Hiketa Town

Feel the winds of yesteryear in this port town

The port town of Hiketa is at the eastern tip of Kagawa Prefecture, on the border with Tokushima Prefecture. Since the Muromachi period (1392-1573), the port bustled with ships awaiting favorable winds to sail. The port area still retains its old townscape.

After you arrive in Hiketa, visit the Sanshu Izutsu Residence, a historic merchant home from the Edo period (1603-1867). Built 350 years ago, the residence and nearby buildings were used for soy sauce and sake production; nowadays, the edifices are used as tourist information center and museum, with food and other activities available. Try making dried higashi confectionary from high-quality wasanbon sugar—a type of sugar only produced here in Kagawa and eastern Tokushima Prefecture.

Higashikagawa City, which now encompasses Hiketa, has been an important glove producer for over 130 years. The area has over 90% market share in Japan and produces almost all gloves used by top athletes. Take home as souvenir a corsage or keyholder made with leather scraps from glove production. Stop by the Higashikagawa Glove Gallery where miniature gardens and forests are created from colorful gloves. An outlet shop is also in town.

Do not skip a visit to Kamebishiya, a storied soy sauce maker creating their product the traditional way since 1753. Tour the warehouses that store the crucial mash or compare and taste soy sauces. Another specialty product is the soy sauce pizza, made with local ingredients and baked in a Neapolitan oven. Take a bite! (Reservation required for all activities.)

The town’s main traditional event is the annual doll festival. Town residents spend the whole year preparing extravagant doll displays which grace homes and businesses throughout town in mid-February.

Regions

Eastern

Themes

Cultural Experieces