Line to Yashima Station, then 10 minutes on foot. The Yashima summit shuttle from Takamatsu Station also stops here.
- Hours
- 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30; the gallery closes at 16:30)
- Closed on
- Tuesdays (the next day if Tuesday is a national holiday); may also close for maintenance or bad weather
- Price
- Adults ¥2,200; university students ¥1,000; high school and junior high ¥600; elementary age and under free
4Megijima and Ogijima女木島・男木島
Island day trip by ferry · Takamatsu Port
Two small islands on one ferry line from Takamatsu Port. Megijima is known as the Onigashima, the ogres' island, of the Momotaro story; Ogijima is the next stop.
- Access
- Meon ferry from Takamatsu Port: about 20 minutes to Megijima and about 40 minutes to Ogijima. 6 sailings a day, leaving Takamatsu at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:10; a separate timetable with extra sailings runs 1–20 August.
- Price
- One way: Megijima adults ¥370, elementary age ¥190; Ogijima adults ¥510, elementary age ¥260
5Naoshima by ferry from Takamatsu Port直島（高松港から）
Island day trip by ferry · Takamatsu Port (Sunport Takamatsu)
Ferries and high-speed boats to Miyanoura on Naoshima leave from Takamatsu Port. The ferry takes about 50 minutes and the high-speed boat about 30; there are no reservations and boarding is first come, first served.
The museums and art on the island are on the Naoshima pages.
- Access
- Takamatsu Port is about 5 minutes on foot from JR Takamatsu Station; the high-speed boat counter is about 3 minutes' walk from the ferry counter. Ferries leave Takamatsu at 8:12, 10:14, 12:40, 15:35 and 18:05, high-speed boats at 7:20, 9:20 and 20:30. Last ferry back from Miyanoura 17:00; last high-speed boat 19:45.
- Price
- Ferry ¥680 one way (ages 6–12 ¥340); high-speed boat ¥1,590 (ages 6–12 ¥800)
6Kotohira-gu (Konpira-san)金刀比羅宮
Shrine and stone-step climb · Kotohira
A shrine reached by 785 stone steps from the shrine-town approach to the main shrine (Gohongu); the inner shrine (Okusha) is 583 steps further, at step 1,368. The Omote-shoin hall holds sliding-door paintings by Maruyama Okyo.
- Access
- JR from Takamatsu to JR Kotohira Station, about 1 hour 5 minutes (Yosan and Dosan lines). The shrine has no parking and directs drivers to JR Kotohira Station.
- Hours
- Main shrine doors 7:00–17:00
- Closed on
- Omote-shoin closed on Tuesdays (the next weekday if Tuesday is a holiday)
7Nakano Udon School, Kotohira中野うどん学校 琴平校
Udon-making class · Kotohira
A hands-on Sanuki udon class on the main approach to Kotohira-gu: about 50 minutes of making noodles, then take them away with the school's soup or boil and eat them on site. Aprons and ingredients are provided and you leave with a scroll-style certificate. Book online; same-day places are possible but sessions can be full.
- Access
- About 10 minutes on foot from JR Kotohira Station, on the Kotohira-gu approach.
- Hours
- Classes 9:00–15:00; arrive 15 minutes before your session
- Closed on
- Open all year
- Price
- ¥1,760 per person for bookings of 2 or more; ¥1,980 for one person
8Zentsuji Temple総本山善通寺
Pilgrimage temple · Zentsuji
Temple 75 of the Shikoku pilgrimage and a head temple, on the ground where Kukai (Kobo Daishi) was born in 774. The Kaidan-meguri passage and the treasure house are the paid parts.
- Access
- JR from Takamatsu to JR Zentsuji Station, about 60 minutes (Yosan and Dosan lines), then about 20 minutes on foot or 3 minutes by taxi.
- Hours
- Main hall 7:00–17:00; Kaidan-meguri and treasure house 8:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- No regular closing day; the treasure house may close for exhibition changes, maintenance or temple events
- Price
- Kaidan-meguri and treasure house: adults ¥700; elementary to high school ¥300
Good to know
In the city, Ritsurin Garden is the sight to plan around: about 75 hectares of ponds, pruned pines and artificial hills, 7 minutes on foot from Kotoden Ritsurin-koen Station, ¥500 for adults. Yashima, the plateau on the east side of the city, has temple 84 of the Shikoku pilgrimage on top and the Shikoku Mura open-air museum at its foot.
Takamatsu Port, about 5 minutes on foot from JR Takamatsu Station, is where the island ferries leave: about 20 minutes to Megijima, about 50 minutes to Naoshima (30 by high-speed boat). Kotohira, about an hour by JR, is the classic day trip, with 785 stone steps up to Kotohira-gu and an udon-making class on the approach. Zentsuji, where Kukai was born, is about 60 minutes from Takamatsu by JR.
Two things to check on the day: the last ferry back from Naoshima leaves Miyanoura at 17:00 (the last high-speed boat at 19:45), and Shikoku Mura is closed on Tuesdays. The direct Yashima summit bus from Takamatsu Station runs on weekends, holidays and school holiday periods only.
In the city, across the water, or a day out by train
Getting there from central Takamatsu, what it costs, and the time that limits your day. Adult prices; children's prices are on each card above.
| Where | From Takamatsu | Cost (adult) | Time to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ritsurin Garden | Kotoden to Ritsurin-koen + about 7 min on foot, or bus to Ritsurin-koen-mae | ¥500 · Kikugetsu-tei tea ¥800 | Garden hours vary by season · teahouse last entry 16:00 |
| Yashima and Shikoku Mura | Kotoden Shido Line to Kotoden-Yashima; direct summit shuttle from Takamatsu Station on weekends and holidays | Shikoku Mura ¥2,200 | Shikoku Mura last entry 16:30, closed Tuesdays |
| Megijima and Ogijima | Meon ferry from Takamatsu Port, about 20 / 40 min | ¥370 / ¥510 one way | 6 sailings a day, last from Takamatsu 18:10 |
| Naoshima | Ferry about 50 min, high-speed boat about 30 min, from Takamatsu Port | ¥680 / ¥1,590 one way | Last ferry back 17:00 · last high-speed boat 19:45 |
| Kotohira: Kotohira-gu and udon class | JR to Kotohira, about 1 h 5 min | Udon class ¥1,760 per person (2 or more) | Main shrine 7:00–17:00 · classes 9:00–15:00 |
| Zentsuji | JR to Zentsuji, about 60 min, + about 20 min on foot | Kaidan-meguri and treasure house ¥700 | Last entry 16:30 |
By kind of trip
First trip, one day in Takamatsu
Ritsurin Garden is a short Kotoden ride from the centre; Yashima is on the Kotoden Shido Line, and on weekends a direct bus runs from Takamatsu Station to the summit.
Ritsurin Garden · Yashima and Yashima-ji Temple · Shikoku Mura Museum
A day in Kotohira
JR Kotohira Station is about 1 hour 5 minutes from Takamatsu. The udon school is about 10 minutes on foot from the station on the shrine approach, and classes run 9:00–15:00. Zentsuji is on the same JR route from Takamatsu.
Kotohira-gu (Konpira-san) · Nakano Udon School, Kotohira · Zentsuji Temple
Islands from the port
Both ferries leave from Takamatsu Port, about 5 minutes on foot from JR Takamatsu Station. Megijima is about 20 minutes away; the Naoshima ferry takes about 50 minutes and takes no reservations.
Megijima and Ogijima · Naoshima by ferry from Takamatsu Port
With children
Shikoku Mura is free for elementary age and under. The udon class provides aprons and ingredients and ends with a certificate. Elementary-age fares on the Megijima ferry are ¥190 one way.
Shikoku Mura Museum · Nakano Udon School, Kotohira · Megijima and Ogijima
Questions
How do I get from Takamatsu to Kotohira-gu, and how many steps are there?
JR from Takamatsu to JR Kotohira Station takes about 1 hour 5 minutes on the Yosan and Dosan lines. From the start of the approach it is 785 stone steps to the main shrine (Gohongu), and 583 more to the inner shrine (Okusha). The main shrine doors are open 7:00–17:00. The shrine has no parking.
Can I make udon myself near Takamatsu?
Nakano Udon School in Kotohira runs a class of about 50 minutes on the Kotohira-gu approach, about 10 minutes on foot from JR Kotohira Station. It costs ¥1,760 per person for bookings of 2 or more (¥1,980 for one person). Classes run 9:00–15:00; book online.
How much is Ritsurin Garden?
Adults ¥500 and children ¥170. Matcha at the Kikugetsu-tei teahouse inside is ¥800 for adults (9:00–16:30, last entry 16:00). Garden opening hours vary by season.
How do I get from Takamatsu to Naoshima?
From Takamatsu Port, about 5 minutes on foot from JR Takamatsu Station. The ferry takes about 50 minutes (¥680) and the high-speed boat about 30 minutes (¥1,590). There are no reservations. The last ferry back from Miyanoura leaves at 17:00 and the last high-speed boat at 19:45.
How do I get up Yashima?
The Yashima summit shuttle (Takamatsu Station direct service) runs from Takamatsu Station stop F via Kotoden-Yashima Station and Shikoku Mura, 4 round trips a day, on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and during 18 July–31 August and 25 December–7 January.