Takamatsu

If you're coming to Shikoku by train or ferry from Honshu, your first stop will likely be Takamatsu, the capital of Kagawa Prefecture. Takamatsu combines urban verve with a relaxed down-home atmosphere. There is something Parisian in the air here: the locals' unwavering devotion to taking things slow, the city's wide sunlit boulevards, funky shops and cafés, and the prefectural government's dedication to funding the arts make Takamatsu the perfect place to slow down, look around, and adjust to Shikoku time.