Washigamine Observatory (Megijima)

Crowning the small island of Megijima just off Takamatsu, the Washigamine Observatory rewards the short climb to the island's highest point with one of the most complete panoramas in the region. At an elevation of about 188 metres, the deck offers a genuine 360-degree sweep: the Seto Inland Sea in every direction, the scattered islands of the Setouchi archipelago, the great bridges in the distance, and the coastline of Shikoku and Honshu ringing the horizon. On a clear day the sense of being surrounded by sea and islands is exhilarating.

Megijima is better known by its folk-tale name, Onigashima, the ogre island of the beloved Momotaro legend in which a peach-born boy and his animal companions sail out to defeat a band of demons. That story is woven into the island's identity, and directly below the observatory lies the Onigashima Cave, a network of man-made tunnels carved into the hillside and playfully decorated with ogre statues to evoke the legendary demons' lair. Most visitors tour the cool, atmospheric cave first before climbing the last stretch to the summit lookout, making the two attractions a natural pair.

The view from the top puts the whole Setouchi seascape in context. From here you can trace the ferry routes between Takamatsu, Megijima and neighbouring Ogijima, pick out the plateau of Yashima on the mainland, and watch the light shift across the calm, island-dotted water that has made the Seto Inland Sea a byword for gentle beauty. In spring, cherry blossoms line the summit area, framing the panorama in pink, and Megijima is counted among Kagawa's notable cherry-viewing spots.

The island itself is a relaxed, rural place that has become part of the Setouchi Triennale art circuit, with contemporary installations, a white-sand beach near the port, old stone-walled lanes and a scattering of cafes. This makes the observatory the natural high point, in every sense, of a leisurely day trip. Many visitors combine the climb with a swim, a beach picnic and a gallery-hop before catching the ferry back, giving the outing a pleasant, unhurried rhythm.

Reaching the lookout involves a short sea crossing and a climb. Ferries run frequently from Takamatsu Port to Megijima in about twenty minutes, and from the harbour it is roughly a forty-minute walk uphill, or a ride on the island shuttle bus, to the cave and summit. The final ascent to the deck is a modest climb on foot, manageable for most but best done in decent shoes. Free to enjoy and thrillingly panoramic, the Washigamine Observatory turns a charming island of legend into one of the great viewpoints of the Seto Inland Sea.