Marugame sits on the Seto Inland Sea in Kagawa Prefecture, just west of Kotohira. It is the closest city you can reach by direct train from Kotohira Station in about 20 to 30 minutes. Marugame is not a beauty at first glance, but it has a handful of strong highlights that make it a satisfying half day or day trip out of Kotohira. Think bright contemporary art right by the station, towering stone walls with big views, and a tranquil strolling garden where time slows down.

Practical info to visit Marugame from Kotohira

Getting there

Direct JR trains run from Kotohira to Marugame throughout the day. Local services take roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
Fare One way is a few hundred yen depending on the service you board. IC or Suica cards are accepted.
You can also rent a bike or car from Kotohira. Ask Kotori staff in advance.

My Top three highlights for a nice half or day trip to Marugame from Kotohira

• MIMOCA Marugame Genichiro Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art
• Marugame Castle and its park, plus the Marugame city history museum in the grounds
• Nakatsu Banshoen garden with the Uchiwa Museum

From here on, come with me. I will walk you through how I spent the day, what I loved, and what to expect.

Stop 1 — MIMOCA

Stepping out of Marugame Station, the museum is right next door. This contemporary art museum opened in 1991 and was designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, the architect later chosen for MoMA’s expansion in New York. It is dedicated to Genichiro Inokuma (1902–1993), a Kagawa born painter who studied under Fujishima Takeji and worked in Tokyo, Paris and New York.

Inside, light is part of the art. The building’s long sightlines, generous volumes and controlled natural light make you exhale as soon as you step in. I wandered slowly, letting the airy spaces do their work before diving into the exhibition rooms. The permanent ones introduce Inokuma’s playful lines and bold abstracts. Temporary exhibitions rotate, so what you see will change with the season.

I took a quiet break on the top floor. Café MIMOCA serves good coffee and seasonal sweets. The rooftop area features a shallow cascade plaza where water softens the city noise. It is a gentle spot to rest or jot a few notes before moving on. There is also a small library corner if you want a calmer moment or a short laptop session.

MIMOCA essentials

Hours: 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30. Closed Monday, during exhibition changeovers, and around New Year.
Admission: Permanent collection Adults ¥300, students ¥200, children free. Special exhibition fees vary. Choose combined tickets to visit both exhibits.
Time needed: About 1 hour.

From the museum, the castle is an easy 10 minute stroll straight up the main street. If you need a quick errand, Don Quijote sits along the way.

Stop 2 — Marugame Castle

Walking from the city side, you can see the castle’s remains on the top of the hill surrounded by trees. First, I cross a small bridge over a water filled moat. The main gate stands ahead. Pause here to admire the massive wooden doors and fittings. Beyond the gate a short path brings you to the park and the souvenir shop.

From this point the climb begins. The path turns steep as it rises through the grounds. The first terrace opens to grass and a good early view. Continue a little further up another steep stretch to reach the top flat area with a full 360 degree panorama. Sea and islands on one side, mountains on the other, the city stretching all around. Here is the tenshu (dungeon), which is the last vestige of Marugame Castle still visible.

The keep is small and empty. I slip into slippers, walk into the small, barely lit room and the creak of the floorboards sets the mood. The steep internal stairs are the star. They are almost ladder steep. Care is required both up and down. From the top, some windows give another angle on Marugame and the Seto Inland Sea.

Once heading down, I discover a small pond hidden away. A large grass area welcomes families for picnics or quiet chilling moments. A few steps later I discovered and popped into the small Marugame City Museum. As entrance is free, I took a walk inside to discover a beautiful kimono temporary exhibition and the permanent exhibition about Marugame history. Outside, some vestiges and artefacts are also shown outside.

Castle essentials

Hours: Castle park open all day. Keep 9:00 to 16:30, last entry 16:00.
Admission: Castle keep Adults ¥400.
Time in the keep: About 20 minutes.
Time in the museum: about 20 min
Walk from station: About 10 to 15 minutes.

Lunch break in Marugame

Marugame has plenty of Sanuki udon shops, but the local soul food is honetsukidori. This is a spiced, oven roasted chicken thigh served on the bone. It originated here in Marugame and the classic way to order is young chicken for tenderness or parent chicken for a chewier, deeper flavor. The long running shop Ikkaku started in Marugame and is a reliable choice if you want to try the original style.

Stop 3 — Nakatsu Banshoen and the Uchiwa Museum

The garden is not in the center. You can walk about 45 minutes across back streets and a couple of main roads, rent a bicycle near the station, or take a one stop JR hop to Sanuki Shioya Station and walk 15 minutes from there. I like walking between places, so I took the long way.

History gives the garden its quiet pride. Nakatsu Banshoen was begun in 1688 as a villa and strolling garden for the Kyogoku lords of Marugame. The layout is said to recall scenes from their ancestral home around Lake Biwa in Ōmi. Today it is a classic daimyo garden with islands, bridges and viewpoints laid out around a central pond. I found myself slowing down, stopping on benches to watch the water, then hopping across stepping stones toward small islands. A ribbon of red torii leads to the Inari shrine, and there are stands of bamboo and many low pines shaped by decades of care.

Inside the grounds, the path leads me slowly to the Marugame Uchiwa Museum. The craftsman at work is an integral part of the exhibition. I was captivated by his dexterity in creating the base of a traditional bamboo uchiwa in just a few minutes. Displays cover regional designs and materials. There are fans for sale as well, for a light souvenir.

The complex also includes a small pottery museum that blends ceramics from West Asia with European paintings. Before leaving, admire the umbrella pine through the window. It grows between the walls of the museum to rise above into the air.

Garden and museum essentials

Hours: 9:30 to 17:00, last entry 16:30. Closed Wednesdays and during New Year closures.
Admission: ¥800 (garden and pottery museum) – ¥1,300 (Garden, Pottery Museum + Uchiwa Museum)
Time needed: At least 1 hour, more if you like to linger.

I exited on the west side and headed to Sanuki Shioya Station for a short train back toward Kotohira and Kotori Hostel & coworking . It is always a pleasure to ride across small towns and rice fields with mountains drifting past the window.

Conclusion of this Day Trip to Marugame from Kotohira

Marugame will not seduce you at first glance. That is part of the charm. You come for three focused stops and end up with a whole day trip to Marugame from Kotohira that breathes well: a calm hour of contemporary art, a short climb through stone and sky at the castle, and an unhurried loop through a daimyo’s garden where fans still snap open with a whisper. For digital nomads in Kotohira, it is an easy change of scene that gives you culture, views and quiet far from the crowds.

→ Want to explore more of Kotohira & Kagawa Prefecture highlights? Discover the full guide.

Practical FAQ to organise a day trip to Marugame from Kotohira

How long do I need in Marugame?

Half a day is enough for MIMOCA and the castle. A full day lets you add Nakatsu Banshoen at a relaxed pace.

How steep is the castle walk?

Short but steep in places on concrete and stone. Wear proper shoes and take it slow. The park is free to enter. The keep has steep internal stairs.

How much will I spend on tickets?

MIMOCA permanent collection ¥300. Castle keep ¥400. Garden ¥800 and art museum ¥500, or ¥1,300 with the set ticket. Special exhibitions at MIMOCA have their own prices.

Any tips for timing?

MIMOCA opens at 10:00, the castle keep at 9:00, and the garden at 9:30. If you start at MIMOCA when it opens, you can walk to the castle before lunch and spend the early afternoon in the garden, then ride back from Sanuki Shioya.

Is MIMOCA good for working for a bit?

The museum has a quiet library corner and a café upstairs. Please respect museum rules if you open a laptop.

Good local lunch ideas for this day trip to Marugame from Kotohira?

Sanuki udon is everywhere. For something distinctly Marugame, try honetsukidori.

How far is Marugame from Kotohira?

By JR local train it is about 20 to 30 minutes direct. By car it is roughly 25 minutes depending on traffic. Confident cyclists can cover the distance in about 45 to 60 minutes.

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