Takamatsu Shore Excursion

Takamatsu, the gateway to Shikoku, offers a perfect balance of landscape beauty, cultural history, and culinary traditions. This excursion highlights some of the region’s best-loved experiences:

• Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園) — One of Japan’s finest landscape gardens, featuring ponds, arched bridges, and teahouses set against the backdrop of Mt. Shiun.
   
• Yashima Lava Plateau Observatory (熔岩台地「屋島展望台」) — A dramatic viewpoint atop a lava plateau, offering sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea and its scattered islands.
   
• Shikoku Mura (四國村) — An open-air museum recreating traditional Shikoku villages with historic farmhouses, bridges, and cultural exhibits.
   
• Sanuki Udon Experience (讃岐烏冬面手製體驗) — Try your hand at making Takamatsu’s most famous local specialty, Sanuki udon, guided by local masters. Enjoy your freshly made noodles as part of lunch.
   

This tour blends serenity, history, and hands-on fun, making it an ideal introduction to Takamatsu and Shikoku.

 09:00 – Pickup at Takamatsu Port

Meet your guide/driver at the cruise terminal. On the way to the first stop, get an introduction to Takamatsu, its role as the gateway to Shikoku, and the day’s schedule.

09:15 – 10:30 – Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園)

Begin your day in one of Japan’s most celebrated daimyo gardens. Wander among six ponds, thirteen landscaped hills, and historic teahouses framed by pine trees and Mt. Shiun in the background. Enjoy a quiet break with matcha tea in the garden’s teahouse while learning about its 400-year history.

10:45 – 11:30 – Yashima Lava Plateau Observatory (屋島展望台)

Drive up to the Yashima Plateau, a dramatic lava-formed mesa overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. From the viewing deck, see the expanse of scattered islands and learn about the Battle of Yashima (1185), one of the most decisive conflicts of the Genpei War. On clear days, the panoramic view stretches to the distant mountains of Honshu.

12:00 – 13:45 – Sanuki Udon Hand-Making Experience (讃岐烏冬面手製體驗)

Take part in a hands-on workshop making Takamatsu’s regional specialty, Sanuki udon. Knead, stretch, and cut the dough guided by local masters, then enjoy your freshly made noodles for lunch with seasonal side dishes. This interactive experience is both fun and delicious, giving you a direct connection to Shikoku’s culinary traditions.

14:15 – 15:45 – Shikoku Mura (四國村)

Stroll through this open-air museum where traditional homes, farmhouses, and thatched-roof structures from across Shikoku have been carefully relocated and preserved. Cross a vine suspension bridge, step into rustic houses, and explore the small art museum designed by famed architect Tadao Ando. The village-like atmosphere gives you a vivid sense of Shikoku’s rural life in past centuries.

16:00 – 16:45 – Scenic Drive Back

Enjoy a leisurely ride through Takamatsu’s streets and along the waterfront. Your guide may suggest a short break for local sweets or souvenirs before returning.

17:00 – Return to Takamatsu Port

Arrive back at the cruise terminal with time to re-board your ship.