Kagawa Prefecture (香川県 Kagawa-ken) is on the Japan island of Shikoku.
Understand
Kagawa used to be the province of Sanuki (讃岐).
Cities
- Takamatsu — the prefectural capital
- Higashikagawa — has the ruins of Hiketa Castle, where the Battle of Hiketa was fought in 1583
- Kanonji — large sand sculpture of a coin - Zenigata Sunae - and viewing platform from Kotohiki Park
- Kotohira — built around the shrine of Konpira
- Marugame — largest producer of Japanese fans (uchiwa) in Japan and home of one of the few remaining wooden castles
- Sakaide
- Sanuki — home of Ōkubo-ji, the 88th and final temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage
- Zentsuji — home of and named after Zentsūji Temple, the 75th temple of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage
Other destinations
- Seto Inland Sea — many of the islands belong to the city of Sakaide
- Naoshima — famous for its contemporary art museums and outdoor contemporary art installations
- Teshima — also famous for its contemporary art exhibits
- Shodoshima — olive trees proliferate on the island and olive-related merchandise is quite popular with tourists
- Miki
- Ayagawa
- Manno
- Tadotsu
- Mitoyo
- Utazu
Get in
By plane
Takamatsu Airport (IATA: TAK) with flights from Tokyo, Kagoshima, and Naha (Okinawa) on the domestic side, and Seoul and Shanghai on the international side.
By train
Takamatsu is the main train gateway to Shikoku. There are frequent services in all directions: north to Okayama on the Honshu mainland, west to Matsuyama, south to Kochi and east to Tokushima.
By bus
Get around
See
- Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園) is a large garden, considered by many to be one of Japan's most beautiful Takamatsu.
- Marugame Castle (丸亀城), in Marugame, is one of the only 12 remaining original castles in Japan.
- Visit art islands, such as Naoshima, Teshima, Ogijima, and Megijima (Takamatsu).
- See the giant Zenigata coin made of sand in Kanonji
- Enjoy the views of Kankakei Gorge (Shodoshima)
- Explore the ground of Zentsuji Temple the birthplace of Kukai (Zentsuji)
- View and learn about the Seto Ohashi Bridge in Seto Ohashi Commemorative Park (Sakaide)
- Stroll the historic Hiketa Historic District (Higashikagawa)
- Learn the history of the island at Shikoku Mura (Takamatsu)
- Climb the stairs to pray at Konpirasan, the most revered shrine in Shikoku (Kotohira)
- Try and catch a glimpse of the Angel Road to Bentenjima Island during low tide (Shodoshima)
- See the works and former home of the internationally renowned artist Isamu Noguchi at the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum (Takamatsu)
Do
Eat
Kagawa is famous as the home of udon, thick chewy wheat noodles. The local type is still known by the province's old name as Sanuki udon.