Takamatsu Shikoku, Japan Kagawa
Japan

53 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Azamara Club Cruises (22 Cruises)

Emerald Waterways (7 Cruises)

Lindblad Expeditions (15 Cruises)

Ponant (5 Cruises)

Silversea Cruises (4 Cruises)


Frequently Asked Questions

At Sunport, a modern district laid out opposite the railway station, three minutes away on foot. No long shuttle, no industrial zone to cross: you walk down the gangway and the day begins at once.
Its moats are filled with seawater and connect directly to the Seto Inland Sea. It is a rare example of a Japanese coastal fortress: the sea served as both defence and supply route. The keep is gone, but walls, turrets and gardens are minutes from the pier.
Depending on the season, small boats let you move along the moat, where sea bream swim. The ramparts also serve as a walking route for local residents, who come for air between errands.
An exceptional garden three kilometres from the pier, listed among the country's most precious cultural properties: ponds, wooden bridges and pines trimmed with four centuries of patience. Allow at least two hours to do it justice, green tea in one of the waterside pavilions included.
No, tickets are bought at the entrance without reservation. Early in the morning, locals take their daily walk among the pines, and the low light doubles the poetry of the ponds.
Almost everything is reachable on foot or in a few minutes by transport. A good day: the castle and its moats right off the pier, then Ritsurin Garden, then a bowl of udon. Add Yashima only if the call is long.
East of the city, this plateau overlooks the Inland Sea and holds a temple linked to the Shikoku pilgrimage. At its foot, an open-air museum gathers traditional buildings moved from across the island: thatched farmhouses, a rural theatre, vine bridges.
Kagawa calls itself the udon prefecture, and Takamatsu proves it on every street corner. These thick wheat noodles, served in a clear broth or simply with soy sauce, are eaten standing up and fast.
Many places run on self-service: you reheat your own portion, choose toppings and broth, then settle at the counter. The best guide is the local queue, which beats any guidebook.
Ferries leave from Sunport itself, right in front of the ship, and glide out to the neighbouring islands all day. Late in the day many passengers come back to the esplanade to watch them go. That is where the city reveals itself best.