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Kagawa travel guide: top sights, food, festivals, hot springs & where to stay (2026)

Kagawa is in the Shikoku region, with Takamatsu as its capital. It is known for: Japan's smallest prefecture and top udon consumer.

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Photo: Japanexperterna.se / CC BY-SA 3.0
By World Lens EditorsUpdated 3 min read

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This translation was generated by AI and may contain wording that differs from the facts. Please check the Japanese original or official sources for anything important. Japanese original

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Quick facts

  • Region: Shikoku
  • Capital: Takamatsu
  • Population: 0.92 million
  • Climate: Seto Inland Sea
  • Cherry blossom (average): 27 March
  • No. 1 in Japan: Japan's smallest prefecture and top udon consumer — Sanuki udon, Shodoshima olives, Kotohira-gu Shrine

⭐ Top sights

Naoshima Art Island
⭐

Naoshima Art Island

A small Seto Inland Sea island turned into a contemporary-art mecca: Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin and Tadao Ando's underground Chichu Art Museum.

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Sanuki Udon (Kagawa)
⭐

Sanuki Udon (Kagawa)

Over 600 udon shops in 'Udon Prefecture'. Self-service bowls from around ¥200, some open from 6 am.

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🏯

Marugame Castle★

A small keep atop Japan's tallest stone walls, rising 60 m in total

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🍲 Local food

Sanuki udon, honetsuki-dori, shoyu-mame

The "Udon Prefecture", No. 1 in Japan for both consumption and shop density. Honetsuki-dori, roast chicken leg, originated in Marugame

🏨 Where to stay in Kagawa

The area around Takamatsu, the capital, has the best transport links and the widest choice of hotels; a night at a hot-spring town is also worth it.

Other prefectures in the region

Tokushima · Ehime · Kochi · 47 prefectures

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Frequently asked questions

What is Kagawa famous for food-wise?

Kagawa's best-known local dishes are Sanuki udon, honetsuki-dori, shoyu-mame. The "Udon Prefecture", No. 1 in Japan for both consumption and shop density. Honetsuki-dori, roast chicken leg, originated in Marugame

What are the top sights in Kagawa?

Top picks in Kagawa include Naoshima Art Island, Sanuki Udon (Kagawa), Marugame Castle★.

When do cherry blossoms bloom in Kagawa?

In Kagawa (Takamatsu), Somei-yoshino cherry trees usually start blooming around 27 March, reaching full bloom about a week later.

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