Climb 785 stone steps up to a hilltop shrine
Kotohira-gu, known as Konpira-san, is a shrine on a wooded hillside in Kagawa, on the island of Shikoku, reached by a long stone stairway. Start on the street of udon and souvenir shops at the bottom, rest at the cafe about halfway, and look out over the plain from the main hall. Allow about two hours there and back, and wear comfortable shoes; Kotohira is about an hour by train from Okayama, which is 45 minutes from Osaka by shinkansen.
The street at the foot of the steps, lined with udon restaurants, souvenir stores and sweet shops, where the climb begins. Kagawa is Japan's udon country, so a bowl of chewy Sanuki udon before or after the climb is part of the visit. Some shops lend bamboo walking sticks that you return on the way down.
The main hall stands 785 steps up, past gates, lantern-lined terraces and smaller shrines, and looks out over the Sanuki Plain to the hills beyond. The shrine's god protects sailors, and one hall on the way is hung with pictures of ships left as offerings. If you still have energy, another 583 steps lead to the inner shrine.
A cafe and restaurant beside the steps about halfway up, with a terrace where you can sit with a drink or a parfait before the second half of the climb. It is closed on Tuesdays.
A small museum of works by Takahashi Yuichi, who painted some of Japan's first Western-style oil paintings in the 1800s. It opens only on set days, mostly weekends and holidays, so check the shrine's website first.