Ritsurin Garden, shrine treasures, and island temples make Kagawa compact and rich. Explore cultural properties with ferry links to art islands.
National Treasures
A Heian manuscript in Kagawa Prefecture recording the gazetteer of Hizen, now Saga and Nagasaki. One...
A Heian-period text owned by Zentsuji in Kagawa Prefecture. Its own fields stand almost empty, while...
A Tang-period staff head owned by Zentsuji in Kagawa Prefecture. It came over from China long ago an...
Kandani Shrine Main Hall in Sakaide, dated 1219 by an ink inscription, is the oldest three-bay nagar...
The Motoyamaji Main Hall in Mitoyo, Kagawa, a National Treasure of 1300: an esoteric hall dated by i...
Discover the National Treasure "Fujiwara no Sukemasa Hitsu Shi-Kaishi," the oldest surviving poetry ...
Important Cultural Properties
Kenzo Tange completed this Takamatsu government office in 1958, recasting the columns and beams of J...
On a Kagawa hilltop that was once Nio Castle stands Kakujoin's two-storied bell tower, a Momoyama wo...
Hipped-roof main hall of 1677 at Kannonji, Temple 69 of the Shikoku pilgrimage in Kanonji, Kagawa, w...
An 18th-century farmhouse from southern Ehime, now at Shikoku Mura near Yashima. The whole raised fl...
Built in the late Kamakura period on reused Nara lecture-hall foundations, Sanuki Kokubunji's main h...
Twelve buildings atop Kotohira Shrine's 785 steps, rebuilt in plain cypress after the Shinto-Buddhis...
Other Heritage
A Meiji-period main house in Manno, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Eaves run round all four sides, and on...
Tombs of a line of chiefs in Zentsuji, Kagawa, a Historic Site since 1984, from the third-century No...
Quarries on Shodoshima and in Higashi-Rokko where stone was cut for Osaka Castle, a Historic Site si...
Two medieval tile kilns, one square and one round, below Omizukami Shrine in Mitoyo, Kagawa, a Histo...
On the northwestern coast of uninhabited Marugamijima Island, drifting in the Hiuchi-nada Sea off Ka...
The Marugame Castle Ruins in Kagawa Prefecture preserve one of Japan's most impressive early Edo-per...
About Kagawa
Kotohira-gu Shrine, enshrined on Zozu-san mountainside and beloved as "Konpira-san," has been worshipped as maritime traffic guardian deity since ancient times. Featuring 785 steps to main shrine and 1,368 steps to inner shrine, worship typically requires 1-2 hours. Route includes Omote-shoin featuring Maruyama Okyo barrier paintings and other cultural properties.
Sanuki udon represents Kagawa Prefecture's signature gourmet, with approximately 1,000 udon shops countywide. Characterized by strong, chewy noodles and clear broth, offering various eating styles including kake-udon, zaru-udon, and bukkake-udon. Kotohira-gu Shrine surroundings represent "udon shop birthplace" with numerous famous establishments.
Shodoshima, island floating in Seto Inland Sea, represents "Japanese olive cultivation birthplace" where olive cultivation first succeeded in Japan in 1908. Currently comprising approximately 95% national production with thriving extra virgin olive oil production. Shodoshima Olive Park features approximately 2,000 olive trees with beautiful scenery.
Olive beef and olive yellowtail represent Kagawa Prefecture's unique brand foods, raised on olive-mixed feed improving meat and fish quality with distinctive flavors as high-quality livestock and marine products. Particularly, olive beef features beautiful marbling while olive yellowtail offers excellent fat content.
Marugame Castle, one of 12 existing keeps, is known as "stone wall masterpiece castle." Characterized by beautiful stone wall curves called "fan slope," offering spectacular Sanuki Plain and Seto Inland Sea views from keep. Particularly crowded during cherry blossom season.
Ritsurin Garden, nationally designated special scenic spot Japanese garden with approximately 400 years history, features circuit-style garden skillfully arranging six ponds and 13 artificial hills, praised as "one step, one view" for seasonal beauty variations. Awarded three stars by Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Shoyu-mame represents Kagawa Prefecture local cuisine featuring broad beans simmered in soy sauce, sugar, and mirin for sweet-salty rustic flavors. Beloved as home cooking for sake appetizers and rice accompaniments.
Browse by Type
Designation categories represented in the prefecture, with counts.
Ayako Dance · Sanuki Horse Festival · Sanuki Tea Ceremony Customs
Tenkawa Shrine Grove · Amagiri Castle Ruins · Arioka Kofun Group
Kasashima, Honjimacho, Shiwaku, Marugame City
Ayako Dance · Takimiya Nembutsu Dance · Namasato's Momote
Masui's Garden (Unmonan Garden)
Sanuki Soy Sauce Brewing Techniques
Aizen Family Residence Main House · Aizen Family Residence West Storehouse · Aizen Family Residence Annex
Sanuki Rokujo Waterwheel and Related Equipment · Higashikagawa Glove-Making Tools and Products · Marugame Uchiwa Production Tools and Products
Kagawa in Periods
Periods represented by designated properties in the prefecture.