Kagawa 1 Day Itinerary (Kotohira-gu Shrine, Marugame Castle, Ritsurin Garden)

First head for Kotohira-gu Shrine which is affectionately known as “Konpira-san”. On the long climb up the 1368 steps to the main shrine, take your time to view the cultural assets along the way. At the Shoin on the 477th step, you can see the splendid fusuma paintings by Edo Era master painter Okyo Maruyama.

Japan’s oldest surviving theater, it was built to show plays along the sando path for worshipers heading to Kotohira-gu. You can view the construction of this playhouse which has been designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

Have the famous dish of Kagawa Prefecture, sanuki udon, for lunch. Located near Kanamaru-za, there are venerable restaurants famous for their delicious dishes such as Tsurudaya which is even visited by kabuki actors.

Marugame Castle has been called “the famed castle of stone walls” due to it having the tallest stone walls in Japan. You can observe the surviving castle tower built atop the stone walls constructed with the best techniques of the day. The 400-year-old castle melts beautifully into the environment.

With a small mountain in the background, this Japanese garden is a Special Place of Scenic Beauty that was constructed to capitalize on the lush nature of the area. You can enjoy an elegant garden stroll while viewing the colorful koi carp swimming in the pond. There is a restaurant and a café in the garden where you can drop in.