What to do

• Walk the strolling paths around the six ponds and thirteen landscaped hills, where the layout is designed so the scenery changes with each step.
• Climb Shiun-zan hill for an elevated view over the South Garden.
• Take a wasen boat ride on the South Pond, weather permitting and for an extra fee.
• Stop at Kikugetsu-tei teahouse for matcha and a wagashi sweet overlooking the water.

Tickets and fees

Checked in July 2026: adult admission is around yen 410 at the gate; sources vary slightly on the exact figure, so confirm the current price before visiting. Opening and closing times change month to month, so check the current schedule if you plan an early morning or evening visit.

Getting there

Ritsurin Garden is about a 15-minute walk from JR Takamatsu Station, or a short walk from JR Ritsurin-koen Kitaguchi Station. Kotoden's Ritsurin-koen Station sits right next to the East Gate entrance.

Nearby

For a full Kagawa itinerary, pair this with a ferry day trip to Shodoshima or an art-focused day at Naoshima Art Island.

What to do

• See the Chichu Art Museum, built mostly underground by Tadao Ando, with works by Monet, Walter De Maria, and James Turrell.
• Walk the Art House Project in Honmura, where several old houses have been converted into individual art installations.
• Visit Benesse House Museum, which combines a hotel, museum, and outdoor sculpture in one Ando-designed complex.
• Photograph Yayoi Kusama's yellow and red pumpkin sculptures near the waterfront, some of the island's most recognizable landmarks.

Tickets and fees

Checked in July 2026: advance online booking is required for the Chichu Art Museum and for some Art House Project sites and galleries, and spring and autumn slots can sell out weeks ahead, so book through the official Benesse Art Site Naoshima website as early as you can. Other sites are more flexible about walk-in entry, but confirm current rules before you go.

Getting there

From Okayama Station, take the JR Uno Line to Uno Station (about 1 hour), then a ferry to Miyanoura Port on Naoshima (about 20 minutes). Once on the island, get around by the town shuttle bus, the free Benesse area shuttle, or a rental bicycle.

Nearby

Before or after your ferry, Okayama City's Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden are both close to Okayama Station.

What to do

• Step inside the single water-drop-shaped concrete shell and spend time with Rei Naito's 'Matrix', the museum's sole permanent artwork.
• Sit or lie on the floor; the space is designed for slow, quiet viewing rather than a quick walkthrough.
• Browse the museum shop and cafe, both built with the same minimal design language as the main building.
• If time allows, combine the visit with other Teshima stops such as Teshima Yokoo House.

Tickets and fees

Checked in July 2026: entry requires an advance online booking for a specific date and time slot through the Benesse Art Site Naoshima ticket system, and same-day walk-up entry is not reliable. Photography is not allowed inside the museum, and the museum closes on some weekdays, so check the current calendar before planning a trip.

Getting there

Teshima Art Museum can only be reached by ferry. Boats run from Takamatsu Port and from Naoshima's Miyanoura Port to Teshima's Ieura Port, and a local shuttle bus or rental bicycle covers the final stretch to the museum. Ferry frequency drops on days the museum is closed, so build the visit around the boat timetable rather than the other way around.

Nearby

This pairs naturally with the rest of Naoshima Art Island on the same trip, or with a calmer garden stop at Ritsurin Garden back on the Takamatsu side.

What to do

• Visit Shodoshima Olive Park, the birthplace of olive cultivation in Japan, and take a free broomstick photo at the spot used in Kiki's Delivery Service.
• Ride the ropeway or hike up to Kankakei Gorge, ranked among Japan's three most scenic gorges.
• Cross Angel Road, a tidal sandbar that appears at low tide and connects a chain of small islets.
• Sample soy sauce and somen noodles in the island's long-running soy sauce and noodle-making district.

Tickets and fees

Checked in July 2026: most outdoor sights on Shodoshima are free, while the Kankakei ropeway and some museums charge separate admission. Ropeway operating hours and closures vary by season and weather, so check the current schedule before building a tight itinerary around it.

Getting there

High-speed boats from Takamatsu Port to Tonosho Port take about 30 minutes; the slower regular ferry takes around an hour. Once on the island, the Olive Bus network, rental cars, or rental scooters are the main ways to get around, since the main sights are spread across the coastline and interior.

Nearby

Combine this with a calm stop at Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, or extend into an art-focused itinerary at Naoshima Art Island.