A practical English guide to Sanuki in Kagawa: the udon culture, the old temple, the coast and access from Takamatsu and Tokushima.
Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 07 November 2026).
Why visit
- Sanuki is a city in eastern Kagawa, on the edge of the Sanuki plain, and its name is inseparable from udon. This is the heart of Sanuki udon country, where the noodles are made, sold and eaten in small shops that open for lunch and close when the pots are empty.
- Beyond the noodle shops, Sanuki is a quiet mix of farmland, low hills and a short coastline, with an old provincial temple, Sanuki Kokubunji, that dates back to the eighth-century network of state temples. The town is not a tourist destination in the polished sense, which is exactly why a visit feels local.
- Sanuki works as a stop between Takamatsu and Tokushima, and as a base for exploring the udon shops that are scattered across Kagawa’s plain.
Top places and highlights
Udon culture
Small udon shops, some in converted houses, serving noodles made locally.
Sanuki Kokubunji
The old provincial temple, one of the historic sites of the region.
Kagawa plain
Farmland, low hills and small towns, easy to explore by car or bicycle.
Coast and islands
Short stretches of coast and ferries towards the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
Food and drink
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Getting there and around
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Where to stay
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Best time to visit
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Practical tips
- Many udon shops serve only lunch and close when they sell out; go early.
- Check temple hours before travelling to Sanuki Kokubunji.
- The best shops are spread across the plain; a car makes a noodle tour possible.
Suggested day-trip outline
- Morning: train from Takamatsu towards Sanuki.
- Late morning: a first udon shop, early, before the queue.
- Late morning: Sanuki Kokubunji and its precinct.
- Lunch: a second udon shop, for comparison.
- Afternoon: a drive across the plain, or on towards Tokushima.
- Evening: back to Takamatsu for dinner.
Before you go
Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.
Explore More of Japan
Published guides that pair with this one:
- Muroto Travel Guide: Cape, Temple and the Edge of Shikoku
- Nakatosa Travel Guide: The Shimanto Estuary and the Kure Port
- Mitoyo Travel Guide: Chichibugahama and the Sunset Mirror
- Sukumo Travel Guide: The Port at the Western Edge of Shikoku
- Yawatahama Travel Guide: The Fish Market Port of Western Shikoku
Browse every Shikoku guide on this site for the rest of the region.
Sources
- city.sanuki.kagawa.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
- my-kagawa.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
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