Shodoshima: Getting there and around

How to get to Shodoshima

From Takamatsu (how to get to Takamatsu)

Multiple ferry companies operate ferries from Takamatsu to Tonosho and Ikeda ports on Shodoshima. The one way journey takes around one hour and costs 700 yen per person or around 6000 yen for a regular sized car. Tonosho Port enjoys the most frequent connections with not only hourly car ferries, but also hourly high speed boats that take only 30 minutes, but cost 1400 yen one way. Connections to Ikeda (every 1-2 hours) are less frequent.

From Okayama (how to get to Okayama)

There are two ports near Okayama that provide ferry connections to Shodoshima:

From Okayama Station take a Ryobi Bus bound for Shin-Okayama Port (35 minutes, 500 yen one way, 1-2 buses/hour) from where there is about one ferry per hour to Tonosho Port on Shodoshima (70 minutes, 1200 yen per person, around 8000 yen per regular sized car). A discount ticket which includes both the bus and ferry ride is available for 1400 yen from the Okayama Bus Terminal as well as at the ferry terminal at Tonosho Port.

Direct JR trains operate between Okayama Station and Uno Station in the early mornings, late afternoons and evenings (45 minutes, 590 yen). Outside of those times, a transfer of trains is required at Chayamachi Station. Across the street from Uno Station is the Uno Ferry Terminal from where ferries depart to Tonosho Port on Shodoshima (60-90 minutes, 1260 yen one way, every 1-3 hours) with brief stops at Ieura and Karato ports on Teshima Island along the way.

From Himeji (how to get to Himeji)

Shikoku Ferry operates car ferries every two hours between Himeji and Fukuda Port on Shodoshima. The one way ride takes about 100 minutes and costs 1710 yen per person and around 9000 yen for a regular sized car. Note that Fukuda Port's location is rather remote, but bus connections to other parts of the island are usually timed with ferry arrivals.

From Kobe (how to get to Kobe)

Kobe Shodoshima Jumbo Ferry operates multiple ferries per day between Kobe and Sakate Port on Shodoshima. The one way ride takes about three hours and costs 1990 yen per person (plus 500 yen each on weekends and for the overnight ferries) and around 8000 yen for a regular sized car (fare for the driver included).

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.

With a width of about 20 kilometers, Shodoshima is the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and is well connected with Shikoku, Honshu and its smaller neighboring islands by a multitude of ferry lines. The island has half a dozen different ports. Towns and villages are concentrated along the coast, while the interior is mountainous and only sparsely inhabited.

The largest town on Shodoshima is Tonosho in the west of the island. Its port, Tonosho Port, has the most frequent ferry connections from both Takamatsu and Okayama.

A bus network connects all of Shodoshima's various ports and coastal areas. Bus service is frequent (roughly two buses per hour) along the southern coast between the ports of Tonosho, Kusakabe and Sakate, but considerably less frequent on the island's other bus lines, e.g. along the northern coast and in the interior. The monkey park is not even served by buses. Bus rides cost a maximum of 300 yen per ride despite the considerable distances covered by some of the lines.

The most convenient means to get around Shodoshima is a rental car. A few rental car outlets are found around Tonosho Port and some of the other ports. Cars can also be brought by ferry onto the island, but it is relatively expensive (around 6000 yen one way from Takamatsu). Rental bicycles may be another option and are available at Tonosho Port as well as a few hotels and resorts for about 1000 yen per day.