Use JR and Kotoden from Takamatsu Station
For a car-free trip in Kagawa, it is easier to plan your route by using JR Takamatsu Station and nearby Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikkō Station as bases, then dividing destinations among central Takamatsu, Yashima, Kotohira, and central and eastern Kagawa.
Instead of trying to visit all 10 spots in one day, choose a theme such as gardens, castle ruins, temples and shrines, traditional houses, a kabuki theater, or coastal scenery, and secure your return train or bus first.
Walk between 2 attractions near Takamatsu Station
Tamamo Park and the Kagawa Prefectural Museum are east of Takamatsu Station and make an easy pair to visit on foot from the station.
By visiting the outdoor castle ruins and indoor museum in succession, you can adjust how long you stay according to the weather while learning about Takamatsu's history through different types of materials.
Check Takamatsu-Chikkō and Kawaramachi stations when using Kotoden
For Ritsurin Garden, Shikoku Mura Museum, Yashima, and Kotohira, you can choose Kotoden, which operates separately from JR.
Depending on the line, you may need to transfer at Kawaramachi Station. Check the destination and platform as well as the station name, and if you are returning to JR, include the walk back to Takamatsu Station in your itinerary.
Compare transportation and sightseeing themes for 10 spots
Organizing the main starting point and walking conditions for each area makes it easier to choose destinations that suit your interests and stamina.
| Spot | Main starting point | Focus of your visit |
|---|---|---|
| Tamamo Park | JR Takamatsu Station / Takamatsu-Chikkō Station | Takamatsu Castle ruins and seawater-filled moat |
| Kagawa Prefectural Museum | JR Takamatsu Station | Kagawa history and art |
| Ritsurin Garden | JR Ritsurin-Kōen-Kitaguchi Station / Kotoden Ritsurin-Kōen Station | Strolling pond garden |
| Shikoku Mura Museum | Kotoden-Yashima Station | Relocated traditional houses and folk tools |
| Yashima summit / Yashima-ji | JR Yashima Station / Kotoden-Yashima Station | Plateau scenery and pilgrimage temple |
| Kotohira-gū | JR Kotohira Station / Kotoden-Kotohira Station | Stone steps and faith |
| Former Konpira Grand Theatre | Around Kotohira Station | Kabuki theater structure |
| Zentsū-ji Head Temple | JR Zentsūji Station | Temple complex associated with Kūkai |
| Marugame Castle | JR Marugame Station | Stone walls and original castle keep |
| Tsuda no Matsubara | JR Sanuki-Tsuda Station | Black pines and a white-sand coast |
2 places for castle ruins and local culture near Takamatsu Station
Within walking distance of Takamatsu Station, you can explore the terrain of the Takamatsu Castle ruins and learn about Kagawa's history and art in succession.
Because the area offers easy access back to the station, it fits well into a short period on your arrival or departure day, but check construction and exhibition-change information in advance.
1. Tamamo Park | Walk through Takamatsu Castle ruins where the sea meets the castle
Tamamo Park is a historic site developed around the ruins of Takamatsu Castle. Its stone walls, turrets, gates, palace remains, and seawater-filled moat reveal the features of a castle built by the sea.
Look over the arrangement of the enclosures from the castle keep foundation, then turn your attention to the moat's surface and the area around Mizutegomon Gate to picture the terrain of Takamatsu, where the castle and port once stood close together.
Areas around Hiunkaku may have changing access or use restrictions due to preservation work or events. Follow local barriers and signs, and visit only the areas currently open to the public.
2. Kagawa Prefectural Museum | Discover Kagawa through historical materials and art
The Kagawa Prefectural Museum serves as both a history and an art museum, presenting the region's development through archaeological, historical, and folklore materials as well as art related to Kagawa.
After walking through Tamamo Park, viewing exhibits about Takamatsu Castle and the castle town helps you connect the stone walls and terrain you saw outdoors with historical materials.
Permanent displays, special exhibitions, and closing days may change, so if you have a particular field in mind, check the day's exhibitions and admission conditions.
2 places to learn about landscapes and daily life at Ritsurin Garden and Shikoku Mura
At Ritsurin Garden, you can observe the design of a feudal lord's garden, while Shikoku Mura Museum lets you examine buildings and household tools from across Shikoku.
Both involve extended outdoor walking, so check forecasts for rain, heat, and strong winds, as well as closure information, and wear shoes with good traction.
3. Ritsurin Garden | Circle the ponds and hills to enjoy a new view with every step
Ritsurin Garden, designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, is a strolling garden with ponds, artificial hills, pines, and teahouses set against Mount Shiun, with overlapping scenery that changes as you walk.
Do not stop after photographing only the best-known view. Compare the same place before and after crossing a bridge or from the opposite side of a pond to see how the garden's design directs your gaze.
JR Ritsurin-Kōen-Kitaguchi Station and Kotoden Ritsurin-Kōen Station approach different entrances, so check the gate you will use and your return station on a map before touring the garden.
4. Shikoku Mura Museum | Read the story of Shikoku life through relocated houses
Shikoku Mura Museum is an open-air museum that displays traditional houses and industrial buildings relocated and restored from across Shikoku within a natural landscape.
Comparing roofing materials, pillars, floor plans, hearths, water-use facilities, and folk tools reveals how people adapted daily life to different environments, including mountains, coasts, and islands.
The grounds include slopes, stone steps, and a vine bridge where careful footing is needed, and restoration work or temporary closures may occur. Check the day's route and viewing availability at the entrance.
Experience history and views of the Seto Inland Sea from Yashima
Yashima is a plateau overlooking central Takamatsu and the Seto Inland Sea, with Yashima-ji, historic sites, and viewpoints scattered across the summit.
Because reaching the summit from the station involves a bus, check both outbound and return services, including the last bus, before beginning your walk.
5. Yashima summit and Yashima-ji | Trace the plateau's terrain and religious history
At the Yashima summit, you can explore Yashima-ji, temple number 84 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, and scenery associated with the Genpei War while observing the distinctive terrain formed by the flat top and steep slopes.
The views of central Takamatsu, the islands, and the strait differ from one viewpoint to another. Compare the information boards with the actual scenery and consider how historical events were connected to the terrain.
At the temple, do not obstruct worshippers or ceremonies, and stay away from cliff edges and restricted areas.
Decide on your round trip by summit shuttle bus first
The summit shuttle bus from JR Yashima Station or Kotoden-Yashima Station may change its operating days and schedule depending on the season and day of the week.
Even when visiting Shikoku Mura and Yashima on the same day, first choose the bus that will bring you down from the summit. If connections do not work, revise your plans conservatively, such as limiting the day to one of the two.
2 places for faith and theater culture in Kotohira
In Kotohira, you can walk between the approach to Kotohira-gū and the Former Konpira Grand Theatre and compare the cultures of faith and entertainment that developed in the temple and shrine town.
With many stone steps and slopes, tailor the extent of your visit to your stamina and leave plenty of time to return to the train.
6. Kotohira-gū | Climb the stone steps and encounter faith in maritime safety
Kotohira-gū stands halfway up Mount Zōzu and has long attracted widespread devotion to deities associated with agriculture, industry, medicine, and protection at sea.
A long flight of stone steps leads to the Main Shrine. Rather than making the number of steps your goal, pause to observe the gates, shrine buildings, offerings, and views.
In hot weather or rain, prioritize your footing and physical condition. Avoid approaching animals, taking photographs outside designated areas, or blocking the approach, and follow instructions for worshippers.
7. Former Konpira Grand Theatre | See stage mechanisms powered by people
The Former Konpira Grand Theatre, commonly called Kanamaruza, is a kabuki theater built in the late Edo period that preserves traditional theater features such as a revolving stage, hanamichi walkway, and understage area.
Observing how people operate the stage mechanisms and how close the audience sits to the performers helps you imagine the techniques and audience culture that made theater possible before electrical equipment.
Performances, maintenance, or private use may change the areas open to visitors, so check its availability before combining it with Kotohira-gū.
3 destinations by JR: Zentsū-ji, Marugame, and Tsuda
Travel west from JR Takamatsu Station for Zentsū-ji and Marugame, or east to Sanuki-Tsuda as a base, and you can visit temples, a castle, and the coast without a car.
Do not combine all three areas, which lie in different directions, in one day. Narrow your plans to one area or two nearby areas and secure your return train.
8. Zentsū-ji Head Temple | Visit sites connected to Kūkai in the Eastern and Western Precincts
Zentsū-ji Head Temple is said to be the birthplace of Kōbō Daishi Kūkai. It is divided into the Eastern Precinct, the Garan, with the Main Hall and five-story pagoda, and the Western Precinct, the Tanjō-in, centered on the Mieidō Hall.
The Main Hall in the Eastern Precinct is said to have been built in imitation of Qinglong Temple's complex in Chang'an, Tang China, where Kūkai studied.
Walking through the 2 precincts in succession lets you compare the arrangement of a Buddhist temple complex with the sacred space that commemorates the birthplace.
On the spacious grounds, do not interfere with ceremonies or pilgrims. If you plan to enter temple halls, join the Kaidan Meguri, or visit the treasure hall, check reception hours and precautions in advance.
9. Marugame Castle | Look up at the curves of its high stone walls and original keep
As you climb from the main gate toward the keep at Marugame Castle, layers of stone walls rise around you, allowing you to experience their fan-like curves and defensive position overlooking the castle town.
The wooden keep on the hill is one of Japan's 12 surviving original keeps. Beyond its size, the steep interior stairs, beams, and window placement reveal the practical structure of an early modern castle.
A steep slope continues up to the keep, and routes may change due to stone-wall restoration or building protection. Follow local detour signs and be prepared not to climb in rainy weather.
10. Tsuda no Matsubara | Walk beside black pines and white sand
Tsuda no Matsubara, also known as Kinrin Park, is a scenic spot along the Seto Inland Sea with a grove of black pines and a stretch of white-sand beach.
The pine grove has a history of protecting the local area from wind and sea spray. Observing the shapes of the trees, their roots, and their distance from the shore shows the relationship between human care and the coastal environment.
Even outside the swimming season, watch for waves, strong winds, and debris, and follow posted local rules about where you may approach the sea and use facilities.
Organize walking conditions and return routes for each destination
Compare the proportions of stone steps, slopes, and outdoor sightseeing so you can switch among candidates according to the weather and your physical condition.
| Trip theme | Main combination | Check before departure |
|---|---|---|
| Takamatsu history | Tamamo Park / Prefectural Museum | Construction, exhibitions, and opening status |
| Garden and traditional houses | Ritsurin Garden / Shikoku Mura | Weather, closing days, and footing |
| Yashima or Kotohira | Summit walk or approach walk | Bus, train, and stamina |
| Central and eastern Kagawa | Choose from Zentsū-ji, Marugame, and Tsuda | Return train, walking distance, and areas open to visitors |
Summary | Explore Kagawa by train from Takamatsu without a car
A car-free Kagawa itinerary is easier to plan when you visit the Takamatsu Castle ruins and museum around Takamatsu Station, then use JR and Kotoden to explore Ritsurin Garden, Shikoku Mura, Yashima, Kotohira, Zentsū-ji, Marugame, and Tsuda by area.
Instead of visiting all 10 places just to count them, choose a trip theme such as gardens, architecture, faith, castles, or the coast, and narrow your destinations according to the amount of stone steps, slopes, and outdoor walking.
Before departure, check the round-trip times for JR, Kotoden, and buses, the opening status of facilities, temples, and shrines, and the weather, then follow a relaxed itinerary planned backward from the time you need to return to Takamatsu Station.
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