How Best to Get to and Around Shikoku?

[teddyursa]

Hi, All,

I'm new to this Forum and I'm going to Japan... next week. Original plan is to spend a few days backpacking in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. The more I read about the Shikoku region, the more enchanted I get. There isn't much information on Shikoku and I hope to find some answers here! :)

My questions are:
1) I don't think I would walk and complete the journey around all 88 temples but I would like to visit a few. Lonely Planet Japan implies that the journey could be difficult. Has anyone done this? Is it tough? Note that I am travelling alone and I don't speak Japanese.

2) What is the best way (and cheapest) way to get from :
i) Osaka to Tokushima?
ii) Toskushima to Iya Valley?
iii) Iya Valley to Kochi?
The order of visiting Tokushima, Iya Valley or Kochi isn't important as long as I can get to the place. I should have at least 10 days in Shikoku, and can extend further.

Any information on these places is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[JimmySeal]

Oboy. Shikoku sure isn't easy to get around, especially without a car, but I can answer at least a few of your questions for now. Maybe more later.

The 88 temple circuit takes about a month on foot. You can do it in less than a week if you have a car.

The simplest (and probably cheapest) way to go from Osaka to Tokushima without a car is to take a highway bus. JR Bus and Tokushima Bus both offer this route:

JR Bus:
Leaves from Sakuraguchi in Osaka station.
3600 for a one way, or 6480 for a round trip.
http://www.kakuyasubus.jp/kansai_shikoku/awa_express/index.html
Osaka - Tokushima timetable (http://www.kakuyasubus.jp/kansai_shikoku/awa_express/chart04.html)


Tokushima Bus:
Leaves from Umeda, Herbis Osaka (near Osaka station) and Namba.
Same prices as JR Bus.
http://www.tokubus.co.jp/highway/info/osaka.htm

Both companies will let you make reservations in advance by internet or phone, but you would probably need a Japanese address and/or phone number. You can also buy tickets in advance in person at the ticket counter in any major station (Osaka, Kyoto).

I can probably get you more information, but please let me know whether you will have a car for all or part of your trip here.

[teddyursa]

JimmySeal,

Thanks! Your response really helps.
I don't plan to hire a car, and if possible I would want to get around by train or bus around Japan. I doubt my legs could carry me with a full month of walking but certainly I want to visit a few temples at the larger cities (Tokushima city, Kochi city, etc).

Another interesting thought is to travel from Tokushima-city to Iya Valley to Kochi-city and then on my way back to Osaka, I'm thinking of travelling along the coast back from Kochi back to Tokushima. My map seems to show that the rail is not connected between Nahari and Toyo. Do you know if there is a bus that can take me along the route?

Thanks again!

[JimmySeal]

There is indeed a bus between Nahari and Toyo. My friend has used it en route to Kochi. I haven't taken the bus myself, but the route between Nahari and Toyo is a lovely seaside road that goes around Muroto cape. If you were going to go that way, you'd probably take trains from Kochi-Nahari and Toyo-Tokushima. There's also a bus that runs from Ikumi (in Toyo) all the way to Osaka, and picks up passengers along the way.

Here's the info on the Kochi buses:
http://www.tobu.kenkoutsu.net/
http://tobu.kenkoutsu.net/file/downfile.php?id=2

And here's the Ikumi-Osaka bus timetable:
http://www.tokubus.co.jp/highway/info/ananosaka.htm

If you decide to take that route. Let me know when you're coming through. If I'm not travelling and not working, I can show you around Toyo and Shishikui :-)

I'll try to get you some info on transportation to Iya Valley.

[JimmySeal]

So, to get to Iya Valley from Tokushima, it looks like you would take a train from Tokushima to Awa Ikeda (70-120 minutes) then transfer and continue to Oboke (15-30 minutes). The whole trip should cost 2000-3500 depending on whether you take local or express trains. From Oboke you can take a town bus to Kazurabashi (the vine bridge) or to connect to Shikoku buses, that can take you to other local destinations.

Here is the Iya Valley website:
http://www.city-miyoshi.jp/kazurabashi/index.html

And the Iya Valley public transportation access map:
http://www.city-miyoshi.jp/kazurabashi/guide/access02.html

You can take a direct train from Oboke to Kochi city (Y1240-2900), 1-2 hours.

If you don't know about it already, this website is very useful for checking train schedules all over Japan:
http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi
http://grace.hyperdia.com/ (Japanese version)

[teddyursa]

Hey, thanks a million! :) The information is excellent. Now i am able to get some serious planning done.

I arrive in Osaka, Japan on April 13 and will cross over to Tokushima on April 22. After this, it's free and easy ;) My air ticket to Beijing, China is currently booked for Apr 28 but after reading about Shikoku, I've decided to postpone my departure at least by 1 week, pending flight and accomodation availability.

I'm still waiting for a response from the hostels. So depending on availability, I can either visit Shikoku with Tokushima-Iya Valley-Kochi-Tokushima or Tokushima-Kochi-Iya Valley -Tokushima. I'll be happy to meet if you would be around at that time.

[droozy]

Hi Jimmyseal..

Wondering whether you can help me with the bus timetable and charges if I am travelling from JR Naruto station after seeing whirlpools to JR Namba station ? I tried to search cant as I do not read Japanese .

I also need some information abt travelling to Oboke and Kazura bridge like bus timetable etc. Will appreciate any information. Will be travelling from JR Tokushima .

Thanks so much !

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Hi Jimmyseal..
Wondering whether you can help me with the bus timetable and charges if I am travelling from JR Naruto station after seeing whirlpools to JR Namba station ? I tried to search cant as I do not read Japanese .
I also need some information abt travelling to Oboke and Kazura bridge like bus timetable etc. Will appreciate any information. Will be travelling from JR Tokushima .
Thanks so much !

You can search an express bus of Tokushima and Osaka here.
From JR Naruto Station to JR namba Station,
Though I tried to look for it, Bus was not found.

http://www.bus.or.jp/bus/index_e.html

By the way, it is a bus route in Tokushima
(Only Japanese)
http://www.tokushima-tdm.jp/bus/bus/

From JR Tokushima Station to JR Oboke Station,
You can search it in this.
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

It takes 116 minutes by a express train.
3,180 yen.
When it is a common train, it is 148 minutes.
2,030　yen.

[JimmySeal]

I don't believe there are any buses from Naruto station to Osaka, but there are many that stop at Kosoku Naruto (along the highway in Naruto). I'm not exactly sure how you would get from the whirlpool park to the bus stop, though.

I'll look into this and get back to you.

[droozy]

Yup. I am looking into from Naruto koen to Kosoku Naruto . So that I can take JR train to osaka. I am holding JR pass.

I will apreciate if you can find the bus time table for me and the Japanese terms for the stops too because I do not know how to read Japanese. Thanks Jimmyseal.

I don't believe there are any buses from Naruto station to Osaka, but there are many that stop at Kosoku Naruto (along the highway in Naruto). I'm not exactly sure how you would get from the whirlpool park to the bus stop, though.

I'll look into this and get back to you.

[koan]

Hi, I found this forum but no final answer to the question about how to return to Kansai. I have since done this trip, so here is the answer:
There is a bus from JR Naruto to Naruto koen (300 yen). It stops at Kosoku Naruto (about 3 stops from the station). You know you are at the park because you see the round "Eddy" building nearby.
From the stop you can walk up to the Eddy building and down again to the bridge on the other side.
After seeing the whirlpools I caught another bus doing the same route from the park back and got off at Kosoku Naruto 高速鳴門 (270 yen). From the stop I could see a sign for "Information center" which also had a JR Highway bus ticketing desk. The journey to Osaka costs 3150 yen. There is a waiting room and free tram that takes you from the center up to the highway.
I saw the whirlpools from the bridge at high tide; I estimate they were no bigger than 5 metres diameter. I can't imagine viewing from a boat would be any better unless you went on the best day of the month.
I arrived at Naruto the previous evening and stayed at a hotel near JR Naruto. The area was totally dead at night, there were only a few very small local restaurants. If you stay there overnight like me I recommend only going to your hotel when you are ready to sleep!

[droozy]

hihi

Can u tell me where did u actually catch the bus after watching the whirlpools ? Will like to know the distance . Thanks .

[koan]

At the same stop I got off for "Naruto Koen". There is a small omiyage-ya and some steps up the hill.

From the stop, walk up the steps and down the other side and you see the Eddy building, it really is only a few minutes walk. Walk down into what looks like a tunnel then you see the entrance to the bridge observation deck. It's very close.

If you go at high or low tide time then there will be lots of people who you can follow.

[koan]

Just to clarify my first post, because it doesn't seem so clear on re-reading it.
To go to see the whirlpools, you can take a bus from JR Naruto to Naruto Koen.

If you catch the same bus from Naruto Koen back to JR Naruto (from the same stop), you will pass a stop at Kosoku Naruto. I don't mean you have to rush to see the whirlpools and get back before the bus leaves again, you can get a later bus doing the same route.

If you get off at Kosoku Naruto, it is easy to catch a JR Highway bus to Kansai area. Just go to the information centre which is quite close to the stop. You can see "Tamago cafe" near to it.

Although the information centre is not close to the Highway bus stop, there is a free tram that takes you up to the elevated highway (it is not far but the journey takes a few minutes because it is slow and uphill).

[droozy]

hi koan..

I am actually coming fr Jr Tokushima , take a train to JR Naruto and then take a bus to Naruto koen. Understand from you that from Naruto Koen bus stop, it is just abt 15 mins walk to reach the Ohnaruto Bridge Memorial hall which is the big round building ? Anything attractive to see there ?

I wish to walk to the Ohnaruto bridge to view the whirlpool , unable to take the boat as I will be slightly late for the high tide. Senjojiki observatory to view the whirlpool.. guess then I wil need 4 hrs then from there I wish to take highway bus to JR Namba station.

So now the problem is - which bus stop in naruto koen that I can buy the tickets and take the highway bus straight to JR Namba station without having to the the bus back to JR Naruto station again ?

Thank you so much!

[droozy]

鳴門観光汽船前発 where is bus stop located ? thanks

[koan]

Understand from you that from Naruto Koen bus stop, it is just abt 15 mins walk to reach the Ohnaruto Bridge Memorial hall which is the big round building ? Anything attractive to see there ?
It's much closer than 15 minutes walk.
I didn't go inside the Eddy building. Maybe I missed an amazing experience but I doubt it.
I wish to walk to the Ohnaruto bridge to view the whirlpool , unable to take the boat as I will be slightly late for the high tide. Senjojiki observatory to view the whirlpool..
My guess is that there are fairly regular boat trips throughout the day if that's what you want to do, but I don't really know.
guess then I wil need 4 hrs then from there I wish to take highway bus to JR Namba station.
4 hours at Naruto Koen ? That sounds like a very long time to me.
So now the problem is - which bus stop in naruto koen that I can buy the tickets and take the highway bus straight to JR Namba station without having to the the bus back to JR Naruto station again ?
As I said in my previous posts, take the bus to Kosoku Naruto and you can buy the ticket there.

[droozy]

where is this Kosoku Naruto ? Got the name in Japanese ? Thanks so much !

[w4rpd4y]

Hello~
I need some assistance please plotting buses domestically within Tokushima, not to or from any airport. It's somewhat too complicated type here, so can someone please PM me and we can talk in Chat or on a chatting program?
Thanks!