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Quick answer: Five to seven days is enough to see the best of Shikoku’s four prefectures: Kagawa (Ritsurin Garden, Kotohira and the art island of Naoshima), Tokushima (the Iya Valley and the Naruto whirlpools), Kochi (an original castle and the Shimanto River) and Ehime (Matsuyama, Dogo Onsen and the Shimanami Kaido). Most visitors enter from Okayama, 55 minutes by train from Takamatsu, and travel by JR limited express, with a bus between Matsuyama and Kochi. The ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass is now sold only as a 3-day pass (¥12,000) or a 7-day pass (¥20,000), and IC cards work only in a small part of Kagawa, so plan for paper tickets or a pass.

I grew up in Ozu, in Ehime, so Shikoku is home for me. It is also one of the least visited parts of Japan by foreign travelers, which is exactly why it is worth the trip: big nature, old towns, excellent food and very few crowds. This guide uses current timetables and official information checked in October 2026.

In this guide

Shikoku in brief: the four prefectures

Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s four main islands, south of Honshu across the Seto Inland Sea. It has four prefectures, and each has a different character:

Prefecture Main city Known for
Kagawa Takamatsu Ritsurin Garden, Sanuki udon, Kotohira-gu shrine, ferries to Naoshima and the art islands
Tokushima Tokushima The Iya Valley and its vine bridge, Oboke gorge, the Naruto whirlpools, the Awa Odori dance festival
Kochi Kochi Kochi Castle, Hirome Market, the Shimanto River, Cape Ashizuri, the Yosakoi festival
Ehime Matsuyama Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen, the Shimanami Kaido cycling route, old towns like Uchiko and Ozu

Shikoku is also home to the 88-temple pilgrimage, which circles the whole island: temples 1 to 23 are in Tokushima, 24 to 39 in Kochi, 40 to 65 in Ehime and 66 to 88 in Kagawa. You do not need to be a pilgrim to visit, but you will see pilgrims in white along the way. See our Shikoku 88 pilgrimage guide.

Getting to Shikoku

The Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge spanning the strait between Imabari and Oshima on the Shimanami Kaido
The Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge on the Shimanami Kaido, one of three road links between Honshu and Shikoku. Photo: mukarin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

By train from Okayama (the most common way)

Okayama, on the Sanyo Shinkansen, is the rail gateway to Shikoku. From there, trains cross the Seto Ohashi bridge to all four prefectures. Times and fares below are from route searches for a weekday in November 2026; limited express fares include a non-reserved seat.

From Okayama to Train Time Fare
Takamatsu (Kagawa) Rapid Marine Liner 53–57 min ¥1,660
Kochi Limited express Nanpu About 2 h 24 min ¥5,940
Matsuyama (Ehime) Limited express Shiokaze About 2 h 40 min ¥6,820
Imabari (Ehime) Limited express Shiokaze About 2 h 10 min ¥5,830
Uno (for Naoshima ferries) Local train, change at Chayamachi About 55 min ¥590

By highway bus from Osaka and Kobe

Route Bus Fare
Osaka → Tokushima Nankai Bus “Southern Cross”, about 2 h 30 min ¥4,100
Kobe Sannomiya → Tokushima West Japan JR Bus “Awa Express Kobe” ¥3,600
Osaka → Takamatsu “Foot Bus” Osaka Udon line, about 3 h ¥4,500
Kobe Sannomiya → Takamatsu Foot Bus or Shinki Bus “Harbor Liner” ¥4,300
Matsuyama → Osaka JR Shikoku Bus “Matsuyama Express”, about 5 h 45 min ¥7,500

By ferry

By air from Tokyo

Takamatsu also has international flights, including daily services to Seoul and flights to Taipei, Hong Kong, Taichung and Busan (autumn 2026), which can make it a convenient entry point from East Asia. All four prefectural capitals have airports with flights from Haneda, taking about 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes. In autumn 2026, Takamatsu had 13 Haneda flights each way a day (JAL and ANA) plus Jetstar from Narita, Matsuyama 12 (ANA and JAL), and Tokushima 9. Airport buses into town:

Getting around Shikoku

Trains between the four capitals

Route Train Time Fare
Takamatsu → Tokushima Limited express Uzushio About 1 h 6 min ¥2,840
Takamatsu → Kochi Sunport Nanpu Relay + Nanpu (change at Utazu) About 2 h 26 min ¥5,050
Tokushima → Kochi Tsurugisan to Awa-Ikeda + Nanpu About 2 h 30 min ¥5,830
Takamatsu → Matsuyama Limited express Ishizuchi About 2 h 28 min ¥6,160
Matsuyama → Iyo-Ozu / Uwajima Limited express Uwakai 34 min / 1 h 20 min ¥1,840 / ¥3,210
Kochi → Oboke (Iya) Limited express Nanpu About 50 min ¥2,630
Kochi → Nakamura (Shimanto) Limited express Ashizuri About 1 h 43 min ¥4,370

The one gap: Matsuyama to Kochi

There is no direct train between Matsuyama and Kochi; by rail you go round via Tadotsu in more than four hours for ¥9,890. Take the express bus instead: the “Nangoku Express” and the “Whale Express” run between JR Matsuyama Station and Kochi in about 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes for ¥4,000.

Other useful express buses

Route Bus Fare
Takamatsu ⇄ Matsuyama “Botchan Express”, about 2 h 50 min ¥4,400
Takamatsu ⇄ Kochi “Kuroshio Express”, about 2 h 15 min ¥3,900
Takamatsu ⇄ Tokushima “Kotoku Express”, about 1 h 50 min ¥2,300
Tokushima ⇄ Kochi “Kochi Tokushima Express”, about 2 h 45 min ¥4,000

Driving

A car is the easiest way to reach places like the Iya Valley, Cape Ashizuri and the Shimanto River. You need an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, valid for one year from your arrival or until the permit expires, whichever is sooner; drivers from a few places (Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan) can use their license with an official Japanese translation instead. Note that JR’s “Rail & Rent-a-car” combined ticket ended in February 2026.

The ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass and other tickets

The ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass is for short-term foreign visitors and covers JR Shikoku trains (including non-reserved seats on limited expresses), the Tosa Kuroshio Railway, the Asa Kaigan Railway, Kotoden in Kagawa and Tosaden trams in Kochi. It changed on October 1, 2026:

With fares like ¥6,160 from Takamatsu to Matsuyama and ¥5,830 from Tokushima to Kochi, the 7-day pass usually pays for itself on a loop of the island. If you enter or leave via Okayama, check whether the section between Okayama and the Seto Ohashi bridge is included for your ticket, as it is a JR West line. You can buy the ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass on Klook. The nationwide Japan Rail Pass also covers JR Shikoku trains, including limited expresses.

Changes coming in spring 2027

JR plans to make the Shiokaze (Okayama–Matsuyama) and Nanpu (Okayama–Kochi) limited expresses all-reserved from spring 2027, while the Ishizuchi (Takamatsu–Matsuyama) keeps non-reserved cars. How pass holders will be treated after the change had not been announced as of October 2026, so reserve seats when you can.

IC cards

Do not expect your Suica or ICOCA to work everywhere. On JR Shikoku, ICOCA works only in part of Kagawa (around Takamatsu, and stations such as Kotohira and Kan’onji), and only for trips within 200 km; if you ride beyond the area you must settle the fare at a staffed station. Elsewhere on JR Shikoku, buy paper tickets or use a pass. Iyotetsu in Matsuyama accepts all national IC cards on its trains and buses.

5-day itinerary: the highlights

Visitors on a traditional boat ride on the pond of Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, Kagawa
A boat on the pond at Ritsurin Garden, Takamatsu. Photo: Pexels

This plan enters at Takamatsu and leaves from Matsuyama, using JR and one bus. It suits a 3-day pass for days 3 to 5, or a 7-day pass for the whole trip.

  1. Day 1, Takamatsu: train from Okayama (about 55 minutes). Ritsurin Garden in the afternoon, Sanuki udon for dinner.
  2. Day 2, Naoshima: ferry from Takamatsu (about 50 minutes, ¥680) to the art island; reserve the Chichu Art Museum online in advance. Back to Takamatsu in the evening.
  3. Day 3, Kotohira and the Iya Valley: morning climb at Kotohira-gu (785 steps to the main shrine), then the Nanpu to Oboke for the Oboke gorge boat and the Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge. Stay in the Iya area.
  4. Day 4, Kochi: Nanpu to Kochi (about 50 minutes from Oboke). Kochi Castle, then dinner at Hirome Market.
  5. Day 5, Matsuyama: express bus to Matsuyama (about 2 hours 30 minutes). Matsuyama Castle and an evening bath at Dogo Onsen. Leave by plane, ferry to Hiroshima, or train to Okayama.

7-day itinerary: the full loop

The Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge hanging over the river in the green Iya Valley, Tokushima
The Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge, rebuilt every three years. Photo: Pexels

This plan visits all four prefectures in a loop. Most legs between the capitals take about two and a half hours (Takamatsu to Tokushima only about an hour), so the whole loop adds up to roughly eight and a half hours of travel and moves at a comfortable pace.

  1. Day 1, Tokushima: arrive by highway bus from Osaka or Kobe. Afternoon at the Naruto whirlpools (check the tide table for viewing times).
  2. Day 2, Takamatsu: Uzushio to Takamatsu (about 1 hour). Ritsurin Garden and udon.
  3. Day 3, Naoshima: day on the art island by ferry.
  4. Day 4, Kotohira and Iya: Kotohira-gu in the morning, then Oboke and the vine bridge. Stay in Iya.
  5. Day 5, Kochi: Kochi Castle, Hirome Market; on a Sunday, the Sunday Market.
  6. Day 6, Matsuyama: bus to Matsuyama; castle and Dogo Onsen.
  7. Day 7, Uchiko or Ozu, then out: a morning in an old town south of Matsuyama, then leave via Okayama or fly from Matsuyama. Or ride out across the Shimanami Kaido to Onomichi.

With an extra day, add the Shimanto River and Cape Ashizuri from Kochi (the Ashizuri limited express to Nakamura takes about 1 hour 43 minutes, then a bus of nearly 2 hours to the cape).

7-day alternative: slow Ehime and the Shimanami Kaido

If you prefer fewer hotel changes and more depth, spend the week in Ehime and the western islands. This is my home prefecture, and it rewards slow travel.

  1. Days 1–2, Onomichi to Imabari: cycle or bus across the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi in Hiroshima to Imabari. See our Shimanami Kaido guide.
  2. Days 3–4, Matsuyama: Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen and the old streets (see our Matsuyama guide and Dogo Onsen guide).
  3. Day 5, Uchiko and Ozu: two preserved towns 15 minutes apart by train (our Uchiko guide and Ozu guide).
  4. Day 6, Uwajima: an original castle keep, the Date family garden and Uwajima-style taimeshi (our Uwajima guide).
  5. Day 7: back to Matsuyama to fly out, or take the scenic Yodo Line toward Kochi.

A day with real train times

Shikoku’s trains and boats run less often than in Tokyo or Osaka, so it helps to see how a day actually fits together. These are real departures from a route search for a weekday in November 2026; always check the current timetable before you travel.

Okayama to Naoshima and Takamatsu

So a realistic Naoshima day is the 10:14 ferry out and the 17:00 ferry back, with the Chichu Art Museum booked for around midday.

Tokushima to Kochi

The connection at Awa-Ikeda is nine minutes. If you plan to stop at Oboke for the gorge, get off the Nanpu there and continue to Kochi on a later train.

Kochi to Matsuyama, and on to Takamatsu

Where to base yourself

You do not have to change hotels every night. Three cities make good bases:

A simple 6-night plan is two nights each in Takamatsu, Kochi and Matsuyama, with day trips from each, and only two long transfers in between. Send your big luggage ahead between bases so you can travel light on the local trains.

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Kagawa: what to see

The yellow pumpkin sculpture on the pier at Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea, Kagawa
The yellow pumpkin on the pier at Naoshima. Photo: Pexels

Tokushima: what to see

More in our Tokushima guide and Awa Odori and Naruto guide.

Kochi: what to see

Kochi Castle's keep above its stone walls and pine trees in Kochi
Kochi Castle, whose main enclosure buildings all survive. Photo: Pexels

More in our Kochi guide and Shimanto River and Cape Ashizuri guide.

Ehime: what to see

Food across Shikoku

I grew up with the Uwajima style of taimeshi, so if you only try one Ehime dish, I would make it that one.

When to go

Spring (March to May) and autumn (October and November) are the most pleasant times, and also the pilgrim seasons. Golden Week fills inns early.

Typhoons are the main risk in late summer. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 1991–2020 averages, the number of typhoons approaching Shikoku each year is about 0.7 in July, 0.9 in August and 1.0 in September, compared with 0.4 in October. If you travel in August or September, keep a buffer day and check forecasts, because ferries and some trains stop in storms. The rainy season usually runs from early June to mid-July.

Summer has the big festivals: Yosakoi in Kochi (August 9–12 in 2026) and Awa Odori in Tokushima (August 11–15 every year), when hotels in those cities fill up. In winter, days are short, Naoshima’s art facilities have maintenance closures from January to March 2027, and the Iya vine bridge closes from January 12 to about the end of February 2027.

Budget and tickets

Using the fares in this guide, the main transport on the 7-day loop adds up quickly if you pay as you go: for example, Okayama to Takamatsu (¥1,660), Takamatsu to Tokushima (¥2,840), Tokushima to Kochi via Awa-Ikeda (¥5,830), Kochi to Matsuyama by bus (¥4,000) and Matsuyama to Okayama (¥6,820) come to about ¥21,000 before side trips. A 7-day ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass (¥20,000) covers the JR Shikoku legs within the island and the local Kotoden and Tosaden lines, so it usually comes out ahead once you add trips such as Oboke or Kotohira; check how the Okayama section is treated for your ticket. The bus between Kochi and Matsuyama is extra either way.

Ehime had no accommodation tax as of October 2026, and Kagawa has been studying one; check your hotel’s price breakdown elsewhere. Hot-spring inns charge a small bathing tax. To compare places to stay across the island, check Shikoku hotels and ryokan on Agoda.

Practical tips

Families and Japanese phrases

Traveling with children

Useful Japanese

Japanese (romaji) Meaning
Kono densha wa Kochi ni ikimasu ka? Does this train go to Kochi?
Jiyuuseki wa dochira desu ka? Which cars are non-reserved?
Fune wa demasu ka? Is the boat running?
Kippu o ichimai kudasai. One ticket, please.
Genkin dake desu ka? Is it cash only?

For more, see our essential Japanese phrases.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Shikoku? Five days covers the highlights of all four prefectures at a brisk pace; seven days lets you do a full loop comfortably or explore Ehime and the Shimanami Kaido slowly.

What is the best way to get to Shikoku? By train from Okayama on the Sanyo Shinkansen: the Marine Liner reaches Takamatsu in about 55 minutes, and limited expresses run to Kochi and Matsuyama. Highway buses from Osaka and Kobe are cheaper, and all four capitals have flights from Tokyo.

Is the ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass worth it? Usually, for a loop of the island. Since October 2026 it costs ¥12,000 for 3 days or ¥20,000 for 7 days and covers JR Shikoku limited expresses (non-reserved), plus Kotoden and Tosaden. It does not cover buses or Iyotetsu in Matsuyama.

Can I use Suica or ICOCA in Shikoku? Only in part of Kagawa on JR Shikoku, and on Iyotetsu in Matsuyama. Elsewhere, buy paper tickets or use a pass.

How do I get from Matsuyama to Kochi? By express bus, in about 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes for ¥4,000. There is no direct train.

Do I need a car in Shikoku? No, for the main cities and the Iya/Oboke area by train. A car helps for Cape Ashizuri, the Shimanto River and rural Iya. You need an International Driving Permit.

When is the best time to visit Shikoku? March to May and October to November. August and September bring festivals but also the highest typhoon risk.

Is the Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge open? Yes, but it closes for rebuilding from January 12 to about the end of February 2027. Admission is ¥550.

Can I visit Naoshima as a day trip? Yes, from Takamatsu (ferry about 50 minutes) or from Uno in Okayama (about 20 minutes). Reserve the Chichu Art Museum online in advance.

Is Shikoku good for a first trip to Japan? It works best as part of a first trip, after a few days in Kyoto or Osaka, rather than on its own. It is easy to reach from Okayama and gives you a quieter, more rural side of Japan.

Can I visit Shikoku from Hiroshima? Yes. The high-speed boat from Hiroshima to Matsuyama takes about 70 minutes (¥9,000), and the cruise ferry about 2 hours 40 minutes (¥6,000). You can also cross the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi to Imabari by bus or bicycle.

Which city should I start a Shikoku trip from? Takamatsu, if you come by train from Okayama or by ferry from Kobe: it is 55 minutes from Okayama and the port for Naoshima. Start in Tokushima if you come by highway bus from Osaka or Kobe, or in Matsuyama if you fly in from Tokyo or come by boat from Hiroshima.

Plan the rest of your trip

Sources: JR Shikoku (ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass, ICOCA area); route searches for a weekday in November 2026 (train and bus times and fares); Jumbo Ferry; Orange Ferry; Shikoku Kisen; Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Tokushima airport sites and airport bus operators; Tosaden Kotsu; National Police Agency (driving permits); Kagawa Prefecture (Ritsurin Garden); Kotohira-gu; Benesse Art Site Naoshima; Uzu-no-Michi; Uzushio Kisen; Awa Odori official site; Miyoshi City Tourism (Iya); Mannaka (Oboke boat); Kochi Castle; Hirome Market; Kochi City; Shimanto City Tourism Association; Japan Meteorological Agency (typhoon averages) (checked October 2026). Prices and hours change; if you spot something out of date, please let us know.

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About the Author

Jack

I'm Jack, the writer behind Japan Real Guide. I'm from Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku and live in Osaka. Work takes me around Japan regularly, and I go home to Ehime often, so the guides here come from living in the country, not visiting it. Prices, ticket rules and opening hours are checked against official sources, and every guide shows when it was last updated.