Kagawa Prefecture offers a variety of ways to shape a trip: udon cuisine, collections related to folk history and art, and landscapes overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. When choosing your accommodation, first consider which of these interests will shape your trip. The places and activities below show the different ways to discover Kagawa.

Udon and Regional Food Culture

Udon is an obvious culinary highlight: Kagawa Prefecture has more than 600 udon restaurants. If you would like to learn about sweet-making as well as enjoy a meal, you could consider the Sanuki Wasanbon confectionery-making experience. Participants choose four wooden molds and four colors, shape twelve sweets, and eat two of them with matcha. Check in advance whether a suitable session is available.

Museums and Cultural Heritage

The Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum displays wooden boats and tools used in fishing, household life, religion and shipbuilding. Its collection of 5,966 items includes fishing equipment from the Seto Inland Sea, shipbuilding tools and back-carried load carriers from western Japan; these items are designated Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan. The permanent exhibition at the Kagawa Prefectural Museum focuses on different subjects: it includes materials on the life and work of Kūkai, historical documents relating to the Takamatsu-Matsudaira family, and artworks by artists connected to Kagawa.

Another art collection is housed at the Shikoku Mura Gallery. It includes paintings and sculptures by artists such as Picasso and Bonnard, as well as works of Oriental art. This gives visitors on a cultural trip a choice of different themes: folk history and everyday tools at one museum, historical documents and connections to regional artists at the other, and international art at the gallery.

Pilgrimage Routes and Scenery

Kagawa Prefecture is home to 23 temples on Shikoku’s famous 88-temple pilgrimage route. Pilgrimage routes are also among the landscape features described at Goshikidai. The area also has historic sites and facilities for outdoor activities, including hiking, nature observation and historical exploration.

Yashima offers a different perspective on the region: this tabletop lava plateau is known as a setting of the Genpei War. From the summit, you can see Takamatsu city and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. If you would like to take in both scenery and history, you will find both in this description of a specific place, while Goshikidai combines a variety of outdoor activities with historical exploration.

Activities and Practical Choices

The Information Communication Exchange Center, known as e-topia Kagawa, offers hands-on experiences with IT devices for children and adults, as well as classes and programs. Its offerings range from IT basics to advanced technical skills; the programs available may vary.

At Sanuki Mannou Park, visitors can take part in guided walks through the Nature Ecology Garden, seasonal craft activities, and bread- and pizza-making classes. As classes and activities take place on specific dates, check the schedule before your visit. These activities differ considerably from the museum and landscape themes: they give your choice a practical, sometimes seasonal focus.

Ferry Travel and Finding a Hotel

Ferries to Naoshima depart from Takamatsu Port in Kagawa and Uno Port in Okayama. If a ferry crossing is part of your trip, factor your planned departure port into your plans and check the current timetable before traveling. This lets you choose according to your plans without needing to combine all the places mentioned into a fixed day itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Takamatsu, Marugame, Nishishirakata, Mime, Kotohira, Tadotsu, Tonoshō, Naoshima, Ayauta District, Sakaide, Furue, Shozu District, Zentsūji, Higashikagawa, Manno, Sanuki.

For the broader travel overview: Japan.