Nakano Udon School (Udon making & tasting experience)

With over 600 Sanuki udon noodle shops in Kagawa, you know how seriously they take their beloved dish, which is not only popular with locals but also tourists. At Nakano Udon School, learn how to make your own batch of udon from scratch, from kneading to rolling and slicing, and finally cooking them to perfection. After the workshop (of about an hour), you can either eat in or take home to savour later!

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Strolling around Kopira sando & try local snacks

Kotohira-gu Shrine, or Konpira-gu, is Shikoku region's most famous shrine, and a visit isn't complete without sampling snacks along its main approach. Among the many family-run udon restaurants, you can find shops offering you snacks like senbei (rice crackers), kyuman (confectionery filled with yellow bean paste) and the iconic oiri soft serve - try the soy flavour! - topped with colourful melt-in-your-mouth oiri balls, a popular Kagawa confectionery. Having some oiri is also said to bring good luck! Another Kagawa specialty you should try is Honetsukidori - chicken thigh grilled on the bone.

Maruchu dinning at Kobaitei

Kappo Dining Maruchu serves a selection of fine cuisine focusing on seasonal Shikoku ingredients and cooking style to all visitors staying in Kobaitei. The building itself was made in Japanese-style architecture, using wooden beams that are 300 years old. Guests can enjoy the kaiseki cuisine freshly prepared in their open kitchen.

Kobaitei stay

Kobaitei is a hot spring ryokan, not far from the nearby shrine. Room options include suites with open-air baths, boasting scenic views of the seasons of Mount Zozu, which enshrines the Kotohira-gu Shrine. The corner suite offers a stunning view of Mount Iino, also known as the Sanuki Fuji. The hotel features 2 floors of hot spring baths, each with its own large communal baths and a number of scenic open-air baths for men and women where guests can soak in the high-quality mineral spring water.

Hirome Market

Drop by Hirome Market for its diverse array of food and drinks! Nicknamed "Kochi's kitchen", it is home to about 60 stalls where you can try Kochi specialties and enjoy them at one of many large tables around the market. Popular dishes include katsuo no tataki (seared bonito), which is the soul food of Kochi, and inaka-sushi - "countryside sushi" made with vegetables instead of fish. Pair your meal with Kochi's smooth dry sake to complete the local Kochi taste!

Tosa Cuisine Tsukasa

Tosa is the former name of Kochi, and Tosa cuisine features quality seafood - predominantly bonito (katsuo) - as well as meats, vegetables, and fruits from a region that is surrounded by ocean, mountains, and rivers. Tosa Cuisine Tsukasa offers sashimi platters, beef shabu shabu, and kaiseki meals using Tosa ingredients. Their signature is katsuo tataki, where the fish is seared over straw and served with thin slices of garlic and ponzu sauce.

A unique architectural feature

The Edo-era castle town of Wakimachi is distinguished by a row of elegant historic buildings along its main street. It is called Udatsu Townscape because the buildings have an architectural feature called udatsu, which are winged extensions under the roof made of plaster that are designed to prevent fires from spreading between shops. Aigura, situated in a gorgeously renovated storehouse, is a souvenir shop with a cafe where you can have ice cream and meals made with Awaodori chicken.

AoAwo Naruto Resort

Boasting magnificent sea views, AoAwo Naruto Resort is a hot spring resort with scenic open-air baths, conveniently located near the Naruto whirlpools. When it comes to dining, Irodori specializes in Awa cuisine (Awa being the former name of Tokushima) that features seafood and local meats known as Awa no sanchiku, referring to beef, pork, and chicken. At Naruto, you can enjoy a kaiseki meal made from fresh fish and shellfish caught in the nearby waters.

Cha Cafe Asunaro

Located beside Odo Dam, Cha Cafe Asunaro is a classic minimalist cafe to relax with some classic Japanese tea, dessert, or a light lunch. The cafe serves green tea and matcha desserts made using local Sawatari tea leaves grown along the banks of the Niyodo River, and even their main meals are infused with the same tea! Sit down for quiet bite here as you enjoy a gorgeous view of the Niyodo River from the restaurant's deck.

10FACTORY

Located at the foot of Matsuyama Castle, this relaxed shopping street is lined with chic independent stores. You can find a variety of local retail brands as well as eateries where you can try regional specialties. Ehime is one of Japan's largest producers of mikan (a type of tangerine orange) - pop into the trendy 10FACTORY, a specialty shop where you can try a flight of mikan juice along with their freshly squeezed beverages, and purchase other mikan-related souvenirs, sweets, and snacks!

Find Marugoto Mandarin Daifuku on our Japan Souvenir Map!

Shirasagiya

Enjoy the taste of Shirasagiya's fruit daifuku, which are seasonal fresh fruits like strawberries, kiwis, and mandarins encased in gyuhi - a softer, sweeter, and more delicate version of traditional mochi - and white bean paste which has an elegant sweetness. You can also try their manju which is made with Okinawan brown sugar. All their sweets are freshly made in-store.

Kadoya

Located along the Ropeway Shopping Street, Kadoya specializes in local seasonal cuisine such as their signature Tai-meshi (sea bream sashimi and raw eggs served over rice) which is a specialty of Uwajima, along with Fukumen which is a konjac noodle dish with a variety of colourful toppings like orange peel, minced fish soboro, and green onions. Other popular dishes include Jyako-ten (fishcake served hot on a small shichirin grill) and slices of bonito charred over a straw fire.