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Cover photo: Red Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama welcomes visitors at the port of Naoshima
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Takamatsu is located on the island of Shikoku, which is connected to Honshu by the Seto Ōhashi Bridge. At 13.1 km, it is the longest two-tiered bridge in the world. Both cars and trains can cross it, and we arrived on Shikoku by train as well.
Shikoku’s climate reminded me of Kyushu - warm sea air and beautiful sunny weather accompanied us throughout our stay. We spent two nights in Takamatsu in a surprisingly spacious hotel near the station - Takamatsu Century Hotel. The accommodation cost about 34€ per night. We left our suitcases at the hotel and headed to our first stop - Mount Yashima.
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| The entrance to Yashima Temple |
Yashima Temple, located on the hill of the same name, is one of the 88 temples on the popular Shikoku pilgrimage route. The journey from the main station takes about 45 minutes and includes both a train and a bus. At the top, we were greeted by a beautiful temple and very few tourists - the perfect combination.  |
In Japanese folklore, tanuki are mystical creatures believed to possess magical powers, including the ability to shapeshift into humans
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Tanuki of Yashima was, according to legend, saved by the leader of the Taira clan, and he expressed his gratitude by protecting him
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In the 12th century, Yashima became the site of a battle between the then-ruling Taira clan and the Minamoto clan, which resulted in the defeat of the Taira. The battle is commemorated by places such as Chinoike Pond, the 'bloody pond,' which turned red after Minamoto samurai washed their swords in it. Also well known is the story of the Minamoto samurai Nasu, who shot down a fan from the mast of one of the Taira ships with an arrow.
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| Takamatsu themed Coca-cola bottle |
From Yashima, there is a beautiful view of Takamatsu, and for good luck, you can throw a clay disc from the mountain. This act is meant to evoke the Minamoto samurai, who, after winning the battle, threw off their helmets.
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View from Yashima mountain (behind me you can see islands of Megijima and Ogijima, between them island of Naoshima, and in the back are the shores of Honshu)
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View from Yashima train station toward the hill of the same name - this is where we boarded the bus
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In the evening, we took a walk through an endless covered shopping arcade, a feature typical of Japanese cities.
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A Georgian sumo fighter at the Tokyo Summer Tournament
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Little demon Ao in front of Takamatsu Station
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Along the seashore, trains are also at risk of encountering a tsunami
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Island of art
From Takamatsu, you can take boats to various nearby islands known for their modern art. The Setouchi Triennale, an international art festival, takes place every three years on 12 islands between Honshu and Shikoku. As young people leave these islands in search of work in larger cities, the population is rapidly aging. The art festival aims to breathe new life into the islands and attract tourists. Various galleries have been built, along with outdoor installations such as sculptures. Probably the most famous of these islands is Naoshima.
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Starting point of the Journey for Art - Takamatsu Port
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We really should have packed sunscreen for the trip to Naoshima, as the sun was blazing and the temperature was nearing thirty degrees. On the boat, it was quite windy, so we had full-on Mediterranean weather and beautiful turquoise sea. There were quite a few tourists on the island, and we heard more European languages - French, Italian, and Russian - which was an interesting change compared to other places where most tourists were from Asia.
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| The yellow pumpkin on the bus will make appearence in Takamatsu 2/2. That grape-shaped building is a covered bicycle parking lot. |
We explored the island by bus and then on foot. Its hidden corners made us forget the busy streets of crowded cities. The day passed by slowly, and I truly felt like I was on vacation.
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| Red and yellow are the colors of Naoshima |
In addition to art, the island is also home to shrines - some of which blend modern art with tradition, such as the glass steps leading into one of the sanctuaries.
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| The Picturesque Hachiman Shrine |
Since we explored quite a lot in Takamatsu, I’ll save the summary for the second part.
Next part:
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