Major city · Japan
Shodoshima小豆島
Give Shodoshima two nights with a rental car, or one long day from Takamatsu if you only want Kankakei and the Angel Road.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and typhoon season), Golden Week
- Airports
- TAK · OKJ
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Shodoshima is the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, reached by ferry from Takamatsu, Uno, Shin-Okayama, Himeji or Kobe. Sights ring the coast and buses run a few times a day, so a car changes the trip completely. Olive groves, soy sauce breweries, the Kankakei gorge and the Twenty-Four Eyes film set are the anchors.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Shodoshima, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyVery safe.
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 (≈ US$19) Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportTAK Takamatsu Airport (Bus to Takamatsu port, then ferry to Tonosho or Ikeda; about 2 h 30 min door to door).
- Getting aroundcheckOlive Bus routes cover the coast but some lines run only every 1–2 hours and stop early; check the timetable before you commit.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealSoy sauce ramen or udon¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi, 5 kmTaxi, 3.1 mi¥2,000–2,800 (≈ US$14–19)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person¥3,400 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room¥16,000 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room¥32,000 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) · High ¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TAK Takamatsu Airport (Bus to Takamatsu port, then ferry to Tonosho or Ikeda; about 2 h 30 min door to door) · OKJ Okayama Airport (Bus to Okayama station, then train to Shin-Okayama port and ferry; about 3 h)
Weather and climate
Shodoshima: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C48°F
2°C36°F
5 rd
Feb
10°C50°F
2°C36°F
6 rd
Mar
14°C57°F
5°C41°F
9 rd
Apr
19°C66°F
10°C50°F
9 rd
May
24°C75°F
15°C59°F
9 rd
Jun
27°C81°F
19°C66°F
11 rd
Jul
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
10 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
25°C77°F
7 rd
Sep
29°C84°F
21°C70°F
9 rd
Oct
23°C73°F
15°C59°F
7 rd
Nov
17°C63°F
9°C48°F
6 rd
Dec
12°C54°F
4°C39°F
5 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Olive Bus routes cover the coast but some lines run only every 1–2 hours and stop early; check the timetable before you commit. A rental car (book ahead, especially in spring and autumn) is the practical way to see four or five sights in a day. Bicycles are rented near the ports but the island is hilly.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
Ferry from Tonosho or Ikeda, about 60 min
Ritsurin Garden and the udon shops; the easiest mainland base for the island.
Door to door: 2–3 h
Ferry via Takamatsu or Uno, then the Naoshima line
Art museums close on Mondays; a long day, better as its own stop.
Teshima
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Ferry from Tonosho or Ikeda, about 30–45 min
Smaller art island; check which ferries run on your date.
Kotohira
overnightDoor to door: 2 h 30 min
Ferry to Takamatsu, then JR to Kotohira
The 785-step shrine stair is a half day on its own; sleep in Kotohira.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Tonosho
Main port, Angel Road and the Dobuchi Strait; ferries to Takamatsu and Uno. Best for a car-free first night.
Ikeda
East-coast port for ferries from Himeji and Kobe; closest to Olive Park and the soy sauce quarter.
Kusakabe and Kankakei
Quiet coast under the gorge; the shortest morning run to the ropeway.
Sakate
North-coast port; start of the island's 88-temple pilgrimage route.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–18,000 (≈ US$75–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × ¥16,000 | ¥32,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ¥13,000 | ¥52,000 |
| Ferry Takamatsu → Tonosho, one way2 × ¥690 | ¥1,380 |
| Rental car, one day, compact1 × ¥7,000 · fuel and insurance extra | ¥7,000 |
| Olive Bus one-day pass2 × ¥1,500 | ¥3,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥10,040 |
| Trip total≈ ¥27,610 per person per day, bed included | ¥110,420≈ US$750 |
2026 estimate in yen; ferry fares and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Soy sauce ramen or udon | ¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9) |
| Olive oil soft cream | ¥400–600 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Kankakei ropeway, one way / return | ¥750 (≈ US$6) / ¥1,350 (≈ US$10) |
| Taxi, 5 km | ¥2,000–2,800 (≈ US$14–19) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Bus frequency is the trip's main constraint: a missed last bus means a ¥3,000 (≈ US$25)+ taxi.
- Angel Road is only walkable around low tide; check the tide table for your date.
- Kankakei ropeway closes in strong wind; have a road or hike plan B.
- Few ATMs outside the ports: the convenience stores are the reliable ones.
- Ferries sell out on holiday weekends with cars; reserve the vehicle slot.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
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Shodoshima小豆島
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies on the island; most are in Tokyo, with consulates-general in Osaka and Kobe. US citizens: consulate-general in Osaka.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Takamatsu → Tonosho, ferry: about ¥690 (≈ US$5), 60 min
- Takamatsu → Tonosho, speedboat: about ¥1,170 (≈ US$8), 30 min
- Uno → Tonosho, ferry: about ¥1,230 (≈ US$9), 90 min
- Shin-Okayama → Tonosho, ferry: about ¥1,050 (≈ US$8), 70 min
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- フェリーターミナルはどこですか? — Where is the ferry terminal? (ferī tāminaru wa doko desu ka)
- いくらですか? — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか? — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか? — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Ferry timetables change by season: confirm the last sailing back before you book a bed.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Shodoshima. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and typhoon season), Golden Week · month by month →
- 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Ferry-to-bed contracts for all five ports with last-sailing checks and taxi fallbacks.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Tonosho and Angel Road, Ikeda and the soy sauce quarter, Kankakei and Kusakabe, Olive Park and the film set.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kankakei ropeway, Marukin soy sauce museum, Twenty-Four Eyes film village, Choshikei monkey park) and eat pages with last orders.
- Tide and wind fixtures so the Angel Road and ropeway gates can go green.
Sources
- officialShodoshima Tourism Association
- officialShodoshima Olive Bus
- officialKankakei Ropeway
- secondaryWikivoyage: Shodoshima, revision 4970844 (CC BY-SA 4.0)