First experience with self-serve udon. Get a photojournalistic shot at the torii gate in the sky and Chubu-ga-hama beach!
The Seto-ohashi Ampanman Trolley will take you directly to your destination, Kotohira Station, but this time we decided to stop along the way and visit some of Kagawa’s most popular tourist spots.
First, we decided to try self-serve udon noodles, which is a typical Kagawa dish. We visited Miyagawa Seimenjo in the Zentsuji area. The udon noodles are made with iriko (dried sardines) dashi, which is unique to Kagawa, and are characterized by their firm texture.
The cold udon noodles are also delicious! Try it! I ordered a small bowl of bukkake udon (190 yen), which was recommended to me. The udon noodles are mildly flavored with tsuyu (broth), udon noodles, and green onions, making it an addictive experience! It was the first udon restaurant I had ever encountered that made me want to keep coming back.
Next, we went to “Takaya Shrine” and “Chabogahama Beach,” both of which are famous for their torii gates in the sky, as recommended in the Shikoku After Destination Campaign, which started on April 1, 2012.
Since we had some time before boarding the bus, we decided to view the “Zenigata Sunae (Zenigata Sand Painting)” from the “Zenigata Observation Deck,” which is located close to the bus stop. The stairs to the top of the mountain (65 meters above sea level) is a tough 450-meter ascent, so you will need to be in good spirits. However, it is worthwhile to climb up to the top because it will be more interesting to see the relationship between the two when you arrive at the torii in the sky.
After returning from the Zenigata Observation Deck, take the shuttle bus bound for Takaya Shrine from the Ariake Ground parking lot shuttle bus stop (1,000 yen for adults/500 yen for children), which takes about 30 minutes to the 404-meter-high summit of Mt. It is best to take the bus rather than a private car, as the path is narrow, winding, and immediately flanked by cliffs. If on foot, it takes about 50 minutes to climb the mountain path from the lower shrine to the main shrine, so mountain gear is essential.
As dusk was falling, we departed directly for Chubo-ga-hama Beach, a mirror in the sky in Mitoyo City and the Setouchi area. It is called “Salar de Uyuni” in Kagawa and is a popular tourist spot for couples and families alike. It has become a hot topic on SNS as a place where one can take pictures with a spectacular view as if reflected in a mirror. On the day we visited, the beach extended far into the distance due to the ebb tide, and was crowded with many people.
Chichibuga Beach has been loved by locals as a long beach about 1 km long, but at one time it was in danger of losing its beauty due to the trash that washed ashore and a proposed land reclamation project. The volunteer group “Chichibu no Kai” continued cleaning up the beach with the aim of making it “the most beautiful beach in Japan,” and the beach was transformed into its current state. Before sunset, visitors can take artistic pictures using silhouettes and the surface of the water, and enjoy shopping and taking a break at the cafes and souvenir shops along the beach.
You can take a variety of photos from the blue sky to the sunset, so you can spend the whole day here. After leaving Chubo-ga-hama, we headed to our final destination of the day, Kotohira Station. Kotohira-cho is one of the famous sightseeing areas in Kagawa, where many people visit to pray at Konpira-san, or Konpira Shrine. At the same time, the hot springs that spring up at the foot of the mountain make it a perfect place to stay. In particular, Kotosankaku, which has a reputation for having the best view from its open-air bath in Kotohira-cho, is in an excellent location, just 5 minutes from the main approach to Konpira-san.
In addition, the ryokan has a “Yadon no Oyado” featuring Yadon, who is active as part of the “Udon Prefecture PR team,” making it an irresistible choice for fans of Yadon. We stayed in a “Western-style twin room. The room was a Western-style twin room, which is a good size for a short stay (from about 16 m2 ). A yukata (Japanese bathrobe) and haori (a coat worn over a kimono) are provided so that you can go to the hot-spring bath immediately.
Take a break with our original confections “Kotosan” and “Piriri Shiitake Mushrooms” for tea. After enjoying the hot spring, we went to bed early to prepare for the next day. For those staying at the hotel, a walking stick is available for rent, which comes in handy when climbing the Omotesando path, so don’t forget to take it with you. Next time, we will visit Kinpira-gu Shrine, take an udon noodle class, and ride the “Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari” sightseeing train to Oboke, one of the most popular outdoor spots in 2022.
The train will take you to the famous giant fried bean curd and a tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog) on the way to the station. The program focuses on the trip on the “Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari,” which celebrated its 5th anniversary in operation.
© Source travel watch
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