Takamatsu

The new cruise port accepts vessels up to 50,000 tonnes and also serves ferries. Berths are close to the city, so shuttles are unnecessary.

It is an easy, largely covered walk to the town centre, main railway station with information and tourist office. A little farther on is the top end of the shopping arcade, which runs nearly to Ritsurin Gardens. Its total length is 2.7km, including side arcades.

Japan’s award-winning Ritsurin gardens are among the country’s best. East of the railway station on the coast, Takamatsu Castle is a rare coastal castle with a seawater moat, clearly visible from the ship. The castle itself is closed, but its formal park and gardens reward a visit. Beside the castle on the port side is the Kotoden tramway’s town station; this private railway has three lines reaching sites including Ritsurin garden and Shikoku Mura park and historic village. The station sells travel day passes and others that include access to various…

Takamatsu is Shikoku island’s largest city and the capital of Kagawa Perfecture, Japan.

"Ritsurin Garden" is among Kagawa’s most treasured places, attracting many domestic and international tourists for its traditionally landscaped scenery. Staff care for it year-round except in summer’s heat. In every season, note the delicately sculpted pine trees, especially if you love bonsai.

Tamamo Park, near Takamatsu Station and the port, contains the ruins of Takamatsu castle. Former castle grounds are now a beautiful park, where some historic remnants remain. The former castle was built in the early Edo period, first by the Ikoma clan and later by Matsudaira clan.

Takamatsu Symbol Tower was built in 2004 and became Shikoku district’s tallest building. Its several observation decks look across the sea and nearby peninusulas, while the eastern building has a shopping mall with many restaurants.

Takamatsu is reasonably walkable, and its downtown is straightforward to navigate on foot.

Bicycling is an extremely popular way to travel, and bikes can be rented in many places.

Yashima is a flat topped mountain just beyond central Takamatsu. It hosted an important 12th century Gempei War battle between the Taira and Minamoto Clans, in which the Taira were defeated before their final destruction. The mountain offers fine views of Takamatsu and the Seto Inland Sea. Shops near its viewpoints sell small clay discs to throw off the summit for luck, symbolising victorious Minamoto warriors casting away their headpieces after defeating the Taira.

Across Japan, Takamatsu is particularly famous for udon noodles, one of the three major Japanese noodle dishes.

There are hundreds of udon shops within the city limits.

Japan’s currency is the yen, issued as ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes and ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1 coins.

Japanese ATMs are increasingly useful, with most able to withdraw funds from overseas accounts; post offices have ATMs too. Major credit cards work at most stores and restaurants in large urban areas, but carry enough cash for rural travel. Japan remains a cash society, and some stores, hotels and restaurants refuse credit cards regardless of location.

Do not tip: it is considered rude.

Takamatsu City offers everyone a free public wireless LAN service called "Kagawa Wi-Fi".

Japanese shops and department stores generally open daily, including national holidays except New Year's, from 10:00 or 10:30am until 7:30 or 8:00pm. Some specialist shops close Sundays and national holidays. Department stores can close one day a week irregularly, but their varying closing days mean shoppers can always find open stores.

Japan’s Public Holidays.