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Kotohira is an hour from Takamatsu and can easily be accessed from the Kawaramachi Station near the guesthouse. It cost ¥630yen one way, and is the end station, so you don’t have to worry about getting off at the wrong station. You can just enjoy the ride, which is full of beautiful scenery.

When arriving in Kotohira and walk out of the train station, you are meet with this view. This reminded me of the old Japan portrayed in movies and paintings.

Kotohira is famous for the Shrine at the top of a mountain, which is accessible by the climbing 1368 steps. On the way you’ll see many small tradition shops, small Shrines and of course a beautiful landscape scenery. It is said to be the most difficult shrine to approach in all of Japan.
I was told by a sweet older lady, who ran one of the shops that it takes about 40min up, and about 1,5 hour for the whole trip. I walked the entire trip in about 2 hours, but I also took a long break at the top to take in the scenery and atmosphere.

Here the scenery from the biggest shrine can be seen. This is not all the way at the top, but it’s nonetheless a very beautiful look-out post.

At the top you can find the “Power spot” for the god, Kompira-san, who is the God for sea-faring. A power spot is believed to be a location, at which a mystical energy is flowing.
You can also buy a mamori-gami, meaning Guardian deity or good luck charm. There are 2 different types to buy one for seafaring.

At the start of the stairs there is a small little pudding shop, which has won several prizes for their pudding. They come in cute little bottles that you can wash and keep after you are finished, eating it. I would definitely recommend to try this!

Here is a picture of their pudding. The shop is called Konpira pudding, but if you want to find it on google, you’ll have to type the name in hiragana – こんぴらプリン

Thanks for reading!