Kotohira-gu
Kotohira Gu, The Konpira Shrine To The God Of Seafarers, On The Slope Of Mount Zozu In Kagawa, Reached By A Climb Of 785 Steps To The Main Hall And 1,368 To The Inner Shrine. A Pilgrimage For Sailors And One Of The Best Loved Shrines Of Shikoku. · Kotohira, Kagawa
Kotohira-gu, known to locals as Konpira-san, is a shrine on the slope of Mount Zozu in Kotohira town, Kagawa, dedicated to Omononushi and to the sea god, and loved as a pilgrimage for sailors. You climb 785 stone steps to the main hall and 1,368 to the inner shrine, the Okusha, and the steps are lined with souvenir shops and cafes. The main hall gives a wide view of the Sanuki plain, and on the way up you pass the Shoin guest-house buildings and the Treasure House - confirm what is open. It is about an hour by train from Takamatsu - confirm - and suits walkers, families and anyone who wants a day out in Shikoku. Allow two to three hours for the main hall and half a day for the Okusha, which is the better walk for quiet. The region is known for Sanuki udon, so lunch is easy, and a night in town is not needed. It is steep and slippery in rain and crowded at New Year and in the October festival - confirm dates.
892-1 Kotohira-cho, Nakatado District, Kagawa, a short walk from Kotohira Station; the main hall is up 785 stone steps, Kotohira, Kagawa, Japan
The shrine grounds are open every day of the year, with the main hall area reachable from early morning to late afternoon and the inner shrine closing earlier in the evening. The Shoin guest-house buildings and the Treasure House have their own hours and fees and often close earlier, around 16:30-17:00 with last entry before that - confirm. Souvenir shops on the steps keep shorter hours and many close by late afternoon. The nearest stations are Kotohira on the JR line and Kotoden Kotohira, both a short walk from the first steps, reached from Takamatsu in roughly an hour - confirm. Visiting the grounds is free; some buildings charge a small fee. Bring cash for shops and offerings.