How to Choose 10 Hidden Gems in Kagawa
When looking for hidden gems in Kagawa, checking more than photogenic appeal—including ferry frequency, transportation on each island, and the fact that port towns are places where people live—will help you plan a manageable trip.
This article broadens the scope slightly beyond the standard tourist attractions and selects 10 places from small islands in the Seto Inland Sea and port towns that retain memories of shipping and commerce.
“Hidden gem” does not guarantee small crowds
Some of the featured places may attract visitors during art festivals, events, or periods when flowers are in bloom, so they are not necessarily quiet at all times.
They were selected not simply because they are little-known, but because they let you explore the islands’ terrain and the towns’ history on foot.
Check the port and return ferry for each island
Kagawa’s islands are served from different departure ports—Marugame, Tadotsu, Suda, Miyanoshita, Kan’onji, and Takamatsu—so as a rule, avoid plans that connect several directions in the same day.
Just before your visit, check scheduled ferry times, cancellation information, and places to eat or rest on the island, and bring drinks and comfortable walking shoes.
| Area / departure port | Spot | Main appeal | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marugame Port | Honjima Island / Kasashima Historic Townscape Preservation District | Shiwaku maritime history and architecture | Check island transportation |
| Tadotsu Port | Takamijima Island | Stone walls and hillside settlement | Prepare for uphill walking |
| Suda Port | Awashima Island | Memories of the maritime school | Check the return ferry |
| Miyanoshita Port and others | Shishijima Island | Ancient camphor tree and island customs | Bring drinks |
| Kan’onji Port | Ibukijima Island | Iriko and fishing-village culture | Respect residential roads |
| Takamatsu Port | Ogijima Island | Hillside settlement and lighthouse | Allow enough walking time |
| Sakaide | Shamijima | Ancient remains and sea views | Watch for wind and sun |
| Higashikagawa | Historic streets of Hiketa | Merchant houses and a brewing town | Check which facilities are open |
| Utazu | Utazu Old Town | Temples, shrines, and townhouses | Respect local life |
| Around Takamatsu Port | Kitahama Alley | Revitalized port warehouses | Check each shop’s hours |
Walk Through Maritime History in the Shiwaku Islands
The waters off Marugame and Tadotsu ports preserve traces of the people who supported maritime traffic, along with settlement landscapes built on steep slopes.
Beyond the ports, travel is mainly on foot or by bicycle, so prioritize travel time over the number of places you visit.
1. Honjima Island and the Kasashima Historic Townscape Preservation District
Honjima conveys the maritime history of the Shiwaku Islands. Visiting the Shiwaku Kinbansho and Kasashima Historic Townscape Preservation District offers a multidimensional view of the history of sailors and local self-government.
Kasashima has a continuous streetscape of buildings constructed from the Edo period through the prewar years, where the skills of Shiwaku carpenters can be seen in white plaster walls, namako-pattern walls, and lattice windows.
Distinguish public facilities from private homes, and when photographing exteriors, put local life first by not blocking entrances or lanes.
Transportation from the port to Kasashima and facility opening days may change, so check information from Marugame City or a tourist information service before crossing to the island.
2. Takamijima Island
On Takamijima, you can walk through the scenery of the Ura settlement, where stone walls of stacked natural rock rise on a steep slope and houses overlap along narrow lanes.
Comparing the Hama settlement near the sea with the Ura settlement higher on the slope shows how homes and roads were built to fit the terrain.
Walking is the main way to get around the island, and there are many slopes and steps, so travel light and first check the route back and the scope of your walk on the port information board.
Do not assume that artworks or food services will be available; check scheduled ferry and island-facility information before visiting.
Experience the Sea and Island Life off Mitoyo
On Awashima and Shishijima, located off the Shōnai Peninsula, you can encounter memories of maritime education and an island culture centered on a giant old tree.
Both involve long walking sections, so plan your stay around ferry intervals rather than trying to see only the famous sites in a short time.
3. Awashima Island
Awashima has the Awashima Maritime Museum, housed in the former maritime training school building, but the entire site is currently off-limits because of renovation work.
Awashima Maritime School was founded in 1897 (Meiji 30) as Japan’s first maritime training school. The surviving school building was constructed in 1920 (Taishō 9) and is nationally registered as a Tangible Cultural Property.
The Western-style wooden building is also a landmark in the island’s port scenery. Seeing the sea and educational facility side by side makes it possible to imagine the connection between navigation and everyday life.
Because the island has an intricate shape, decide in advance whether to walk around the port or extend your trip to the northern area, giving yourself enough time for the return ferry.
Check the museum’s reopening status and the operating days of food facilities in advance, and bring the drinks you need when crossing to the island.
4. Shishijima Island
Shishijima’s giant camphor tree is a prefecturally designated Natural Monument. Said to be more than 1,200 years old, it spreads its branches as if watching over the hillside settlement.
Its trunk circumference is said to be about 14 m and its height about 40 m, and it is cherished as a symbol of the island.
Near the port, the culture of a dual-grave system—separating burial graves from graves visited for worship—also remains, allowing visitors to learn not only about the island’s natural environment but also about the history of mourning and daily life.
The route to the giant camphor tree has many slopes and steps, so wear slip-resistant shoes and bring drinks and insect repellent in hot weather.
Cemeteries and homes are not tourist facilities. Keep a respectful distance, and be considerate of residents when photographing people or houses.
Discover Fishing-Village Terrain in Western Kagawa and off Takamatsu
Ibukijima and Ogijima have different departure ports, but you can compare how slopes and narrow lanes shape everyday island life.
Do not try to tour either entire island in a short time; decide whether to prioritize the settlement, waterfront, or historic sites.
5. Ibukijima Island
Ibukijima is a producer of Ibuki iriko, which is registered as a regional collective trademark. Around the port, fishing boats and processing facilities stand close together, creating scenery characteristic of a fishing island.
Walking through the hillside settlement also reveals the island’s distinctive culture of daily life, including the former Ibuki maternity facility, which preserves memories of a custom in which women spent the postpartum period together.
Fishing facilities are workplaces. Do not enter working quays or processing plants without permission, and take care not to obstruct vehicles or residents.
Shopping and dining options may be limited, so prepare what you need at Kan’onji Port and confirm the return service before boarding.
6. Ogijima Island
Ogijima is known for a settlement of overlapping houses on a slope and maze-like lanes; as you walk higher from the port, the views of the sea and rooftops change.
At the island’s northern tip stands the stone Ogijima Lighthouse, where you can experience an open coastal landscape different from the settlement and sense the history of maritime traffic.
This Western-style lighthouse, built entirely of granite in 1895 (Meiji 28), has also been selected as one of the “50 Best Lighthouses in Japan.”
Artworks and facilities around the port have different opening dates and times, so do not base your itinerary only on viewing art; allow time to walk through the settlement and make the round trip to the lighthouse.
The narrow lanes are residents’ everyday roads, so avoid stopping in large groups and do not photograph private property or the inside of windows without permission.
Visit Former Islands Connected to Land and Historic Port Towns
In Sakaide, Hiketa, and Utazu, you can compare the history of places where the Seto Inland Sea met overland transportation through coastal remains, merchant houses, temples, shrines, and townhouses.
Although easier to visit than remote islands, these are active towns lined with homes and shops, so keep that in mind as you walk.
7. Shamijima
Shamijima once lay offshore from Sakaide Port, but land reclamation connected it to the mainland. It remains a place with views of the Seto Inland Sea and Great Seto Bridge.
Jōmon pottery, stone tools, and pottery related to salt production have been found around Nakanda Beach, allowing visitors to consider ancient life alongside the coastal scenery.
Combining the area with nearby museums and memorial parks lets you explore archaeology, modern architecture, and bridge views at a relaxed pace within walking distance.
The waterfront can be windy and has few places sheltered from the sun, so dress for the season and walk without damaging archaeological remains or vegetation.
8. Historic Streets of Hiketa
Hiketa in Higashikagawa retains merchant houses, buildings associated with brewing, and narrow lanes, allowing visitors to trace the commerce of a town that developed with the port as its backdrop.
Sanshū Izutsu Yashiki occupies a merchant house whose owners once produced sake and soy sauce, and it serves as a base for touring the main house and learning about the region’s traditional industries.
Walking around Honmachi Street while comparing red walls, lattices, storehouses, and other exterior details reveals how buildings were arranged toward the road.
Operating days and publicly accessible areas differ by facility and shop, so enjoy the townscape as an outdoor walk and check official guidance for interior visits.
9. Utazu Old Town
Utazu Old Town is a historic district that prospered as a port town from the medieval period onward, with temples, shrines, townhouses, and Western-style buildings close together.
Connecting Gōshō-ji Temple, Ubushina Shrine, Kura-no-Yakata Sankakutei, and other sites lets you experience on foot the layers of faith, commerce, and modernization in the town.
The roads are paved to suit the area’s atmosphere and have little elevation change, making it easy to observe not only building façades but also the lanes and rows of roofs.
Visitor numbers may increase during events, so if you want a quiet walk, check the schedule and avoid lingering for long periods in front of homes.
Takamatsu Port Warehouses and Planning an Island Trip
Around Takamatsu Port, you can walk among buildings that preserve memories of the harbor before or after crossing to an island, linking a ferry journey with city sightseeing.
If combining an island with a mainland town on the same day, a safe plan leaves extra time after returning to port.
10. Kitahama Alley
Kitahama Alley is a mixed-use area near Takamatsu Port that repurposes a group of old warehouses. You can walk its lanes while noticing traces of port architecture in the exterior walls and beams.
Because it contains cafés, retail shops, restaurants, lodging, and other businesses with different uses, it is better suited to spending time while observing the relationship between the buildings and harbor than rushing through it as a single facility.
Operating days and hours are not shared by all shops and may change, so check the individual shop’s official information if you have a specific destination.
It is within walking distance of Takamatsu Port, but people move through its lanes and parking areas, so take care not to obstruct traffic when taking photographs.
Divide Your Itinerary by Departure Port
Dividing days by area—Marugame for Honjima, Tadotsu for Takamijima, Mitoyo for Awashima and Shishijima, Kan’onji for Ibukijima, and Takamatsu for Ogijima—reduces impractical connections.
On overland days, align your direction by combining Shamijima with Utazu or Hiketa with Takamatsu; these can also serve as alternatives if island ferries are canceled.
Fares, schedules, facility fees, and opening hours may change, so just before visiting, prioritize official information from local governments, tourism associations, ferry operators, and each facility.
Summary: Explore Kagawa’s Islands and Port Towns Quietly
At Kagawa’s hidden gems, diverse scenery—including Shiwaku maritime history, hillside settlements, maritime education, fishing, ancient waterfronts, merchant houses, and warehouse districts—reveals everyday life around the Seto Inland Sea.
By deciding your departure port and return ferry first and distinguishing public facilities from living spaces as you walk, you can thoughtfully explore the hidden sights of the islands and port towns without overextending yourself.
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