Konpira Shrine 金比羅
Climb 1368 stone steps to the Inner Shrine
Konpira-san (also known as Kotohira-gu) is Shikoku’s most popular Shintō shrine, dedicated to sailors and seafaring - slightly surprising since it’s inland and on a mountain.
It’s on the forested slopes of Mt Zozu above Kotohira township, and to get up to the Oku-sha (Inner Shrine) involves an arduous series of 1,368 stone steps. There are plenty of interesting Shintō halls and pavilions on the way though, plus excellent views out north over Kagawa prefecture.
This is an extremely popular destination for elderly Japanese visitors, so there are stacks of hotels, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops in Kotohira town. Very few elderly visitors make it far up the mountain or to the Oku-sha though.
It’s easy to get to Kotohira township by train from Takamatsu in about an hour.