A Mountain of Beauty and History

Located about 30 minutes by car east of central Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, stands Yashima, a distinctive upland. The lush trees of the mountain, the cityscape below, and the Seto Inland Sea dotted with islands of all sizes create a panorama unique to Yashima—a place designated as part of Japan’s first National Park in 1934. The scenery illuminated by the setting sun is especially breathtaking and truly deserves to be called spectacular. With over 1,500 years of history evidenced by its archaeological sites, and a rich natural environment intertwined with culture such as the Shikoku Pilgrimage (Ohenro), Yashima was once one of Takamatsu's leading tourism hubs. In those days, a cable car was in operation, and the area bustled with hotels and souvenir shops.

The Local Community Rises for Yashima’s Revival

As leisure activities diversified over time, Yashima gradually lost its competitive edge as a tourist destination. In response, the local community rose to revitalize the area. Starting in 2011, a citizens' meeting called the Yashima Council—composed of representatives from the citizenry, government, and academia—was held. After two years of careful and thorough discussion, they compiled their findings into a basic concept, which proposed the plan that led to the current "Yashimāru."

The Birth of "Yashimāru" on the Mountaintop

"Yashimāru" is a nickname chosen through a public call for entries from citizens. It opened in the summer of 2022 as an exchange hub on the summit of Yashima. The architecture, born from an international competition, is highly symbolic. First-time visitors will likely be surprised by its amoeba-like shape—a 200-meter-long glass-walled corridor that meanders across the uneven terrain.

The facility houses a café, a hall, exhibition rooms, observation spaces, and Japan's only permanent panorama exhibit. With no partitions anywhere, visitors can complete a full loop while enjoying the varying elevations and views.

Seeking Diverse Ways to Connect People

Since its opening, the director of Yashimāru has been expanding its possibilities while listening to local needs. For example, the facility has hosted private weddings, promotional photo shoots leveraging the vistas, and concerts where both artists and the audience are bathed in the evening sun. It also served as a stage for festivals organized by local junior and senior high school students. Furthermore, it is one of the venues for the Setouchi Triennale.

In particular, the twilight live concerts titled "Tenkū Music" (Sky Music) are so popular that the large parking lot often reaches full capacity. Visitors enjoy the breathtaking views while relaxing and listening to music in their own way.

Collaboration with the local Kagawa University is also progressing. Projects like souvenir package development, the summer "Lantern Café," and workshops for children have become regular events. Notably, Yashimāru does not sell mass-produced souvenirs that can be bought elsewhere. To ensure Yashimāru is loved by everyone, the director is committed to stocking only specially crafted items that can only be purchased here. Sweets made by small local Japanese confectionery shops have become popular at Yashimāru, and there are also one-of-a-kind works by local artists.

Discovering Unseen Scenery and Unique Experiences

Kagawa, which brands itself as an "Art Prefecture," is home to many unique examples of architecture, history, and culture. Many artists also work here, drawn by the locally produced stone. Isamu Noguchi was one such artist; he lived and created works here, and his museum remains. Leveraging these characteristics, Yashimāru has held exhibitions conveying the charm of the Yashima area. Furthermore, placing great importance on collaboration with neighboring cultural and tourist facilities, it also cooperates in the creation of sightseeing tours.

The director, a person of many ideas, says: "We have deepened our ties with local residents and strengthened our relationships with the Setouchi Triennale, surrounding museums, and tourist facilities. Moving forward, we aim to be a facility where people are always interacting, and we want to create scenes of Yashima that have never been seen before." Just as those words suggest, whenever you visit, you will be able to enjoy not only the unchanging landscape but also new initiatives and experiences unique to Yashima.

Make the journey across the bridge between Honshu and Shikoku and visit Yashimāru on the summit of Yashima.