Takamatsu is a city located in central Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan. It is a port city located on the Seto Inland Sea, and is the closest port to Honshu from Shikoku island.
Kagawa is currently the smallest prefecture, by area, in Japan. But Kagawa, in the past called Sanuki, is also one of the oldest and most traditional places in Japan. Many of these traditions, and the beautiful nature, have been preserved to the present day.
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Where is Takamatsu?
Takamatsu is the capital of the Kagawa prefecture, which is one of Shikoku 4 prefectures. It is located in the northern part of the island and is an important center for culture and business on the whole island. This is dating back to Takamatsu being an important port city for Shikoku and also one of the stations for the famous ”Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage” which is at least 400 years old!
Since it lies in the north of Shikoku facing the main island, Honshu, Takamatsu was essential for trade on the island and most of the goods/wares from close industrial regions, like the Kansai region in the east, arrived there by ship for hundreds of years.
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How to Get to Takamatsu
Approximate transit times
By plane – To Takamatsu Airport
- 1 hour from Tokyo (Narita/Haneda)
- 1.5 hours from Seoul
- 2 hours from Shanghai
- 2.5 hours from Taipei
- 3.5 hours from Hong Kong (starting July 2016)
By train – To JR Takamatsu Station
- 1 hour from Okayama Station
- 2 hours from Shin-Osaka Station by bullet and local trains
By bus – To Takamatsu Station express bus terminal
- 3.5 hours from Kansai International Airport
Means of transportation to Takamatsu
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The Art Islands of the Seto Inland Sea
Takamatsu is also the perfect departure place for travelling to the beautiful islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
One of the best parts about Takamatsu is that it is not only culturally but also economically developed as not many other cities in the region. There is abundant, beautiful nature wherever you go. In the north you have the Seto Inland Sea with the mentioned islands and in the south, west and east are astonishing, century year old temples that just wait the explored.
It’s a city that is famous all over Japan among creative people for the amazing Setouchi International Art festival, which is held on many of the islands north of Takamatsu every three years. And the best thing is that after the festival is done the exhibits are not thrown away but stay where they were originally portrayed, environmental friendly and good for everybody at the same time since they’re visitable all year round!
Setouchi Triennale 2016
http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/
The islands are filled with exhibits of famous architects so it’s definitely worth a trip if you’re into modern art!
It is a city rich with culture and art. Places like the islands with their modern art and museums as well as the shrines and temples with their traditional culture will astonish you.
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Bonsai – Traditional Japanese Craftsmanship
Takamatsu is a craftsmanship city. Traditional Japanese crafts like carving, weaving and growing Bonsais are famous all over Japan.
The production volume of pine bonsai in Kinashi and Kokubunji, the area in the western part of Takamatsu, is number one in Japan. Takamatsu produces about 80% of pine bonsai in the country.
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Sanuki Udon Noodles
Takamatsu is a delicious city. Fresh seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, vegetables and meat from local producers await in the kitchens of Takamatsu.
And Kagawa prefecture, also known as Sanuki, is famous all over Japan for “Sanuki Udon”.
Udon noodles are made from wheat flour, and often served hot as a noodle soup in its simplest form, as Kake Udon. Sanuki Udon is characterized by its firm, chewy, springy texture.
You’ll find Sanuki Udon Restaurants almost everywhere in Takamatsu – in front of train stations, in the side of roads, even in the middle of rice paddies.
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All these things combined make Takamatsu such a great city to live and travel in!