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Takamatsu with kids: 3 days, 2 nights.

Short journeys, with time left for naps. From the airport to your stay, the islands and the garden — an order that is easy with small children.

KataharamachiKawaramachiRitsurin-KoenMatsushima-NichomeJR Takamatsu Sta.Takamatsu Castle RuinsRitsurin GardenTakamatsu PortHARETOKE132To Naoshima (50 min by ferry)
Where you go on days 1 and 3 (day 2 is Naoshima) Map data © OpenStreetMap

Admission fees and times were checked on the official websites on 22 September 2026. They can change, so please check again before you go.

Day 1 — From the airport to your stay, and a seaside castle at dusk

Tsukimi Turret at Takamatsu Castle Ruins. The moat is filled with seawater.
Tsukimi Turret at Takamatsu Castle Ruins. The moat is filled with seawater.Photo: 先従隗始 / CC0

Day 1 at a glance

  1. Takamatsu Airport
  2. Limousine bus, about 30 minAdult ¥1,000
  3. Kawaramachi
  4. Kotoden Shido Line, 2 stops
  5. Matsushima-Nichome
  6. 4 min walk
  7. HARETOKE check-in from 15:00
  8. Kotoden (change at Kawaramachi)
  9. Takamatsu Castle Ruins, by Takamatsu-Chikko Sta.
  1. Arrive
    Take the airport limousine bus to Kawaramachi (about 30 min; adults ¥1,000, children ¥500). Change to the Kotoden Shido Line for two stops to Matsushima-Nichome; the stay is a 4-minute walk from the station.
  2. 15:00
    Check in from 15:00.Drop your bags and take a break.
  3. Evening
    In the late afternoon, visit Takamatsu Castle (Tamamo Park).Change to the Kotohira Line at Kawaramachi and ride to the end of the line, Takamatsu-Chikko, right in front of the park. The castle is known for its moat filled with seawater.
  4. Fees
    Admission is ¥300 for adults and free for under-18s.The West Gate (on the Takamatsu-Chikko side) closes between 17:00 and 19:00 depending on the season.

Coming by car? HARETOKE has free parking for one car (no large vehicles).

Day 2 — By boat to Naoshima

Miyanoura Port, Naoshima
Miyanoura Port, NaoshimaPhoto: ブルーノ・プラス / CC BY 4.0

Day 2 at a glance

  1. HARETOKE
  2. Kotoden (change at Kawaramachi)
  3. Takamatsu-Chikko
  4. About 5 min walk
  5. Takamatsu Port
  6. Ferry, about 50 minAdult ¥680, child ¥340, cash only
  7. Naoshima, Miyanoura Port
  1. Morning
    In the morning, take the ferry from Takamatsu Port to Miyanoura Port on Naoshima (about 50 min; adults ¥680, elementary-school children ¥340). Ferries leave Takamatsu at 8:12, 10:14, 12:40, 15:35 and 18:05.
  2. On the island
    At Miyanoura, start with Yayoi Kusama’s “Red Pumpkin”.
  3. Museums
    Many museums require reservations, and the Chichu Art Museum is closed on Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a public holiday). Leave room for nap time and don’t try to see everything.
  4. Return
    Last boats from Naoshima to Takamatsu: ferry 17:00, high-speed boat 19:45.
  5. Tickets
    Buy tickets at the counter — cash only.

For boat times and tips, see “From Takamatsu Port to Naoshima, Teshima and Shodoshima”.

Day 3 — A walk in Ritsurin Garden, then to the airport

Ritsurin Garden
Ritsurin GardenPhoto: Takuya ASADA / CC BY 2.0

Day 3 at a glance

  1. HARETOKE check-out 10:00
  2. From Matsushima-Nichome, Shido Line 2 stops4 min walk to the station
  3. Kawaramachi change to the Kotohira Line
  4. Kotohira Line, 1 stop
  5. Ritsurin-Koen Sta.
  6. About 7 min walk
  7. Ritsurin Garden
  8. “Ritsurin-koen-mae” bus stop
  9. Limousine bus, about 30 mintimed to the flights
  10. Takamatsu Airport
  1. 10:00
    Check out by 10:00.Take the Kotoden to Kawaramachi, change to the Kotohira Line and get off at the next stop, Ritsurin-Koen. The garden is about a 7-minute walk.
  2. Fees
    Admission is ¥500 for adults, ¥170 for elementary and junior-high students, and free for preschool children.
  3. Kids
    Strollers can be borrowed free of charge at the ticket office, and there are nursing rooms (in the Shoko Shoreikan East Building, the Kobusha toilets and the tourist office).
  4. Luggage
    Leave your bags in the coin lockers by the East Gate (¥200¥400).If they are full, the tourist office keeps bags for ¥400 each.
  5. Lunch
    Have Sanuki udon for lunch.
  6. Return
    The airport limousine bus stops at Ritsurin-koen-mae, right by the garden: about 30 minutes to the airport (adults ¥1,000). Buses are timed to flights, so check the timetable.

Tips for travelling with children

  1. TIP 1The Kotoden trains and the limousine bus accept transport IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA.
  2. TIP 2Konpira-san (Kotohira-gu Shrine) has 785 stone steps to the main shrine — not possible with a stroller. Bring a baby carrier if you go.
  3. TIP 3On island days, check the time of the last boat back first.
  4. TIP 4See also “From Takamatsu Airport into the city” and “How to ride the Kotoden”.

About HARETOKE

The dining table at HARETOKE
The dining table at HARETOKE

HARETOKE is a 4-minute walk from Kotoden Matsushima-Nichome Station. It is a two-bedroom maisonette (two floors inside) for up to 6 guests, with a crib, a baby monitor, a stroller and children’s tableware.

Our four stays in Takamatsu

HIBI NO NEA whole tatami house. Up to 6 guests, baby gear provided. 15-minute walk from JR Takamatsu Station (Ogimachi).HARETOKEA two-bedroom maisonette apartment. Up to 6 guests, free parking for one car. 4-minute walk from Kotoden Matsushima-Nichome Station (Matsufukucho).YOI NO HOSHIA 61 m² floor with a table tennis table and a projector. Up to 8 guests, free parking for one car. 4-minute walk from Matsushima-Nichome Station (Matsufukucho).HOSHI NO UMI63 m² with three bedrooms and a view of the Seto Inland Sea. Up to 7 guests. About a 20-minute walk to Takamatsu Port (Hamanocho).

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Sources (official websites)

About the photos

Apart from the photos of our stays, the pictures come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences (resized and cropped).