History / Culture / Tour Spots in Kagawa Area

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Kagawa
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Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Hiketa no Cityspace

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Higashikagawa-shi Hiketa
Museum of Astronomical Telescopes

Leisure / Hobbies

Kagawa Sanuki-shi Tawa Sukemitsu Higashi 30-1

This is the world’s first museum dedicated to telescopes. Operating out of a closed elementary school building, the museum displays over 200 telescopes of varying sizes. The museum doesn’t just display telescopes but also holds events in which they are used to look at sunspots and prominences. Situated near the border between Kagawa Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture, from the museum’s roof visitors take in a beautiful night sky unspoiled by light pollution. Visitors note that here you can see nebulas and star clusters only visible in an area like this with such dark skies.
Kura no Yakata Sankakutei

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Ayauta-gun Utazucho 2148

This estate can be identified by its Western-style triangular steeple roof. The estate was built in the early Showa period as a villa for a local fertilizer merchant, Sakai Yoshitaro. The distinctive estate consists of a Japanese-style structure incorporating shoin-zukuri architecture next to a Western-style building with stained glass windows. A rare and historically valuable example of early modern Japanese architecture, the estate’s front gate and outer wall as well as the buildings themselves have been designated a National Tangible Cultural Property.
Shotsuji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Ayauta-gun Utazucho 2805

This Buddhist temple, dedicated to Bhaisajyaguru, is located 10 minutes from the Sakaide-kita Interchange. The 33rd temple on the Sanuki 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, the temple enshrines a thousand armed Kannon statue and a statue depicting Bhaisajyaguru, the principal object of worship. Just when the temple was founded is not clear, but records state it was established to enshrine a thousand armed Kannon statue personally carved by the great monk Kobo Daishi when he visited the area to preach. The temple later underwent a restoration in 868 and was given its current name and was used as a favored temple by Emperor Uda and later Ikoma Chikamasa and Matsudaira Yorishige when they were lords of the area.
Ichiyaan

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Kanonji Yahatacho 2

This hermitage is said to be the oldest extant site associated with haiku poetry in Japan. The hermitage is said to have been built when Yamazaki Sokan, forefather of haiku poetry, when he lived on the grounds of the Koshoji Temple. Since it was erected in 1528, the hermitage has been restored around four times and still looks virtually the same as when it was first built. A portion of the roof is thatched with reeds from Lake Biwa where Sokan was born. The hermitage’s name literally translates to the “One Night Hermitage” and is derived from Sokan’s preference that guests stay no longer than one night as indicated in one of his poems: “Best are those that never stay / next are those that stay the day / last are those that stay until night / those that stay the night are the lowest of all.”
Kagawaya Honten

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Marugame-shi Nishihirayamacho

"It is a symbol of Marugame Port, which used to be a busy landing port for ""Konpira Pilgrims"" and was completed in 1838 by people living in Edo (present-day Tokyo). The lanterns, which were once used as landmarks by visitors, are still lit at night and watch over Marugame Port today."
Shokakuin Temple (Yamadera Temple)

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Marugame-shi Honjimacho Tomari 842

"Located in the center of the main island, this Shingon sect temple, nicknamed ""Yamadera-san"" by local residents, was founded in the Tempyo period (729-748), and its principal image of Sho-Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) is a treasured treasure that is opened once every 33 years. The summer festival held on the third Sunday of July every year attracts many worshippers and tourists, and includes a hot water blessing and fire-walking rituals."
Kikugetsu-tei

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Takamatsu-shi Ritsurin Cho 1-20-16 Ritsurin Park Nai

This tea ceremony belvedere is located inside the nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty, Ritsurin Park, and is the most significant structure in the park. Kikugetsutei, named after a classical Tang period Chinese prose, 'cupping water into my hands, I can hold the moon', means scooped-moon pavilion. The attraction of this teahouse, beloved by many generations of feudal lords, is found it its graceful uncluttered spaces open to light and nature. Built during the early Edo period, the Sukiya-zukuri boasts not only an exceptional architectural design but also a panoramic view of the landscaped garden through its sliding doors. One experiences a sense of being surrounded by masterpieces of landscape paintings.
Moai Statue

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Takamatsu-shi Megicho

This tall Moai statue stands at the gateway to Megi Island, also known as Onigashima Island. Visitors traveling to Megi Island will come upon this statue not far from Megi Port. Built by one of the heavy equipment manufacturers in Takamatsu City, the statue is designed after the Moai statues on Easter Island, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the world. This statue is an experimental statue used to test how things fair when the actual replicated statue was hoisted.
Ittokuan

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Shozu-gun Shodoshima Cho Noma Ko 2211

This is a specialty store inside the Hishio-no-sato grounds that house a tsukudani and soy sauce brewing factory. Here, the practice of making discriminating soy sauce and tsukudani has been carried in with the convictions and passion of the father of Shodo Island style tsukudani, Takebe Yoshiji. The historic design of this store is modeled after the original one. Prior to the war, this interesting building was used for storing the casks for fermenting soy sauce. Potato vines, which served as the first food item to be made into Shodo Island style tsukudani in 1945, are on display in the store, as well as an introduction to the history and development of soy sauce and tsukudani food processing.
People in Peace Statue

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Shozu-gun Tonoshocho Yoshi

This is a bronze statue erected at the Tonosho Port, the front door to Shodo Island. It is as though the characters in the immortal literary work, Twenty-Four Eyes, by the author Tsuboi Sakae are coming out to greet all those arriving at Shodo Island, from whence she hailed. This area, near the high-speed boat terminal, was also the site where the movie Boku to Mama no Kiiroi Jitensha, released in 2009, was shot. It is a quintessentially Shodo Island looking area surrounded by olive trees. Modeled after the 12 students and the female teacher, the statue symbolizes the desire for peace and happiness to all.
Shichibutsu Yakushi

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Zentsuji-shi Yoshiwaracho Mii No E

This is a statue of Buddha, said to cure ailments, located about a 15-minute walk from the Zentsuji Station on the JR Dosan Line. This stone-carved figure is nestled in a section along the Zentsuji Akamonsuji shopping arcade stretching east from the Zentsuji Temple. It originally was located along the banks of the Yoshiwara-oike Pond, but in commemoration of the 1200th anniversary of Zentsuji Temple, the figure was moved from the Shichibutsu Yakushiji Temple in Yoshiwara district to this location. This Shiichibutuyakushi, when solicited, is said to improve the production of breast milk, and it is endearingly called Nyuyakushi. Ceremonial services are offered on the eighth of each month, on which day the arcade also holds the Akamon yokaichi market, which many people enjoy.
Arioka Kofun Cluster

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Zentsuji-shi Zentsujicho

This is a group of tombs located in a scenic area overlooking the town of Zentsuji City. This group of tombs are said to be those of a distinguished family, the ancestors of Saint Kobo Daishi. Zentsuji, historically known as the city of tumulus mounds. Over 400 sites of varying sizes, have been discovered in the greater municipal region. Among these, the one considered to be of an equally distinguished status of a chief, is the Ohakayama tomb in the center of the Arioka group. This keyhole shaped tomb is about 46 meters in length and was built around mid-sixth century. From the stone burial chamber earthenware, ornaments, weapons and horse tack were excavated. April 29th is the official tumulus day, designated by the city. On this day, the normally sealed off, yokoanashiki horizontal stone chamber of the Ohakayama tomb and the Noda-in tomb mound is opened to the public for viewing.
Koshikizan Mini 88 Sites

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Zentsuji-shi Zentsujicho 1079

This is a hiking trail that meanders around the backside of Zentsuji Temple, the birthplace of Saint Kobo Kukai. Along the trail are 88 Buddhist stone statues, arranged out from the Gochiin Temple in the Mt. Koshiki foothills. Modeled after Shikoku's eighty-eight sacred places, these statues signify each of the temples. The 1.6-kilometer trail with may undulations is great for getting in shape. This trail, said to have the same benefits as making the Shikoku island pilgrimage has various open areas, mini parks and an iris garden along the way. Many people not only go for the blessings of the pilgrimage, but also just to enjoy the seasonally changing foliage.
Nogi Museum

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Zentsuji-shi Minamimachi 2-1-1

This is an history museum commonly called the Self-Defense Force Zentsuji Post Museum that is on the premises of the Police Academy of the Shikoku Police Department. Although originally built as the former divisional headquarters of the 11th army division, it is now open to the public as a museum. In the office, used by many division commanders, there are many artifacts and memorabilia on display of the first division commander, now recognized as a god of war, Nogi Shogun. The well-preserved furnishings, such as the desk and chair are those that were actually used by the division commanders. Altogether, giving one a sense of that period and the history leading up to the present, where conveyed by the helicopter and a tank displayed in the outside yard.
Sanuki Soy Sauce Drawings Museum by Tsuyoshi Ozawa

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Sakaide-shi Honmachi 1-6-35
Teshima Art Museum

4.5

308 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kagawa Shozu-gun Tonoshocho Teshimakarato 607

We took the fast ferry from Port Uno to Karato Port, Teshima Island, to see the museum. There is a local bus but we chose to walk instead and wound our way uphill to the museum which sits amidst...
ANDO MUSEUM

3.5

177 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kagawa Kagawa-gun Naoshimacho 736-2

This museum has very little things to explore and not much interesting. If you have time and want to enjoy every museums in Naoshima, you can go there. You can walk and explore around this...
Lee Ufan Museum

4.0

216 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kagawa Kagawa-gun Naoshimacho Kura Ura 1390

This museums outside is better than the inside. It is not amazed about the inside. Outdoor scenes are better for photo shooting. If you are interested in art, you may go inside and explore. For my...
Tamura Shrine

4.0

46 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kagawa Takamatsu-shi Ichinomiyacho 286

We stumbled on Tamura-jinja while looking for Ichinomiya-ji (Temple #83). It was intriguing at first:There are seemingly hundreds of shiny statues of animals, Shichi Fukujin (Seven Wise Men...

Kagawa

Takamatsu Kotohira / Kanonji Sakaide / Marugame Shodo Island Tosan

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour

Reference/Local/Exhibition/Literature Museum Shrine Castle / Ruins of Castle Historical Monument Temple Church Ruin / Grave / Ancient Tomb Memorial Hall Cultural Property Event Hall / Public Hall Art Museum Museum / Science Museum Other Historic Site/Building

Kagawa Areas

Japan’s smallest prefecture, Kagawa, may take up just a small corner of Shikoku, but it has grown increasingly popular with the recognition of Naoshima, its "art island" in the Seto Inland Sea between Shikoku and Honshu. Just a stone’s throw from the islands, mainland Kagawa’s prefectural capital, Takamatsu, holds history in its castle ruins and its pride and joy, Ritsurin Garden, is known as one of the country’s best gardens.