Takamatsu (高松) is the largest city in Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, Japan.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
The city developed over many years as a port town at one of the primary entry points into Shikoku and is therefore known as the "Gateway to Shikoku". It has come to be known as the "Udon Kingdom". July and August can get quite warm. The winter months of January and February are the coldest, with occasional nighttime freezing temperatures. Experience Takamatsu is the city's official multilingual guide site.
While it's possible to visit certain groups of sites on foot, it is not recommended. Many sites are spread out, so walking will be impractical and time-consuming for most travelers. Takamatsu is extremely bike-friendly. In fact, it was designed with bike travel in mind. To match the city's bike-friendly design, Takamatsu has one of the best rental cycle systems in Japan; you can keep your rental bike overnight and it is extremely inexpensive overall. The system is so good and there are so many bikes available that many locals use the system as well, unlike most rental cycles in Japan which are designed exclusively for tourists. You can rent a bike for just ¥100 per day ...
1 Ritsurin Park (栗林公園 ritsurin kōen), 1-20-16 Ritsurin-cho (5-min walk from Ritsurin Kōen Station (Kotoden), exit station and walk straight along the road. Also, a 3-min walk from Ritsurin Kōen Kitaguchi Station (JR) and also accessible by bus), ☏ +81 87 833-7411. Sunrise to sunset (varies by month). A beautiful and very large Japanese landscape garden built for the Sanuki and Sasuma lords and has been designated a Japanese National Treasure. It is full of intriguing items and spectacular views; it is likely to cause even those who have lived in Japan long-term to have a "Wow, I'm really in Japan!" moment.
Sanuki Takamatsu Festival (さぬき高松まつり, sanuki takamatsu matsuri) (In front of Takamatsu Station and near the sea.). mid-August. The first day is the opening; the second day is a fireworks festival; the last day is a dance festival. Visitors can enjoy the central park, the shopping arcade, and the "Sunport" district. Winter Festival (高松冬のまつり). mid-to-late December. See beautiful Christmas displays at the central park. Shionoe Firefly Festival (ほたる祭り). mid-June. A festival to celebrate the flying insect. Hyōge Festival (ひょうげ祭り). The 2nd Sun in September.
Takamatsu is famous throughout Japan for its udon noodles, one of the three major types of Japanese noodles. Udon noodles are distinctive in that they are white, fairly thick, and chewy. Although udon is widespread in Japan, Takamatsu does it better and cheaper than anywhere else in the country. There are literally hundreds of udon shops within the city limits. Because local foods are often a driving force in Japanese tourism, many people flock to the city for the udon, often doing "chain-eating" tours around the city to famous shops. Udon made in Takamatsu and the Kagawa prefecture is sometimes referred to as Sanuki udon. 'Sanuki' was the historical name of Kagawa.
The Craic Irish Pub (Near Takamatsu Train Station), ☏ +81 80-5089-5735. Magic Pan, The Hawaiian Bar, ☏ +81 86 234 2121. MeloBar (Near Kawaramachi Station), ☏ +81 87 811 5228. Hidamari Coffee Stand (陽だまり珈琲).
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Oct, Takamatsu typically sees ~24°C daytime highs and 14 rainy days.
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