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Getting Around Setouchi

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As well as convenient trains and buses, you can drive, ride, or cruise around Setouchi. Cycle the Shimanami Kaido from Hiroshima to Ehime and travel by ferry around the Seto Inland Sea.

Transportation Map

Destinations in Setouchi are connected by an extensive modern network of trains, buses, roads, and ferry routes across the Seto Inland Sea. The Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakata (Fukuoka), is a convenient way to move quickly between major cities, with stops at Shin-Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Shin-Yamaguchi. PDF Download

By Ferry

From high-speed ferries to sightseeing cruises, traveling around Setouchi by water is a pleasure and often the only way to reach some of the smaller islands. Take a ferry from Uno in Okayama or Takamatsu in Kagawa to visit the art island of Naoshima. Cross the sea on a high-speed Super Jet ferry, or enjoy a leisurely Cruise Ferry from Hiroshima to reach Matsuyama in Ehime. The World Heritage Sea Route takes visitors between the World Heritage Sites of Peace Memorial Park and Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima) in Hiroshima. You can check the timetable and reserve tickets online before you travel.

By Train

The Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hakata (Fukuoka), is a convenient way to move quickly between major cities in Setouchi, with stops at Shin-Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Shin-Yamaguchi. A network of limited express and local trains will help you to your destination in comfort. Take time to explore by special sightseeing trains, which offer beautiful views of the sea and countryside as you travel to your next destination.

By Bus

There are express buses and sightseeing buses in Setouchi to help you explore the area. West Japan JR Bus Company has convenient routes starting from Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, to destinations including Tokushima, Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Awaji Island, Hiroshima, and Okayama. In Okayama, the Okadenbus and Okayama Electric Tramway are convenient for getting around the city and are covered by JR passes. The Hiroshima sightseeing loop bus takes you to key sightseeing spots in the city, and is also covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR-West Rail Pass, and the Setouchi Area Pass.

By Car

Driving is a convenient way to explore Setouchi, and with GPS navigation, getting around is easy. There are car rental companies in major cities near main train stations and airports. Most rental cars have an ETC card fixed to the dashboard or windscreen to pay expressway tolls wirelessly. Get a San’in‐Setouchi‐Shikoku Expressway Pass for discounts on tolls. With some of the world’s longest suspension bridges, you can drive to the island of Shikoku on the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge connecting Kobe with Awaji Island, and the Shimanami Kaido, a series of bridges connecting Onomichi in Hiroshima with Imabari in Ehime.