Kagawa Prefecture's premier gorge where you can also enjoy river activities! Mikado Gorge

When planning nature experiences in Shikoku, Kagawa Prefecture often gets overlooked due to its strong associations with food and art. However, if you can't stay long, Shikoku is too vast, forcing you to focus on just one prefecture. While planning a selfish trip where I couldn't bear to give up udon but also wanted to enjoy nature, I discovered this Mikado Valley. I thought, "Maybe I can even try river play here?" and added it to my itinerary without high expectations (It takes a little over an hour by taxi from Takamatsu Station). The result? A supremely beautiful gorge that far exceeded my expectations. At the O-Fuchi and Me-Fuchi pools, the water gets deep enough to swim comfortably even for adults after just a few meters. The opposite side is shallow, perfect for kids to play safely. It's the ultimate healing space. Be careful though – the water temperature is low, so avoid it except in midsummer!

Mikado Valley