Explore Takamatsu City

Coming to Japan, tourists should add one more destination to their list, which is Takamatsu city - the capital of Kagawa province on Shikoku island.

View from the top of Mount Yashima.

Attractive "gifts"

Foreign visitors usually fly to Kansai International Airport in Osaka and then take a bus called “Airport Limousine” to Takamatsu.

Many travelers departing from Tokyo often choose the “Sunrise Seto” - the last night train of the day. After a good night’s sleep, travelers will wake up just as the train passes the Seto Ohashi Bridge at sunrise. The sight of the Seto Sea bathed in golden light is the first “gift” that Shikoku Island gives visitors.

The places in Takamatsu are quite far apart. Therefore, visitors should spend 100 yen to rent a bicycle for 24 hours and freely explore the city.

The most famous destination in Takamatsu is Ritsurin Garden, which was recognized by the Japanese Government as a National Treasure Garden in 1953. Ritsurin was originally a garden reserved for feudal lords and officials during the Edo period in Sanuki (now a city in Kagawa Prefecture) and Satsuma Province.

This garden has been around for nearly 300 years and continues to amaze visitors with its impeccable beauty. The garden’s features, such as the Engetsu-kyō Bridge (the symbol of Ritsurin), the Okedoi-no-Taki Waterfall, and the lotus pond, will leave visitors spellbound and unwilling to leave. Ritsurin Garden also has a folk crafts museum, a restaurant, and three teahouses. Many visitors choose to participate in a Japanese tea ceremony amidst the garden’s picturesque surroundings.

Mount Yashima in the Yashima district to the east of the city is another popular destination. The mountain was the “historical witness” of the Yashima naval battle (March 22, 1185), one of the fiercest and most famous battles in Japanese history. The name of national hero Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159 - 1189) is closely associated with the victory at the Battle of Yashima. Many landmarks related to the battle still exist at the foot of the mountain, such as Chinoike Pond (also known as Hell's Blood Pond), where Minamoto is said to have washed his sword after the battle.

Located on the summit of Mount Yashima is Yashima Temple, the 84th of the 88 most famous temples on Shikoku Island. Pilgrims come to the temple to pray for salvation, while tourists come to see this national historical site. After visiting the temple, visitors often buy a porcelain plate and throw it into the sea from the top of the mountain. Legend has it that after Minamoto no Yoshitsune's generals won a battle, they threw pieces of their bloody headdresses into the sea.

Not far from Mount Yashima is Takamatsu Port. Tourists often come here to stroll along the embankments at sunset. The famous Setoshirube Lighthouse is located on a wharf in Takamatsu Port. Setoshirube is built entirely of red glass. Every time the lighthouse lights up at night, the entire tower glows magically.

Sweet and cheerful

Takamatsu still has many old commercial streets called shōtengai such as Marugame-machi, Katahara-machi and Hyōgo-machi. Many of the shops on these streets are hundreds of years old. Visitors will easily find souvenirs here.

These include Sanuki Chochin lanterns bought by pilgrims to offer to the temple, vases and jars made from Aji marble mined on the outskirts of the city, hand-sewn Temari balls, and wasanbon sugar. Wasanbon sugar in particular is a famous specialty because its small and fine grains make it an ideal ingredient for high-end Japanese confectionery.

Takamatsu is also known as the “Udon City”. Udon is a general name for noodles made from wheat. Few places in Japan have as many types of udon as Takamatsu. Every street corner in Takamatsu has an udon shop selling noodles such as sanuki udon (chewy noodles - a Kagawa specialty), kamatama udon (soft-boiled egg noodles)... Udon noodles are very cheap, the most expensive bowl of noodles is no more than 1,000 yen, so it is suitable for tourists who want to save money.

When it comes to festivals in Takamatsu, there are two traditional festivals that are the most famous. The Sanuki festival takes place from August 12 to 14 every year on the occasion of obon (similar to our day of forgiveness for the dead). The highlight of the first day of the Sanuki festival is the fireworks display, while the second day is for locals to “transform” into dancers performing the traditional yosakoi dance on the streets. People also open stalls selling food and handicrafts in parks and other public places.

The second famous traditional festival is the Hyōge Festival, which takes place on the second Sunday of September. During the Edo period, there was a samurai named Yanobe Heiroku who dug the Shin-ike Pond in Asano Ward (Takamatsu City). Thanks to the artificial pond, the local people no longer had to worry about drought. They established the Hyōge Festival to commemorate Yanobe's achievements and pray for a bountiful harvest.

The festival participants dress up colorfully, paint funny faces, and dance enthusiastically in the streets. The purpose of the festival is for everyone to become a clown. There is also a procession of a shrine that stretches about 2km to Shin-ike Pond, and then the whole person and the shrine jump into the water. The scene is both strange and funny, making the festival atmosphere even more joyful and bustling, attracting the participation of many people as well as tourists.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/kham-pha-thanh-pho-takamatsu-695970.html