Takamatsu is the capital of Kagawa Prefecture, which has taditionally been called the gateway to Shikoku, with the whole land of the prefecture jutting out into the Seto Inland Sea like a porch.
JR Takamatsu Station next to Takamatsu Harbor is the terminal of the Kotoku Line for Tokushima Pref., the Yosan Line for Ehime Pref. and the Dosan Line for Kochi Pref., while serving as the bus terminal to Tokushima, Matsuyama and Kochi City. Takamatsu Chikko just opposite JR Station is the terminal of Kotoden trams to and from Kotohira, the seat of 'Kompira-san'.
The New Takamatsu Airport handles non-stop flights to and from Seoul, Korea.
Another place in Takamatsu appropriate as a gateway to Shikoku is the Takamatsu Heiko Monogatari Historical Museum 高松平家物語歴史館 that features not only the famous historical literature called Heike Monogatari but also about 50 great historical figures closely associated with Shikoku or native to Shikoku.(p.40)
Takamatsu became the capital in 1587 with the advent of Lord Ikoma I as governor of Sanuki Province. The castle he built on the harbor was succeeded by 4 generations of his descendants, and then by 11 generations of Matsudaira lords, governing Takamatsu Province with a fief of 120,000 koku.
One ninth of the former castle ground is preserved as Tamamo Koen Park 玉藻公園 across the street from JR Takamatsu Station. The donjon is gone, but two of the 15 turrets and Mizute Gomon Gate from the 17thcentury (Important Cultural Properties) survived the air raid in 1945. Admission:￥100.
Traditionally the popular sightseeing spots in Takamatsu are Ritsurin Koen Park near downtown and Yashima Plateau over looking the city and the Inland Sea. They are accessible by bus or tram, with terminals at Takamatsu Chikko 高松築港 just opposite JR Station.
◎30 minutes' walk form JR Takamatsu Station.
The busy street in front of JR Takamatsu is the main street of down town Takamatsu, and leads to the main gate to Ritsurin Koen Park, a National Special bScenic Spot. This spacious garden laid out with shapely mounds, cool ponds and about b160 varieties of trees and flowers provides a classic example of a Japanese garden or even a Chinese Taoist paradise fit for meditation.
Originally it belonged to a local warlord, and then to Lord Ikoma. When it was transferred to the Matsudairas, they spent five generations developing it into a larger stroll-type garden fortheir villa. Seasonal charms of flowers and blossoms such as ume (Japanese plum blossoms) in February, camellias in March, cherry blossomes in April, wisteria and azaleas in May, Irises and water lilies in June, giant lotuses in August, and japanese bush clover in September, and brilliant maple leaves in November add to the pleasure of strolling.
Kikugetsu-tei 菊月亭, one of the pond-side teahouses, was originally one of the Matsudairas, formal buildings. The museum just inside the main gate 讃岐民芸館 houses a variety of mostly local handicrafts. There is a zoo, too, inside the gate. Open daily. Admission to the park: Adout ￥300.
Bus: 30 minutes ride from Chikko to the terminal (Kotoden Bus for Yashima-sanjo or Yashima Hilltop 屋島山頂).
Yashima, a pine-wooded tableland to the northeast of downtown Takamatsu, is one of the world's rare lava mesas, about 290 m high, 3 km wide, jutting 5 km out into the sea.
The hilltop, overlooking the archipelago of the Inland Sea, features Yashima-ji (No.84) 屋島寺 ①, an aquarium ② and observatories all linked by forest promenades.
One of the observatories, Dankorei 談古嶺 ③, commands a view of the inlet fringed with memorials to the Gempei Yashima Battle (the second last battle in Gempei War fought between the two rival clans, the Minamotos and the Tairas).
Once a British poet, Edmund Blunden, visited Yashima and wrote a poem that was engraved on a stone here at Dankorei observatory:
④ Yakakutei Observatory
⑤ the ancient battlefield
⑥ Shikoku-mura Museum
⑦ Y.H. Yashima Snso (屋島荘)
⑧ Heike Monogatari Historical Museum
For further information about the dates and tickets call the office of JR Shikoku in Takamatsu:℡(087)823-0973
〔From Sakaide〕
30 minutes by shuttle bus from JR sakaide.
〔From Takamatsu〕
7 minutes by shuttle bus from Okada after 50 minutes by tram from Takamatsu Chikko to Okada: (Kotoden: Takamatsu Chikko ←→ Okada ←→Kotohira)
〔From Kotohira〕
7 minutes by shuttle bus from Okada after 10 minutes by tram: (Kotoden: Takamatsu Chikko ←→Okada ←→ Kotohira)
Reoma World, opened in 1991, is a pleasure resort, the largest of its kind in western Japan. It offers different types of pleasures for people of different ages ─ thrilling experiences by hi-tech gadgetry, a Kindergarden of fantastic amusements, ancient temples and monuments of Thailand, Nepal and Bhu tan, a Mosque bazaar, Chinese restaurants, an enormous aviary, an art museum and occasional shows, attractions and entertainments. A lakeside hotel and cottages are available, too.
Open daily: 9:00 - 19:00/20:00 (weekends and national hollidays)
Admission: \2000 (High school students: \1000 Children: \800)
◎ To JR Kanonji from JR Takamatsu: 70 minutes by shuttle train.
＊ To the Park: 20 minutes' walk across down town Kanonji.
Kotohiki Koen Park features a pine-wooded sand beach and a shady hill with the ancient shrine Kotohiki Hachiman-gu 琴弾八幡宮 at the top and two of the 88 Temples ─ Jinne-in 神恵院 (No.68) and Kannon-ji 観音寺(No.69) ─ at the foot.
One should not miss the Zenigata huge coin known as Kan-ei-tsuho 寛永通寶 carved about 2 m deep in the white sand. It is best viewed from a hill top observatory behind the Hachiman-gu Shrine. Its broad rim looks completely circular from there, but in reality it is elliptic (122m × 90m) with a circumference of 345 m. When and how it came into being is a mystery, providing a subject for endless debate among local people.
※ Especially Noted Products: olives, olive goods, soy sauce and somen noodles.
Shodosima Island is the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea. It is nicknamed "Olive Island" as olive saplings were successfully transplanted in 1908 from Greece to the soil of this island of all places in Japan.
In spring and autumn a great number of pilgrims arrive here to make a tour around the 88 Sacred Places of this island. For further information, call the Shodoshima Reijo-kai 小豆島霊場会 TEL (0879) 62-0227 .