Kagawa Prefecture
Kagawa Prefecture, formerly known as 讃岐国 (sanuki-no-kuni), is one of the four prefectures that make up the island of Shikoku. This prefecture is often referred to as the “うどん (udon) Prefecture”. Udon is (usually) thick white noodles made from flour, salt, and water. Kagawa Prefecture is renowned for its wheat production, much of which is used to make udon. Because of this, there are seemingly an endless number of restaurants in this prefecture that specialize in this noodle dish. Udon originated in Fukuoka Prefecture, located in Kyūshū, Japan’s southernmost island. However, unlike the udon made there, the udon in Kagawa Prefecture is usually cut thick with a springy texture.
Though Kagawa Prefecture is best known for udon, this is not all this prefecture has to offer. Here, there are some well-renowned traditional crafts. One of such is the 団扇 (uchiwa—a type of traditional fan) from the city of Marugame. The uchiwa produced here is one of the three most well-known across Japan. First being made at the beginning of the Edo period (1603-1868), they were said to be sold to those coming to worship at Konpira Shrine. The original design for these fans derived from ones that the 天狗 (tengu—a goblin-like mountain spirit with wings and a long nose) held, a 羽団扇 (ha-uchiwa). The fans at Konpira Shrine had a red circle with the Chinese character 金 (kin—gold) inside it. It is said that roughly 90% of all fans produced in Japan are now made in the city of Marugame, Kagawa Prefecture. There is a museum in the city of Marugame where one can learn all about these particular fans, a must-visit for those who’d like to learn more.
Along with food and traditional crafts, Kagawa Prefecture has a few must-visit tourist attractions. One of those attractions is Ritsurin Garden. This is a beautiful Japanese garden built at the end of the 16th century as a garden for the Satō Clan. Initially, it was a rather small garden. In 1631, the retainer to the Ikoma family, Hachihei Nishijima, made some repairs to the lake there and, while doing so, enlarged the overall area of the garden itself. This garden is filled with plants and impressive stones that have been beautifully placed across the perimeter of the lake. While enjoying the scenery, one can feed the carp fish in the lake itself. At the 花園亭 (hana-zono-tei) building, one can also take a break while enjoying local cuisine and locally brewed alcohol. In 1953, Ritsurin Garden was designated as a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty”. This is one garden that’s worth spending the time to wander around.
Sightseeing in Kagawa Prefecture isn’t just a traditional Japanese garden. About a one-hour ferry ride away from this prefecture is Shōdoshima Island. This island is well-known for its production of soy sauce (a sauce made from soybeans used in Japanese cuisine). There are a few companies producing soy sauce here, but (without a doubt) the most notable is “Yamaroku Soy Sauce”. At this company, they use wooden tubs/barrels to ferment their soy sauce. This might not sound too impressive, but there are a dwindling number of (if any) artisans left in Japan nowadays that can make these tubs and barrels from wood. As a result, those working at Yamaroku Soy Sauce have taught themselves how to manufacture these essential tubs and barrels. In addition to its renowned soy sauce production, the island offers several tourist attractions, including the “Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Studio”. This destination is ideal for visitors seeking alternatives to traditional tourist spots.
Getting to Kagawa Prefecture from Honshū, Japan’s largest island, is done via the 瀬戸大橋 (seto-ōhashi—Great Seto Bridge). This impressive bridge plays an important role, connecting Kagawa Prefecture with Okayama Prefecture. Spanning 12.3 km, it offers fantastic views of the Seto Inland Sea while crossing.
Kagawa Prefecture may not be one of the largest prefectures in Japan, but it boasts beautiful sightseeing spots and delicious local cuisine. Here, you can experience some of the best offerings of the Shikoku Region. This is one area of Japan that’s worth stopping by.
NOTE
One can visit Kagawa Prefecture via public transportation. However, places such as many of the udon restaurants here are difficult to reach by it. Particularly for those looking to enjoy some udon, we at MORIKOBOSHI highly recommend hiring a car.
