Kotohira is a small, rural town in Kagawa. It’s best known as the site of Shikoku’s largest Shinto shrine complex, Konpira-san, to which pilgrims made their way from all over Japan until recently. Besides the shrine, pilgrims enjoyed the hot spring that rises in Kotohira, and the kabuki theatre which is still used.

The main part of the town is built around a little river crossed by many pretty bridges, one of which is an elaborate arched structure with a roof. There’s a huge lantern that was dedicated as a monument by pilgrims to the shrine.

Like many places in Kagawa, Kotohira has places to eat udon and delicious chicken cooked on the bone. There’s also a popular school for making udon, and a souvenir shop where you can make traditional wasanbon sugar cakes.

Don’t miss the sake brewing museum and the maritime museum, both on the approach to the shrine.