Kagawa: Okay, So It's Not Tokyo, But...
okay, so i’m back from kagawa. and honestly? it was… something. i’m a botanist, right? so i’m used to quiet, observing, the slow unfurling of things. this was… not that. it was a flurry of udon and vending machines and a surprising number of pigeons. i’m still processing.
i just checked and it's drizzling, a sort of persistent, damp hug that clings to everything. not exactly ideal for plant spotting, but hey, it’s atmospheric, i guess. i spent most of my time wandering around *Takamatsu, which is the main hub. it’s… compact. you can walk pretty much anywhere. i did, mostly. my feet are protesting.
let’s talk about the udon. because, obviously. it’s everywhere. like, seriously. i think i ate my weight in it. i tried a few different places, you know, for research purposes. someone told me that Shin Udon is the place to go, but the line was insane. i ended up at a smaller place near the Ritsurin Garden - it was fantastic. simple, flavorful, perfect. i’m going to try to recreate it when i get home. wish me luck.
“Don’t even think about trying to find a decent coffee shop before 9 am. They’re all closed. Seriously. I saw a guy try. It did not end well.”
okay, so the Ritsurin Garden. that was actually really beautiful. a proper escape from the… intensity of the city. meticulously manicured, ponds full of koi, little tea houses… it was a nice contrast. i spent a good few hours just wandering around, sketching some of the plants. i’m thinking of doing a whole series on japanese garden flora.
and the neighbors! if you get restless, Okayama and Hiroshima are both within a reasonable train ride. i didn’t make it to either this time, but i’m already planning a return trip.
“The pigeons here are aggressive. Like, they will actively try to steal your food. Don’t make eye contact.”
gear list, because apparently i need to be organized sometimes:
*Field notebook: essential for plant observations, obviously.
*Sketchbook & pencils: gotta capture those details.
*Rain jacket: seriously, the drizzle is relentless.
*Comfortable shoes: you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
*Pocket wifi: because getting lost is half the fun, but also… you know, practical.
*Udon fork: okay, maybe not essential, but it felt right.
“Apparently, there’s a really weird shrine just outside the city dedicated to… lost socks. I didn’t go, but I heard it’s a trip.”
pro-tips for kagawa:
learn a few basic japanese phrases. it goes a long way.
embrace the udon. seriously, just embrace it.
be prepared for crowds, especially around popular tourist spots.
don’t be afraid to get lost. some of the best discoveries happen when you’re not looking for anything.
check out TripAdvisor for some more ideas.
if you're into local eats, Yelp has some good reviews (though take them with a grain of salt, as always).
for a deeper dive into the region's history, check out Kagawa Prefecture Official Website
overall? kagawa wasn’t what i expected. it wasn’t a sprawling metropolis or a tranquil mountain retreat. it was… something in between. a little chaotic, a little charming, a lot of udon. and i think i kind of loved it. i’m already dreaming of going back. maybe in the spring, when the cherry blossoms are out.
and maybe i’ll finally check out that sock shrine.
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