Kotohira Grand Hotel Sakura is a traditional Japanese ryokan-style hotel in Kotohira town, situated on the main approach road to Kotohira-gu (Konpira-san) shrine—one of Shikoku's most visited Shinto pilgrimage sites. The hotel occupies a heritage street lined with souvenir shops and wagashi sweet confectioners that leads toward the famous 785-step stone stairway to the main hall.
The building reflects the aesthetic of a Showa-era resort hotel updated across several decades: public areas feature polished wooden panels, lattice screens, and displays of local Sanuki lacquerware. The atmosphere is unhurried and geared toward overnight pilgrimage guests and leisure travellers from across the Sanuki plain and beyond.
All guest rooms are laid out in the traditional Japanese style—tatami floors with futon bedding prepared by staff each evening, low lacquered tables, and shoji-screened windows. Japanese-Western combination rooms include a bed alongside a tatami sitting area for guests who prefer not to sleep on a futon. Deluxe suites include a private anteroom and garden-view windows.
Yukata robes, slippers, and toiletry sets are provided as standard. Natural hot spring (onsen) bathing facilities are separated by gender and include large indoor communal baths reported to benefit circulation and joint health.
Dinner is served in-room or in a private dining space as a kaiseki multi-course meal featuring seasonal Setouchi and Kagawa ingredients including soy-marinated sea bream, sanuki udon, and locally grown vegetables. Breakfast is a traditional Japanese set with miso soup, pickles, rice, and grilled fish. Kotohira Station on the JR Dosan Line is approximately 500 metres from the hotel, with direct services to Takamatsu taking around forty minutes.
Room types
- Japanese Tatami Room
- Japanese-Western Combination
- Deluxe Japanese Suite
Amenities
- Hot spring baths (men's/women's)
- Traditional kaiseki dinner
- Japanese-style rooms
- Yukata provided
- Garden views
Location
Kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa 766-0001
34.1881, 133.8162 View on map
Highlights
- Location on the main approach to Kotohira-gu shrine allows guests to reach the 785-step ascent before day-tripper crowds arrive
- Full ryokan experience including tatami rooms, evening futon preparation, yukata robes, and multi-course kaiseki dinner served in-room
- Natural hot spring (onsen) baths included in the room rate, with large gender-separated communal bathing halls
- Kaiseki dinner showcases seasonal Kagawa produce—Setouchi sea bream, sanuki specialities, and locally grown vegetables
- Peaceful Kotohira-machi atmosphere with the illuminated shrine approach lanterns visible from the hotel in the evenings
Tips for visiting
- Dinner is included in the standard rate—confirm any dietary requirements when booking, as the kaiseki menu can be adjusted with advance notice for vegetarian or allergen needs
- Begin the Konpira-san ascent by 08:00 to beat coach-tour groups; the hotel's position at the base makes an early start easy without requiring transport
- The souvenir street closes early (most shops by 17:00); do any shopping on the descent rather than the morning climb
- Yukata robes are appropriate for wear around the hotel and on the shrine approach in the evenings—front-desk staff can demonstrate tying if needed
- Pack comfortable flat footwear suitable for 785 stone steps each way, and consider hiring a kago (palanquin carried by porters) for the lower section if mobility is a concern