Marugame: Getting there and around

The closest airport to Marugame is Takamatsu Airport. JAL and ANA operate multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Takamatsu Airport. Travel duration is 80 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 37,000 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 14,000 to 28,000 yen. Furthermore, Jetstar Japan is operating flights from Tokyo's Narita Airport at considerably lower fares, starting around 5,000 yen one way.

From Takamatsu Airport, take the bus to Takamatsu Station (50 minutes, 1000 yen one way), from where frequently departing trains take 25-40 minute to reach Marugame (630 yen one way, covered by the Japan Rail Pass).

Airline	Lowest fare	Average lowest fare
ANA	16,394 yen	21,788 yen
JAL	11,761 yen	20,530 yen
Jetstar Japan	4,080 yen	9,231 yen
ANA Wings	16,394 yen	22,872 yen

Take the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Okayama and transfer to a JR Nampu or Shiokaze limited express train to Marugame. The entire journey takes around 4 hours and costs about 18,000 yen one way. The trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using Hikari and Sakura trains along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, but takes about 30-60 minutes longer than if using a Nozomi train. A supplement fee is required if riding Nozomi and Mizuho trains with the Japan Rail Pass.

Daily JR Sunrise Seto overnight trains connect Tokyo with Sakaide Station from where you can take a local train one stop to Marugame Station. The entire journey takes about 9.5 hours and requires advance reservations. The night train carries private compartments (from 21,000 yen per person one way) and carpeted "nobi nobi" floor space compartments (around 15,000 yen per person one way).

Japan Rail Pass holders need to pay a supplement starting from 10,000 yen for using a private compartment on board of the Sunrise Seto. The "nobi nobi" compartments, however, are fully covered by the pass.

Shikoku Highway Bus and Nishitokyo Bus operate overnight buses between Tokyo's Shinjuku Station and Marugame Station. The one way trip takes about eleven hours and costs between 8,900 and 14,500 yen depending on the date of travel. Online reservations can be made through Willer and Japan Bus Online.