Kotohirakadan Takamatsu Ryokan Review 2026: Choseiden Annex Stay & Dining

Hello everyone!

I'm Soosukkotdari, chronicling my travels.

During my 4-night, 5-day trip to Takamatsu,

I spent 3 nights in an Airbnb,

and 1 night in a premium ryokan.

It was pricey, but I didn't regret it

one bit and was totally satisfied.

I'm excited to share my review of my stay at

Choseiden, Kotohira Kadan.

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Kagawa Prefecture, often cited as the highlight of a Shikoku Takamatsu trip,

is home to Kotohira-gu Shrine,

affectionately known as 'Konpirasan',

a place where countless travelers

find their steps lingering.

If you want to fully and elegantly savor the ambiance of this historical town,

the place to choose is definitely Kotohira Kadan (琴平花壇).

With its 400 years of profound history,

I'll meticulously guide you through my stay at the charming and serene

Annex 'Choseiden (CHOSEIDEN)',

including my accommodation experience and the exquisite breakfast and dinner.

Kotohira Kadan: Where History and Modernity Coexist

Kotohira Kadan is a historic ryokan beloved by famous Japanese authors and distinguished guests.

The moment you step into the lobby, you'll immediately feel you've arrived at the right place,

enveloped by an atmosphere where modern elegance and traditional beauty,

passed down from the Edo period,

are exquisitely blended.

While welcome tea and matcha are said to be offered during check-in,

we chose to enjoy welcome wine

in the evening instead! ~~^^

They offer pick-up service to Kotoden Kotohira Station,

so please let them know your arrival time in advance.

The airport limousine bus goes to JR Kotohira Station,

and they also offer shuttle service to and from there.

View available rooms at Kotohira Kadan

🔻🔻🔻

The Annex 'Choseiden (CHOSEIDEN)'

Choseiden, the highlight of this stay,

offers a distinct, independent tranquility from the main building.

It's a completely separate annex, the most spacious and arguably the most 'ryokan-like' area at Kotohira Kadan.

It features a tatami room and a hinoki bathtub,

and can accommodate up to 6 guests.

True to its name, 'Chosei' (長生, meaning 'long life'),

its quiet and cozy ambiance makes you feel as though your lifespan might extend just by staying here.

Situated at the very top of Kotohira Kadan,

it also offers wonderful views.

Room Layout and Atmosphere

Pushing open the distinctly old sliding door to enter,

you'll find the bathroom and

toilet in separate spaces to the left.

There's also a dedicated space for drying hair and doing makeup,

right next to the bathtub, in its own room.

While there is also a traditional squat toilet,

it is not in use; it's simply left as it was in the past,

preserving its original appearance.

To the left, there is a small room,

where a refrigerator and various teas

are thoughtfully prepared for guests.

The Jangsaenggak room is a traditional tatami

space. It features a low table, which is

where we enjoyed our Kaiseki dinner

and breakfast. This spacious room, visible

right as you enter, also serves as the bedroom.

Instead of an outdoor terrace, there's an indoor

one – perfect for sipping tea, enjoying the view

outside, or simply having a delightful chat.

Yukata are provided in the room,

but what truly caught my eye were the geta socks –

something I hadn't seen at other ryokans.

These split-toe socks, separating the big toe from

the others, felt a bit unusual at first, but they really

completed the traditional outfit, which was a lovely touch.

Kaiseki Dinner

The highlight of any ryokan stay is undoubtedly the evening

Kaiseki dinner. You can enjoy it in the dining room

or opt for room service; we chose the latter.

Kotohira Kadan's dinner masterfully utilizes seasonal local

ingredients, delighting both the eyes and the palate.

The meticulously arranged dishes and the staff's continuous,

kind service completely melted my heart.

While it differed a bit from Kaiseki I've had elsewhere,

it was an incredibly abundant and delicious meal.

I had always imagined Kaiseki would feature grilled meat on

a small brazier and seafood, but Kotohira Kadan's Kaiseki

felt more like a beautifully presented, elaborate set meal.

Onsen and Facilities

Kotohira Kadan's baths are divided into a public bath (Daiyokujo)

and private baths. The public bath is available anytime, but the

private baths require a reservation.

You can book them when you check in. I tried to reserve for 9 PM

after dinner, but it was already taken, so we ended up

booking for 10 PM!

The private baths are open-air (rotenburo) style.

With just the four of us, it was absolutely wonderful.

We had such a joyful time, full of laughter!

After our private onsen experience, we headed to the lounge

for a glass of sparkling wine. It was promised as an alternative

to welcome tea, and they kindly waited for us until we arrived!

That cool glass of wine after a bath?

It truly added to the special ambiance.

The main public bath consists of an open-air bath and an indoor bath.

They swap the men's and women's baths daily,

so make sure to check before entering. Before dinner,

we all donned our yukatas and headed to the main public bath

to enjoy our first round of hot spring bliss.

We visited the private bath after dinner.

My two friends went to the main public bath again in the morning,

but I opted to enjoy the hinoki bath in our room.

​

There was also a foot bath among the facilities.

I didn't get to use it, but a foot bath while gazing at the

beautifully maintained garden sounds absolutely wonderful.

Computers were available for use, and right next to them,

there were massage chairs too!​

​

A Refined Awakening: Breakfast

​

For breakfast, you simply tell them your preferred time in advance,

and they come to your room at that hour to put away your futons

and prepare your meal.

Our breakfast, reserved for 9 AM, was beautifully and meticulously arranged, as expected.

There was even an explanatory note so we knew exactly what delicious dishes were laid out.

Enjoying such a wonderfully prepared meal so comfortably in our room

made me feel absolutely regal – it was simply delightful!

The food, of course, tasted amazing. Honestly, in that atmosphere,

anything would taste incredible, right? Haha.

Preparing for Dreamland

One of the greatest features of a ryokan stay is how they prepare your bedding.

After returning from the private bath, we found our futons neatly laid out.

The futons were quite thick, so we had absolutely no discomfort while sleeping.

It was the last night of our trip, and whether it was because we stayed up late chatting on the terrace,

or perhaps because the bedding was just so incredibly comfortable,

everyone slept like a baby!

See more rooms at Kotohirakadan​

Wrapping Things Up

We were so incredibly satisfied that it was hard to leave,

so we diligently captured many photos in the beautiful garden.

We kept wondering when we'd ever get to come back again!

Kotohirakadan truly lived up to its premium price tag.

Kotohirakadan's Jangsaenggak was more than just a place to stay;

it was a space where we could fully experience 'Omotenashi,'

Japan's traditional culture of heartfelt hospitality.

They also have rooms with a blend of beds and tatami, as well as rooms for two.

Apart from the Jangsaenggak suite, the prices weren't overly expensive, surprisingly.

Jangsaenggak is the only private annex, so it wasn't easy to book.

The price, including breakfast and dinner, was over ~$730, but I got about ~$146 off through an event. It was also the largest room.

There's also Enjukaku (ENJUKAKU), which is similar but a bit smaller than Jangsaenggak.

Since this is also a private annex, it seems like a great option if you want a private room.

If you're planning a trip to Takamatsu,

experiencing a traditional ryokan in serene Kotohira

will surely enrich your Japan journey.

A plan that includes both breakfast and dinner is essential.

Seriously, don't miss out on the kaiseki dinner!

#TakamatsuRyokan

#KotohiraKadan

#TakamatsuTravel