Takamatsu: Garden Art, Bonsai and Island Traditions

Takamatsu has many sides: landscaped gardens, a roof-shaped lava plateau, island traditions and bonsai culture. You can shape your stay in different ways—for example, around historic garden art, views and hikes, or the stories of the islands. When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first consider which of these experiences you want to define your trip.

Garden Art, Views and History

Ritsurin Garden is a strolling garden in the style of a daimyō garden. Six ponds and 13 landscaped hills shape its grounds; its appearance from the early Edo period has been preserved to this day. If you would like to see the garden from more than just a walking perspective, you can also view it from a traditional Wasen boat. Check before your trip whether this boat activity is available.

On Yashima, landscapes and history alternate. The roof-shaped lava plateau offers views of the tranquil Seto Inland Sea, its many islands and the Takamatsu urban area. You can hike along a mountain trail and stop at three viewpoints. Yashima was also a battlefield in the Genpei War; the entire area is designated as a historic site.

Takamatsu Castle Ruins Tamamo Park also combines landscaped scenery with cultural heritage. It contains a Japanese garden, as well as towers and Hiunkaku, which are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The garden of Hiunkaku is designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty. The park also includes a saltwater moat.

Islands with Their Own History

On Ogijima stands a lighthouse built in 1895 from granite from Aji in Takamatsu. It is still used to ensure maritime safety, is one of Japan’s “50 Selected Lighthouses,” and is one of only two unpainted lighthouses in the country. You can reach Ogijima from Takamatsu Port by ferry in 40 minutes; check the timetable before your trip. Visitors from outside the island also come to Ogijima to hike in winter.

Megijima has different seasonal highlights. The island is known for its beach, and many people come to swim there in summer. Every two years, a men’s festival dedicated to the island deities is held at Sumiyoshi Shrine in summer. Women are not allowed to attend this festival, which preserves long-standing rules and island customs.

Everyday Life, Bonsai and City Strolls

Shikoku Mura is the only open-air museum on Shikoku. The site includes 31 buildings relocated from different parts of Shikoku, including cultural properties designated at the national or prefectural level. Buildings, farming tools and household items illustrate life in the past. On the green grounds, you can stroll among seasonal flowers and enjoy the site on a walk through a woodland-like setting.

At Takamatsu Bonsai no Sato, beginners and tourists can view and buy bonsai, and take part in bonsai experiences. Check the current opening hours before visiting. The Kinashi–Kokubunji area is one of Japan’s leading regions for pine bonsai. As of December 2025, visitors could walk among around 60 bonsai nurseries there—a different focus from visiting the bonsai facility.

For a city stroll whatever the weather, head to Takamatsu Central Shopping Arcade: the covered shopping street is around 2.7 kilometres long. Its eight shopping streets have around 1,000 businesses across various sectors in total, offering opportunities to shop and stroll throughout the day. They work together and are managed with urban development in mind.

These differences can help you tailor your search for a holiday rental in Takamatsu to your travel plans: gardens and cultural heritage, views and hiking, or the islands’ seasonal experiences each offer a different focus. If you plan to visit Ogijima, include the ferry timetable in your day’s itinerary. The covered shopping street complements the garden and island themes with a weather-independent option for a stroll.

Discover more destinations: Mime, Manno, Zentsūji, Tadotsu, Furue, Kotohira, Higashikagawa, Marugame

For the broader travel overview: Kagawa Prefecture.