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Kotohira Travel

Curated Itineraries

A Chūsan Drive Exploring Modern Architecture and Everyday Life. [ Rainy Day Plan ]

3days

On rainy days, instead of looking far, you look deeper.
A Chūsan drive that traces architecture and the lives woven into it.

＼Local Guide／

KAHO

She first visited Kotohira through a monitor tour during her first year at university.
Since that day, Kotohira has become a familiar place she returns to every year, saying “I’m back.”
Now in her fourth year of university, she is staying in Kotohira for about a month and a half while working on her graduation thesis.

Course Details

  1. DAY.18:30

    Depart Osaka Umeda (WILLER Bus Terminal)

    Arrive at the Kotohira / Konpira Sando-guchi bus stop at 12:50.
    Leave your luggage at kotori Kotohira and head out light and free.
    Instead of the busy udon shops along the main approach, try a place loved by locals.

    Walk about 6 minutes

  2. DAY.113:15

    Iwanoya Udon

    First udon in Kagawa at Iwanoya, a self-service udon shop loved by locals.

    A self-service udon shop beloved by locals.

    Beyond the atmospheric shopping street is Iwanoya, a udon shop popular with locals.
    It is lively with local students and office workers.
    My recommendation is the Toriten Bukkake. Freshly fried chicken tempura has a lightly sweet seasoned batter, making it very satisfying.
    It’s no exaggeration to say this is the udon shop I visit most often when coming to Kagawa.

    Name
    Iwanoya Udon
    Address
    291-10 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    11:00-15:00 (Closes when udon is sold out.)
    Closed
    Sundays

    Walk about 5 minutes

  3. DAY.115:00

    Sando Sand. Stand

    Relaxed reading time at Sando Sand. Stand.

    A place that truly respects personal time.

    Everyone spends time in their own way, making it easy to read without hesitation.
    The shop even encourages knitting at the tables, showing how much personal time is respected.

    Name
    Sando Sand. Stand
    Address
    725 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00-17:00, Fridays & Saturdays: 11:00-22:00
    Closed
    Mondays, Tuesdays

    Walk about 4 minutes

  4. DAY.117:30

    Kotori Coworking & Hostel Kotohira

    Check in at Kotori Kotohira

    A hostel where you can enjoy sightseeing while staying in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

    Located along the main approach to Kotohira-gu Shrine, the area is lively during the day with many restaurants and souvenir shops, yet becomes quiet and peaceful at night — an ideal location to enjoy sightseeing while resting comfortably.

    Name
    Kotori Coworking & Hostel Kotohira
    Address
    720-15 Kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa
    Opening Hours
    Check-in: 15:00-24:00

    Walk about 3 minutes

  5. DAY.118:00

    Honey Raizo

    Have a drink at the dining spot Honey Raizo.

    A family-run set-meal restaurant loved by the people of Kotohira.

    A couple-run diner filled with local regulars.
    The warm welcome from the charming owner feels like coming home.

    The daily lunch set, with multiple side dishes, miso soup, rice, and a main.

    In udon-rich Kagawa, it’s good to know a place where you can have miso soup.
    It reliably supports the nutrition of locals who consume plenty of wheat.
    Offers comfort you didn’t know you needed while traveling.

    Name
    Honey Raizo
    Address
    242 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    11:00-21:00
    Closed
    Tuesdays

    Overnight stay at Kotori Kotohira.

  6. DAY.110:00

    Former Zentsuji Kaikōsha

    About 20 minutes by rental car from Kotori Kotohira, visit the modern architecture of the former military city Zentsuji, “Former Zentsuji Kaikosha,” especially recommended on rainy days.

    A quiet Western-style building that conveys the memory of Zentsuji as a garrison town.

    Built in 1903 (Meiji 36), this building served as the officers’ social club of the former Imperial Japanese Army’s 11th Division.
    Its European-style architecture features a red-brick foundation, high ceilings, and granite columns.
    The space itself allows visitors to sense prewar social culture and another side of Zentsuji as a military city.
    Constructed as a gathering place for officers of the former 11th Division, the building is neither overly ornate nor plain, but possesses a dignified elegance.
    On rainy days, the quiet atmosphere of the space becomes even more pronounced.
    It is a rare place where the building itself tells the story of Zentsuji as both
    a “temple town” and a former “military city.”

    Name
    Former Zentsuji Kaikōsha
    Address
    2-1-1 Bunkyō-chō, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture
    Opening Hours
    9:00-17:00
    Closed
    Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday) / Year-end and New Year holidays

    Inside the Former Zentsuji Kaikosha

  7. DAY.212:00

    Kaikōsha Café

    Enjoy lunch while lingering in the atmosphere of modern architecture at the Former Zentsuji Kaikōsha.

    A Zentsuji-style lunchtime experience, dining inside a historic building.

    Rather than ending your visit with a simple tour, the greatest appeal here is the chance to actually spend time inside the building.
    As you dine while noticing the high ceilings and the placement of the windows,
    you naturally sense that this was a place that was truly used and lived in over time.

    Name
    Kaikōsha Café
    Address
    2-1-1 Bunkyō-chō, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture (Inside the Former Zentsuji Kaikōsha)
    Opening Hours
    11:00-15:00
    Closed
    Mondays (in accordance with the facility’s closing days)

    10-minute walk

  8. DAY.114:00

    Kumooka Kashiten

    We walked through the Zentsuji city center and spent some time enjoying the rain at the long-established confectionery shop, Kumaoka Confectionery.

    A long-established confectionery known for its famous “Kata-pan,” perfect for a stop while strolling around Zentsuji.

    Often said to be the confectionery of Zentsuji, this well-known local shop is famous for its signature “Kata-pan,” a biscuit so hard its name literally means “hard bread.”
    Originally made as preserved food for the former Imperial Japanese Army, it carries a unique historical background.
    Stopping by after visiting the nearby modern architectural site, the Former Zentsuji Kaikosha, helps the story of “Zentsuji as a military town” click into place—through sweets.
    It’s less about indulging in something sweet and more about “tasting” the history of the land itself.

    Name
    Kumooka Kashiten
    Address
    2-5-20 Bunkyō-chō, Zentsuji City, Kagawa
    Opening Hours
    9:00-Around18:00
    Closed
    Sundays and public holidays (Irregular holidays possible; may close when sold out)

    Approx. 35 minutes by car

  9. DAY.216:00

    Sakaide Artificial Ground

    Walk around Sakaide Artificial Ground and enjoy dinner freely around the station or downtown area.

    A multi-layered urban structure born during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth. On rainy days, the relationships between roofs, corridors, and levels become especially clear.

    At first glance, you might wonder, “Is this really a sightseeing spot?”
    But once you start walking, it becomes clear that Sakaide Artificial Ground was a seriously envisioned “city of the future,” designed during the high-growth era.
    Housing, walkways, shops, and plazas are stacked in vertical layers,
    and most areas are covered—making it surprisingly easy to explore even on rainy days.
    This is not a place to admire scenery from afar, but an experience of stepping inside the structure itself.

    Name
    Sakaide Artificial Ground
    Address
    Kyō-machi / Moto-machi area, Sakaide City, Kagawa (North side of Sakaide Station)
    Opening Hours
    Open all day (As this is a residential area, daytime visits are recommended)
    Closed
    None

    Drive 45 minutes back to Kotohira and stay at Kotori Kotohira.

  10. DAY.35:45

    On the final day, wake up early for morning worship.We heard that a bell rings at the 100th step every morning at 6:00, so we head there at a slightly quicker pace.

    Return to Kotori Kotohira, check out and walk 3 minutes

  11. DAY.310:00

    Nakano Udon School Kotohira Campus

    Experience udon-making at Nakano Udon School Kotohira Branch (reservation required).Have lunch with the udon you made yourself.

    Knead it, cut it, and eat it. A Kagawa moment you experience with your whole body.

    By adding a ‘making’ experience after having eaten udon throughout the trip, the local food culture you encountered settles in as a physical memory.
    Fully indoors, so it’s worry-free even on rainy days.
    Lively and fun, yet surprisingly memorable as the finale of your journey.

    Name
    Nakano Udon School Kotohira Campus
    Address
    796 Kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa
    Opening Hours
    Around 9:00-16:00 (experience by reservation only)
    Closed
    Irregular (advance confirmation required)

    About 40 minutes by car

  12. DAY.313:00

    Marugame Uchiwa Museum

    A place to discover “everyday crafts” through the history and techniques of Marugame’s famous uchiwa fans.

    A place to discover “everyday crafts” through the history and techniques of Marugame’s famous uchiwa fans.

    Marugame uchiwa account for a large share of Japan’s total production.
    Rather than a place to admire artworks, this museum helps you understand the background of tools that have long been part of everyday life.
    The amount of information on display is just right, and it fits smoothly into an itinerary regardless of the weather.

    Name
    Marugame Uchiwa Museum
    Address
    25-1 Nakazu-cho, Marugame City, Kagawa
    Opening Hours
    9:30-17:00
    Closed
    Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), Year-end and New Year holidays

    10-minute walk

  13. DAY.314:00

    Marugame Castle

    Climb the town symbol, Marugame Castle.

    A Castle Famous for Japan’s Tallest Stone Walls

    Japan’s smallest surviving original castle tower and its beautiful stone walls are impressive.
    From the keep, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea and the town of Marugame.

    Name
    Marugame Castle
    Address
    Ichibancho, Marugame City, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    9:00-16:30
    Closed
    No regular closing days. (Temporary closures may occur.)

    Head back to Kotohira, return the rental car, and enjoy final shopping or a break along the approach street.

  14. DAY.317:00

    Depart from Kotohira Sando Entrance

    You may not have checked off every famous sight, but the buildings, everyday life, and the presence of people stay clearly in your memory.
    With that quiet sense of fulfillment, you leave Kotohira behind.