Takamatsu Before Naoshima: What to Do (and Eat) in Your Gateway City
If Takamatsu is where you’re landing before catching the ferry to Naoshima, it’s worth treating as more than just a transit point. Here’s what actually makes sense to build into your time there, beyond the ferry schedule.
Getting There and to Naoshima
For the ferry details themselves — schedules, fares, and terminal directions — our full Takamatsu-to-Naoshima ferry guide covers everything you need. This article picks up where that one leaves off: what to actually do in Takamatsu itself.
Ritsurin Garden
Ritsurin Garden is Takamatsu’s best-known sight and one of Japan’s notable traditional gardens, easily reached from both the port and the train station. If you have even a half-day of slack before or after your Naoshima trip, it’s the single most worthwhile stop in the city — but confirm current opening hours and admission before you go, since these can change seasonally.
Finding Naoshima Note: If you’re flying into Takamatsu Airport and heading straight for the ferry, you likely won’t have time for Ritsurin Garden on arrival day. It fits more comfortably on a return trip, once your Naoshima museums are booked and you know your actual schedule.
Sanuki Udon
Kagawa Prefecture, where Takamatsu sits, is famous throughout Japan for Sanuki udon — enough that the prefecture is sometimes nicknamed “Udon Prefecture.” If trying real Sanuki udon is part of the appeal of routing through Takamatsu, you’re in the right place; udon shops are common around the station and port area. We’re not naming specific shops here, since options and hours shift — a quick search for “Sanuki udon” near your hotel or the port on the day will turn up plenty of choices.
Building Takamatsu Into Your Schedule
| If you’re arriving by… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Plane (Takamatsu Airport) | Airport limousine bus to Takamatsu Port (~40 min), then straight to the ferry if time is tight |
| Shinkansen via Okayama | You’ll likely pass through Takamatsu on your way back rather than on arrival — a good window for Ritsurin Garden |
| Staying overnight in Takamatsu | Build in a proper meal and Ritsurin Garden without rushing your ferry connection |
Is Takamatsu Worth a Full Day?
For most itineraries, Takamatsu works best as a half-day add-on around your ferry times rather than a full standalone day — the exception being if you’re specifically drawn to Ritsurin Garden or want a relaxed udon-focused stop. If you’re trying to figure out how to divide your time between Takamatsu and Naoshima itself, our guide to how many days you need on Naoshima is a useful next read, and if coordinating both legs sounds like more juggling than you want to do yourself, Finding Naoshima Tour can help build a schedule around your actual arrival and departure points.
Experience Naoshima with Finding Naoshima
Navigating ferry docks and bus connections is just the first step of your island adventure. At Finding Naoshima, we help international travelers unlock the deepest cultural stories, architectural wonders, and hidden culinary gems across the Seto Inland Sea.
Whether you need private guided tours, customized itineraries, or recommendations for local seaside dining, explore our full suite of digital guides at Finding Naoshima to plan your trip!