Takamatsu is a stylish coastal city on Shikoku, renowned for its gardens, art, and elegant streetscapes, and every stop on this guided tour lies within easy reach of each other in central Takamatsu.

The tour opens at Ritsurin Garden, one of Japan's most beautiful landscape gardens and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, featuring six ponds and thirteen landscaped hills against the backdrop of Mt. Shiun, with the option to enjoy matcha at the historic Kikugetsu-tei teahouse.

Continue to Takamatsu Castle, a rare seawater-moated castle facing the Seto Inland Sea where sea bream can be seen swimming in the moat. While the main keep is under restoration, the Hiunkaku villa and turret gates remain open.

The tour continues to Kitahama Alley, a trendy waterfront district of renovated old warehouses filled with cafes, boutiques, and galleries.

It then concludes at the Takamatsu Art Museum, home to a collection of postwar Japanese art and traditional Kagawa lacquerware.

Because these sights sit close together in central Takamatsu, the public-transport version and the private-vehicle version cover the same route.

The private-vehicle option is a paid upgrade for comfort and pace, not a different set of sights.

Either way, the itinerary can be adjusted within the tour's allotted time.