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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Marugame
Spend a half‑day in Marugame: visit Marugame Castle (30 min), then the Nakazu Banshoen Museum (30 min). Stay nearby if you need a night‑stop.
Marugame is a small city on Shikoku’s coast, best explored in a few hours. Its main sights – the historic castle, a local art museum and New Reoma World amusement park – are close to the train station, making a short visit easy. Overnight only if you want a relaxed base for nearby Kotohira or Takamatsu.
- Country
- Japan
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥7,000–11,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥12,000–18,000 excl. bed · High ¥20,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Ramen bowl | ¥600–¥900 |
| Ticket to New Reoma World | ¥800–¥1,200 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ¥2,200–¥2,700 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KIX · Kansai International Airport
- 3 h by JR (Shinkansen + limited express), ¥10,450 reserved seat (free with JR Pass)
- TAK · Takamatsu Airport
- Domestic only; limousine bus 1 h 15 min, ¥1,200
Typical fares
- Okayama → Marugame (Shiokaze/Nanpu)
- ¥2,250, 40 min (reserved seat, free with JR Pass)
- Takamatsu → Marugame (rapid)
- ¥550, 25 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
JR Yosan Line trains every 30 min (Shiokaze/Nanpu limited express, ¥2,250, 40 min from Okayama). Local rapid trains from Takamatsu 25 min, ¥550. Taxis and city buses available; walkable core.
See and do
Known for
- Marugame Castle
- Nakazu Banshoen Museum of Art
- New Reoma World amusement park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kotohira | JR Yosan Line to Kotohira, about 20 min, ¥380 | ≈45 min total |
| Takamatsu | Rapid train from Marugame, 25 min, ¥550 | ≈40 min |
Sleep
- Marugame Station area
- Convenient for train arrivals; options from budget inns to business hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited‑express seats are reserved; check availability if not using a JR Pass.
- Castle opening hours vary seasonally; verify on the city site before visiting.
Marugame is generally safe; petty theft is rare, but keep an eye on belongings in crowded stations and on night buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Marugame yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Marugame Castle
- Nakazu Banshoen Museum of Art
- New Reoma World amusement park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Marugame local tourist association: www.love-marugame.jp/
- Wikidata – Marugame: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Marugame, revision 5190650 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5190650
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/marugame). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.