๐ Japan | Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions in Kagawa Prefecture ๐
๐ On the tenth day of the trip, I arrived in Takamatsu, where I had stayed in Okayama the night before to save money, directly from Hiroshima. ๐ ๐ธ Today, I used the Kansai Wide Area Pass to visit Takamatsu and other places. Since it was a weekend, there was a Hearts Shuttle in Takamatsu that could go to places like Takaya Shrine and Chichihama Beach, so I planned to include that. ๐๐จ However, the problem is that the shuttle only goes to the foot of the mountain of the shrine. If you want to hike up the mountain, it takes about forty-five minutes, most of the way is a very steep and unmaintained mountain path, the kind that makes you regret it once you've done it. ๐๏ธโ The last section of the stairs is known as the "Stairway to Heaven," and the best approach is to take the shuttle from another area to the main shrine parking lot. However, there may not be direct transportation to Chichihama Beach, so you'll have to weigh your options. ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ Although it didn't rain when I went, it was overcast, so I couldn't see the Seto Inland Sea from the top, which was quite a pity. ๐ฅ๏ธ๐ Takamatsu, located in Kagawa Prefecture in the Shikoku region, is considered to have the best tourism resources in Shikoku. The most famous thing in Kagawa Prefecture is Zan udon. Zan is the old name for Kagawa, and almost every udon shop there will have a master making udon by hand in the store. ๐๐จโ๐ณ If you happen to encounter just-fried tempura, it's even better. In addition, Takamatsu City also has Ritsurin Park, which has a three-star Michelin guide rating and is a major place for viewing autumn leaves. ๐๐ However, the most people come to Takamatsu for island-hopping trips. There are five or six small islands with their own characteristics between Takamatsu and Okayama, such as the cat islands of Otojima and Sarutoujima; Shodoshima, known for its olives, autumn leaves at Kankakei, and the witch's house windmill; and Naoshima, the most famous art island. ๐๏ธ๐จ But since I've already done the island-hopping trip last time, I didn't go this time. Maybe I'll write a guide on island-hopping another time. โ๏ธ๐๏ธ DAY 10: Okayama - Takaya Shrine - Chichihama Beach Takamatsu Attractions: Takaya Shrine: Famous for its sky torii gate, on a clear day, you can overlook the Seto Inland Sea and Onomichi City. The last section of stairs under the torii gate has 270 steps, known as the "Stairway to Heaven," and those with good physical strength can challenge themselves to hike up the mountain. ๐ ๐ Chichihama Beach: Known as Japan's sky mirror, one of the top 100 sunsets, the lagoon formed when the tide recedes on a windless day can produce photos with a seamless blend of water and sky. It's recommended to check the tidal times in advance to choose the right day to visit. ๐ ๐ Ritsurin Park: Rated three stars in the 2009 Michelin Guide, with a history of 400 years, it is a national special scenic spot. The park has 300 cherry trees and seasonal flowers and trees, offering a different view with each step, and different scenery in every season. ๐ธ๐ณ #OffTheBeatenPath #Kagawa #Takamatsu #TravelTips #TravelBeauty #SoloTravel #FreeTravel #Japan #JapanFreeTravel #JapanTravelGuide #JapanOffTheBeatenPath #JapanTravel #BackpackTravel
