Introduction to Kagawa Prefecture
Kagawa Prefecture is located in the Shikoku region of the Seto Inland Sea. Known as an udon prefecture, it is rich in nature, history, culture, hot springs, and many other attractions. Udon is a traditional Japanese noodle dish, made by kneading flour, boiling it, and eating it in a flavorful broth. There are many varieties of udon throughout Japan, but Kagawa’s udon is considered to be particularly delicious. I also have a personal interest in “Sayanagi Island,” an island of cats, and hope to visit there someday.
Geographic location
Located in the Shikoku region, it faces the Seto Inland Sea. Dotted with beautiful islands, visitors can enjoy the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea. It is accessible by highway bus from Osaka.
History & culture
Kagawa Prefecture has a long and prosperous history. During the period when it was known as Sanuki Province, many powerful clans competed with each other. Kagawa Prefecture was also the base of Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s conquest of Shikoku.
Today, it is famous not only as a sacred place for udon (Japanese noodle), but also as an island of contemporary art, including Naoshima and Teshima, which were featured in the world-famous Time Magazine’s “THE WORLD’S GREATEST PLACES OF 2022”. I have visited the island myself, and had a wonderful time walking around the island and admiring the contemporary art that blends in with the tranquil and beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea, losing track of time. I had a wonderful time. I highly recommend a visit to Kagawa Prefecture.
Tourist attraction
Kagawa Prefecture is full of beautiful nature, historical sites, and contemporary art.
Kuribayashi Park
A representative garden of Kagawa Prefecture, it offers beautiful scenery in each of the four seasons. It is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government.
Kotohira-Gu
It is the representative shrine of Kagawa Prefecture. The main shrine is located at the top of Mt. Konpira, 788 meters above sea level, and 236 stone steps lead up to the shrine. It is also famous as a power spot.
Seto Ohashi Bridge
It is one of the world’s largest suspension bridges connecting Honshu and Shikoku. From the bridge, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea. It is the longest bridge in the world equipped with both rail and road.
Naoshima, Teshima, Inujima
Kagawa Prefecture is famous as an island of art. Among these, Naoshima exhibits a large number of contemporary artworks, making the entire island an art town. Teshima and Inujima also have art museums that take advantage of the island’s topography and are well worth a visit. Visitors can experience the fusion of nature and art. You can also stay overnight and interact with the locals.
Shodoshima
It is a warm and peaceful nature experience in the olive-growing region of Japan. The olive somen noodles, made with olives from Shodoshima, are so delicious that they have become my favorite. You can only eat it here, so please visit.
Food culture
Kagawa Prefecture’s food culture is specialized in fresh seafood, including Sanuki udon.
Sanuki udon
It is a symbol of Kagawa that attracts many tourists from home and abroad, and there are many udon restaurants in Kagawa Prefecture. It is a representative dish of Kagawa Prefecture. It is characterized by its firmness and slippery texture. It is recommended to eat it with tempura on top.
Tako meshi
This takikomi-gohan is made with Sanuki octopus, a local specialty. Takikomi-gohan is a dish in which soup stock, ingredients, and rice are cooked together. Takomeshi, as the name suggests, contains octopus. Rice that has absorbed the flavor of the dashi and octopus is very tasty and is one of the most recommended dishes.
Kassya Yaki
It looks like takoyaki, but what is inside is not octopus but curry-flavored chicken. The dough is softer than takoyaki and has a tender texture. Be careful not to burn yourself.
Bone-in chicken
This dish is made by roasting a whole chicken with the bones intact. The savory aroma and juicy meat juices are irresistible. This dish goes very well with beer and is recommended for dinner.
Activities
Kagawa Prefecture offers a wide variety of activities.
Cycling in Setouchi
Rental bicycles are available for touring along the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.
Handmade Udon Noodle Experience
Visitors can experience making their own udon noodles in this famous udon production area.
Contemporary Art Tour
Various artworks are exhibited on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, including Naoshima, Inujima, and Teshima in Kagawa Prefecture, and many visitors make it a goal of their trip to see these works. The Setouchi International Art Festival is also known as one of the famous art festivals, and the next one is scheduled to be held in 2025.
Island tour
There are many islands, including Naoshima, Inujima, and Teshima, which exhibit a great deal of art, as well as Sayagijima, famous for its cats. All of them can only be reached by boat, making them a special experience. The time spent on the boat, admiring the beautiful sea and islands, is not just travel time, but a special kind of entertainment. This tour is perfect for those who want to travel at a leisurely pace and experience the nature of Japan.
Pilgrimage to 88 Shikoku Places
The Shikoku 88 temple tour is a pilgrimage to 88 temples on Shikoku Island. The tour begins at Reizanji Temple in Tokushima Prefecture and ends at Zentsuji Temple in Kagawa Prefecture. The pilgrimage usually takes several days of walking, but in recent years, bicycle tours and bus tours are also available.
Seasonal Recommendations
Kagawa Prefecture is a place with four distinct seasons, and each season offers different activities to enjoy.
Spring
Cherry Blossom Viewing: Kagawa Prefecture is home to many famous cherry blossom viewing spots. In spring, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of cherry blossoms.
- Marugame Castle
- Asahiyama Forest Park
- Kuribayashi Park
- Kotohira-Gu Sakura Baba
- Historic Site Takamatsu Castle Ruins Tamamo Park
- Around Washigamine Great Cave
Summer
Swimming: Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Kagawa Prefecture has many beautiful beaches. In summer, visitors can enjoy swimming and marine sports.
- Chichibugahama
- Furusato coastline
- Yamada coastline
- Matsubara of Tsuda swimming beach
Autumn
Foliage viewing: Kagawa Prefecture has many places famous for their autumn foliage. In autumn, visitors can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves.
- Okubo Temple
- Yashima
- Negoro Temple
- Kotohira-Gu
- Shiromine Temple
- Kuribayashi Park
- Kanka kei
Winter
Onsen: Kagawa Prefecture is dotted with hot springs of various qualities. In winter, hot springs are a great way to relieve travel fatigue.
Local Culture
Festival
- Takamatsu Festival: The Takamatsu Festival is held every July. It is one of the three major Tanabata festivals in Japan and boasts a history of about 200 years.
- Sanuki Udon Festival: The Sanuki Udon Festival is held every August. Visitors can enjoy udon-themed events and a variety of udon dishes.
Traditional crafts
- Takamatsu papier-mache dolls: These cylindrical papier-mache dolls depict the face of a round-faced girl in a red kimono with big hair, and are loved by many people for their heartwarming and simple expressions.
Transportation
Access to Kagawa Prefecture is convenient, and the main access methods are as follows
Airplane
Access from Haneda Airport to Takamatsu Airport takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. A limousine bus runs from Takamatsu Airport to the city center, and reservations are not required.
Shinkansen
There is no bullet train service in Shikoku. The route is to take the Shinkansen to Osaka or Okayama in the neighboring prefecture, and then take a conventional train to Takamatsu.
Railway
Express trains run from Tokyo Station to Takamatsu Station. It takes about 10 hours to get there.
Express Bus
Express buses run from Osaka and Okayama to major spots in Kagawa Prefecture. It takes about 3 hours to get there.
Lastly
Kagawa Prefecture is a place where visitors can enjoy Japan’s beautiful nature, traditional culture, and delicious food. The taste of Sanuki Udon noodles, scenic views, and unique culture provide a fascinating experience for visitors to Japan.