Experience the best of Takamatsu

Takamatsu is the capital of Kagawa Prefecture, on the northern coast of Shikoku facing the Seto Inland Sea. Ritsurin Garden, a vast Edo-period landscape garden of ponds, pine-covered hills and tea houses set against Mount Shiun, is the city's showpiece. Tamamo Park holds the remains of Takamatsu Castle, built beside the sea so that tide water fills its moat, where sea bream swim.

Ferries cross the Inland Sea from the harbour to the art islands of Naoshima and Teshima and to Shodoshima, an island of olive groves and mountain gorges, and the city is a hub for the Setouchi Triennale art festival. On the plateau of Yashima, east of the city, a battle of 1185 between the Taira and Minamoto clans is remembered, and Shikoku Mura is an open-air museum of old houses. Kotohira Shrine, reached by a long stone stairway, lies inland.

Kagawa is called the udon prefecture, and Sanuki udon, thick, chewy noodles served in a light broth or with a raw egg, is the local food; bone-in roast chicken and wasanbon, a fine-grained sugar sweet, are other specialities. The Inland Sea climate is mild and relatively dry, with little rain through the year.