Takamatsu is a port city on Japan’s Shikoku Island. It’s known for the sprawling Ritsurin Garden, with a teahouse, koi ponds, landscaped hills and pine forests. To the east, atop Mount Yashima, Yashima-ji Temple offers panoramic views over the Seto Inland Sea.
Chocolat Chocolat is one of the best Japanese café restaurants that I have ever been to. Surprisingly, this gem is located not in the bustling city of Takamatsu but rather the smaller, countryside town of Shido in Sanuki City. The café ..
Milano no Okazuyasan is a phenomenal family restaurant, and I mean that both in that it is a great place for families to visit and it’s owned by a lovely family. Any possible thing that can be had at an Italian restaurant in Japan can be found ..
Take 5 is a fantastic burger bar in the heart of downtown Takamatsu. Very close to all of the city’s nightlife, this is a solid place to get a great meal on your night out in eastern Shikoku’s biggest city. The smart, modern design of the..
Not everyone staying overnight on the art island of Naoshima can afford to shell out big bucks to stay overnight at the swanky Benesse House Hotel. For those looking for a much pocket-friendly option, the Domi-Kowloon Hostel is a pretty good option f..
The Olivean Resort Hotel has all that you need for a relaxing, luxurious getaway. Nestled atop the foothills of the mountain range that spans the breadth of Shodo Island, the hotel grounds offer stunning views of green mountains, gentle coastline, an..
Wake up somewhere you did not even imagine in your dreams. Where olive groves face the Pacific Ocean and giant spotted and tiger striped pumpkins induce child-like giggles in adults and youngsters alike. For visitors from another planet, Benesse Hous..
Okuboji has rather nondescript origins. Kobo Daishi only carved the image of the main deity, and enshrined it with his own walking stick. It is named Large Hollow Temple, because, well, there was once a large hole here. Okuboji Temple 88, however, is..
The highway to heaven is straight and narrow, or so I’m told - and steep. At Konpirasan, or the Kotohira Shrine, home of the heavenly guardian of the sea and all who use it, this highway makes a total of 1368 steps up the 521-meter-high Mount Z..
Naoshima does not look like typical Japan. There are no geishas, maid cafes or castles. Yet there is a sense of place. There are elements that are universal, from the sun bathed white beaches and the untouched forests and wooded peninsulas that touch..
