Are you looking for a way to get to Shodoshima? First of all, there are no direct flights to the island, so you can get to Shodoshima by ferry or boat from the three prefectures (Hyogo, Kagawa and Okayama).
And there are six ports on Shodoshima. Depending on which route you choose, the port you arrive at will be different. Each port on the island is a distance away, so you’ll need to choose exactly the right one for your destination, such as a hotel or tourist destination. It’s hard to get around the island on the first day.😫
The biggest arrival and departure schedule on Shodoshima is at Tonosho ferry Port (土庄港).
Shodoshima’s six ferry ports
Tonosho port (土庄港)
Sakate port (坂手港)
Kusakabe port (草壁港)
Fukuda port (福田港)
Obe port (大部港)
Ikeda port (池田港)
These six ports are located on Shodoshima Island.
- From Kobe, Hyogo
- From Himeji, Hyogo
- From Takamatsu, Kagawa ✦✦good route & many run
- From Takamatsu East Ferry Port, Kagawa
- From Shin-okayama, Okayama ✦good route & many run
- From Hinase Ferry Port, Okayama
- From Uno Ferry Port, Okayama
From Kobe, Hyogo
神戸 (兵庫)
Route Direction
Kobe sannomiya Ferry Terminal (神戸三宮新港) to Sakate port (坂手港)
Terminal locations on Google Map
Ferry company name is “Jumbo Ferry (ジャンボフェリー)”. You can see the powerful Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (明石海峡大橋) from below. But, the schedule is very few only 3 times on weekday and 4 times on weekend. Morning are recommended. The port is 1.7 km from JR Sannomiya Sta. and takes about 20 to 30 minutes on foot. There is a free shuttle bus, but I recommend taking a taxi.
Time required: About 200 minutes
Price: 1,990 yen (oneway – Adult)
Schedul from Kobe
| Departure From Kobe (Weekday) | Arrived at Sakate |
| 1:00 AM | 7:30 AM (via Takamatsu) |
| 6:00 AM ✦ | 9:20 AM |
| 1:30 PM | 4:50 PM |
| Departure From Kobe (Weekend & Holiday) | Arrived at Sakate |
| 1:00 AM | 7:15 AM (via Takamatsu) |
| 8:00 AM ✦ | 11:20 AM |
| 11:20 AM | 2:40 PM |
| 7:40 PM | 10:40 PM |
Schedul from Sakate
| Departure From Sakate (Weekday) | Arrived at Kobe |
| 7:30 AM | 11:00 AM |
| 3:00 PM | 6:45 PM |
| 8:30 PM | *0:00 AM |
| Departure From Sakate (Weekend & Holiday) | Arrived at Kobe |
| 7:15 AM | 10:40 AM |
| 3:15 PM | 6:20 PM |
| 5:45 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 10:40 PM | **5:10 PM (via Takamatsu) |
**Arrived the next day.
From Himeji, Hyogo
姫路 (兵庫)
Route Direction
Himeji Ferry Terminal (姫路港) to Fukuda port (福田港)
Terminal locations on Google Map
Ferry company name is “Shikoku Ferry (四国フェリー)”. Ferry name is “Olive Line”. At the bus stop platform 1 at JR Himeji Station, take the 94 bus bound for Himeji Port.
Time required: About 100 minutes
Price: 1,550 yen (oneway – Adult)
Departure From Himeji: 7:15 / 9:45 / 11:15 / 13:35 / 15:10 / 17:25 / 19:30
From Takamatsu, Kagawa
高松 (香川)
Route Direction ✦✦
- Takamatsu Ferry Terminal (高松港) to Tonosho port (土庄港)
- Takamatsu Ferry Terminal (高松港) to Ikeda port (池田港)
- Takamatsu Ferry Terminal (高松港) to Kusakabe port (草壁港)
Terminal locations on Google Map
You can travel from Takamatsu Port to the three ports in shodoshima. There are many schedules and high-speed boats to Tonosho Port. And this route is the only one that go to the ports of Ikeda and Kusakabe.
1. To Tonosho port
Time required: About 60 minutes
Price: 700 yen (oneway – Adult)
Departure From Takamatsu: almost every an hour.
2. To Ikeda port
Time required: About 60 minutes
Price: 700 yen (oneway – Adult)
Departure From Takamatsu: 6:50 / 8:32 / 11:10 / 13:10 / 14:10 / 16:47 / 18:15 / 19:30
3. To Kusakabe port
Time required: About 60 minutes
Price: 700 yen (oneway – Adult)
Departure From Takamatsu: 9:30 / 12:15 / 14:48 / 17:43 / 20:30
From Takamatsu East Ferry Port, Kagawa
高松東港 (香川)
Route Direction
Takamatsu East Ferry port (高松東港) to Sakate port (坂手港)
Terminal locations on Google Map
Takamatsu East Ferry port is located in a different location at takamatsu port. From this eastern port, you can only go to Sakate. Beware of the few shipping run!
Time required: About 85 minutes
Price: 700 yen (oneway – Adult)
Schedul from Takamatsu East
| Departure From Takamatsu East (Weekday) | Arrived at Sakate |
| 6:15 AM | 7:30 AM |
| 2:00 PM | 3:15 PM |
| 7:15 PM | 8:30 PM |
| Departure From Takamatsu East (Weekend & Holiday) | Arrived at Sakate |
| 6:00 AM | 7:15 AM |
| 2:00 PM | 3:15 PM |
| 4:30 PM | 5:45 PM |
From Shin-okayama, Okayama
新岡山 (岡山)
Route Direction ✦
Shin-okayama Ferry port (新岡山港) to to Tonosho port (土庄港)
Terminal locations on Google Map
It is necessary to travel from Okayama Station Bus Terminal to Shin-okayama Port. It is takes 35 minutes. Platform number is 1 in Bus terminal. And the bus number are 91 and 92 to Shin-okayama Port. The bus fare is 500 yen. There is also a special bus and ferry package “Kamome Bus Kip (かもめバスキップ)“.
On the top floor of this ferry, there is a foot bath.🦶
Time required: About 70 minutes
Price: 1,090 yen (oneway – Adult)
Departure From Shin-okayama: almost every an hour.
From Hinase Ferry Port, Okayama
日生港 (岡山)
Route Direction
Hinase Ferry port (日生港) to Obe port (大部港)
Terminal locations on Google Map
Hinase ferry Port is a 1-minute walk from Hinase Station on the JR Ako Line.
Time required: About 60 minutes
Price: 1,050 yen (oneway – Adult)
Departure From Hinase: 7:30 / 10:05 / 12:35 / 12:35 / 18:30
From Uno Ferry Port, Okayama
宇野港 (岡山)
Route Direction
Uno Ferry port (宇野港) to Teshima (豊島) to Tonosho port (土庄港)
Terminal locations on Google Map
This is the route from Okayama to Shodoshima via Teshima, with only three flights per day, stopping at Ieura and Karato ports on the way. There are two types of boats in operation: ferry and small boat. Uno Port is a 3-minute walk from JR Uno Station. It takes about 1 hour from JR Okayama Station to Uno Station by bus or train.
Tips: If you want to get off at Teshima, it’s a good idea to stay one night. It’s hard to do a day’s hopping because there are so few from Teshima to Shodoshima.
Time required: About 90 minutes by ferry, About 60minutes by small boat
Price: 1,260 yen (oneway – Adult)
Schedul from Uno Ferry Port
| By ferry | |||
| From Uno | From Ieura | From Karato | Arrived at Tonosho |
| 6:45 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:14 AM |
| 11:10* AM | 11:50 AM | 12:10 PM | 12:39 PM |
| 3:25 PM | 4:05 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:54 PM |
| By Small boat | |||
| From Uno | From Ieura | From Karato | Arrived at Tonosho |
| 8:40 AM | 9:05 AM | 9:20 AM | 9:40 AM |
| 1:25 PM | 1:50 PM | 2:05 PM | 2:25 PM |
| 5:30 PM | 5:55 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:30 PM |
It can be tough to visit for the first time on a complicated route, but Shodoshima is a very nice Japanese island where you can relax. Let’s enjoy the art works and the Seto Inland Sea.
