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Where to stay in Takamatsu: choosing an area.

Takamatsu is compact: the port, the station and the shopping streets are all close together. Wherever you stay, the centre is never far — but the best spot depends on where you are heading the next day. This guide centres on the two areas where our stays are, by the kind of trip you are planning.

Times and fares were checked on the official websites in September 2026. They can change, so please check again before you go.

First, choose by the kind of trip

1. TIP 1Taking the boat to the islands? Stay west of the station.You can walk to Takamatsu Port, where the boats to Naoshima, Teshima and Shodoshima leave, and still be a little away from the bustle in front of the station.
2. TIP 2Coming by car? Stay in Matsushima, two stops from Kawaramachi.It is just outside the centre, with direct Kotoden trains to Yashima.
3. TIP 3Travelling as a family or group? Choose a private rental.Instead of splitting into several hotel rooms, you all stay under one roof.
4. TIP 4Here for the food? Head to the Kawaramachi arcades.Covered shopping streets run on and on, lined with udon shops and izakaya.
5. TIP 5Want the garden early in the morning? Head to Ritsurin Garden.It opens between 5:30 and 7:00 depending on the season.

① West of the station (Ogimachi and Hamanocho)

A largely residential area west of JR Takamatsu Station and Takamatsu Port, a little away from the bustle in front of the station. The port and the station are a 15–20 minute walk. Good for an early boat to the islands, or for families who want a slower pace.

• From the airport, the limousine bus to Takamatsu Station takes about 45 minutes. From the station, walk or take a taxi for a few minutes.
• You can walk to the port in time for the first boat.Boat times are in “From Takamatsu Port to Naoshima, Teshima and Shodoshima”.

Our stays in this area

② Matsushima, two stops from Kawaramachi (Matsufukucho)

The area around Matsushima-Nichome Station, two stops from Kawaramachi on the Kotoden Shido Line, is a quieter neighbourhood just outside the centre. The Kawaramachi arcades are a short train ride away, and the same Shido Line runs straight to Yashima. From the airport, take the limousine bus to Kawaramachi (about 30 min), then two stops on the Shido Line.

• Good for trips by car, or for going up Yashima for the sunset and night views.
• In the evening you can go to Kawaramachi for dinner and take the train back.

Our stays in this area

Out in the centre: the Kawaramachi arcades

Kawaramachi is where the Kotoden’s Kotohira, Nagao and Shido lines meet. Covered shopping streets run north towards Kataharamachi, full of udon shops, izakaya and cafés. Even on rainy days, you can walk to dinner under the arcade roofs.

From Kawaramachi there are direct trains to the stations for Ritsurin Garden, Kotohira-gu and Yashima, so it is also a handy place to change trains when sightseeing.

Out to Ritsurin Garden

Ritsurin Garden, a nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty, is about a 7-minute walk from Ritsurin-Koen Station, one stop from Kawaramachi on the Kotoden Kotohira Line. The airport limousine bus also stops at Ritsurin-koen-mae (about 23 min), a 1-minute walk from the garden.

• Opening hours change by monthfrom 5:30 in April–Septemberand from 7:00 in December–February. Admission is ¥500 for adults.
• Early in the morning it is quiet, and you can take your time.

Or stay on an island?

Staying on Naoshima or Shodoshima lets you enjoy the islands in the quiet of the evening and early morning. But there are only so many places to stay, and some shops close in the early evening. Stay in Takamatsu and take day trips by boat, and you can have dinner in the city — and head to a different island the next day.

For families and groups: private rentals

For families or groups of four or more, a private rental — a whole house or a whole floor — is worth considering. Everyone can gather in one place, cook in the kitchen and do laundry.

1. TIP 1Many have no front desk, and check-in is usually self check-in.Read the instructions sent before you arrive carefully.
2. TIP 2Check how many separate bedrooms there are, how many beds, and whether there is parking, so there are no surprises when you arrive.
3. TIP 3Each stay has its own house rules, such as rubbish sorting and quiet hours at night.

Our four stays

Getting around

• From the airport, see “From Takamatsu Airport into the city”; for the local trains, see “How to ride the Kotoden”.
• Kotoden trains and buses accept transport IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA.

Our four stays in Takamatsu

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