Let me introduce myself. My name is Megumi Toyoura. I was born in Kanonji City,Kgawa Prefecture, Japan on November 27, 1984. I am a first year student at Kagawa Junior College. My major is Nutrition. My hobbiesy are listening to music.
Takamatsu is the capi tal of Kagawa Prefecure,which has traditionally been called the gateway to Shikoku, wuth the whole land of the prefecrure jutting out into the Seto Inland Sea like aporch.
JR Takamatsu Station next to Takamatu Harbor is the terminal of the kotoku Line for Tokushima Pref .,the Yosan Line for Ehime Pref .,while serving as the bus terminal toTokushima ,Matsuyama and kochi City. Takamatsu Chikko just opposite JR Station is the terminal of `Kompira-san.'
The New Takamatsu Airport handles non-stop flights to and from Seoul, Korea.
Another place in Takamatsu appropriate as a gateway to Shikoku is the Takamathu Heike Monogatari Historical Museum that features not only the famous historical literature called Heike Monogatari but also about 50 great historical figures closely associated with Shikoku or native to Shikoku.
Takamatsu became the capital in 1587 with the advent of Lord I koma I as governor of Sanuki Province. The castle he built on the harbor was succeeded by 4 generations of his descendants, and then by 11 generations of Matsudaira lords, governing Takamatsu Province with a fief of 120,000koku.
One ninth of the former castle ground is preserved as Tamamo koen Park across the street from JR Takamatsu Station.The donjon gone, but two of the 15turrets and Mizute Gomon Gate from the 17 thcentury ( Important Properties) survived the air raid in 1945. Admission: 100.
Traditionally the popular sightseeing spots in Takamatsu are Ritsurin koen Park near downtown and Yashima Plateau overlooking the city and the Inland Sea. They are accessible by bus or tram, with terminals at Takamatsu Chikko just opposite JR Station.
30minutes' walk from JR Takamatsu Station.
The busy street in front of JR Takamatsu is the main streer of domntown Takamatsu, and leads to the main gate to Ritsurin koen park, a National Special Scenic Spot. This spacious garden laid out with shapely mounds, cool ponds and about 160 varieties of trees and flowers provides a classic example of a Japanese garden or even a Chinese Taoist paradise fit for medetation.
Originally it belonged to a local warlord, and then to Lord Ikoma. when it was transferred to the Matsudairas, they spent five generations developing in into a larger stroll-type garden for their villa.Seasonal charms of flowers and blossoms such as ume( Japanesen plum blossoms ) in February,canellias in March,cherry blossoms inApril,wisteria and azaleas in May, Irises and water lilies in June, giant lotuses in August, and Japanese bush clover in September,and brilliant maple leaves in November add to the pleasure of strolling.
kikugetsu-tei, one of the pond-dide teahouses, was originally one of theMatsudairas'formal buildings.The museum just inside the main gate houses a variety of mostly local handicrafts. There is a zoo, too, inside the gate.
Open daily. Admission to the park:about300yen.
Bus: 30 minutes' ride from Chikko to the terminal
(Kotoden Bus for Yashima-sanjo or Yashima Hill top).
Tram + Cable: 30 minutes' tram ride from Chikko to Yashima (Shido-sen Line ) +minutes'cable-car ride.
Yashima, a pine-wooded tableland to the northeast of downtown Takamatsu, is one of the world's rare lava mesas, about 290 m high, 3 km wide, jutting 5 km out into the sea.
The hilltop, overlooking the archipelago of the Inland Sea, features Yashima-ji (No.84) anaquarium and observatories all linked by forest promenades.
One of the obserfatories, Dankorei, commands a view of the inlet fringed with memorials to the Gampei Yashima Battle (the second last battle in Gempei War fought between the two rival clans,the Minamotos and the Tairas).
Once a British poet, Edmund Blunden, visited Yashima and wrote a poem thet was engraved on a stone here at Dankorei observatory:
Like a long roof, men say, and will they say, This hill of warrior ghosts surmounts the plain...
In 794 kyoto became the capital of Japan and it enjoyed peace for about 350 years (811 - 1155) - the longest peace Japan has ever attained in her history.
The last 30 years of this period, however, were far from peaceful. In 1156 the first battle took place in the capital, thus opening up a new era dominated by martial emotions. Two martial clans - the Minamoto and Taira clans - began to acquire greater and greater influence in politics through fighting against each other in the name of "the Emperor" or "the Ex - Emperor".
In 1159, the Tairas succeeded temporarily in staving off the Minamotos. The 20 years that followed saw the Tairas rise to incre
Return to
the Kagawa Junior College
Internet English Classes Home Page