Shikoku, Marugame | Marugame & Kotohira, a two-day self-drive trip!

Marugame is very close to Takamatsu. We took a two-day self-drive trip and checked in at most of the famous spots. The road conditions were good, and although it was New Year's, there were more cars than usual, but we could still find parking lots. The only downside was that most of the attractions were closed. 🗾 Itinerary Overview Day 1⃣️ 👣 Start your day with a bowl of udon for breakfast at a local udon restaurant. 🔍 Udon Iinoya, free parking available 💰 Approx. JPY700–800 per person 👣 Explore Marugame Castle, one of the twelve castles with a castle tower preserved from the Edo period. 🔍 Marugame Castle, free parking 💰 Admission: JPY400 🧴 Round Fan Workshop At the Announcer's Office before the summit, you can buy Marugame Castle souvenirs and make reservations to experience round fan making (JPY1,000/person). If you don't want to participate, you can buy them directly. Each one is exquisite! 🏯 One-Day Castle Lord Experience The Enshu-kaku Villa behind Marugame Castle offers a two-day, one-night castle lord experience for two people. Stay in the castle and experience authentic Japanese culture. The price is JPY1,265,000, and reservations must be submitted in advance on the official website. 👣 See the Seto Ohashi Bridge up close 🔍 Seto Ohashi Bridge Memorial Park, free parking 🏗 Seto Ohashi Tower The entire visit takes 10–15 mins, and tickets are JPY800/adult. You can observe the Seto Ohashi Bridge from various angles at the observation tower. You can also see the Seto Ohashi Bridge Memorial Park. Heating and a cafe are available. 🌉 Seto Ohashi Bridge Memorial Park Free admission. Learn about the construction history, principles, and significance of the Seto Ohashi Bridge. The observation deck is a great place to watch the sunset. Day 2⃣️ 👣 Have a bowl of udon at a restaurant ranked first for Sanuki udon 🔍 Juntedaudon Yoshiya, free parking 💰 Approx. JPY800 per person 👣 Climb to the top of Konpira Shrine, a must-visit for Japanese people in their lifetime It takes about half an hour to drive from Marugame to Konpira Shrine. As one of Japan's famous temples, both Chibi Maruko-chan and Conan have been here! You can buy symbolic yellow good luck charms and zodiac charms here. ⛩️ Climbing to the top of Konpira Shrine requires climbing 1,368 steps to Okunoin. Here, you can find the Tengu amulet, which is only available here! It costs JPY1,000 each, and many elderly people and children can reach the top. If you climb to the top of Konpira Shrine, you will surely succeed next year! ⚠️ Places we didn't visit but are interesting Marugame Museum of Art, Round Fan Museum