JR All Shikoku Rail Pass

The physical version needs to be printed out, and the lower part of the paper will be torn off when you exchange it. If you buy it for a friend, there is a chance that the exchange ticket does not have a name printed on it. Don't worry, you can exchange it for a JR pass as usual. Note that JR trains are very sparse, with only one train every hour. Although JR pass can be used to ride limited express/express/rapid trains for free, it is only limited to non-reserved seats. It is recommended to go to the station early to check the train time and non-reserved seat location. The JR Anpanman train has reserved seats throughout the train, and you need to pay extra to buy a reserved seat ticket to use the JP pass. In Takamatsu, it can be used to ride the Kotohira Electric Railway, and you can ride the Pokémon Slowpoke theme train for free. In Kochi Prefecture, it can also be used to ride the Tosa Electric Railway, and you have a chance to ride the Anpanman train for free.

Super convenient! Worth buying! It was my first time visiting Shikoku, and I bought the 5-day pass. I traveled from Takamatsu to Matsuyama Dogo Onsen and enjoyed Uwajima sea bream rice. At Kochi's Hirome Market, I savored seared bonito. I also visited Tokushima to see the Naruto whirlpools, the Angel Road on Shodoshima, Ritsurin Garden, and Kotohira's Kotohiragu Shrine (besides JR, you can also take the Kotoden to Kotohira, which is super convenient and passes by Ritsurin Garden). This pass pretty much covered all my transportation costs this time (except for the bus from Naruto Station to Uzunomichi). I could ride JR local trains, limited express trains, and Matsuyama Kochi streetcars as much as I wanted. This 5-day pass covered about 31,000 yen worth of travel, definitely worth the money and saved me some!

JR electronic tickets are convenient, eliminating the need to exchange physical tickets. There's a wide selection of days, allowing you to customize your itinerary to create a journey that suits your preferences. Since the fastest train in Shikoku is the Limited Express, you can bring luggage larger than 20 inches without additional procedures. Even during peak travel season, I didn't need to reserve tickets, and there were always enough empty seats, including on the Kotoden (Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad) and the ferry to Shodoshima. Be sure to take full advantage of it. I bought a 7-day pass and a 3-day pass, playing for a total of 12 days, which was enough for me to roughly travel around Shikoku for a week, going from Takamatsu to Tokushima, Tokushima to Kochi, Kochi to Matsuyama. From Matsuyama, I conveniently visited Dogo Onsen and Ozu, then returned to Takamatsu to visit Naoshima, Shodoshima, and the Kotoden area. Make sure to find time to visit Aeon to buy souvenirs; Aeon is harder to find than Ritsurin Garden. The tax refund service counter closes at 7 PM; their pace is slow, so remember to set aside time to buy souvenirs. Tax-free shops are not common in Shikoku, and I didn't encounter any drugstores that offered it. In Takamatsu and Tokushima, stores close a bit early; many close at 8 PM, except for one or two ramen shops or izakayas. It's worth mentioning that the trains in Shikoku feature different cartoon characters; if you encounter them, remember to take photos and compare them, as each is unique. Overall, 12 days was too short. I wasn't able to take a boat in Naruto to see the whirlpools (which requires a high tide), and I haven't set foot in Oboke and Koboke. There are many remote islands I haven't visited, and I couldn't find the time to go to Imabari. Most importantly, the Awa Odori Festival is not to be missed. I will definitely visit Shikoku again; its tranquility and slow pace are very appealing.

It's very convenient for entering and exiting stations; just show your proof of purchase. I used it for my visits to Dogo Onsen, Kannonji Unpenji Temple, Shodoshima Island, and Kotohira-gu Shrine this time. If I visit Shikoku again, it's definitely worth repurchasing.

This pass was really great value for money and I used it well. It's excellent for the price, and I'd love to visit Shikoku again in the second half of the year. Although some people might not know, you can use it on all buses except for a few in very rural areas, and seating is generally open.

I bought this three-day JR pass from Klook, which is really useful. During these three days, I visited Kotohiragu Shrine, Ritsurin Park, Shodoshima Island in Takamatsu, Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen and other attractions in Matsuyama. The area covered is very wide. The only drawback is that I can only go to Kojima in the north. It would be perfect if it could be extended to Okayama.

Using the 7-day pass for all four regions of Shikoku was worth it! The train fares would have exceeded 20,000 yen, so it's a great deal 👍

Anyway, it's convenient to use in Shikoku; scanning the QR code or showing it to the station staff is very quick.

Pass Coverage: In addition to the JR railways in Shikoku, I also took the Matsuyama tram. The northernmost point you can reach is Kojima via the Seto Ohashi Bridge, and with an additional fare for a section, you can go to Okayama comfortably. Exchange Instructions: QR Code machines are not widespread, so you can just show the QR code to a staff member, and there were no issues. You only need to activate the pass on the day you want to start using it.

The exchange waiting time is approximately 15-20 minutes. There weren't many tourists waiting at the green window at 5 PM. The JR staff can communicate in English. For an additional 1200 yen per person, you can upgrade to 4 reserved seats. It's not recommended to exchange tickets in the morning due to long queues. The ticket is highly recommended as it can save you a significant amount on travel expenses.