Shikoku Henro - Takamatsu Station to Yakuri Station - Kagawa, Japan
While I was in Shikoku, I decided to walk part of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage route for a few days. The full pilgrimage circles the island and includes 88 official temples, plus many other sacred spots connected to the monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi), who lived in the 9th century. The whole route is about 1,200 km, but I’m only doing a small section this time. Traditionally, pilgrims wear a white vest (hakui), conical hat, carry a walking stick, a stamp book, and sutras—but I decided not to collect any stamps this time. I plan to come back and do the full pilgrimage someday.
The day was warmer than I’d like, and I felt a bit sluggish, but since the elevation wasn’t too high, I figured I’d manage. I started from Takamatsu Station and headed toward Mt. Yashima (293m), where Yashima Temple is. The path wasn’t shaded until I reached the trailhead, and the climb was steeper and sandier than I expected—I had to watch my footing carefully. At one point, the trail wasn’t clear, and I almost climbed the wrong way up the cliff!
Eventually, I made it to the top, though the temple was still a bit further. I ran into another pilgrim—she was surprised to see a foreigner walking the route in winter and kindly gave me a bottle of green tea.
I spent more time there than planned and then headed toward Yakuri Station. I had thought about continuing on to Yakuri Temple, but I wasn’t feeling great, so I stopped at the station and took the train back to Takamatsu, then walked to my accommodation.
Temple visited:
#84 Yashima Temple 屋島寺 - Founded by Ganjin in 754, Yashimaji sits atop Mount Yashima overlooking Takamatsu. The temple is known for its panoramic views and connections to the 12th-century Genpei War.
To see my progress on the full Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage, visit my Shikoku Henro Temples – List & Progress.
Getting There
Takamatsu is well-connected to other major cities in Japan. The most common route is by train: take a Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo, Osaka, or other cities to Okayama Station (roughly 3.5–4 hours from Tokyo, 2 hours from Osaka), then transfer to the JR Marine Liner rapid train, which crosses the Seto Ohashi Bridge directly into Takamatsu. The journey is not only efficient but also offers beautiful views of the Seto Inland Sea.
You can also fly into Takamatsu Airport (TAK), which handles domestic flights from Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa, plus a few international routes. From the airport, the city center is easily reachable by bus or taxi.
For a unique experience, the Sunrise Seto overnight sleeper train runs from Tokyo, though tickets can be difficult to secure due to high demand. Long-distance highway buses are another option, offering a budget-friendly alternative for those who don’t mind a longer journey.
Route Overview
Distance: 14.8 km (Takamatsu Station → Yakuri Station)
Total elevation gain: 367 m
Duration: 3 hr 7 min (with breaks 3 hr 24 min)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Peak: Mt. Yashima 屋島 293m
Cost Breakdown
Food: ¥160
