SUN, SKY & SERENITY

We visited Mount Takao, a 599-metre high mountain a few minutes from Tokyo. The climb was very pleasant, and we were able to enjoy the stunning landscapes with the beautiful colours of autumn. The Yakuo-in temple was also interesting to visit with all its statues of Tengu, a demon that is part of Japanese mythology. The view from the top was magnificent and we could even see Mount Fuji.

We had lunch in a restaurant on the summit of Mount Takao. There were many Japanese dishes here, such as ramen or soba, for example. I had a Japanese curry rice.

We took the cable car which climbed an extremely steep slope. We were able to see magnificent maples on the way with superb red orange leaves. For the return trip, we took a chairlift which was a first for me. It's a little scary at first but you get used to it very quickly and eventually feel like you are floating above the forest that covers Mount Takao. It is still one of my best memories of the day.

We visited the Sumida Hokusai Museum which is located in Tokyo's Ryogoku district. We were able to learn more about the history of Japanese prints with the works of Katsushika Hokusai. Through these prints, we were able to see what life was like in the Edo period. It was a very enjoyable cultural outing and I learned a lot about the history of Japan.

For dinner, we went to a restaurant called Chanko Tomoegata, again in the Ryogoku district, the sumo district of Tokyo. Indeed, all the stables where sumo wrestlers train are located there. And the special feature of this restaurant is that it offers "chanko" menus, the dish that sumo wrestlers eat to gain weight. I must admit that I had a lot of trouble finishing the portions we were served. It was a truly unique experience.

The first day of the trip already over, so we returned to the Blossom Hotel in the Shinjuku district. It is a clean, classy and very well located business hotel 5 minutes from the Shinjuku train station. The rooms were comfortable, and I had a very good night. Breakfast was perfect with a mix of Japanese and Western cuisine.

I took Japan Airlines between Tokyo and Takamatsu. You only need to be there one hour in advance and the check-in and baggage drop process was very easy. The flight was pleasant, I had enough room to stretch my legs and we were able to enjoy free Wifi for a good part of the flight. We arrived on time in Takamatsu and I barely waited 5 minutes to get my suitcase back.

This shrine is at the top of a mountain in the region and you can enjoy a superb view from its entrance, with its large stone torii in the foreground. This shrine is also accessible by car.

The special feature pf this beach is that it leaves large puddles of water at low tide that superbly reflect the sky when there is no wind, especially during sunset. Unfortunately, since the conditions were bad that day, I really will have to go back.

We had lunch by the beach at the café des flots. I ate some very good pasta with tomato sauce.

We headed towards the Konpira Shrine which is dedicated to the god of the sea. It is one of the most important shrines in Japan and many Japanese people visit it every year. It should be noted that it takes about 800 steps to reach the main buildings and more than 1300 steps to reach the top.

In the evening, we went to Sanuki Mannou Park to see the winter illuminations. I must say that I was expecting a simple Christmas tree and some garlands, but the display was actually incredible. The whole park was lit up and we were really impressed.

We had dinner at Ryokan Kotosankaku and enjoyed many traditional Japanese dishes in a room exclusively reserved for us. All the dishes were refined and delicious. Dinner was also accompanied with some very good sake (rice alcohol).

We spent the night at Ryokan Kotosankaku which was really superb. We were accommodated in the luxurious part of the inn and I personally had a very good stay there. Sleeping on a futon, lying on the ground is an exceptional experience.

As soon as we arrived in Takamatsu, we climbed to the top of Mount Yashima, one of the island's mountains. There, you will find the magnificent Yashima-ji Buddhist temple, which is the 84th temple of the famous Shikoku pilgrimage. You will see pilgrims crossing the temple with their cone-shaped hats and canes. You can also enjoy a superb view of the whole city of Takamatsu and the surrounding islands. During my visit, I was surprised to see a badger, called Tanuki in Japan.

We boarded a ferry with our van to Shodoshima Island. The journey was very pleasant. We had the choice between relaxing on the chairs inside or going outside to enjoy the beautiful view. There is also a small stall to buy drinks or even small cooked dishes. The boat doesn't pitch at all so it should not be a problem for people who are seasick.

Once we arrived in Shodoshima, we were able to see the island's famous olive trees. It is indeed quite surprising to see olive trees in Japan, but it must be said that the climate of the region is similar to that of the Mediterranean coasts. The Greek inspiration can quickly be seen in the architecture of many of the buildings in Shodoshima Olive Park. In addition to seeing olive trees, you can not only buy local olive oil but also many cosmetic products made from Shodoshima olives.

We had lunch at the Olivaz restaurant, and it is no surprise that they served us many dishes based on olive oil. I shared a very good pizza and a good rice and chicken dish.

We stayed on Shodoshima to cross the Kankakei Valley by cable car. The landscapes we saw were even more beautiful than those of Mount Takao. The momiji were already very red and it was an absolutely magnificent scenery. It rained the day of our visit and the mist added a very enjoyable mysterious feel. The view from the top was really magical and you could see the sea and the few neighbouring islands from many viewpoints. A pure joy!

We had dinner at the Shodoshima International Hotel and were served delicious traditional Japanese dishes. Our meal was accompanied with noodles, one of the local specialities.

The hotel was large and offered very good indoor and outdoor onsen. The rooms were really spacious, and I woke up to a beautiful view of Angel Road.

Angel Road is a sandbank that magically appears at low tide. That is why it was given this name. It has become a popular romantic spot and it is said that if you cross this road holding hands with your partner, it will strengthen your love that will last forever.

When arriving from Shodoshima to Takamatsu Port, some surprising structures can be spotted around the port. They are actually works of art made by local artists and I must say that they brighten up the landscape.

Udon noodles are a great specialty in the region and we had the pleasure of preparing our own noodles in Takamatsu. And since the noodle dough has to be beaten vigorously, we put on music and danced and jumped on it. Great experience! After the preparation, we tasted our own noodles with some tempura as an accompaniment.

After the noodles, we prepared small Japanese sweets with wasanbon (local sugar). It is extracted from the region's sugar cane and is very expensive (about 25 euros per kilo). We then tasted our own products with good Japanese green tea (Matcha). A real delight.

We ended the trip with a night visit to the beautiful Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu. It is one of my favourite gardens in Japan and we were able to admire the beautiful autumn illuminations. It was a truly magical moment that ended a memorable stay in Kagawa Prefecture.

Our trip to Kagawa Prefecture was a pure joy. I think it was a good idea to start the trip with a day in Tokyo to experience the difference. With the internal flight, it is clear that it is easy enough to get to Kagawa Prefecture. We then visited another Japan, with its particular cultures and traditions. It was a pleasure to taste the local dishes and also to have the opportunity to learn how to prepare them. Finally, we came across absolutely sublime landscapes and I am sure I will visit Kagawa Prefecture again to immerse myself in this sublime region.