Kagawa Travel Guide for Japanese Learners
Japan's smallest prefecture — udon noodles and art islands.
Kagawa is synonymous with sanuki udon and with the contemporary-art islands of the Seto Inland Sea, anchored by Naoshima.
History & background
Kagawa (香川) is Japan's smallest prefecture, long famous for sanuki udon (讃岐うどん). Since 2010 the Setouchi Triennale has turned its Inland Sea islands, led by Naoshima (直島), into a global art destination.
What to see
- Naoshima and Teshima art islands
- Ritsurin Garden
- Kotohira-gū (Konpira) shrine
- Marugame Castle
What to eat
Sanuki udon — chewy, cheap, everywhere.
Getting there & when to go
Getting there: Takamatsu is ~50 min from Okayama by train over the Seto-Ōhashi bridge.
Best time: Spring/summer/autumn for the Setouchi Triennale art festival years.
When to go — season by season
Spring, summer, and autumn of triennale years are peak for the art islands. Udon is a year-round, all-day affair; Ritsurin Garden is lovely in every season.
A suggested visit
Slurp self-serve udon for breakfast in Takamatsu (高松), stroll Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園), then ferry to Naoshima for its museums and the famous pumpkin sculptures.
Many Kagawa udon shops are self-serve and open early — a cheap, delicious breakfast.
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