Islands and Venues
Takamatsu Port Area
The Triennale mother port where the world meets Setouchi and embarks on a journey to the art islands.
Located in northeastern Shikoku almost in the center of Kagawa Prefecture, Takamatsu City has a population of about 420,000.
Takamatsu Port serves as a gateway to other Triennale venues, and six of the Triennale islands can be reached from it directly. The port area has been undergoing major development. The Kagawa Arena with a capacity of 10,000 and a university campus are scheduled for completion in 2025, while the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel is scheduled to open in 2027.
Mount Yashima on Takamatsu’s northeastern edge offers a panoramic view of the city and the island-dotted Seto Inland Sea.
History
The area around Takamatsu Port was once called Nohara. In 1588, Ikoma Chikamasa, a vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, established a castle near the port and renamed the area Takamatsu, meaning tall pine. Takamatsu Castle is one of only three castles built on the sea that remain in Japan, and its moats are filled with sea water. In 1642, Matsudaira Yorishige became lord of Takamatsu, and the area developed into a castle town.
Gateway to Shikoku
In the early 20th century, a ferry service was established connecting Shikoku to Japan’s main island of Honshu. Takamatsu Port underwent large-scale improvements and a railroad leading from the port to other areas of Shikoku was built, making the port the gateway to Shikoku. One of the top passenger ports in Japan, it plays an important role as the mother port for many islands and as a transportation hub connecting the modern city to the Inland Sea.
Development of New Large-Scale Facilities
Development is currently underway around the port. In 2025, the Kagawa Arena, one of the largest in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions with a capacity of 10,000 people, will be completed. It was designed by the internationally renowned architectural unit SANAA, formed by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. In 2027, the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel is scheduled to open.
