Appreciation for the Seto Inland Sea in Japan is on the rise: American company Discovery named Shikoku one of its Top 10 must-visit rising locations around the world for 2020, and the city of Setouchi in Okayama has featured as a recommended travel destination in Western media. One particular location, Kagawa Prefecture, has been featured on many international travel sites as a must-visit place, including on Booking.com, Skyscanner, and REMOTE LANDS, with places such as Takamatsu, Teshima, and Shōdo Island being picked up.
Takamatsu is known as the doorstep that brings together the many islands of Seto Inland Sea. It’s a port city with great fresh food, highly convenient for travellers wanting to visit lots of different islands, and a popular region that brings together elements of Japanese culture.
Today, we take a look at some must-visit locations around Takamatsu, including a new facility opening, must-visit spots for spring to early summer, food, and more.
Shikoku Aquarium – The largest aquarium in Shikoku
Shikoku Aquarium is set to be the largest across Shikoku when it opens its doors to the public on March 20, 2020. It’s located inside Utazu Seaside Park in the town of Utazu where it will exhibit the creatures that live in Shikoku and feature the many different seaside landscapes located there. But the aquarium won’t just stop at showcasing animals, it will also be a cultural facility where you can learn about the history, culture, and natural environment of Shikoku, and there’ll be artwork perfect for the Setouchi Triennale contemporary art festival which is held around Seto Inland Sea every three years.
Shikoku Aquarium
Address: Utazu Rinkaikoen, 4-1 Utazu, Ayauta District, Kagawa
Opening Hours:
[March 20, 2020 – September 30, 2020] 9:00-18:00
[October 1, 2020 – March 19, 2021] 10:00-18:00
[Golden Week/Summer Break] 9:00-21:00
No Fixed Holidays
Price: General (16+ Years & High School Students) ¥2,200 / Children (Elementary School Students) ¥1,200 / Toddlers (3+ Years) ¥60
Official Website: http://shikoku-aquarium.jp/
Well-Known & Little-Known-Good Cherry Blossom Spots
Kagawa Prefecture is home to many spots that offer beautiful sounds and sights throughout the four seasons. Cherry blossom season is right around the corner in Japan, so let’s take a look at some must-visit spots, both popular and little-known good ones.
■Well-Known Spots
Ritsurin Garden (Takamatsu)
One of the most famous historical gardens in Japan, Ritsurin Garden is home to around 320 Yoshino cherry trees, whose pink colour reflects beautifully off the lake together with the 1,000 green pine trees.
Marugame Castle (Marugame)
Marugame Castle is one of only 12 castle in Japan to have an original wooden tenshu, or castle tower, built. From the great height of the castle’s stone wall, which is the tallest in Japan, one can gaze down at 1,000 cherry blossom trees in bloom.
■Little-Known-Good Spots
Megijima (Takamatsu)
Around 3,000 cherry trees bloom on t he island, including Yoshino cherries, yama-zakura, and yae-zakura, which roll from the port to the lighthouse.
Asahiyama Forest Park (Mitoyo)
Asahiyama Forest Park is located on the peak of Mt. Asahi, up 238 meters high. There, you can witness 2,000 vibrant cherry blossom trees bloom in spring, including Yoshino cherries. The park’s observation deck is popular too, offering a 360° panoramic view.
Experience the world of bonsai in Kagawa, the only place in Japan which produces pine bonsai trees
Interest in bonsai trees continues to grow every year not just in Japan but overseas too. The number of people incorporating them into their lives as interior decoration is on the rise. Kagawa Prefecture is the only place in Japan which produces pine bonsai trees, the largest places being Kinashi and Kokubunji in Takamatsu. There are around 60 bonsai makers in both of these towns, so you are sure to spot some if you walk through them.
Official Website: https://takamatsu-bonsai.com/en/
The new Takamatsu Bonsai no Sato is also set to open on April 17, which will include an information centre providing information on bonsai culture in Takamatsu, and there will be workshops too. Whether you’re new to bonsai or a pro, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Takamatsu Bonsai no Sato
Grand Opening: April 17, 2020
Address: 353-1 Kokubunjichō Kokubu, Takamatsu, Kagawa
Travel to Kagawa this spring to enjoy the cherry blossoms and pay a visit to the new Shikoku Aquarium.
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UWS AQUARIUM GA☆KYO, an aquarium inspired by Japanese traditions and legends, opened at Aqua City Odaiba on July 13, 2022. The curious aquarium and art facility is split into five spaces, each based on a particular Japanese legend or tradition. Area 1 - WABISABI
Area 2 - OIRAN Area 3 - MANGEKYO Area 4 - YURAKU Area 5 - RYUGU Virtual Goldfish Scooping This mixture of aquarium and entertainment venue was produced by GA☆KYO. Each of the five spaces invites guests to understand and appreciate a particular part of Japanese traditional culture, as well as to experience the beauty of living things. Come enjoy this unique installation the next time you’re in Tokyo! Information
UWS AQUARIUM GA☆KYO
Venue: Aqua City Odaiba 3F (1-7-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Official Site: https://uws-gakyo.com -
On July 13, UWS AQUARIUM GA☆KYO, an aquarium inspired by Japanese traditions and legends, will open at Aqua City Odaiba. Separated into five unique sections, this curious aquarium is located in a shopping complex popular with locals and tourists alike.
UWS AQUARIUM GA☆KYO will depict five aspects of traditional Japanese life and history: Wabi-sabi, Oiran, Mangekyo (Kaleidoscope), Yuraku, and Ryuugu. These will be explained below if you aren’t familiar. Area
WABISABI Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic in Japanese art centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. In the aquarium, this is shown by using delicate driftwood, bonsai, and crystal. Characteristics of wabi-sabi include asymmetry, simplicity, and roughness. OIRAN An Oiran was a high-ranking courtesan in Japanese history. In this work, goldfish are surrounded by beautiful and enchanting features inspired by these gorgeous women. MANGEKYO Mangekyo is the Japanese word for kaleidoscope. This collaborative work invites viewers into a unique space filled with paintings by Tsuyoshi Nigamushi along with disco balls. You’ll want to snap some trippy pictures! YURAKU This special exhibition invites guests to experience virtual goldfish scooping and fortune-telling. Made using modern technology in a space inspired by Japan’s four seasons, yuraku means pleasure in Japanese. RYUGU Ryuugu refers to the Palace of the Dragon King found in the ancient tale of Urashima Taro. This spatial work will utilize the sea around Odaiba and transport visitors to another place and time. Come enjoy these five unique spaces with your five senses and become more acquainted with traditional Japanese beauty.Information
UWS AQUARIUM GA☆KYO
Grand Opening on July 13, 2022
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Venue: Aqua City Odaiba 3F (1-7-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Official Site: https://uws-gakyo.com -
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Collaborates with Kochi Prefecture’s Katsurahama Aquarium for LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu concluded her tour stop in Kochi on May 29, and as expected, the singer has announced another collaboration with a local business as part of the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project! Launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities, the project has received both domestic and global attention.In Kochi Prefecture, Kyary is collaborating with the Katsurahama Aquarium! Located on the water at Kochi’s famous Katsurahama Beach park, the location is filled with Kochi flare and remains a valuable and beloved place to local residents. The building has long been popular as a museum and has been both a tourist attraction and a local hangout for decades. Known affectionately by locals as ‘Hamasui,’ the 99-year-old structure has often been a hot topic for its unique advertising strategy, with Hamasui Twitter posts going viral and making their way to late-night TV programs. For the collaboration, the aquarium’s cute creepy-crawly mascot Otodo-chan has been transformed as an homage to Kyary’s music video for PONPONPON released in 2011. A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. The shirt is available on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website for two weeks only starting May 27! Information
Katsurahama Aquarium (Kochi) x LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project
Collaboration T-shirt
Price: ¥3,300 (Tax Included)
Where to Buy: Katsurahama Aquarium
Details: https://katurahama-aq.jp/
LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Online Shop
Available: May 27 – June 9 at 23:59
https://store-localpowerjapan.com/
*Please allow two weeks to one month from order completion to product shipment.
*A portion of T-shirt sales will be donated to local projects and social programs.
*Please check the online shop for details. -
Tokyo’s Sumida Aquarium welcomed three new baby Magellanic penguins on April 14! This marks the 10th year in a row that the location has seen new baby penguins born. Magellanic penguins start their breeding season in March each year, finishing in May. The first baby born this year, Daifuku, hatched on April 14, becoming Sumida Aquarium’s first second-generation penguin. Komari hatched on April 20 and Shiratama hatched on April 30. The penguins were given names signifying good luck and joy. Komari and Shiratama both evoke images of ‘circles’ in Japanese, with the aquarium hoping that the penguins will sever as a link to guests. All three babies will make their public debut towards the end of June in the designated penguin pool. The Sumida Aquarium Twitter feed will provide updates about how the babies are progressing, so be sure to keep an eye out!
Information
Sumida Aquarium
10th Anniversary Celebrations: May 22 – December 31, 2022
Special Site: https://www.sumida-aquarium.com/10th/ -
Tokyo’s Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa has opened its seasonal event NAKED FLOWER AQUARIUM -Bring You Happiness- until June 19, 2022. The aquarium has been continuously developing entertaining exhibits and events based on the beauty of each season. The creative company NAKED uses projection mapping to transform the space with cherry blossoms in spring and fireworks in summer, allowing guests to enjoy a special atmosphere indoors.
Welcome Flower Gate
Marine Forest
Blooming Street
Jellyfish Ramble
Floral Café Bar
For spring, the Aqua Park has been decorated with gorgeous flowers and lush greenery. The new event uses state-of-the-art technology to surround visitors with a spectacular view of early summer. Each area of the aquarium was inspired by the subtheme of ‘bringing happiness,’ with seven different Happiness Experiences for guests to enjoy. These experiences offer things like healing sound effects and scents made to calm the mind and offer additional immersion. The popular dolphin performance has both a day and night show. The day version offers guest participation, in which the dolphins will show off their choreographed moves. The night version was inspired by the early summer sea and uses projection mapping to bring the underwater world to life in a spectacular way.Information
NAKED FLOWER AQUARIUM-Bring You Happiness-
Venue: Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa
Address: Shinagawa Prince Hotel (4-10-30 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Official Site: www.aqua-park.jp -
MIKU LAND is Hatsune Miku’s official VR amusement park. The locale opens sporadically on the Virtual Cast platform, inviting fans of the virtual singer to interact with the star herself and other music lovers from around the world. From April 28 until May 1, the MIKU LAND 2022 YOSAKURA event will invite Vocaloid lovers to the metaverse to enjoy the cherry blossoms and a number of unique experiences. Guests can visit Senbonzakura World, Miku’s Detective Agency, Rin & Len Kagamine’s Post Office in the Sky, and even a virtual haunted house during the event. VTubers Megu Shinonome, Tokino Sora, and Mirai Akari have been chosen as the official ambassadors of the event. Senbonzakura World
Hatsune Miku’s iconic track Senbonzakura, written by Kurousa-P, turns 10 this year. What better way to enjoy it than beneath virtual cherry blossom trees? Even if you can’t visit Japan quite yet, enjoy the Japanese shrine atmosphere as you spend time with friends in this gorgeous virtual space. Miku's Detective Agency This puzzle-solving attraction invites guests to become assistant detectives by passing a test handed out by Detective Hatsune Miku! Those able to complete the challenge will also receive a limited-edition item. Rin & Len Kagamine's Post Office in the Sky This post office in the clouds isn’t just a quiet place to relax. Visitors can take on a few different challenges, from mazes to more physical tasks. Official Ambassadors Megu Shinonome Comment “I’ve been chosen as an ambassador for MIKU LAND! My name is Megu Shinonome, and I’m so excited to work with Miku! MIKU LAND keeps getting bigger and bigger, so I’m wondering what it will look like this spring…I’m looking forward to it! I’ll do my best along with my fellow ambassadors Tokino Sora and Mirai Akari to convey the many charms of MIKU LAND to as many people as possible. We can’t wait to see you!” Tokino Sora Comment “I’m so excited to visit MIKU LAND again! I’ll do my best to make this another incredible event, and I’ll be sure to enjoy myself as much as possible!” Mirai Akari Comment “I’ve been invited to MIKU LAND to act as the MC for this awesome event! During the SUMMER VACATION event, everyone on Virtual Cast was so kind to me. It was a blast, so I’m really looking forward to this too! I’ll be sure to bring some extra excitement, so don’t miss it!” Information
Dates: April 28, 19:00 – May 1, 21:00
Location: Virtual CastOfficial Site: https://mikuland.com/