Shikoku・Kagawa Prefecture is home to Shodoshima, an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea. The only way to access the island is by boat, and the boat trip itself is one of the highlights of visiting Shodoshima.
The island is filled with both new and old attractions, including beautiful natural scenery, traditional island landscapes, and newly opened spa hotels with breathtaking views. In this article, we introduce a sightseeing suggested itinerary that covers must-see spots on Shodoshima using the local bus. Surrounded by the vast, calm sea and sky, immerse yourself in a resort atmosphere and enjoy a relaxing and revitalizing getaway!
Where is Shodoshima? Which Prefecture?
Shodoshima is an island in Kagawa Prefecture, floating in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan’s largest inland sea, which is surrounded by the coasts of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. It is the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea. Taking advantage of its mild climate, olive cultivation is thriving here. The island is dotted with scenic spots such as "Kankakei Gorge," one of Japan’s three most beautiful ravines, and "Angel Road," a sandbar that appears only once or twice a day during low tide.. Shodoshima is also one of the venues for the Setouchi Triennale, held every three years, attracting many tourists during the festival years. The island is also known for historic local specialties such as soy sauce, tsukudani (foods simmered in soy sauce), and somen noodles.
What is the Climate Like on Shodoshima? When is the Best Season?
Shodoshima has a mild Seto Inland Sea climate with little rainfall, and the annual average temperature is about 16°C, which is similar to Tokyo. Summers are not too hot, and winters are relatively mild, earning it the nickname "the Mediterranean of Japan" for its gentle climate.
The best season to visit is from spring to summer. From May to June, you can see Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms and olive blossoms in bloom, and from July to August, olives bear fruit. Summer is also a popular time for marine activities such as SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) and sea kayaking. The swimming season is around July to August. Since the UV rays are strong in summer, be sure to bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen!
Access to Shodoshima
The only way to reach Shodoshima is by boat. Ferries and high-speed boats operate from ports in Hyogo, Okayama, and Kagawa Prefecture. If you take the Shodoshima Ferry from Takamatsu to Shodoshima (Tonosho), there are about 15 services operating per day.
From Takamatsu Airport to Takamatsu Port
From Takamatsu Airport, take the "Connecting Bus, Kotoden Bus, or Airport Limousine Bus" for about 45 minutes and get off at the "Takamatsu Chikko Station" bus stop. Then, take a ferry or high-speed boat.
Reference
■By Ferry
Takamatsu to Tonosho: Approx. 1 hour, Adult 700 yen
■By High-Speed Boat
Takamatsu to Tonosho: Approx. 35 minutes, Adult 1,400 yen
From Kobe Airport to Kobe Port or Himeji Port
If you are traveling from Kobe to Shodoshima, there are routes from Kobe Port Shinminato to Shodoshima Sakate, or from Himeji Port to Shodoshima Fukuda. Please note that the number of departures, boarding/disembarking locations, and destinations differ depending on the route.
Reference:
Kobe Airport Station
↓ (Approx. 18 min) Kobe New Transit Port Island Line
Sannomiya Station
↓
Bus Stop: Sannomiya Station-mae
↓ (Approx. 6 min) Shinki Bus Port Loop (Kamomeria Loop)
Bus Stop: Arena-mae / Shinki Bus
↓
Kobe Port Shinminato (Pier No.3)
↓ (3 hours 20–30 min) Jumbo Ferry
Shodoshima Sakate
■By Ferry
Kobe Port Shinminato – Sakate Port: Approx. 3 hours 20–30 min, Adult 1,990 yen
From Kansai Airport to Kobe Port or Himeji Port
First, go from Kansai Airport to Sannomiya in Kobe. From there, head to Kobe Port Shinminato or Himeji Port, and then take a ferry to Shodoshima.
Reference:
Kansai Airport Terminal 1
↓ (Approx. 5 min) Shuttle Bus / Kansai Airport Limousine Bus
Bus Stop: Sannomiya Station-mae
↓
Sannomiya Station
↓ (Approx. 40 min) JR Kobe Line Special Rapid Service
Himeji Station
↓ (Approx. 20 min) Shinki Bus: Himeji Station North Exit – Himeji Port (via Enmatsu Kita)
Bus Stop: Himeji Port
↓
Himeji Port
↓ (1 hour 40 min) Shodoshima Ferry
Shodoshima
■By Ferry
Himeji to Fukuda: Approx. 1 hour 40 min, Adult 1,900 yen
- For more details, visit the official Shodoshima website: https://shodoshima.or.jp/access/
Transportation on the Island
Shodoshima is the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, so both local buses and rental cars are well developed. If you want to get around efficiently, renting a car is recommended, but with careful planning, you can also tour the island by local bus.
Bus
The main local bus service on Shodoshima is the "Shodoshima Olive Bus." There are mainly 9 routes, covering almost all tourist spots. Fares range from about 200 to 500 yen depending on the distance. There is also a "1-Day Pass" (Adult 1,600 yen, Child 800 yen) that allows unlimited rides on all routes. Passes are sold on Olive Bus vehicles, at Ikeda Port, and at the Jumbo Ferry onboard shop, among other locations.
- Shodoshima Olive Bus Timetable: https://www.shodoshima-olive-bus.com/dia/
Rental Car
If you can drive, renting a car is also recommended. Since tourist spots are scattered throughout the island, using a rental car allows you to sightsee efficiently. Most rental car shops are concentrated around the main port, Tonosho Port.
It is recommended to book early. For example, at Shodoshima Kanko Rent-a-Car, prices vary by vehicle type, but start from 4,500 yen for 4 hours, and from 9,900 yen for 24 hours.
- Shodoshima Kanko Rent-a-Car: https://shodoshima-rentacar.com/
Shared Bicycles
The shared bicycle service "HELLO CYCLING" allows you to unlock and use bicycles via a dedicated app, and freely rent or return them at stations throughout the island. It is convenient for short-term use and as a means of transportation while sightseeing. There are about 50 stations mainly in the southern part of the island. You can choose from electric cycles, e-bikes, sports bikes, and city cycles, but since the island has many ups and downs, electric cycles are recommended! For city cycles, it is 2,000 yen for up to 12 hours, and for sports types, 3,000 yen for up to 12 hours.
- HELLO CYCLING: https://www.hellocycling.jp
Enjoy a Resort Atmosphere on Shodoshima! Recommended 2-Day Suggested Itinerary
Shodoshima is an island where you can enjoy a resort-like atmosphere. It offers the calm Seto Inland Sea, olive-covered hills, breathtaking sunsets, and hotels boasting spectacular ocean views. Here, we introduce a suggested itinerary for a 2-day, 1-night trip covering all the must-see spots!
Day 1 - Take the ferry from Takamatsu to Tonosho Port.
Board the ferry departing from Takamatsu at 10:00 and arrive at Tonosho Port on Shodoshima at 11:00. One of the charms is enjoying the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea during the journey.
- Shodoshima Ferry: https://www.shikokuferry.com/lp-ferry/
↓ At 11:30, board the "Shodoshima Olive Bus Sakate Line (bound for Sakate East)" at the "Tonosho Port" bus stop.
(Approx. 30 minutes, get off at "Olive Park Entrance" bus stop at 11:58)
*You can leave your luggage for free at the Memorial Hall office (8:30–17:00)
Day 1 - Roadside Station Shodoshima Olive Park (Approx. 2.5 hours, including lunch)
This roadside station is located on a small hill overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, surrounded by olive groves. About 2,000 olive and herb plants are grown here. There is the "Olive Memorial Hall," where you can learn about the history of olives, and the "Flower and Fragrance Garden," which cultivates around 120 types of herbs. Don’t miss the oldest olive tree in Japan, which is about 100 years old.
For lunch, head to "Olivas," where you can enjoy dishes made with Shodoshima-produced olive oil. From preparation to finishing, only Shodoshima olive oil is used!
There is a set from the live-action film "Kiki's Delivery Service"—the "Guchokipan Bakery"—which was used during filming. You can rent a "magic broom" for free at the Olive Memorial Hall and take it anywhere within the park. Be sure to take photos at the hill with the "Greek Windmill" for a great view! Also, don’t miss the olive-green post box and the "Book of Beginnings," a 3-meter-tall book monument. There are plenty of cute photo spots!
Roadside Station Shodoshima Olive Park
- Address: 1941-1 Nishimura-ko, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa Prefecture
- Access: About 5–7 minutes from the "Olive Park Entrance" bus stop
- Hours: 8:30–17:00
- Closed: Open year-round
- Website: https://www.olive-pk.jp/
↓ At 14:38, board the "Shodoshima Olive Bus South Route Fukuda Line (bound for Fukuda Port)" at the "Olive Park Entrance" bus stop.
(Approx. 11 minutes, get off at "Yasuda" bus stop at 14:49, then walk 3 minutes)
Day 1 - edit x seven Setouchi Shodoshima (Accommodation)
A brand-new hotel that just opened in March 2026. Its biggest attraction is undoubtedly the location, offering a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea. Among its features, the first authentic thermal spa in Shodoshima is highly recommended! The hotel is equipped with the thermal spa "SPA edén SETOUCHI," which includes a large Finnish-style sauna for up to 20 people, a cold bath with water temperature at 15°C and a depth of 1.2 meters, indoor baths, an infinity pool, and a jacuzzi. The restaurant, which makes the most of the blessings of Setouchi, is also a highlight.
After checking in, it is recommended to relax in your room or at the thermal spa while enjoying the ocean view to soothe your travel fatigue. You can reset the tiredness from your journey and enjoy a relaxing time to prepare for sightseeing the next day.
edit x seven Setouchi Shodoshima
- Address: 144-21 Yasuda Ko, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa Prefecture
- Access: About a 3-minute walk from the "Yasuda" bus stop
- Check-in: 15:00
- Check-out: 11:00
- Website: https://editxseven.com/setouchi-shodoshima/
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Day 2 - Hotel Breakfast, Check-out & Luggage Storage in Self-locker
↓ 10:53 Board the "Tanoura Eigamura Line" bound for Tanoura Eigamura at "Yasuda" bus stop
(Approx. 18 minutes, get off at "Tanoura Eigamura" bus stop at 11:11)
Day 2 - Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village (Approx. 3 hours 30 minutes, including lunch)
A theme park dedicated to Japanese film and literature, built from the movie set of "Twenty-Four Eyes," based on the famous novel by Tsuboi Sakae. The wooden school building and village have been recreated, allowing visitors to experience the nostalgic atmosphere of early Showa-era Japan. There are many photo spots, making you feel as if you have traveled back in time to that era.
Within the grounds, you can also enjoy exhibitions introducing the world of the story and the lifestyle of the time. At the "Shochikuza" cinema, "Twenty-Four Eyes" is screened regularly (with Traditional Chinese subtitles). At the café "Café Cinema Club," you can enjoy old-fashioned school lunches.
Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village
- Address: 931 Tanoura, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa Prefecture
- Access: Immediately after getting off at "Tanoura Eigamura" bus stop
- Opening hours: 9:00–17:00
- Closed: Open year-round
- Website: https://www.24hitomi.or.jp/
↓ 14:25 Board the Shodoshima Olive Bus Tanoura Eigamura Line bound for Tonosho Port at "Tanoura Eigamura" bus stop
(Approx. 20 minutes, get off at "Marukin-mae" bus stop at 14:45)
Day 2 - Marukin Soy Sauce Museum (Approx. 45 minutes)
Soy sauce production on Shodoshima has a history of about 400 years. The soy sauce is made using traditional methods with wooden barrels. At the Marukin Soy Sauce Museum, located in a historic gassho-zukuri building registered as a Tangible Cultural Property, the history and production methods of soy sauce are explained in an easy-to-understand way using tools and panels that have been used since the Meiji era. You can also try the “Moromi Shibori Experience,” where you use actual “moromi” and “filter cloth” from the factory to press soy sauce with a small hand-operated press (please check for reservation details). You can also sample the soy sauce!
At the product shop, you can purchase “Nama Shoyu” (raw soy sauce) brewed in wooden barrels at the natural fermentation warehouse, limited edition soy sauces, and “Soy Sauce Soft Serve Ice Cream,” which has a unique flavor reminiscent of caramel.
Marukin Soy Sauce Museum
- Address: 1850 Noma-ko, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa Prefecture
- Access: Right next to the “Marukin-mae” bus stop
- Opening hours: 9:00–16:00
- Admission: Adults (junior high school and above) 500 yen, Children (elementary school) 250 yen, Free for infants
- Closed: In 2026, June 9 (Tue), June 16 (Tue) *May be closed irregularly
- Website: https://marukin.moritakk.com/kinenkan/
↓ 15:30–15:40 About 10 minutes on foot
Day 2 – Shodoshima Shuzo MORIKUNI (about 1 hour)
This is Shodoshima’s only sake brewery, working on sake brewing with olive yeast and cultivating sake rice. The unique feature of sake offered by Shodoshima Shuzo is its color. Without using activated carbon filtration or blending, the sake retains its natural amber hue straight from pressing. The interior, renovated from a roughly 70-year-old tsukudani (preserved food) factory, offers a retro and charming atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy your time. The attached gallery displays sake brewing tools and antiques. At the CAFÉ & BAR, you can enjoy a sake tasting set and the cocktail “Samurai” made with “MORIKUNI Ginjo Sake” during bar time, and handmade sweets and drinks using sake lees during café time.
There is also the MORIKUNI Bakery, run by the brewery, just a 1-minute walk from MORIKUNI. The recommended “Kome Koppe” (rice flour bread roll) made with sake rice “Yamada Nishiki” includes freshly fried bread and sake lees anko (sweet bean paste with sake lees). We also recommend “Amazake” and “Coffee” made with sake lees from Shodoshima Shuzo and organic beans from “Kaki Sanko Coffee” in Kagawa.
Shodoshima Shuzo MORIKUNI
- Address: 1010-1 Umaki-ko, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa Prefecture
- Access: About 3 minutes on foot from the “Umaki” bus stop
- Opening hours:
- Gallery & Shop: 9:00–17:00 (Closed: Thursdays)
- Café & Bar: 11:00–17:00 (Last order 16:30) (Closed: Thursdays)
- MORIKUNI Bakery: 9:00–17:00 (Last order 16:30) (Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays)
- Website: https://www.morikuni.jp/
↓17:00–17:15 Walk for about 15 minutes (pick up your luggage at the hotel)
↓17:29 Board the Shodoshima Olive Bus “Minamimawari Fukuda Line bound for Tonosho Port” at Yasuda bus stop
(Approx. 39 minutes, get off at “Tonosho Port” bus stop at 18:08)
↓18:40 Depart from Tonosho Port, arrive at Takamatsu Port by ferry at 19:45
International Events on Shodoshima
Setouchi Triennale
The Setouchi Triennale is one of Japan’s largest contemporary art festivals, held once every three years across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Commonly known as “Setogei,” the festival runs for about 100 days, divided into three seasons: spring, summer, and autumn, allowing visitors to experience the unique charms of Setouchi in each season. The 6th edition was held in 2025, so the next festival is scheduled for 2028.
- Setouchi Triennale: https://setouchi-artfest.jp/
Shodoshima Olive Marathon National Competition
This marathon event is held every May on Shodoshima, featuring two categories: 10km and half marathon. In 2026, it is scheduled for May 17. The course runs along Mediterranean-style coastline lined with olive trees, passing through towns with traditional soy sauce breweries, making it a popular event for both the scenery and the experience.
- Shodoshima Olive Marathon National Competition: https://www.town.shodoshima.lg.jp/
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2 Must-Buy Souvenirs from Shodoshima
Olive Oil & Olive Products
In addition to high-quality extra virgin olive oil used as a seasoning, you’ll find a wide variety of olive-based products such as olive tart cookies, olive pies, olive chocolate, and even skincare items. If you want to shop for olive-related goods, Roadside Station Shodoshima Olive Park and the Tonosho Port Tourist Center offer an extensive selection.
Soy Sauce
Shodoshima’s soy sauce is known for being brewed in wooden barrels, giving it a deep umami flavor and rich aroma. Made using traditional natural fermentation, its mellow fragrance and strong umami make it a perfect match for sashimi, tamago kake gohan (rice with raw egg), and simmered dishes. Besides soy sauce itself, you’ll also find a variety of soy sauce sweets and seasonings, such as soy sauce soft serve ice cream, soy sauce rice crackers, and soy sauce custard pudding.
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