TOMI

Has anyone traveled around Shikoku by train? I am considering taking the high speed ferry/boat from Hiroshima area to Matsuyama and wonder how easy/difficult it is to get around Shikoku. I have a Japan Rail 14-day pass and will be leaving at the end of April for an 11-day trip. I know there is a local train that goes to Kochi from Okayama so I could do that. But thought it might be fun to travel the Inland Sea and take the train around the island. Any suggestions?

NYGirl

www.browndogdaily.com<BR><BR>Hi Tomi,<BR>I am not sure right now of the answer to your question, but go to this site. They are a young couple who travel all over Japan and Asia and there is something about Shikoku in there. If it does not exactly help you, it is fun to read anyway <BR>Meanwhile I might post back later, my son lives in Japan, I will ask him for help

uwajima

I haven't traveled entirely around Shikoku, but I did live in Ehime for a year. Yes, you could travel around by train. Many of the trains are local though, so the going is very slow. From Takamatsu to Uwajima there are express trains, but after Uwajima the train cuts inland so if you want to go around the coast you should take a bus from Uwajima to Nakamura, and then from Nakamura to Kochi, (stopping wherever you like) and then pick the train back up in Kochi. The coastline is beautiful there and more tropical, and I am wondering if the buses are JR buses so your pass would work on them.<BR><BR>From the ferry terminal in Matsuyama, as for directions to take the trolly into town, that will take you near to the JR station. EPIC is near there and they will help you out if you need guidance: http://www.epic.or.jp/english/<BR><BR>I love Shikoku, it is more off the beaten track and less people speak Engligh, but it is really nice and beautiful there. Highlights include the old part of the town of Uchiko, the Dogo onsen &amp; area in Matsuyama, Matsuyama (big) and Uwajima (small and cute) castles, the Shikoku karst, the 88 pilgramage temples, and well, I can think of a lot of places but they are all in Ehime. <BR><BR>Here are some Ehime links:<BR>http://www.nanyo.net/e/nanyo/travel.html<BR>http://www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm<BR><BR>Enjoy!

Florence

Bonjour Tomi,<BR><BR>You will find most informations you need in the book &quot;Japan by Rail&quot;, by R. Zarifeh <BR>http://vs04.tvsecure.com/~vs041ad/bo...n.html/main/33 <BR><BR>It has a whole section about Shikoku, with maps, timetables, and lots of other practical informations.

mrwunrfl

<BR>I took the train from Okayama via Takamatsu to Matsuyama, stayed in Matsuyama, then took the fast boat to Hiroshima.<BR><BR>The train ride across the Inland Sea to Takamatsu was quite scenic and I enjoyed the trip west from there before it got dark. I actually enjoyed riding the local train (as a contrast to the Shinkansen).<BR><BR>In Matsuyama, I recommend visiting the castle. You take a chairlift up and get a great view in addition to the castle tour.<BR><BR>I strongly recommend visiting the Dogo Onsen. It is a classic. I stayed at the Hotel Patio Dogo which is practically across the street from the onsen. A beautful large room at a very good rate. It was large by U.S. standards.<BR><BR>Just two blocks or so from Dogo Onsen, there is a bus that goes to the port. On that bus ride, I saw a boy, about 7 y.o., in his school uniform walking in the same direction. I watched him for while: he was not goofing off much and made steady progress. This was in downtown. That was when I realized that Japan is a safe place.<BR><BR>The hydrofoil to Hiroshima was great. It actually travels through a national park. There's refreshments available and got to see some sumo on the TV.<BR><BR>You'll find that it is easy to get to the boat via the Hiroshima trams. On the Matsuyama side, I am sure that the buses will be scheduled around the boat arrivals and I'm 99.9% sure that there is one that goes to the station.<BR><BR>You thinking is correct, IMHO.<BR><BR>

TOMI

Thank you for your suggestions. I am wondering if I can use my JapanRail pass on the local trains on the island of Shikoku? I will definitely take the hydrofoil from Hiroshima to Matsuyama and try to vist the Dogo Onsen (even though it will be Golden Week). I will then take the local train from Matsuyama to Takamatsu and hopefully another train from Takamatsu to Kochi.

mrwunrfl

<BR>If you get the all-Japan JR Pass, then you can definitely use it on Shikoku. It looks like the JR West Pass doesn't cover that travel.<BR><BR>To get from Matsuyama to Kochi, you could take the train east towards Takamatsu but get off at Utazu (before Takamatsu). That ride is about 2 hours. From Utazu, you take a train south across the island to Kochi. That would be another 2 hours. <BR><BR>Both trains are &quot;Limited Express&quot;, LEX, trains. If you wanted to go &quot;counter clockwise&quot;, you could take the LEX from Matsuyama to Uwajima. Then another train to Kochi. See uwajima's post about going this way.<BR><BR>You should contact the JNTO and ask for info about the places you are visiting and ask for JR routes and schedule info. <BR>Go to http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng and follow the About Us link for their contact info.<BR><BR>If you're not familiar with visiting an onsen, then you ought to read up on it. Then do as the Japanese do.<BR><BR>Travelling during Golden Week is said to be problematic. I think that train seat reservations can be made online well in advance.<BR>

TOMI

This is very encouraging. Thanks for all the help online. I will now talk to my travel agent and reserve our train seats. Couldn't find the book &quot;Japan by Rail&quot; but I will see if I can locate timetables on the web.