12 Sights in Takamatsu, Japan (with Map and Images)

Ritsurin Garden is a large, historic garden in Takamatsu, Japan. It was completed in 1745 as a private strolling garden and villa for the local feudal lords, and opened to the public in 1875. Ritsurin is one of the largest strolling gardens in Japan, and a major tourist attraction for Kagawa Prefecture.

Wikipedia: Ritsurin Garden (EN), Website

Takamatsu Castle is a Japanese castle located in central Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is also called Tamamo Castle , literally "seaweed castle," for its seawater moats. The castle was headquarters of the Takamatsu Domain, which ruled eastern Sanuki Province from 1588 to 1869. It is now a park. The castle site has been a National Historic Site since 1955. This castle is one of three in Japan to use seawater moats, along with Imabari Castle in Ehime Prefecture and Nakatsu Castle in Ōita Prefecture.

Wikipedia: Takamatsu Castle (Sanuki) (EN), Website

Ogijima Lighthouse is a stone lighthouse that stands at the northern end of Ogijima in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. In response to the increase in maritime traffic in the Seto Inland Sea after the Sino-Japanese War, it was built in 1895 after Blanton, who is known as the "father of lighthouses," at the eastern end of the Bisan-Seto East Passage by Japan alone. The lighttower is made entirely of granite (Anji stone) and is one of only two unpainted lighthouses in Japan (the other is Tsunoshima Lighthouse).

Wikipedia: 男木島灯台 (JA)

Ohtakiji is a temple located in Waki Town, Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture, and is a preparatory branch temple of the Shingon sect Omuro school. It is also known as Fukudaisan and Jigenin. The main deity is Nishiteru Daikongen. It is the total inner sanctuary of the 88 sacred sites of Shikoku and the 20th sacred site of the 20 special places of Shikoku. Main deity mantra: Namu Nishiteru Daikongen. Hymn: The path of the law opens between the rocks of the sacred peak, washing away misfortunes and saving all beings.

Wikipedia: 大瀧寺 (JA)

Kozaiji Temple is a temple of the Daikakuji sect of Shingon Buddhism located in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. It is called Mt. Hodozan and Jizoin. The honzon is the Bodhisattva of Enmei Jizo. Shikoku Twenty Sacred Places No. 19 Shrine, Shikoku Thirty-Three Kannon Sacred Grounds No. 33 Shrines, Sanuki Seven Lucky Gods Bishamon Heaven. Honzon Mantra: On, Kakabi, Sanmaei, Sowaka Hymn Nanmu Great Sorrow, Enmei Jizo, Great Bodhisattva, Michibi Kitama, The Life of This World (Exceptional) Drunken Living, Drunkenness, Buddha's Smile (Shikoku Kannon)

Wikipedia: 香西寺 (JA), Website

Shikoku Mura (四国村) is an open-air architectural park in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. It houses over twenty buildings from around Shikoku dating from the Edo period through to the Taishō period, four of which have been designated Important Cultural Properties. The park opened in 1976 and covers an area of approximately fifty thousand square metres.

Wikipedia: Shikoku Mura (EN), Website

Mt. Otaki is a mountain located on the border of Kagawa and Tokushima prefectures. It is part of the Sanuki Mountains and has an altitude of 946m. It is the third highest mountain in the Sanuki Mountains and has been selected as one of the 100 best mountains in Kagawa. At the top of the mountain, there is Otaki-ji Temple and Saisho Shrine, which are 20 sacred sites in Shikoku, and there are many climbers.

Wikipedia: 大滝山 (讃岐山脈) (JA)

Kaneijinja is a shrine located in Yusa, Konan Town, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Another name is "Kamuro Hachimangu", and it is known as the god of Konan Town, and is also known as a matchmaking shrine. "Sanuki Jugosha Sacred Site" No. 7.

Wikipedia: 冠纓神社 (JA)

The Kagawa Museum is a prefectural museum in Takamatsu, Japan, dedicated to the history and art of Kagawa Prefecture. The museum opened in 2008, consolidating the three institutions of the Kagawa Prefectural Cultural Hall ; Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum ; and Kagawa History Museum ; the first two institutions now operate as annexes of The Kagawa Museum.

Wikipedia: The Kagawa Museum (EN)

Hanashita Tenmangu is a shrine located in Hyakuma Town, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. It is said to be the oldest shrine in Takamatsu City, but there are other ancient shrines in Takamatsu City, and for example, the Tamura Shrine in Ichinomiya Town was founded in 704 AD and is more than 100 years older than 845 AD, when Sugawara Michimasa, who is enshrined in Tenmangu, was born, so this Tenmangu Shrine is not the oldest in Takamatsu City.

Wikipedia: 華下天満宮 (JA)

Tamura Jinja (田村神社) is a Shinto shrine in the Ichinomiya neighborhood of the city of Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is the ichinomiya of former Sanuki Province. The main festivals of the shrine are held annually on May 8 and October 8. It is located approximately 7 km south of downtown Takamatsu. The area has abundant spring water, and the shrine is based on the worship of the god of water and the shrine's inner shrine is built over a spring. The name 'Tamura' is based on locale, and has no relationship with Sakanoue no Tamuramaro like other shrines of the same name in other parts of Japan.

Wikipedia: Tamura Shrine (EN)

Tsuruo Shrine No. 4 is a circular mound of the early Kofun period located in Nishikasuga-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. It is one of the nationally designated historic sites "Ishikiyooyama Kofun Group" and is considered to be the oldest burial mound in Kagawa Prefecture.

Wikipedia: 鶴尾神社4号墳 (JA), Website