Best Kid-Friendly Things To Do and Photo Spots in Shikoku (四國), Japan (Takamatsu & Shōdoshima Island)
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Shikoku (四國) is the smallest of Japan’s four main islands and sits just across the water from Osaka. For our Easter break this March, my family flew from Hong Kong to Takamatsu — the main gateway airport for Shikoku.
From the moment we landed, we fell in love with the feeling of space, the much smaller crowds compared to Kyoto or Tokyo, and the noticeably more affordable prices. It felt like a proper family adventure.
Just note that you’ll need a car or taxis for getting around. — distances between spots are manageable but expect some driving.
Here are family friendly things to do for our trip in Shokoku:
1. Shikoku Aquarium (四國水族館)
Admission (as of June 2026): Adults (high school & above): ¥2,600, Elementary & Junior high: ¥1,400, Infants (3 years+): ¥700, Under 3: Free
This quickly became one of my favourite aquariums in Japan. It’s not enormous, but the design feels like walking through an art gallery. There’s a huge main tank perfect for photos, along with plenty of exhibits featuring penguins, seals, jellyfish, and more.
We arrived in the late afternoon and were lucky to catch golden hour. We sat by the Dolphin Infinity Pool, watching the dolphins play as the sun set behind them. It was definitely one of the most memorable moments of our trip.
2. Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園)
Admission (as of June 2026): Adults: ¥500 , Children (elementary & junior high): ¥170
April was cherry blossom season, and one of my main goals for the trip was to see and photograph it. The Ritsurin Garden was the best place in Takamatsu to enjoy them. The park is big and beautiful, with grassy areas, gardens, and fish ponds. I had a great time taking pictures of the kids there, and we also enjoyed a lovely family stroll around the garden that afternoon.
Glampremier Glamping
We celebrated Tyler’s 5th birthday with our first family glamping experience, and it was perfect! Even though it rained on his actual birthday, staying in the big white dome tent made everything exciting.
The private BBQ setup was excellent (dinner and breakfast included), and there’s a decent onsen just across the way (which was also included). The next morning the boys enjoyed the swings and telescope under blue skies. Highly recommended for special family memories!
4. Shōdoshima Island (小豆島)
We took the ferry for a relaxing 3 days 2 nights on Shōdoshima. The island is small, peaceful, and perfect for a mini getaway with beaches and nature.
Ferry tip (70-minutes ride): If you go from Okayama to Shōdoshima, try the fun “playground ferry” with slides and swings inside! On the return trip, we took the Pokémon Slowpoke-themed ferry. This special themed ferry only runs at certain times each day, so I recommend booking your tickets in advance.
Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Studio (on Shōdoshima Island)
Admission (as of June 2026 ): Adult: ¥900, Child (Elementary): ¥450
Even if you’re not familiar with the classic Japanese movie, this outdoor film set village is wonderful for kids. The highlight for us was the wooden schoolhouse overlooking the sea and the observation deck where the boys loved pretending to be pirates and scanning the horizon with the binoculars.
Shōdoshima Olive Park (on Shōdoshima Island)
Admission: Free
This is the famous park with the 'Kiki’s Delivery Service' photo spot. The Greek-style white windmill is a great photo spot. You can borrow a broom for free and recreate the flying scenes. We went around 10am and had the place almost to ourselves.
5. Nakano Udon School Takamatsu (中野うどん学校 高松校)
Admission (as of June 2026): ¥1,760 per person (groups of 2–14 people)
Takamatsu is famous for Sanuki udon, and it really does live up to the hype! We signed up for a family udon-making class to create some special memories. The boys (the big udon fans) absolutely loved it.
We kneaded the dough together, and the kids got to step on the dough while fun Japanese songs played! After making and cutting our noodles, we cooked and ate them fresh upstairs. The instructions were easy to follow even for non-Japanese speakers.
Final Thoughts
This was our first trip to Shikoku, and it exceeded all our expectations. The combination of beautiful nature, fun activities, and relaxed pace made it ideal for travelling with young kids. If you have any questions about Shikoku or recommendations for my future trips, please drop me a message.
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