How to Plan a Car-Free 2-Day Kagawa Itinerary
For a car-free 2-day, 1-night trip in Kagawa, linking Takamatsu and Kotohira on the private Kotoden Kotohira Line lets you comfortably combine Ritsurin Garden (Ritsurin-koen) and Kotohira-gū into a single rail journey without renting a car.
Takamatsu and Kotohira are an easy pairing to organize into one itinerary without a rental car when you build your trip around the private Kotoden railway.
If you walk around central Takamatsu on the first day and head to Kotohira the next, you can leave your large luggage at your hotel and tackle Kotohira-gū, with its 785 stone steps, while traveling light.
Visiting Takamatsu First Simplifies Travel on the Kotoden
It is easiest to set your starting point around Takamatsu Port, where you will find JR Takamatsu Station and Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikkō Station.
By boarding the Kotohira Line at Takamatsu-Chikkō Station, you can head to Ritsurin-koen Station and the terminus at Kotoden-Kotohira Station, so you can plan your main travel over the two days on the same line.
The Kotohira Line connects Takamatsu-Chikkō Station with Kotoden-Kotohira Station, and because Kataharamachi Station, Kawaramachi Station, and Ritsurin-koen Station are on the same line, you can reach the sights without transferring.
Do Not Cram Too Many Sights into the Itinerary
On a car-free trip, it is important to leave room for walking from stations, meals, and picking up your luggage.
The table below organizes the order of the two days and how to spend your time at each place.
| Order | Area | How to Spend Your Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 – After Arrival | Takamatsu Port area | Store your luggage |
| Day 1 – Morning | Tamamo Park | Walk the castle ruins |
| Day 1 – Midday | Central Takamatsu | Sanuki udon |
| Day 1 – Afternoon | Ritsurin Garden | Stroll the garden |
| Day 1 – Evening | Central shopping arcade | Dining and shopping |
| Day 2 | Kotohira | Konpira pilgrimage |
Swap the Order to Match Your Arrival and Departure Times
If you arrive in Takamatsu late, it works well to move the first day's Tamamo Park to the next morning and make Ritsurin Garden the centerpiece of Day 1.
If you are in a hurry on the way back, you can also consider a route that, after praying at Kotohira, heads on to your next destination from JR Kotohira Station instead of returning to Takamatsu.
Because travel conditions may change depending on the day you travel, check the JR and Kotoden service information before you set out.
Day 1 Morning: Walking Around Takamatsu Station and Tamamo Park (Takamatsu Castle Ruins)
When you arrive in Takamatsu, storing your large luggage first using your accommodation or station facilities makes the walking sightseeing that follows much easier.
The area around Takamatsu Station has the port, castle ruins, and railway station close together, making it an easy place to grasp the layout of the city as the gateway to a Kagawa trip.
See How Close the Sea and City Are Around Takamatsu Port
Looking from in front of the station toward the port, you can sense the open, Takamatsu-like scenery facing the Seto Inland Sea.
Because boats also depart for islands such as Naoshima and Megijima, if you have time to spare, look at the port's information signs and imagine how Kagawa connects with the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
See the Maritime-Castle Landscape at Takamatsu Castle Ruins and Tamamo Park
Tamamo Park is a nationally designated historic site developed from the Takamatsu Castle ruins, and a place where you can sense the character of a sea castle (water castle) that drew seawater from the Seto Inland Sea into its moat.
Takamatsu Castle is counted as one of Japan's three great water castles alongside Imabari Castle and Nakatsu Castle, and its distinctive feature is that it was built facing the sea.
Because it looks different from a castle with a surviving keep, tracing the layout of the turrets such as the Tsukimi-yagura and Ushitora-yagura, the stone walls, gates, and moat, and considering why the castle was built beside the port, deepens your understanding.
Admission is 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children, and the East Gate opens from 8:30 to 17:00 (7:00 to 18:00 from April to September), so plan to visit within the opening hours.
Because the areas open to the public and the events may change, check the information at the entrance and follow the signs indicating restricted areas.
Observe How Each Shop Takes Orders for Sanuki Udon
Choosing Sanuki udon in central Takamatsu for lunch lets you naturally weave Kagawa's distinctive food culture into your itinerary.
At self-service shops, you will often see a style where you order the type and portion of noodles, pick up tempura and other items yourself, and proceed to pay, but the steps differ from shop to shop.
Check the signs at the entrance and how the customers ahead of you proceed, and when you are unsure, pointing or using a few short words will put you at ease.
Opening hours and closing days vary by shop, and some close as soon as they run out of noodles, so rather than deciding on just one shop, prepare several candidates.
Day 1 Afternoon: Taking the Kotoden to Ritsurin Garden (Ritsurin-koen)
In the afternoon, using the Kotohira Line from stations such as Takamatsu-Chikkō and heading to the garden from Ritsurin-koen Station as your base also serves as a rehearsal for the next day's trip to Kotohira.
Because the station name is read "Ritsurin-koen," remembering its reading for map apps and transfer guides makes it easier to find.
At Ritsurin-koen Station, Check the Kotohira and Takamatsu Directions
When heading from central Takamatsu, choose trains bound for the Kotohira direction, and when returning to the city after sightseeing, choose trains bound for Takamatsu-Chikkō.
Because you will use the Kotohira Line again the next day, experiencing the ticket machines, ticket gates, and boarding positions once will make the morning travel calmer.
Enjoy Ritsurin Garden's Strolling Landscape of Ponds and Artificial Hills
Ritsurin Garden is a nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty, a pond-strolling garden where ponds, artificial hills, bridges, and carefully tended pines continue against the backdrop of Shiun-zan.
The garden has 6 ponds and 13 artificial hills, and about 1,000 tended pines shape the scenery, so the way the views overlap changes each time you move.
Including Shiun-zan, the total area reaches about 75 hectares, making it the largest cultural-property garden in Japan.
Rather than rushing around everything, stopping at the scenery that catches your eye, such as buildings across a pond, the branching of the pines, and mountains reflected on the water, makes it easier to feel the garden's charm.
A Japanese Garden Is Easier to Appreciate Once You Decide What to Look For
For travelers unfamiliar with Japanese gardens, the impression changes when you view it not as a place that leaves nature untouched, but as a space where the scenery was composed by human hands.
The table below organizes the elements that are easy to notice in the garden and how to view them.
| Element | What to Look For | How to Enjoy It |
|---|---|---|
| Pines | Spread of the branches | Look from near and far |
| Ponds | Reflections on the water | Watch how the wind changes them |
| Bridges | Curves and backdrop | Compare before and after crossing |
| Artificial hills | Differences in height | Follow how your view shifts |
| Borrowed scenery | Overlap with Shiun-zan | Gaze beyond the garden |
In the Evening, Head Back to Kawaramachi and the Takamatsu Central Shopping Street
After leaving the garden, taking the Kotoden back toward Kawaramachi makes it easy to move on to dining and shopping in the arcade.
The Takamatsu Central Shopping Street is an arcade about 2.7 km long made up of several shopping streets such as Marugamemachi and Hyōgomachi, with a mix of restaurants, everyday-goods stores, and local shops.
Looking not only at tourist facilities but also at the shops and alleys that locals use day to day reveals Takamatsu's living culture.
Day 1 Night: Stay Somewhere Convenient for the Next Day's Kotohira Sightseeing
Staying within Takamatsu makes it easy to choose dinner and to board the Kotoden Kotohira Line the next morning.
On a car-free trip, it is important to choose not just by the hotel's name but by checking the nearest station and the station you will depart from the next morning.
Choose Between the Takamatsu Station Area and the Kawaramachi Area by Trip Priority
Those arriving and departing by JR will find the Takamatsu Station area convenient, while those who want to spend the evening in the arcade will find the Kawaramachi area a good candidate.
Here we organize the differences between the lodging areas together with how you will move the next day.
| Lodging Area | Who It Suits | Next Morning's Move |
|---|---|---|
| Takamatsu Station area | JR users | Transfer to Takamatsu-Chikkō |
| Kataharamachi area | Those who prioritize strolling | Board at Kataharamachi |
| Kawaramachi area | Those who prioritize dining | Board at Kawaramachi |
At Night, Do Not Walk Too Much in Preparation for the Next Day's Visit
You can enjoy the arcade and restaurants on a Takamatsu night, but since you will climb Kotohira-gū's 785 stone steps the next day, save your energy.
Once you are back at your lodging, prepare drinks, comfortable walking shoes, rain gear, and any necessary medicine, and double-check the train departure information.
Day 2: Take the Train from Takamatsu to Kotohira and Visit Kotohira-gū (Konpira-san)
On the second day, you head to Kotoden-Kotohira Station on the Kotoden Kotohira Line and walk through the temple-town approach and visit Kotohira-gū.
Because climbing and descending the stone steps is the heart of the trip, either leave your luggage at your Takamatsu lodging or check available storage facilities in advance to travel light.
Check the Terminal Station for Trains Bound for Kotoden-Kotohira
Use the Kotohira Line from stations such as Takamatsu-Chikkō, Kataharamachi, and Kawaramachi, aiming for Kotoden-Kotohira Station.
From Takamatsu-Chikkō Station to Kotoden-Kotohira Station takes about 1 hour as a guide, but because the operating section and connections may differ by train, confirm "Kotoden-Kotohira" on the platform displays and in-car announcements before boarding.
Watching the view from the window change from cityscape to rural scenery is also one of the pleasures of heading to Kotohira by train.
Choose Shops Along Kotohira's Omotesandō Before or After Your Visit
The road from the station to Kotohira-gū has the atmosphere of a temple town lined with restaurants and souvenir shops.
Avoiding overeating before your visit, preparing the drinks you need, and saving meals and shopping for the way back makes walking easier.
Because business days and what is on sale vary by shop, if you are aiming for a specific product, check the shop's information.
Climb the 785 Stone Steps to the Main Shrine at Your Own Pace
Kotohira-gū is affectionately known as "Konpira-san," and from the approach entrance to the Main Shrine there are 785 stone steps, with the climb taking about 1 hour one way as a guide.
Along the way are the Daimon and the Asahisha, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, so you can proceed while enjoying not only the visit itself but also the architecture and the views from the mountainside.
Because the Main Shrine opens its doors at 7:00 AM and closes them at 5:00 PM, start climbing with time to spare, working backward from the closing time.
On the steps, do not spread out across the steps; when resting, move to a spot that does not block passage, and on the way down, watch your footing carefully.
On days when you are uneasy about your health or the weather, it is also important to decide not to aim for the Main Shrine and instead to enjoy the temple town or partway up the approach and turn back.
At the Shrine, Prioritize Quiet Behavior and On-Site Signs
Bowing once before the torii gate and walking away from the center of the approach are known as ways of showing respect to the deities, but they are not strict rules.
At places of worship, keeping your voice down and not cutting in front of people who are praying helps preserve the calm atmosphere.
Where there is specific guidance about photography or entry, give priority to those signs and the staff's instructions.
After your visit, return to the Omotesandō, enjoy a meal and souvenir shopping, and then head to Kotoden-Kotohira Station or JR Kotohira Station.
Tips for Preparing and Adjusting Your Train-Trip Plans
For a car-free 2-day, 1-night train trip, it is reassuring to assume from the start that your plans may change due to train delays, weather, and fatigue from the stone steps.
Rather than getting around to everything exactly as planned, prioritize arriving at your return train with time to spare.
Check Timetables and Business Information on the Day of Travel
Service and public information for the Kotoden, JR, and each facility may change.
Check operating and opening information not only the night before but also on the morning of the day, and see whether there are any suspensions, temporary changes, facility closures, or entry restrictions.
Rather than relying only on map-app information, it is important to give priority to the notices posted at stations and facilities.
In Rainy Weather, Shorten Time Outdoors and Make Use of the Arcade
On rainy days, the stone pavement and steps at Ritsurin Garden and Kotohira-gū become slippery, so take smaller strides and do not rush.
If there is heavy rain or wind, shorten your stay at Tamamo Park or the garden and switch your plans to the arcade shopping street, about 2.7 km long, or to indoor facilities.
Also be mindful not to block your view with an umbrella and not to dirty the floor when entering buildings with wet shoes.
Decide on Alternatives in Advance for Common Plan Changes
Deciding in advance how to respond when problems arise lets even travelers who feel uneasy about the language act calmly.
The table below summarizes situations that tend to occur on a car-free trip and reasonable ways to adjust.
| Situation | How to Adjust |
|---|---|
| Late arrival | Skip Tamamo Park |
| Heavy rain | Spend longer in the arcade |
| Tired legs | Turn back partway up the approach |
| Missed the train | Check the next service |
| Shop closed | Switch to another candidate |
Summary: An Easygoing Train Trip Enjoying Takamatsu and Kotohira on the Kotoden
For a car-free 2-day, 1-night trip in Kagawa, building around the Kotoden Kotohira Line that runs from Takamatsu-Chikkō Station lets you connect Tamamo Park, Ritsurin Garden, the Takamatsu Central Shopping Street, and Kotohira-gū in good order.
By concentrating on central Takamatsu on the first day and heading to Kotohira, with its 785 stone steps, while traveling light on the second day, you can keep the burden of transfers and walking down.
Check the timetables and facility information, reduce your stops according to the weather and your condition, and savor the culture of a Seto Inland castle town and the Konpira pilgrimage.
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