Hiroshima to Shikoku: Ferry, Train, Bus or the Shimanami Kaido? (Matsuyama, Imabari, Takamatsu, Tokushima)

Quick answer: To Matsuyama, take the high-speed boat from Hiroshima Port (about 80 minutes, ¥9,000). To Takamatsu or Tokushima, take the train via Okayama (about 1 hour 45 minutes to Takamatsu, about 3 hours to Tokushima). But if you have time, my top pick is to cross on the Shimanami Kaido — by car or by bicycle — and see the islands on the way to Imabari.

Hiroshima and Shikoku face each other across the Seto Inland Sea, but there’s no single obvious way across. I’ve done this trip by car over the Shimanami Kaido, by car over the Seto-Ohashi Bridge (my usual route between Tokushima and Hiroshima), by boat between Hiroshima and Matsuyama, and by train and bus. Which is best depends on where in Shikoku you’re going.

At a glance

Train times and fares are typical examples from October 2026. Fees vary by season.

To Matsuyama: take the boat

Two kinds of boat cross from Hiroshima Port (Ujina) to Matsuyama Kanko Port, run by Setonaikaikisen and Ishizaki Kisen:

Linejet (high-speed boat)

• About 80 minutes direct, or about 90 minutes on sailings that stop at Kure.
• ¥9,000 for adults (fares rose on 1 September 2026). From Kure it’s ¥7,100.
• 8 sailings a day each way, from about 7:30 to 20:00.
• Passengers only. Booking is recommended; you pay at the counter on the day (cash or IC card).
• The service was renamed from “Super Jet” to “Linejet” in 2026, and some English pages still show old fares.

Cruise Ferry

• About 2 hours 40 minutes. Cheaper at ¥6,000, and it carries cars (from ¥7,700 for a small car including the driver).
• 10 sailings a day. Foot passengers just buy a ticket at the counter.
• A relaxing way to see the Inland Sea islands if you’re not in a hurry.

I’ve taken the boat between Hiroshima and Matsuyama, and for Matsuyama it’s the most direct way by far.

Getting to and from the ports

• Hiroshima Station → Hiroshima Port: streetcar Line 5, about 30–40 minutes, ¥240.
• Matsuyama Kanko Port → city: shuttle bus to Takahama Station (2 minutes, ¥270, cashless), then the Iyotetsu train to Matsuyama-shi Station (about 20 minutes). To Dogo Onsen, allow about an hour in total. A taxi to Dogo costs about ¥3,800.

See Dogo Onsen and Matsuyama for what to do when you arrive.

Tip: stop in Kure on the way. Some Linejet sailings and most ferries call there, so you can visit the Yamato Museum and board in Kure. See my Kure day trip guide.

To Imabari: the Shimanami Kaido (my top pick)

The Shimanami Kaido links Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari in Ehime by a chain of bridges across six islands. It’s the most memorable way to cross, and it’s what I recommend to visitors who have the time.

• By car: I’ve driven it many times. Stop at the islands for viewpoints, temples and lemon sweets. See Shimanami Kaido: Bicycle or Car?.
• By bicycle: about 70 km from Onomichi to Imabari, and bicycles ride the bridges free until March 2028. Most riders take one or two days.
• By bus:
• Hiroshima → Imabari “Shimanami Liner”: 3 buses a day, about 2 hours 55 minutes, ¥4,200. All seats reserved.
• Fukuyama → Imabari: about 16–17 buses a day, about 1 hour 35 minutes, ¥3,300 (cheaper online). Reservations required from October 2026.
• Shin-Onomichi or Fukuyama → Matsuyama “Kirara Express”: only 2 buses a day, about 2 hours 40 minutes.

To Takamatsu and Tokushima: go via Okayama

For eastern Shikoku, the fastest way is the train over the Seto-Ohashi Bridge:

• Takamatsu: Shinkansen to Okayama, then the Marine Liner across the bridge. About 1 hour 45 minutes, about ¥6,900. Marine Liners run about every 30 minutes.
• Tokushima: the same, then the limited express Uzushio from Takamatsu. About 3 hours, about ¥9,700.
• There’s also a highway bus from Hiroshima to Takamatsu (4 a day, about 3 hours 50 minutes, ¥5,000), but the train is much faster. I couldn’t find a direct bus from Hiroshima to Tokushima.

By car, this is the way I usually go between Tokushima and Hiroshima: the Takamatsu Expressway to the Seto-Ohashi Bridge, then the Sanyo Expressway. See Driving to Shikoku: the bridge tolls and How to Get to Tokushima.

Rail passes

• Japan Rail Pass: covers the trains via Okayama (except Nozomi trains, unless you buy the extra Nozomi ticket). It does not cover the Matsuyama boats or any highway bus.
• JR West Setouchi Area Pass (¥22,000 for 7 days) covers the Hiroshima–Kure–Matsuyama boats as well as trains to Matsuyama and Takamatsu — good value for a Hiroshima-plus-Shikoku trip. It doesn’t reach Tokushima. See Shikoku Rail Passes for the full comparison.

Driving? Think about one-way fees

Rental car one-way fees between Honshu and Shikoku are high. It’s often cheaper to return your car in Hiroshima, cross by boat or train, and rent again in Shikoku. See Renting a Car in Shikoku.

Sample routes

• Hiroshima → Matsuyama in a morning: streetcar to Hiroshima Port, 9:05 Linejet (via Kure), lunch in Matsuyama, afternoon at Dogo Onsen.
• Hiroshima → Imabari slowly: train to Onomichi, rent a bike, ride the Shimanami Kaido over 1–2 days, stay on an island.
• Hiroshima → Takamatsu for Naoshima: Shinkansen + Marine Liner in under two hours, ferry to Naoshima the same afternoon.

FAQ

What’s the fastest way from Hiroshima to Matsuyama?
The Linejet boat — about 80 minutes on board.

Is there a direct bus from Hiroshima to Matsuyama?
Not from Hiroshima city at the time of writing. Take the boat, or a bus to Imabari and change.

Can I take a bicycle on the boat?
On the Cruise Ferry, yes (¥500). On the Linejet, only folded and bagged.

Kaz

Tokushima local with family roots in Hiroshima

I live in Tokushima and my family is from Hiroshima, where I also used to live. I still go back several times a year. The guides here come from places I have actually been. Where I haven't tried something myself, I say so.