Stand on the Engetsu-kyō Bridge in Ritsurin Park and the garden arranges itself around you: pines clipped into shapes, a lotus pond, and the borrowed outline of Mount Shiun behind it all. That single view is the reason many travellers put Takamatsu on an itinerary at all, and it is only a short walk from a Kotoden station.
Takamatsu suits travellers who want a compact city with a major garden, a castle site on the waterfront, and easy access to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. It also rewards anyone interested in the Genpei War, the Shikoku pilgrimage, or contemporary art.
This guide covers the sights in and around the city, with practical notes on how to reach each one and what to combine it with.
Top things to do in Takamatsu
1. Ritsurin Park
A large Japanese landscape garden built for the Sanuki and Sasuma lords and designated a Japanese National Treasure. Highlights include the Engetsu-kyō Bridge, the primary symbol of the park, the Okedoi-no-Taki Waterfall, the Red Wall of Rocks, a lotus pond, and many Japanese pine trees. The park also contains three tea houses, a restaurant, and a folk craft museum, and you can experience a simplified tea ceremony at the tea houses for a small additional fee.
It is open from sunrise to sunset, varying by month. Reach it on a five-minute walk from Ritsurin Kōen Station on the Kotoden line, or a three-minute walk from Ritsurin Kōen Kitaguchi Station on the JR line; buses also serve it. The map you receive with your ticket shows several walking routes, including one designed for visitors with mobility difficulties. It is generally less crowded than Japan's official top three gardens.
2. Tamamo Park
A picturesque park on the former site of Takamatsu Castle, which played an important role in the city's history. The castle's main tower, dismantled during the Meiji era, is being rebuilt, and there are a number of buildings within the complex. In early April it is a popular place to see the cherry blossoms.
It is a five-minute walk from Takamatsu Station and sits directly behind Takamatsu-Chikkō Station, the origin of the Kotoden line, so it works well as a first stop on arrival. Opening hours are 07:00–18:00 from April to September and 08:30–17:00 from October to March, and it is closed from December 29 to January 3.
3. Yashima plateau
Ten minutes by train to the east of the city, Yashima is a peninsula famous as the site of the Battle of Yashima in the Genpei War in 1185, and there are many sites for those interested in local history. On the mountain is Yashima-ji, number 84 of the Shikoku pilgrimage, and at the top there is an observation deck with views across the Seto Inland Sea.
To get there, take either the local train from Takamatsu-Chikkō Station with one transfer, or the JR train from Takamatsu Station; either takes about 15 minutes.
4. Shikokumura
An open-air museum with old houses collected from all around Shikoku. Inside it there is a small art museum with works by Western artists including Pablo Picasso, in a building designed by Tadao Ando with a garden and a wide panorama.
It is about 20 minutes from the centre of town: take a Kotoden train from Takamatsu-Chikko Station to Kawaramachi Station, transfer to the Shido Line, and get off at Kotoden Yashima. Hours are 08:30–17:30 from November to March and 08:30–18:00 from April to October.
5. Yashima Temple
Yashima-ji is number 84 of the Shikoku pilgrimage and sits on the Yashima plateau, making it a natural pairing with the observation deck and the other sites on the peninsula. There is no admission charge, and a museum at the temple is also on site.
Combine it with the rest of your Yashima visit rather than making a separate trip, since the train journey from the city takes about 15 minutes.
6. Takamatsu Symbol Tower
The Symbol Tower stands in the Sunport area, about 200 metres north-east of Takamatsu Station, and has several observation decks with views of the sea and nearby peninsulas. The eastern building contains a shopping mall with many restaurants, which makes it a convenient place to eat after a day of sightseeing.
Because it is so close to Takamatsu Station, it fits easily at the end of a day, before or after a walk along the waterfront.
7. Tamamo Breakwater & Lighthouse
The breakwater makes for a nice stroll at sunset, with an illuminated red lighthouse at the end. It is five minutes from Takamatsu Station, so it pairs naturally with Tamamo Park and the Symbol Tower.
Go in the evening, when the lighthouse is lit, rather than in the middle of the day.
8. The Kagawa Museum
Exhibits cover the history, traditions, and people of Kagawa Prefecture, formerly known as Sanuki Province. Much of the information is only available in Japanese, but a free English audio guide is available for the permanent Kagawa history exhibit on the top floor.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00, and closed from December 27 to January 1 and during Golden Week. It sits in Tamamo-cho, close to Tamamo Park, so the two can be visited together.
9. Takamatsu Art Museum
The permanent exhibit is rather small, though it does contain a smattering of works by famous artists such as Andy Warhol. The main draw, and what most of the museum is dedicated to, are the special exhibits, which change every few months.
It is open 09:30–17:00, with special exhibits often open until 19:00. The permanent exhibit and the special exhibits are priced separately, so check what is on before you go.
10. New Yashima Aquarium
An aquarium on the Yashima plateau, open 09:00–17:00 and closed January 1–3. It is a straightforward addition to a Yashima day if you are travelling with children.
Pair it with Yashima-ji and the observation deck, since all are on the same peninsula about 15 minutes by train from the city.
11. Yashima Shrine
A shrine built in 1652 and rebuilt since, located in Yashima Nakamachi. It is a short stop rather than a destination in itself, and fits into the same Yashima itinerary as the temple and the aquarium.
Visit it as part of your circuit of the plateau rather than as a separate journey.
12. Isamu Noguchi Museum
The museum covers the work of Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese-American sculptor who established a studio here in 1969, which is why the museum was built. For Noguchi fans in Takamatsu, his work "Time and Space" can be found at Takamatsu Airport.
Tours are given at 10:00, 13:00, and 15:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, by reservation only, and reservations are required in order to visit. Foreign visitors can make a reservation by email; those residing in Japan should apply by sending a letter with return post, writing the number of visitors in your party and then each person's name, age, and address, followed by your desired tour date and times ranked in order of preference.
13. Sanuki Takamatsu Festival
Held in mid-August in front of Takamatsu Station and near the sea. The first day is the opening, the second day is a fireworks festival, and the last day is a dance festival. Visitors can enjoy the central park, the shopping arcade, and the Sunport district.
Because the events are spread across the station area and the waterfront, plan to move between the two rather than staying in one spot.
14. Winter Festival
Held in mid-to-late December, with Christmas displays at the central park. It is a short, easy addition to a winter trip and is central enough to combine with an evening in the shopping arcade.
Go after dark, when the displays are lit.
15. Shionoe Firefly Festival
A mid-June festival celebrating the flying insect. It is seasonal and specific, so check the timing against your travel dates before building a day around it.
Pair it with a wider look at the Shionoe area rather than treating it as a standalone stop.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Ritsurin Park, arriving early to walk the routes marked on the ticket map and to see the Engetsu-kyō Bridge, the Okedoi-no-Taki Waterfall, and the pine trees before the day fills up. If you want the tea ceremony experience, the tea houses inside the park are the place to do it.
Afternoon: Walk or ride to Tamamo Park, five minutes from Takamatsu Station, to see the former site of Takamatsu Castle and the buildings within the complex. If time allows, add The Kagawa Museum in Tamamo-cho for the permanent history exhibit with the English audio guide.
Evening: Head to the Takamatsu Symbol Tower in the Sunport area for the observation decks and dinner in the shopping mall, then walk the Tamamo Breakwater & Lighthouse for the sunset and the illuminated red lighthouse at the end.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Yashima?
Take either the local train from Takamatsu-Chikkō Station with one transfer, or the JR train from Takamatsu Station. Either journey takes about 15 minutes.
Do I need a reservation for the Isamu Noguchi Museum?
Yes. Tours are given at 10:00, 13:00, and 15:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays by reservation only. Foreign visitors can reserve by email; those residing in Japan should apply by letter with return post.
When is the best time to see cherry blossoms at Tamamo Park?
Early April, when the park is a popular place to see the cherry blossoms.
Which festivals take place in Takamatsu?
The Sanuki Takamatsu Festival in mid-August, the Winter Festival in mid-to-late December, the Shionoe Firefly Festival in mid-June, and the Hyōge Festival on the second Sunday in September.
Check the train times from Takamatsu Station and Takamatsu-Chikkō Station, pick your season, and start building the days around the garden and the waterfront.