Ayagawa, town in Ayauta district, Kagawa prefecture, Japan
Ayagawa is a small town in the Ayauta district of Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It sits between wooded hills to the south and flat agricultural land to the north, with a center made up of low wooden buildings and gray-tiled roofs.
Ayagawa was formed in 2006 when the two towns of Ayakami and Ryonan merged, though the area had already been settled for a very long time before that. Ancient burial mounds and pottery finds in the surrounding land point to a period of early human activity going back well before written records.
Ayagawa is widely seen as the home of Sanuki udon, thick wheat noodles that have been made in this area for centuries. Many small shops around town prepare them fresh each morning, and locals often stop in for a bowl as part of their daily routine.
Ayagawa can be reached from Takamatsu by train on the Kotohira Line or by bus, making it an easy day trip from the prefectural capital. Once you arrive, the flat streets in the center are easy to walk or cycle, which is a good way to find local noodle shops and small markets.
The monk Kukai is said to have brought the technique for making udon noodles back from China to this region in the 9th century, long before the dish spread across Japan. Kukai was also born on Shikoku, which gives the island a special connection to both his legacy and the noodle tradition.
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