Takamatsu brings together a historic strolling garden, cultural heritage, bonsai, a covered shopping arcade, and scenic and island destinations. If you’re looking for a hotel in Takamatsu, it helps to first decide which of these themes you want to shape your stay: experiences range from garden viewing and hiking to seasonal island visits.
Gardens, Cultural Heritage and Scenery
Ritsurin Garden is a strolling garden in the daimyo garden style; its appearance from the early Edo period has been preserved to this day. The grounds include six ponds and 13 landscaped hills. For another perspective, take in the scenery from a traditional wasen boat. Check availability in advance if you’re planning this boat ride.
At Takamatsu Castle Ruins Tamamo Park, the towers and Hiunkaku are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan; the park also includes a Japanese garden. The garden at Hiunkaku is additionally designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty. Architecture and garden culture come together here in a distinctive part of Takamatsu’s heritage.
Shikoku Mura, the only open-air museum on Shikoku, brings together 31 buildings relocated here from different parts of Shikoku. These include cultural properties designated at the national or prefectural level. Buildings, farming implements, and household items illustrate life in the past. The surroundings are also part of the visit: enjoy seasonal flowers and a woodland-like walk across the green grounds.
Yashima offers a scenic and geological highlight. From its height, the roof-shaped lava plateau opens up views of the tranquil Seto Inland Sea, its many islands, and the city of Takamatsu. You can hike along a mountain trail and stop at three viewpoints. Yashima was also a battlefield in the Genpei War; the entire area is designated a Historic Site. This connects the landscape with a specific historical context.
Islands with Distinct Seasonal Highlights
Megijima is known for its beach, and many beachgoers visit the island in summer. The grand festival at Sumiyoshi Shrine takes place there every two years in summer. Dedicated to the island deities, this men-only festival is not open to women. It preserves long-standing rules and island customs. Check the festival dates if you’d like to plan your trip around it.
Ogijima offers a reason to visit even in winter, when visitors from outside the island come to hike. The ferry from Takamatsu Port to Ogijima takes 40 minutes; check the timetable before your trip. Ogijima Lighthouse was built in 1895 from granite from Aji in Takamatsu. It continues to ensure the safety of maritime traffic, is one of Japan’s 50 selected lighthouses, and is one of only two unpainted lighthouses in the country.
Bonsai in Takamatsu
Takamatsu Bonsai no Sato opened in April 2020. Bonsai beginners and tourists can easily drop by to view and buy bonsai, and take part in bonsai experiences. Check the current opening hours before your visit. As of December 2025, visitors could freely visit around 60 bonsai nurseries in the Kinashi–Kokubunji area, Japan’s leading production region for pine bonsai. This offers a choice between a dedicated bonsai experience and numerous nurseries in a renowned growing area.
A Covered Shopping Arcade
Takamatsu Central Shopping Arcade offers a different focus for a city visit. The covered shopping street is around 2.7 kilometers long. Its eight shopping arcades comprise about 1,000 stores across a range of industries, making it possible to shop and stroll all day, whatever the weather. The eight arcades work together and are run with urban development in mind.
Discover more destinations: Higashikagawa, Mime, Naoshima, Zentsūji, Furue, Sakaide, Shozu District, Nishishirakata
For an overview of the wider region: Kagawa Prefecture.
