Yashima from Takamatsu: A Quiet Day Trip to the Temple, Lookouts and Shikokumura

This guide covers how to reach Yashima from Takamatsu, the temple and lookout on the summit, the walking trails, Shikokumura and the practical details for a visit.

Yashima-ji was built on the north peak of Yashima by the Tang monk Ganjin, who raised the Fugen-do hall there. The sections below follow the way up, the temple and the summit, the walking trails, Shikokumura and the practical details.

Getting to Yashima

From JR Takamatsu Station, the JR Kotoku Line runs to JR Yashima Station. A shuttle bus then climbs from JR Yashima Station to the Yashima summit. These legs are set out in the table below.

The Kotoden route starts at Takamatsu Chikko Station on the Kotohira and Nagao lines. At Kawaramachi Station the Shido Line continues to Kotoden Yashima Station. From Kotoden Yashima Station a shuttle bus runs to the summit. A taxi from JR Takamatsu Station to the summit is the other choice.

A through shuttle bus from Takamatsu Station to the summit runs on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and during the summer and winter holiday periods. It calls at Kotoden Yashima Station and Shikokumura on the way to the summit. On other days, the rail routes in the table are the way up.

From	Line and operator	Time or fare
JR Takamatsu Station to JR Yashima Station	JR Kotoku Line	About 16 minutes
JR Yashima Station to the Yashima summit	Shuttle bus	About 18 minutes
Takamatsu Chikko Station to Kawaramachi Station	Kotoden Kotohira and Nagao lines	About 5 minutes
Kawaramachi Station to Kotoden Yashima Station	Kotoden Shido Line	About 15 minutes
Kotoden Yashima Station to the Yashima summit	Shuttle bus	About 10 minutes
JR Takamatsu Station to the Yashima summit	Taxi	About 30 minutes
Shikokumura to the Yashima summit	Shuttle bus	About 8 minutes
Kotoden Yashima Station to Shikokumura	On foot	About 5 minutes
JR Yashima Station to Shikokumura	On foot	About 10 minutes

Yashima-ji and the Summit

The main hall of Yashima-ji was built in the Kamakura period and is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. Yashimaaru, near the summit stop, offers a tour that is priced per person.

The cafe at Yashimaaru serves a Setouchi spice curry. It also serves honey lemon pancakes, and the honey lemonade comes hot or iced. The cafe is closed on Tuesdays.

The Trails and the Dankorei Lookout

The henro pilgrimage road to Yashima-ji is a walking route that climbs from the foot of the mountain to the temple. Other trails also lead up, and the table gives the level of each.

Route	Distance and time
Henro pilgrimage road to Yashima-ji	About 2 km, about 35 minutes
Yashima hiking trail (henro road), beginner level	About 1.5 km, about 30 minutes
Hokurei trail to Yukakutei, intermediate level	About 1.5 km, about 30 minutes
Kyu-henro-michi (old henro road), intermediate level	About 1.8 km, about 40 minutes
Nishi-koto (west old trail), intermediate level	About 2 km, about 40 minutes

The Dankorei lookout is reached by a walking path from the summit parking lot toward the Hokurei side. The lookout takes its name from a visitor who climbed Yashima and recalled the Genji warriors and the Heike nobles.

Rental bikes are available at the tourist information desk at JR Yashima Station.

Shikokumura

Shikokumura is a short walk from Kotoden Yashima Station and a longer walk from JR Yashima Station.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays, with the closure moving to the following day when Tuesday is a national holiday. Parking there is free. An annual passport is sold for repeat visits.

Those who would rather leave the planning to someone else can arrange an outing from Takamatsu ahead of time. If that suits your plans, compare tours from Takamatsu here.

Hours and Fees

The summit parking lot opens early in the morning and stays open well into the evening. An ordinary car pays a flat charge for the day. The tables below gather the details together.

Item	Detail
Shikokumura, hours	9:30 to 17:00, last entry 16:30
Shikokumura, closed	Tuesdays (the following day if Tuesday is a national holiday)
Yashima summit parking lot, hours	6:30 to 22:00
Yashimaaru, closed	Tuesdays (the following weekday if Tuesday is a holiday)
Yashimaaru cafe, closed	Tuesdays (the following weekday if Tuesday is a holiday)
Reigan tea house, hours	11:00 to 17:00, last order 16:30
Momotaro tea house, hours	10:00 to 17:00
Through shuttle from Takamatsu Station	Saturdays, Sundays and holidays

Item	Detail
Summit parking lot, ordinary car	300 yen
Summit parking lot, two-wheeled vehicle	200 yen
Summit parking lot, large vehicle	1,200 yen
Rental bike at JR Yashima Station Tourist Information	100 yen per day
Tour of Yashimaaru	500 yen per person, about 30 minutes
Shikokumura, annual passport	5,000 yen per person
Shikokumura, parking	Free, 200 passenger cars and 5 buses
Yashimaaru cafe, Setouchi spice curry	900 yen
Yashimaaru cafe, honey lemon pancakes	800 yen, or 1,200 yen as a set with a drink
Yashimaaru cafe, honey lemonade	600 yen