Udon Honjin Yamadaya Main Branch

Udon Honjin Yamadaya turns a simple meal into a visit to a house from another era. Its Sanuki flagship occupies a building registered as a Japanese tangible cultural property, with tatami rooms, a garden and an entrance that marks the shift from road to dining room. Kagawa udon remains the focus, but the setting changes the pace: allow more time here than at a self-service counter. Depending on availability, guests can sit on chairs or tatami.

The menu centres on bowls and other udon preparations, with tempura and side dishes. Access from Yashima Station is not immediate: Tabelog’s listing gives about a 25-minute walk from Yaguri and suggests considering a car or local bus. Weekday service is split between lunch and dinner; weekends and holidays start earlier, while Wednesday is usually the closing day. The restaurant’s own calendar should take precedence over directory hours, particularly around public holidays and travel seasons.

Visitors often praise the springy noodles, broth and tempura, as well as the garden and architecture. Weekend waits are common, and some find it more expensive than small udon shops in town. The price reflects more than the bowl: the heritage building and seated service are part of the outing. Travellers without a car should plan the journey before choosing it as a stop between trains.

The branch is at 3186 Murecho Mure, east of central Takamatsu. It can be paired with Yashima and the Mure peninsula, but it is not beside Ritsurin Kōen or the main station. Save the Japanese name, うどん本陣 山田家 讃岐本店, for a taxi or map search. The contrast with Udon Baka Ichidai is useful: Baka offers an early, quick stop near the centre; Yamadaya rewards visitors who value the historic house, garden and a slower meal.