Marugame

• • Marugame Castle — Originally built by Ikoma Chikamasa as a base to take over the western part of Sanuki Province, it was deconstructed during the 1 castle per province policy in 1615 but rebuilt in 1664 by new ruler Yamazaki Ieharu when the province was divided between two rulers. It is his castle that still stands today and is counted as one of the 12 remaining original Japanese castles. — Address: 一番丁 — Phone: +81 877 24-8816
• • Nakazu Banshoen Marugame Museum of Art — Address: 中津町２５−１ — Phone: +81 877 23-6326 — Website: http://www.marugame.or.jp/shoukai/banshou/banshou.htm

• • New Reoma World Amusement Park — Address: 綾歌町栗熊西40-1 — Directions: near Okada Station (岡田駅) and 5 minutes by taxi or a 10-minute bus transfer, on the Kotohira Line (琴平線 — Phone: +81 877 86-1071 — Website: http://www.newreomaworld.com/

= The closest domestic airport to Marugame is in Takamatsu. Limousine buses operated by Kotosan Bus run directly to Marugame (1 hr 15 min, ¥1200).

The nearest international airport is Kansai International Airport in Osaka. You can reach Marugame in as little as 3 hrs by JR using a combination of shinkansen and limited express trains (¥10450 reserved seats, no charge with the Japan Rail Pass). Cheaper is to head out by bus: for example, you could take an airport limousine bus to Takamatsu station (3 hr 30 min, ¥5150, six trips daily) and change to the JR train (25 min, ¥550).