Takamatsu Exhibition
This year Japan Expo will make you discover Takamatsu, a city often unknown to tourists, whose singular beauty and culture will enchant the most curious. From Henro tradition, Shikoku’s pilgrimage, to the sophistication of the Edo period, come and immerse yourself in a world apart.
presentation
Takamatsu, capital of the Seto Inland Sea, located in the prefecture of Kagawa, has long been an economic centre, at the crossroads of all the major roads in the region. Far from the other big cities in Japan, it has a unique culture, different from that of Tokyo and Osaka. The six islands we can access from Takamatsu’s port all have their unique personality:
- Megijima and its cave worthy of a fairy tale
- Ogijima with its narcissus and charming alleys
- Naoshima and its contemporary art
- Shôdoshima, also known as “Olive Island”
- Teshima and its amazing sceneries
- Ôshima, related to the history of Hansen's disease
In Takamatsu, there is a particular tradition called Henro, Shikoku’s pilgrimage. This journey which connects 88 temples on the island, celebrated its 1,200-year anniversary in 2014. The aim of this pilgrimage can vary but it represents an opportunity to gain self-knowledge.
In terms of craft, Takamatsu developed in the Edo period (1603 – 1868) around the Matsudaira family’s castle, a branch of the Tokugawa shōgun ’s family. That is why we can find there a very sophisticated traditional culture: bonsai, the Aji stone, or the Kagawa lacquer.
The website Art City Takamatsu regularly provides fresh news on the city and includes blogs written by foreign residents about their experiences. Do not hesitate to consult them and have a virtual stroll around the streets of Takamatsu.
If you wish to discover a new aspect of Japanese culture, this photo exhibition will allow you to contemplate the singular beauty of Takamatsu. This might make you want to really visit the city!