Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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