四国パート４：香川県

Tuesday, August 14
We might have stayed at Funky Times all day, but instead we headed north to 香川県 (Kagawa Prefecture), the final stop in our Shikoku-wide Tour.


We began the morning with a refreshing hike in 琴平町 to 金刀比羅宮 (Kompira Shrine).

Juuust kidding. The hike was anything but refreshing, consisting of a steep and endless climb in blazing heat. Every hiker panted loudly and shone with sweat, though several old women enjoyed the service of being carried up the mountain in a palanquin, a one-way ride which cost 5300円.


I was sweating so profusely from the climb to the first station that I was willing to quit right there. Chris, however, persuaded me to keep going!

Stay hydrated! (Rest Stop Two)

Stay genki! (Rest Stop Three)

やった～！ Us at the top!

On our way down, we were glowing with pride at having completed the mountain hike. We rewarded ourselves with steaming bowls of sanuki udon, famous to the Kagawa region. (Sanuki is the name of the old kingdom of Kagawa.) We found this version, called kompira udon, at one of the shops lining the descent.

From our hike, we returned to a hot car and set off for the capital city of Takamatsu. Chris drove and I fell asleep.

I refreshed my sleepy self with うどんアイス, with frozen chunks of noodles mixed into the ice cream!
うまい！

In the city, we made our way to 栗林公園 (Ritsurin Park), which is known as one of Japan's most beautiful gardens.

While Chris relaxed beneath a tea, I ate a chestnut sweet (the park name means "Chestnut Trees") and sipped cold matcha at the "Scooping-the-Moon Tea House."

This famous tree is known as the 鶴亀松 (Crane-Tortoise Pine) for having the appearance of a great bird taking flight from a tortoise's back (the tortoise face appears in the bottom right rock).

These poor trees have been forced into a Japanese concept of beauty in nature.


Where the ducks at?

Can we feed the ducks?

Can we greet the ducks?

Umm, hidden ducks?


No. There are no ducks at these gardens because they were all either captured or shot.

I consoled myself over the duck killings by steering Chris to the Takamatsu YouMe Town. Yes, the YouMe Town malls are everywhere!

More udon for dinner.

In the early evening, we caught the expressway home, though not without taking in the wonder that is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge!

Shikoku was wonderful. Let's go back again soon.
(Though most likely we won't since we have many other places to visit in Japan. Hee hee.)