What to do in Takamatsu, Japan? And is it worth visiting?
Takamatsu has a nice mix of art, history, Japanese culture gems, and natural beauty.
I spent some time in Takamatsu on my last trip to Japan, explored the city and the nearby art island of Naoshima, and enjoyed its relaxed pace.
In this Takamatsu travel guide I’ll help you plan a short break in the city and share my experience and travel tips.
Table of contents
What to do in Takamatsu
Takamatsu guided tour
You can take a private tour in Takamatsu with a flexible, personalised itinerary.
On this tour the guide will contact you in advance to ask about your interests and will build a custom plan for you.
This way you’ll be sure to see all the highlights and cover anything that interests you on a curated tour.
Ritsurin Garden
Takamatsu is home to one of the most magnificent Japanese gardens I’ve ever seen.
This picturesque garden has lakes and ponds, stone bridges and tea houses, charming landscape art, and a truly relaxing atmosphere.
I visited Ritsurin Garden (or Ritsurin Koen) on a sunny autumn afternoon, so I enjoyed both the sunshine and the amazingly colourful autumn leaves. Two days later it was rainy and grey, so I was in luck.
When you enter the garden you’ll get a map with a route to follow. The garden is big, but you’re not likely to get lost. Also, even though there were quite a lot of people there, it felt spacious and never crowded.
The most well-known part of the garden is Hirai-ho Hill, or rather the view you see when you climb up that hill.
The view of Nanko Pond, Kikugetsu-tei Teahouse, and Engetsukyo Bridge with Mt. Shuin in the background is iconic.
The Mt. Shuin backdrop is a great example of “borrowed scenery”. It’s a concept in traditional East Asian landscape design, of using background landscape as part of the composition of the garden.
Take your time in the garden. You can easily spend 2-3 hours there and if you have some extra time, take a boat ride.
Shikoku Mura Village
A short train ride from Takamatsu Station there’s a fantastic open air museum with preserved historic buildings within a green park.
This open air museum was a joy to explore. I love seeing how people used to live in the past, and Japanese architecture is always fascinating. I learnt a lot about Japanese culture at this museum.
To get to Shikoku Mura Village, I got off at Yashima Station. From the station it was a 15 minute walk, which wasn’t particularly scenic at first, but got so much nicer as I approached Mount Yashima. The open air museum is at the foot of that mountain.
You start the route with a suspension bridge made out of vine. Then you move on to see samples of wonderful Japanese architecture from the region.
Some of my favourite buildings were the Kabuki theatre and amphitheatre; various traditional family houses; the tea house; the sugar cane press; and the soy sauce brewery.
All along you’ll be walking inside a park with gorgeous scenery, ponds and waterfalls, and many places to stop and rest along the way.
Shikoku Mura Village is easy to navigate. All spots along the way are numbered. There are clear signs in English and an audio guide you can download and use on your phone (there’s free wifi at the ticket desk). You can also pick up a paper map when you enter.
I enjoyed using the audio guide, because I could look around rather than at the map.
Takamatsu Art Museum
Takamatsu has a small but impressive museum showcasing contemporary art, both Japanese and international.
It’s right in the city centre and was a perfect solution for a rainy day.
I especially enjoyed the lacquerware collection, beautiful decorative art mastered by local artists from Kagawa.
You’ll also find a collection of pop art and abstract art, plus art by locals at the Citizens’ Gallery.
Most exhibition texts are in Japanese, but some are in English and there are friendly, English-speaking staff members around.
Takamatsu Castle
Takamatsu Castle, also known as Tamamo Castle, dates back to 1590. It’s open to the public and you can visit it while in Takamatsu.
While the original castle keep was lost, other parts have been restored.
I found the castle grounds and the surrounding gardens very peaceful to walk around, with beautiful pine trees and a stone bridge.
It’s a lovely place to experience tranquil Japanese aesthetics.
The art islands
I chose Takamatsu as my base for exploring Japan’s art islands in Seto Inland Sea. These are several rural islands that are home to museums, galleries, and exceptional art projects.
Getting to these islands may be tricky, as you have to rely on ferries and boats with limited timetables.
Takamatsu is in an ideal location if you’d like to visit Naoshima, the biggest art island.
The ferry ride from Takamatsu to Naoshima is rather short, it took about 50 minutes, which left me an entire day to explore the museums and galleries in Naoshima.
Naoshima is an extraordinary hub for contemporary art and amazing Japanese architecture. It’s a must-see if you’re interested in either.
Some of the most famous artists and architects you’ll find in Naoshima include Yayoi Kusama and iconic pumpkins, James Turrell who created immersive light installations, and Tadao Ando, the Japanese minimalist architect.
The planning of my day trip to Naoshima from Takamatsu took me quite a bit of time. There was a lot of information to read and translate, timetables, reviews, transport options etc. There’s a lot to see there and I was hit by FOMO.
At the end of the day, all that planning was worth it, and I got to see everything I wanted to see on the island in just one day.
In hindsight, a simpler option would have been to take a guided tour.
If you’d like to plan an independent day trip without a guide, read my complete guide to visiting Naoshima that will help you create your itinerary.
How to get to Takamatsu?
Takamatsu is located in Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku Island.
To get to Takamatsu from Tokyo, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama Station, then transfer to the JR Marine Liner rapid train to Takamatsu. This journey is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Okayama is a major transport hub, so you can reach it from many other cities and towns in Japan, and change there for the train to Takamatsu.
Regional passes may be more suitable and more affordable than the general JR pass.
Consider these passes, depending on where you’re planning to go in Japan and for how long:
- West Kansai Wide Area Pass
- Kagawa Mini Rail and Ferry Pass
- Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
- Setouchi Area Pass
Takamatsu also has a small airport with a limited number of flights.
Where to stay in Takamatsu?
Here are some popular hotels in Takamatsu:
What’s the best time to visit Takamatsu?
The ideal time to visit is either in spring or in autumn when the weather is nice.
One of the main reasons to visit Takamatsu is Ritsurin Garden, so you want to be there in time for cherry blossom or foliage.
Avoid the summer if you dislike heat and humidity.
Is Takamatsu worth visiting?
Takamatsu is worth visiting thanks to its amazing Japanese garden, the easy access to the art islands, and the slower pace that’s much more relaxed than in the big cities in Japan.
Takamatsu is the largest city on Shikoku Island, but compared to big cities like Tokyo or Kyoto, it obviously feels much calmer.
If you’re planning a long trip around Japan, it’s a good idea to add a smaller, calmer city to the schedule.
Japan is overwhelming, and I felt Takamatsu was a good place to chill for a bit, while still having things to do and see every day.
The Ritsurin Garden is the main reason to visit Takamatsu. It really is wonderful on a sunny day.
The other good reason to visit Takamatsu would be the proximity to the art islands, especially Naoshima, which was a very special experience.
You can get to Naoshima from other places too, but Takamatsu is a very convenient ferry ride away.
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