Prefecture guide
Kagawa
香川県
Japan's smallest prefecture is famous for sanuki udon, the Ritsurin garden, the shrine steps of Kotohira and art islands like Naoshima and Shodoshima.
Advisories (minor): Thunder · Alerts for all of Japan
- places to see
- 23
- town guide
- 1
- protected local foods
- 4
- traditional crafts
- 2
- Japan Heritage stories
- 3
Map of Kagawa
Tap a pin to see the place, or a town name for its guide. You can switch on places to eat and stay too.
Places to see in Kagawa
Kiheijima saltwork ruins
喜兵衛島製塩遺跡A historic site in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
- Takamatsu
Ritsurin Garden
栗林公園A garden in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Marugame City Museum
丸亀市立資料館A museum in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Takinomiya Tenmangu
滝宮天満宮A Shinto shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
- Takamatsu
Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum
瀬戸内海歴史民俗資料館A museum in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Kandani Shrine
神谷神社A Shinto shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Shiudeyama Site
紫雲出山遺跡A historic site in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Kamada Museum
鎌田共済会郷土博物館A museum in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Onohara Hachiman Shrine
大野原八幡神社A Shinto shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
- Takamatsu
Shikoku Mura Gallery
四国村ギャラリーA museum in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
- Takamatsu
Shikoku Mura
四国村A museum in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Kiyama Castle
城山城A castle in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Town guides in Kagawa
The towns with the most to see, each with its own guide.
Taste of Kagawa
Foods whose names are protected in Japan. If the label carries the name, it really comes from here.
Traditional crafts of Kagawa
Officially recognised crafts that are still made by hand. A good place to start when you look for souvenirs.
Weather in Takamatsu this week
Today
24 Oct
Rain
High 27°CLow 20°C
Sun
25 Oct
Cloudy
High 25°CLow 21°C
Rain 90%
Mon
26 Oct
Cloudy
High 23°CLow 17°C
Rain 70%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 24°CLow 15°C
Rain 50%
Warm: T-shirts and breathable clothes, plus a light layer for air-conditioned trains and shops.
Explore by interest
Japan Heritage stories
Local history told as a route you can follow, with the places that go with it.
Good to know
- Many udon shops are self-service and close once the noodles run out, often by early afternoon.
- Kotohira-gu has 785 steps to the main shrine, and more beyond.
- Ferries from Takamatsu port reach Naoshima, Teshima and Shodoshima.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Kagawa and Naoshima?
Take the Shinkansen to Okayama and change to the JR Seto-Ohashi Line express to Takamatsu. Takamatsu Airport has flights from Tokyo and Okinawa and a few Asian cities. Naoshima and Shodoshima are reached by ferry or speedboat from Takamatsu or from Okayama Prefecture.
What is there to see in Kagawa?
Ritsurin Koen in Takamatsu, one of Japan's most famous gardens; the contemporary art museums and installations of Naoshima and nearby islands; Shodoshima's olive groves; and 23 of the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.
What should I eat in Kagawa?
Sanuki udon, thick, square-edged noodles that Kagawa is famous for; locals often eat it for breakfast. On Shodoshima, try olive products and hand-pulled somen.
More of Shikoku
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.