They are favored by students, office workers and housewives because of their modest prices. People can create their own indivdual dishes by selecting items from a variety of tempura and other ingredients to suit their personal tastes. Water may also be self-service, with the glasses available at a cooler. Throughout this guidebook are sightseeing opportunities to fill many a day, but night life and urban pastimes also require some introduction. This is likely to center on the prefectural capital of Takamatsu, where at present most of the hotels and attractions for foreigners are located.
Few signs are in English and few residents can speak foreign languages.
But fortunately, downtown Takamatsu is very compact, with most attractions in or near shopping arcades within easy walking distance. Moreover, the residents are friendly and more easygoing than big city people. Service is more personalized, and it is rare to enter a packed restaurant or train. Outside of Takamatsu customers are all the more eagerly awaited. The most rewarding experiences are liable to come about through interaction with the residents, so we might consider what they do for entertainment, and try to join them.