Page 230 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

228  JAP AN REGION B Y REGION

Typical view of islands in the so-called Seto Inland Sea, which separates Shikoku from Honshu and Kyushu
1 Seto Inland Sea roofs, seem to hail from a Matsudaira clan. The family
The Inland Sea devoted nearly a century to
different era. Among the most
visited are Awaji, the largest landscaping the six ponds and
Setonaikai-kisen (Inland Sea cruises): island, Setoda, Omi, and Shodo, 13 artificial hillocks that make
(082) 253-1212.
a beautiful island that, with Ritsurin Garden the city’s most
The Seto Inland Sea, Japan’s its olive and orange groves, famous landmark.
most beautiful body of water, seems to belong more to the Takamatsu’s location as an
is not landlocked, as its name Mediterranean than the Orient. entry port for Shikoku made it
suggests, but seems almost so the setting for such historic
with its serene waters and over battles as the one between the
3,000 pine-studded islands. 2 Takamatsu Minamoto and the Taira clans
Donald Richie, in his classic Takamatsu in 1185. The Takamatsu Heike
travelogue The Inland Sea Monogatari Wax Museum offers
(1971), sets the scene of a boat Kagawa prefecture. * 419,000. a surprisingly effective recreation
journey westward through the k £ n at JR stn (087) 851-2009. of the story’s high points, which
_ Sanuki Takamatsu Matsuri
narrow defiles of water: “On (Aug 12–14). are also the subject matter of
the left are first the sharp and the classic Noh play Yashima.
Chinese-looking moun tains The capital of Kagawa pre-
of the island of Shikoku, so fecture on the Inland Sea, P Takamatsu Heike
different that it appears another Takamatsu is the main hub Monogatari Wax Museum
land, and then the flat coasts between Shikoku and the out- Tel (087) 823-8400. Open daily. &
of Kyushu. This shallow sea side world. Nonetheless, it
is a valley among these maintains a local charm with Environs
mountainous islands.” its neighborhood shops and At Yashima volcanic plateau,
You can cycle along a path historic landmarks. The town Shikoku Mura is a village where
that stretches from Onomichi expanded after Ikoma Chika- immaculately preserved buildings
to Imabari. Bridges, local ferries, masa erected Takamatsu Castle and other artifacts of rural life
and cruise boats provide access in 1588, the remains of which display Shikoku craftsmanship.
to the 750 or so inhabited can still be seen. When the
islands. The remote fishing Tokugawa shoguns assumed E Shikoku Mura
villages on these islands, with power in 1600, they granted the Tel (087) 843-3111. £ Kotoden
their salt-weathered wooden town, castle, and surrounding Yashima stn. Open daily. &
houses and black ceramic-tiled fiefdom to their relatives, the
3 Kotohira
Kotohira
Kagawa prefecture. * 9,800.
£ Kotohira stn . _ Kotohira- gu
Reitaisai (Grand Festival, Oct 9–11).
∑ town.kotohira.kagawa.jp/
pages/language
Kotohira, which can be reached
by train via either the old-
fashioned Kotoden or the JR
line from Takamatsu, is the
home of famous shrine
complex Kotohira-gu, also
Bridge within the landscaped grounds of Ritsurin Park, Takamatsu affectionately known as
For hotels and restaurants see pp305–6 and pp333–4

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm