Sunport Takamatsu

Sunport Takamatsu is the city's modern waterfront district, a sleek, open redevelopment of the old harbourside that serves as both Takamatsu's front door and its gateway to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Set immediately beside JR Takamatsu Station and the ferry terminal, it is where travellers arrive and depart, where locals come to stroll by the water, and where the city faces out toward the sea that has always defined it.

The district is anchored by the Takamatsu Symbol Tower, a gleaming glass high-rise that is one of the tallest buildings in Shikoku. Its upper levels hold offices, restaurants and an observation area, and a free elevator carries visitors up for a sweeping bird's-eye view over the harbour, the city and the island-studded Inland Sea — a wonderful orientation to Takamatsu and a fine spot at sunset. Around the tower spread broad plazas, promenades, event spaces and green areas, all designed to draw people to the water's edge.

Sunport's waterfront is made for walking. Wide paved promenades run along the harbour past moored boats and the ferry piers, dotted with public art, including the striking red 'Liminal Air' glass columns near the water, and offering constant views of ferries gliding in and out toward Naoshima, Megijima, Ogijima, Shodoshima and beyond. A picturesque old red lighthouse and a curving breakwater add character, and benches and lawns invite you to sit and watch the maritime comings and goings. The area regularly hosts festivals, markets and events, and it is a hub during the Setouchi Triennale art festival, when crowds pour through on their way to the art islands.

That island connection is central to Sunport's appeal. The adjacent ferry terminal is the launching point for the celebrated art islands of the Inland Sea — Naoshima with its Chichu Art Museum and Yayoi Kusama pumpkins, Teshima, Ogijima and more — so for many visitors Sunport is the gateway to one of the great cultural experiences in Japan. Even without boarding a boat, it is a pleasant place to feel the rhythm of the port and the pull of the sea.

The district is at its best in the evening, when the setting sun gilds the harbour, the Symbol Tower and waterfront lights come on, and the promenades take on a relaxed, romantic air. Cafes and restaurants nearby make it easy to linger over dinner or a drink with a sea view.

Practically, Sunport could hardly be more convenient: it lies directly beside JR Takamatsu Station and the ferry terminal, so you can walk straight from the platforms to the waterfront in a few minutes. It combines naturally with the nearby Tamamo Park and Takamatsu Castle, the shopping arcade and the Kitahama Alley warehouse district, or with a day trip out to the islands. Allow around an hour to walk the promenade, ride the Symbol Tower for the view and soak up the harbour atmosphere — and if you can, time it for sunset over the Inland Sea.