Takamatsu Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku, Japan |
| 👥 Population |
415,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 120 Mbps (Fiber common in rentals, 5G widely available with Docomo/Softbank) |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
1 JPY ≈ 0.0067 USD. 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY (subject to 2026 fluctuations) |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Safe to drink, high quality |
| 🔌 Power |
100V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (Flat two-pin) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Ubigi (eSIM), Sakura Mobile (long-term), or IIJmio. 20GB for approx. ¥3,500 |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Sony Bank (English app), Japan Post Bank (Yucho), or Wise/Revolut for transfers |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Monthly mansions like Leopalace21 or Airbnb; local guesthouses like Traditional Apartment |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Improving: Paypay, Suica/IC cards, and Credit Cards accepted in malls; cash still needed for small shrines/local udon shops |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb, Booking.com, and local 'Monthly Mansions' (approx. ¥80,000/month) |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Sunny Day Hostel (¥3,500/night) or WeBase Takamatsu (¥4,000/night) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Near Takamatsu Station or Kawaramachi for shopping and transport access |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Chuo-dori area for business amenities or Ritsurin for quieter residential vibes with park access |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Setouchi Base (¥1,500/day) near Takamatsu Station; Co-ba Takamatsu (¥2,200/day) |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Starbucks Coffee Takamatsu Marugamemachi Herb Garden (Reliable Wi-Fi/Outlets); Musu-no-Mori |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Kagawa Prefecture Startup Support Center events; Setouchi International Art Triennale volunteer meetups |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Takamatsu International Association (TIA) mixers and Japanese language exchange tables |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Uber (Taxi hail only) or Go App (Japan's leading taxi app) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Hello Cycling (App-based) or the official Takamatsu Rent-a-bike (¥200 per 24 hours) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Shibusawa Beach on Naoshima Island or Aji Second Beach (20 mins drive) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
ANA (All Nippon Airways) and JAL (Japan Airlines) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
HK Express (flights to Hong Kong) and Jetstar Japan (to Tokyo/Narita) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Takamatsu Expressway (E11) connecting to Tokushima and Matsuyama |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
JR Takamatsu Station and Kotoden Kawaramachi Station |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
IruCa Card (Local Kotoden pass) or Kagawa Mini Rail & Ferry Pass (¥6,000 for 3 days) |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Jump on ferries from Takamatsu Port to islands like Naoshima and Shodoshima (¥530+) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Takamatsu Red Cross Hospital (English assistance available); Kagawa University Hospital |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Yoga Studio Shanti (Kawaramachi) - ¥2,500 per drop-in |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Anytime Fitness Takamatsu Central (¥7,500/month) or Joyfit24 |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Coin Laundry Pierrot (Locations citywide, ¥400-¥1,000 per load) |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
UberEats and Wolt are the primary providers in the city center |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Sanuki Udon (Try it at Chikusei Udon for approx. ¥400) and Honetsuki-dori (Spiced chicken leg) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Roots (near Ritsurin) or Thanyaporn (Thai with veg options) |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Loup en Velin for French-style pastries or Sanuki Marugoto Fruit Cafe |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Takamatsu Marugamemachi Ichiba or the Youme Town Takamatsu mall |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Amazon.co.jp, Rakuten, and Mercari (second-hand goods) |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Aeon Net Super or Coop Kagawa delivery |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Lion Dori (Lion Street) for izakayas and small bars |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Philly Brew (local craft beer) or MameMame Beer (nearby on Shodoshima) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Wine Bar Te To Te (Kawaramachi focus) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Night stalls occasionally near Sunport area or during the Hyakuman-goku festivals |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Spaccanapoli (Authentic Neapolitan Pizza) or Indian Restaurant Tandoor |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Ritsurin Garden (One of Japan's most beautiful landscape gardens, ¥410) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Kagawa Museum and the Takamatsu City Museum of Art |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Takamatsu Castle Ruins (Tamamo Park, ¥200 entry) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Yashima-ji (Temple 84 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage) and Negoro-ji |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Sanuki Takamatsu Festival (August) with Fireworks at Sunport |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Kitahama Alley (Renovated warehouses with cafes and boutiques) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Rexxam Hall (Kagawa Prefectural Hall) for concerts and plays |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Sunport Takamatsu Marché (held occasionally on Sundays) |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Takamatsu Monster (Live house for rock/indie) and Olive Hall |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Check the Sunport area and nearby Ogijima island for art installations |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Nakano Udon School (Learn to make Sanuki Udon from scratch, ~¥1,700) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum (Mure district, reservation required) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
Kagawa Prefectural Government Office (Designed by Kenzo Tange) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
Sanuki Lacquerware and bonsai (Kinashi district is the bonsai capital) |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Mount Yashima (Ancient lava plateau with 360-degree views of the Seto Inland Sea) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Setonaikai National Park (Japan's first national park) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Shorai-no-mori cycling path or walking the Ritsurin Garden trails |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Shishi-no-Reigan viewpoint on Yashima for sunset over the islands |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Mineyama Park or the mudflats along the Koto River |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Sakaide/Utazu beaches (Check local signage for specific seasonal bans) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) or Sagawa Express |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Bic Camera Takamatsu or PC Depot for hardware repairs |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Takamatsu City Gymnasium (Rental available for ¥200/hour) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Kagawa International Exchange Association (Free/Low-cost Japanese lessons) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Kagawa Prefectural Library (Free high-speed Wi-Fi and quiet zones) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
I-Pal Kagawa (International exchange center) |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Media Cafe Popeye (Internet/Manga cafe with gaming PCs) |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Pachinko 123 or Maruhan (No legal casinos in Japan yet) |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. ¥350,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥10,500,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. ¥220,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥6,600,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. ¥400,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥20,000,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. ¥280,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥14,000,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. ¥380,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = ¥28,500,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. ¥250,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = ¥18,750,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
Effective rate approx. 30.62% (National and local combined) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
Standard 20.42% (or 15% for treaty countries) |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Residence-based (Residents taxed on worldwide income) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
45% (National) + 10% (Local/Inhabitant tax) |
| 🧾 VAT |
10% (Reduced 8% for food/beverages excluding alcohol) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Yes, applies if foreign subsidiary tax rate is below threshold |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Fixed Assets Tax at 1.4% of assessed value annually |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
Real Estate Acquisition Tax (approx. 3-4%) and Registration/License Tax |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
New 6-month 'Digital Nomad Visa' (specified activities) but requires ¥10M+ annual income; no 0% tax benefit |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING TAKAMATSU