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KAGAWA
  • TOKYO
  • KAGAWA

ART × ISLANDS

After taking in the architectural beauty of the Nezu Museum in Aoyama, an area with no shortage of famous architecture, take a trip to see Ritsurin Garden, a beautiful Japanese garden. Next, embark on a sea voyage to tour the islands and art of Setouchi, an area known for the Naoshima and Teshima islands, where nature meets contemporary art.

Official Tokyo Travel Guide
https://www.gotokyo.org/en/

Local government official website
https://www.my-kagawa.jp/en/

TRAVELER

  • Traveled : November 2016 Sylvie Clergerie
    Travel Blogger
    Reside in France
  • Traveled : November 2016 LE METTE Adeline
    Writer for an information exchange website and student (Master's degree)
    Reside in Tokyo
    Home country: France

Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport

ANA216 Examine the directions from your country

  • Sylvie Clergerie

    The total flight time was 11 hours from Paris to Tokyo. I was able to relax the whole time because the flight was so comfortable with many movies and music to enjoy. The flight attendants were also very helpful, giving me a pillow and plenty of delicious food.

Haneda Airportmore

Haneda Airport
The airport serves as an air gateway for Tokyo. The passenger terminal is filled with various commercial facilities, and visitors can command a panoramic view of Tokyo Bay from the rooftop observation deck, so that every one, even those who are not flying, can enjoy the terminal.

Tokyo Metropolitan Area

Day1

TOKYO

Nihombashimore

Nihombashi
The Nihombashi area, known as a "town for merchants," flourished in the Edo period centered on the Five Routes, which converged there. It continues to be the center of commerce and finance even today, with streets lined with offices, department stores, long-standing shops, etc.

On Chuo-dori Street, visitors may enjoy seeing Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, known as Japan's first department store, and other famous buildings of Tokyo, including the nationally designated important cultural properties of Takashimaya Nihombashi Store and the Bank of Japan Headquarters.

There are also numerous long-standing and famous specialty stores and traditional restaurants founded in the Edo period.

Ningyocho, retaining the atmosphere of Shitamachi, has many long-standing businesses from the Edo period, and it is also renowned for Suitengu Shrine dedicated to prayers of conception and easy childbirth, and the ceramics, doll and pickled vegetable fairs synonymous with their respective seasons.
  • Sylvie Clergerie


    The Nihonbashi area was very easy and interesting to walk around. I want to come back again without a tour guide and explore for myself.


    We really well ate and I was very happy to discover new types of Japanese food and wine.


    This world-famous shopping district is a wonderful place for a nice walk. There are so many shops to look at and the area is so easy to navigate.

  • LE METTE Adeline


    I learned much about the history of Nihombashi and the meaning of the kylin and lion statues. It was fun to walk around and see the sights in the center of Tokyo.


    There was a large number of menu items, and while the sashimi, tempura, and pickles were good, the rice was especially delicious. I was also able to try sake.


    My guide led me on a walk around Ginza. We stopped by several shrines and shops where very Japanese items were sold. These are specialty shops selling wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), knives, and katsuobushi bonito fish flakes used for broths in Japanese cooking. I worshiped the iconic Inari deity at Fukutoku Shrine. I learned how to pay my respects and about the different kinds of omamori amulets.

JR Chuo Line
Tokyo Station → Yotsuya Station
JR Sobu Line
Youtsuya Station → Yoyogi Station
40 minutes

JR Sobu Line
Youtsuya Station → Yoyogi Station

Meiji Jingumore

Meiji Jingu
The shrine was established in 1920 as a dedication to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and the Empress Dowager Shōken. The extensive forest around the shrine in the center of the city was created artificially by planting a hundred thousand trees donated from people all over the country.

The shrine attracts the greatest number of worshippers every year during hatsumode over the New Year period.
  • Sylvie Clergerie


    A very peaceful shrine in Tokyo. I never expected to find such a peacful place in Tokyo!
    It's the perfect spot for getting away from the urban bustle and relaxing. Definitely worth a visit if you want to learn more about Tokyo's history.

  • LE METTE Adeline


    Meiji Jingu Shrine was impressive. I was able to participate in a bit of a ritual as well. I walked with the guide from Harajuku Station and learned about the torii and the history of the shrine. If you visit Tokyo, you have to go to this shrine.

Walk
30 minutes

Nezu Museummore

RECOMMENDED DESTINATIONS

Nezu Museum
The museum was founded in 1941 to preserve and display Japanese and East Asian antique art from the collection of its founder, Nezu Kaichiro, a businessman whose career included being President of the Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.

It reopened in October 2009, newly designed by Kengo Kuma. The expanse of this open, relaxing space is an enjoyable place to appreciate art.

The lush 17,000 square meters of Japanese garden creates an oasis in the city, where visitors can take pleasure in the passage of the seasons.
  • Sylvie Clergerie


    The museum extremely interesting and the garden was wonderful. Nezu Museum is located in a quiet part of Tokyo just outside of Ometesando. I really wish I had more time to spend here but will definitely visit again next time!


    Very good food and the atmosphere was amazing and authentic. Watching Japanese salaryman drink when they get off work was truly a unique experience. I am surprised how much they drank!

  • LE METTE Adeline


    I visited Nezu Museum for the first time and it was one of the most impressive places of my trip. The beauty of the 1.7 hectare garden and 4 tea houses left me speechless. The colors woven by the autumn leaves were magnificent. The museum exhibition was also interesting. According to the guide, only part of the museum's collection was on display and the fact that it is changed regularly was food for thought. I would like to visit again and again. It is a place where you can concentrate on and appreciate the works on display.


    I went to an izakaya pub in the evening and enjoyed Japanese food such as tofu dishes and soup with gyoza dumplings, grilled chicken, and spicy mentaiko cod roe. This place was comfortable and I would like to visit again. It was an ideal place for those new to Japanese izakayas, and I was able to enjoy a special atmosphere.

Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Omotesando Station → Akasakamitsuke Station
Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line
Akasakamitsuke Station → Tokyo Station
30 minutes

Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu

  • Sylvie Clergerie


    Perfect and very practical to be directly in the airport. Despite being so close to the airport all of the rooms were properly soundproofed, making it very easy to get to sleep at night.

  • LE METTE Adeline


    The room was spacious and very clean. Breakfast was very good, as I was able to enjoy a buffet of food from around the world.

Day2

SHIKOKU(KAGAWA)

07:25 Haneda Airport

ANA531 (ANA Experience JAPAN Fare) Show details

  • Sylvie Clergerie


    Haneda Airport is very close to the center of Tokyo and very convenient to get to by train. From Hamamatucho it tooks less than 20 minutes. I was very impressed with how punctual the flights were at such a major airport. My flight on ANA was perfect!

  • LE METTE Adeline


    The flight was on time and there were no problems at the boarding gate. There is not much else to say as the staff will guide you in English.

08:45 Takamatsu Airportmore

08:45 Takamatsu Airport
Takamatsu Airport is the port of entry for air travelers to Kagawa Prefecture and currently has three domestic routes (Tokyo (Haneda, Narita), Okinawa) and four international routes (Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong)
With a total of seven active routes, many people use this very convenient airport.
At the 1st floor Takamatsu Airport Information Center (Tourist Information Center), in addition to multi-lingual guidance, visitors can receive free Wi-Fi cards and Kagawa Prefecture tourist information.

Kinku Bus
Takamatsu Airport → Kotohira
About 45 minutes

Kotohira-gu Shrinemore

Kotohira-gu Shrine
A god of the sea known as "Konpira-san of Sanuki" from long ago. From the shrine road entrance, there are 785 stone steps to the main shrine and 1,368 stone steps to the rear shrine. There are many historical sites and cultural properties on the road leading up to shrine.

A road to the rear of the shrine has vegetation that changes with the seasons, such as cherry blossoms in the spring, azaleas in the early summer, and red foliage in the autumn. Here, the eternal flow of time flows unchanged, gently into the future.

The area nearby is dotted from Important Cultural Properties, such as the Konpira Grand Theatre (Kanamaru-za) and a tall lantern tower. In addition, the town itself, with its retro Showa townscape, exudes a nostalgic atmosphere.
  • Sylvie Clergerie


    I enjoyed rising to the sanctuary Kotohira-gu Shrine, and to visit the kabuki theater. We had good time here. Kabuki is a traditional Japanese performance that I recommend everyone coming to Japan to see.


    We laughed a lot by making udon. The food here, especially the udon we made, was extremely good. I did not know that Kagawa was famous for udon!


    Very short visited where I learned how to make sake. I was surprised that there's so much I did not know about sake! I am excited to learn and try as much as possibel the different varieties of Japanese sake.

  • LE METTE Adeline


    The path to Kotohira-gu Shrine involves a long climb up more than 700 stairs, but there are several sightseeing points along the way and the beautiful scenery along the way made for an enjoyable time. On the way back, I stopped at an art museum exhibiting Japanese art. I then visited the Kanamaru-za Theater, home to Konpira Kabuki, and visited backstage, the dressing room, and other parts of the theater.


    This was the first time I made udon. It took me about 20 minutes to make, and then I tasted my creation. It was an interesting experience to knead the udon dough with my feet and cut the stretched udon.


    This museum of sake was converted from an old factory. The tools, sake barrels, and everything used in the process of traditional brewing are on display, and you can see each step of the sake-making process.

Kotoden-Kotohira Station → Kotoden Ritsurin-koen Station
About 50 minutes

Ritsurin Gardenmore

RECOMMENDED DESTINATIONS

Ritsurin Garden
Ritsurin Garden is designated a special place of scenic beauty, or O-niwa no kokuho (garden national treasure). The exquisite quality of the garden is evident as you stroll around the vast garden and its different scenery, especially the marvelous beauty of the pine trees, in which the Michelin Green Guide Japan gives the garden its highest rating of three stars, saying that it is a place well-worth visiting.
  • Sylvie Clergerie


    The most beautiful Japonese park I ever saw. I love the experience to drink a matcha tea with the park view. I also learned that this garden was previously considered to be superior to the Japan's three famous gardens. The garden was built approximately 400 years ago in 1620 and attracts visitors from all over the world today.

  • LE METTE Adeline


    Of the parks I have been to in Japan, this one was the most beautiful (over 75 hectares in size). The garden is dotted with ponds, hills, bridges, and gazebos, and has a rich variety of scenery. The south garden is a Japanese-style garden with the north garden a Western-style garden. While taking in the scenery, I enjoyed some Japanese tea and sweets. I also fed the carp.

JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station → JR Takamatsu Station
About 10 minutes

JR Takamatsu Stationmore

JR Takamatsu Station
Takamatsu Station is the starting point for the JR Yosan and Kotoku Lines and is a terminal station where travelers can go to major cities in the Shikoku and Chugoku areas, and even to Tokyo by sleeper train.

Since Kagawa Prefecture is famous for udon noodles, the station was given the nickname "Sanuki Takamatsu Udon Station."

This year, a new tourist information center (Kagawa/Takamatsu Tourist Information) was opened near the station's ticket gates. In addition to staff that can speak English, Chinese, and Korean, with the introduction of a telephone interpretation service, guidance can be given in three foreign languages at all times. In addition, two tablet devices let tourists search for information freely and an assortment of pamphlets offer tourist information for Shikoku, the Kinki and Chugoku areas, as well as the rest of Japan. It is open everyday from 9:00 to 20:00.
  • Sylvie Clergerie


    It was very very good, as each meal in Japan is! The atmosphere was very relaxing. The chicken was absolutely delicious.

  • LE METTE Adeline


    Dinner was at a restaurant specializing in chicken. I also enjoyed edamame and rice. After dinner, I visited a sake bar and enjoyed different sakes, oysters, cheeses, and so on.

Walk
About 5 minutes

Daiwa Roynett Hotel Takamatsu

  • Sylvie Clergerie


    Nice and very comfortable room conveniently located in the center of Takamatsu.

  • LE METTE Adeline


    The room was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was also very good and served different dishes from around the world. The staff members were also wonderful.

Day3

Daiwa Roynett Hotel Takamatsu

Shikoku Kisen Ferry, Takamatsu - Naoshima route
Naoshima (Miyanoura) → Teshima (Ieura)
About 30 minutes

Walk
About 5 minutes

Shikoku Kisen Ferry, Takamatsu - Naoshima route
Takamatsu → Naoshima (Miyanoura)
About 50-60 minutes

Naoshima more

Naoshima
Naoshima is a beautiful island in the Seto Inland Sea with a blending of nature, art, and architecture. Visitors can see the beauty of the Setouchi island archipelago blended with art attractions such as the Benesse House Museum, the Chichu Art Museum, and the Art House Project. This island is full of unique charm that can only be experienced here.

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful islands of Seto Inland Sea, the Setouchi Triennale international contemporary art festival is held once every three years.
  • Sylvie Clergerie


    This is one of the highlights of my trip to Japan. I loved the atmosphere of this small island unusual located in the Inland Sea of Seto. The serene atmosphere and beauty of the island is complimented with the outside art installations, truly making it a jewel in the inland sea.


    I visited the Chichu Museum designed by Tadao Ando. The building conceived almost underground is already a work of Art in itself. It has three very different rooms, one of which contains paintings by Claude Monet. It was very beautiful inside but unfortunately I can not share these pictures as it was forbiddent to take pictures inside.

  • LE METTE Adeline


    I was happy to visit Naoshima as I've always wanted to see Yayoi Kusama's "pumpkins." Niki de Saint Phalle's colorful sculptures also had a very spectacular presence in Naoshima's nature.


    The Chichu Art Museum was unique, and I liked it a lot. Works by architect Tadao Ando and three other artists (Claude Monet, Walter de Maria, and James Turrell) are on display. Although there is a limited number of exhibits to look at, it means that you can concentrate on a work and give it its due appreciation.

Shikoku Kisen Ferry, Takamatsu - Naoshima route
Naoshima (Miyanoura) → Teshima (Ieura)
About 30 minutes

Teshimamore

Teshima
From the Mt. Danyama Observatory, visitors have a 360-degree view of the Seto Inland Sea all the way to the Shikoku and Chugoku areas. This is also a great vantage point to see the approximately 9 hectares of the Karato rice paddies sprawled out along the hillside.

In addition to the eye-popping blue of the sea and the white sands of bathing beaches such as Mikogahama, the island is also a home to art. Various art attractions include rare museums (Teshima Art Museum, Teshima Yokoo House) and the Les Archives du Cœur heartbeat archive. Olives are the local specialty product and Teshima has Asia's largest olive plantation.
  • Sylvie Clergerie


    It is a house-museum that houses the works of the painter Tadanori Yokô.
    Besides its very colorful paintings, the garden is really worth visiting with its rocks painted red, its river with fish that you can also swim under the house (glass floor).
    I also liked the tower where are posted thousands of postcards of stunts, and the toilet incredible while distorting mirror. You absolutely must visit here.


    Shima Kitchen is a restaurant rebuilt in 2010 in an old house on the island by architect Ryo Abe. The traditional meal was very good but kneeling down to eat as the Japanese do was difficult for a long time! For desert you absolutely have to try the ice cream with strawberries from the island.


    The concrete building designed by the artist Rei Naito and designed by the architect Ryue Nishizawa, is shaped like a drop of water with openings that allow light to enter, but also rain, snow ... Semi buried and part of a set (path with extraordinary view, other building ...).

    It is not really a museum but rather a work of art, almost a sanctuary, that one experiences, and I confess that the experience is interesting.

    We take off our shoes (as is often the case in Japan, but this is to walk in an immense open concrete space on the outside) and we enter this space and observe the light and the drops of water that are created, roll And change places where they meet, in a religious silence. Visitors are standing, sitting and seemingly very concentrated or even meditating. The impression is really strange.I can not show you, pictures are forbidden inside but believe me when I say I loved this work very much.


    Another very strange museum. This time, it is a work of a Frenchman, Christian Boltanski, who recorded the heartbeats of thousands of individuals around the world.

    We enter a house in siding burnt wood at the bottom of a beach (far from everything). The main room is immersed in the dark and only a flashing light flashes to the rhythm of heartbeat that is heard very loudly.

    Another room contains computers on which one can listen to the heartbeats of people (there is their name, and the date of recording).


    Even though it's a bit of a climb the splendid view from Mount Dan is well worth it. You have an exceptional 360 view of everything.

    Mount Dan is the highest point of Teshima at 340 meters above sea level. A viewing platform allows you to get even higher!

  • LE METTE Adeline


    Tadanori Yokoo's house (a collaboration with architect Yuko Nagayama) is my favorite. It was the first time I saw this painter's work, and I felt that this house would be widely enjoyed by tourists and not just by art lovers. I really liked Go-Oh Shrine and its glass staircase built by Hiroshi Sugimoto.


    The food was good here. It was very comfortable and I felt like I was at home. The food is simple and delicious. I had fish and rice, and sat in a Japanese-style zashiki tatami room for dinner.


    It was the first time for me to visit a museum where the exhibits didn't look like they were on display. That is the concept of the museum. There was nothing inside the huge concrete dome except for some small objects like dishes in the center. Everyone remained silent, with their every movement echoing in the dome.


    "Les Archives du Cœur (The archive of heartbeats)" comes from Christian Bolatanski. It is a concept where people agree to have their heartbeats recorded and "displayed" so that anyone can hear them. The sounds reminded me more of death and disease than of birth, but it was very persuasive and interesting as a work of art.


    The summit of Danyama has a beautiful view that overlooks the Seto Inland Sea and a flower garden. I had ice cream and tangerines. This would be an ideal place to take a walk with family and friends when the weather is nice.

Shodoshima Teshima ferry
Karato Port (Teshima)→Tonosho Port (Shodoshima)
Travel time: 20 minutes
(Ferry: 30 minutes)

Free island shuttle bus (operated by Bay Resort Hotel Shodoshima)
Tonosho Port → Bay Resort Hotel shodoshima

Bay Resort Hotel Shodoshima

  • Sylvie Clergerie


    This hotel was a great experience : very large room with a exceptionnel view, good food and I enjoyed the onsen so much that I even went twice! (once at night and one more time in the morning).

  • LE METTE Adeline


    The hotel was very spacious, but the room was too large. There were several beds and a large table. The hot spring on the rooftop was fantastic. It can be enjoyed not only in the evening, but also in the morning where I was able to have a soak before leaving.

Day4

Bay Resort Hotel Shodoshima

Shodoshima Olive Bus Tanoura eigamura line
Kamesaki → Tanoura eigamura
15 minutes

Twenty-four Eyes Movie Villagemore

Twenty-four Eyes Movie Village
Overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, the village was the outdoor set for the movie Twenty-Four Eyes.

A step inside transports you back to the early Showa era and the Tsuboi Sakae memorial museum and the theater that played Twenty-Four Eyes. Enjoy the school lunch set with its old fashioned alumite tableware.

The village also features a 1950s golden era of Japanese film gallery, a display of the movie Yokame no Semi (Rebirth) in the Kinema no Iori, plus a seasonal flower garden.

Shodoshima Olive Bus Tanoura eigamura line
Tanoura eigamura → Tonosho Port
70 minutes

Shikoku Ferry
Tonosho Port (Shodo Island) → Takamatsu Port
Ferry: 60 minutes
(High speed boat: 35 minutes)

Takamatsu Port limousine bus
JR Takamatsu Station → Takamatsu Airport
40 minutes

Takamatsu Airport

ANA (ANA Experience JAPAN Fare) Show details

Haneda Airport

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TRAVELERS

The tour was absolutely fabulous. As someone who enjoys going to museums I really enjoyed visiting all of the museums in the Inland Sea. The museums are not merely buildings, but they are forms of art themselve. The complimentary relationship between the building and the surrounding environment is truly amazing.

Sylvie Clergerie
Travel Blogger
Reside in France
  • Hobby

    nature, cityt-trips, museum and to meet people others cultures.

  • Number of visits to Japan

    2 times

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TRAVELERS

If you like nature and art, then Naoshima and Shodoshima are definitely worth visiting! I have been in Japan for 3 years, but visited many places in Tokyo and Kagawa for the first time. I also enjoyed a lot of Japanese food for the first time, too. I had a wonderful experience on this trip.

LE METTE Adeline
Writer for an information exchange website and student (Master's degree)
Reside in Tokyo
Home country: France
  • Length of stay in Tokyo

    3 years

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