KOTOBUS Column

Remembering the Edo period. Take a walk around the nostalgic and fashionable old-fashioned town "Busshozan".

Remembering the Edo period. Take a walk around the nostalgic and fashionable old-fashioned town "Busshozan".

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Remembering the Edo period. Take a walk around the nostalgic and fashionable old-fashioned town "Busshozan". The Prefectural road line 166 starting from Busshozan Station toward the "Hounen temple" is known to be called the "Onari-kaido Road" or "Tonosama-kaido Road" because the successive generations of the Takamatsu Domain passed the road to visit the grave, and many old buildings are still remaining to remember the Edo era. Let's enjoy walking and stopping by at shops and fancy cafes that has been renovated with more than 200years of history.

And in the end of the trip, relax yourself in the stylish "Busshozan hot springs" which has won the GOOD DESIGN AWARD nominated by Japan Institute of Design Promotion. We recommend the nostalgic, old-fashioned town for a daytrip from Takamatsu.

"Onari-kaido Road" is where many people visited as a temple town. Parade of "an extravagant procession of Busshozan" is held in October.

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Go east from the Busshozan Station and south on the Prefectural road line166. The distance of about 1.3km from here to the "Chigiri Shrine" is known as the "Onari-kaido Road". You will be able to image the prospered temple town back then by walking this street and seeing the merchant houses and townhouses built back in the Edo era.

It would be nice to walk around thinking about the Edo period and visit places such as "Kamizakiya", a brewery found in 1789, to purchase "Kichi no su", vinegar fermented and matured in barrel made of cedar, or to the homemade sandwich shop "Tenmaya Sandwich" in which the building was renovated using a kimono shop designated as Important cultural property, or to "Cafe Asile", in which an old Japanese-style house founded about 90years ago was renovated. A gorgeous parade of "an extravagant procession of Busshozan" in which people wear outfits of samurais and princesses can be seen every October.

Visit the Hounen temple, famous for the Takamatsu Domain. You can experience making tankiri candy at the long-established store founded in 1872.

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After worshiping at "Chikiri Shrine" located at the end of the Prefectural road line 166, go to the west side to visit the "Hounen temple". The remains of the temple where Hounen of Joudo founder lived after flown to the area was recovered as Bodai temple by Yorishige Matsudaira of the Takamatsu domain. You can slowly take a walk around the five-story pagoda. Inside the grounds, you will see the real hand-made Sanuki udon shop "Ryu-un" where you can enjoy true udon.

After eating, let's walk through the Busshozan park with lots of green, and go towards the traditional candy shop "Tokuei-do", famous for tankiri candy, which was established in 1872. The start of the candy is said to be that priest's sickness was being worried and decided to make candy with soy, sesame seeds and ginger in order to make it easier to cut the phlegm. Here, you can try making candies (reservation required.).

Let's take a rest and feel relieved from the trip by going to the Busshozan hot springs. Shaved ice is also famous

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By returning to the Prefectural road line 166 while eating the just-made tankiri candy, and turning right to the east side opposite from the Busshozan Station, the modern building will soon be seen. The "Busshozan hot springs" is very popular among tourists as well. Not only the sophisticated building, sodium bicarbonate springs high in quality known as the recuperating springs are flowing freely as well. By taking bath in the open spaced hot spring, you will be able to get rid of the tiredness from walking all day long. Also known for the beauty hot springs, the hot spring is supposed to make your skin smooth and moisturized. There are resting space and food court inside the building, so let's cool down your body by trying the famous tasty shaved ice.

If you have spare time, be sure to check out places near "Busshozan hot springs" such as "Shikoku merchandised shop", locally famous for food court and shopping", or "Hechima book store" where you can relax reading old books in a cafe, or "toytoytoy" where household goods and artistic items are collected.

The contributor of this article

Nami Kojima / Travel writer
Nami Kojima / Travel writer

A travel writer contributing to the travel magazine Reportage, introduction pages of recommending shops and spots of the town information magazine and so on. Has contributed to the domestic travel magazine for more than 10years and has written articles about different traveling spots all around Japan(such as traveling around Shikoku using a local train, walking around the town, going to hot springs, etc.). Has interviewed, took photos, and wrote essays for domestic travel guides, separate volume for the inbounds, and books and pamphlets for the prefecture and region. Has been playing an active role as brain for promoting tourism of the local area as well as migrating to this area.