JR All Shikoku Rail Pass

JR e-tickets are convenient because you don't need to exchange them for physical tickets. There are many options for the number of days, allowing you to combine them according to your itinerary to create a perfect travel plan. Since the fastest trains in Shikoku are Limited Express, you can bring luggage larger than 20 inches without any additional procedures. Even during peak travel season, I didn't need to book tickets; there was always enough space. The e-ticket also included the Kotoden train and the ferry ticket to Shodoshima, which you should definitely make good use of. I bought a seven-day and a three-day pass, totaling 12 days, which was enough for a rough tour around Shikoku. I went from Takamatsu to Tokushima, Tokushima to Kochi, Kochi to Matsuyama, and from Matsuyama, I also visited Dogo Onsen and Ozu. Then I returned to Takamatsu to visit Naoshima, Shodoshima, and the Kotoden area. I also had to find time to go to Aeon for souvenirs. Aeon was harder to find than Ritsurin Garden, and the tax refund counter closed at 7 PM. Their pace is slow-living, so remember to set aside time for souvenir shopping. Tax refund stores are not common in Shikoku; I didn't encounter any in drugstores. Shops in Takamatsu and Tokushima close a bit early, with many shutting down at 8 PM, except for one or two ramen shops or izakayas. It's worth mentioning that trains in Shikoku feature different cartoon characters; if you encounter them, remember to take photos and compare them, as each has its own unique charm. Overall, 12 days was still too short. I haven't been able to take a boat trip in Naruto to see the whirlpools (which requires a spring tide to be spectacular), and I haven't set foot in Oboke and Koboke. Many outlying islands are yet to be visited, and I couldn't spare time to go to Imabari. Most importantly, the Awa Odori Festival is not to be missed. I will definitely visit Shikoku again; its peaceful, slow-paced lifestyle is very appealing.

The physical version needs to be printed out, and the bottom half of the paper will be torn off when redeemed. If you are buying for a friend, the voucher might not have a name printed on it, but don't worry, you can still redeem the JR pass as usual. Please note that JR train services are very infrequent, with trains running approximately once an hour. Although the JR pass allows free travel on limited express/express/rapid trains, it is only for non-reserved seats. It is recommended to arrive at the station early to inquire about train times and non-reserved seat availability. All seats on the JR Anpanman train are reserved seats; using a JR pass requires an additional purchase of a reserved seat ticket. In Takamatsu, it can be used to ride the Kotohira Electric Railway, and you can ride the Pokémon Slowpoke-themed train for free. In Kochi Prefecture, it can also be used to ride the Tosa Electric Railway, with a chance to ride the Anpanman train for free.

This trip focuses on sightseeing in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. After purchase, you will receive a voucher via the app or email. Once you have the voucher, you can exchange it for tickets at a partner travel agency or at the "Midori-no-Madoguchi" (Green Window) at JR stations (clearly marked in green, essentially handling various station services). The Green Window at Matsuyama Station is located in the station concourse. Whether you enter from the old front entrance or the new rear entrance, it's very easy to find in the main hall. After entering the Green Window, please follow the floor markings to queue. When exchanging tickets, please present your passport for verification. Once confirmed, the station staff will ask you to fill out a simple form. Afterwards, the staff will reconfirm your usage dates and provide a multi-language (including Chinese) instruction manual. The exchange process is very simple, so there's no need to worry even if you're not proficient in English or Japanese. This ticket can be used on most JR railway lines in Shikoku, and also on the city trams within Matsuyama City. When boarding a JR train, please show your ticket to the station staff upon entry, or you can use the ticket gate machine. If a ticket inspector comes by on the train, simply show your ticket. When encountering foreign passengers, the conductor might ask which station you plan to alight at, mainly to ensure foreign travelers don't take the wrong line. When riding the city tram, please show your ticket to the driver when you alight. Drivers will confirm the payment method of each alighting passenger when the tram arrives at the stop. If you mostly travel by limited express trains, this ticket offers excellent value. It's important to note that limited express trains have both non-reserved (jiyūseki) and reserved (shiteiseki) seating cars. This ticket is only valid for non-reserved cars. Before boarding, you can find signs indicating car numbers and entrance numbers within the station. Please queue at the entrance for the non-reserved cars. If you need to use a reserved seat, please arrange it at the Green Window, and an additional fee will be required. During this trip, we also stopped at Imabari Station, Iyo-Ozu Station, and Uwajima Station. Even during weekday rush hours, there were seats available in the non-reserved cars on trains between Matsuyama Station and these stations. However, it's still recommended to queue at the station early to be safe. If you have the opportunity to ride the Anpanman Train, there is no additional charge. Additionally, all JR stations have station stamps. Those interested can look for them within the station and stamp them as a souvenir. The method for riding city trams is the same as buses: please press the bell before alighting. It's important to note that each tram line serves different stops, and not all are circular routes. A reminder: this ticket cannot be used on regular city buses. Tourist attractions in Shikoku are relatively spread out. If you cannot drive and frequently need to use long-distance public transportation, this ticket is highly recommended. Purchasing this ticket on most platforms is also cheaper than buying it on the official Japanese website.

This is incredibly convenient. Although we could only use non-reserved seats, in Shikoku, there are 1-2 trains with non-reserved seating, allowing you to travel directly. The pass also includes bus travel on Shodoshima, though not the fast ferry. The pass costs 20,000 yen, but I would have spent at least 40,000 yen if I hadn't purchased it. Kojima is also included. So, I highly recommend this!

The Shikoku 7-day pass allows you to explore Kochi, starting from the shopping street near Harimaya Bridge, leading to Hirome Market, and then to Kochi Castle. Spend half a day leisurely strolling from Obiyamachi to Kochi Castle, and conclude your Kochi city itinerary with dinner at Hirome Market. Enjoy afternoon tea at the Pacific Ocean View Cafe at Nishibun Station. In Ehime Prefecture, take the Iyonada Monogatari sightseeing train along the Seto Inland Sea, making a brief stop at Japan's most beautiful Shimonada Station. The final destination is Ozu Station, where you can visit Ozu Castle and Garyu Sanso, a villa perched on a cliff. In the evening, explore the Okaido shopping street in Matsuyama city and enjoy various local specialties and famous products at Dogo Onsen. In Tokushima Prefecture, visit the Naruto Ohashi Bridge, which connects Kobe in Honshu and Naruto in Shikoku, and admire the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean from the observation deck. You can also walk along the Uzunomichi (Whirlpool Walk) to see the whirlpools. On the 7th day, return to Takamatsu to visit the Michelin three-star Ritsurin Garden, then explore Japan's longest shopping street, where you'll find endless delicious food and shops.

Considered getting the pass for quite some time and I managed to do so before the price hike! 🥳 I got a 4 days pass and it was very worth it because of my travels for my day trip to Matsuyama from Niihama, and Niihama to Kochi. You can use them to board local trams too. Do note that they are consecutive, so plan your trip wisely!

I booked on Klook just two days before departure. I printed the physical receipt and went to process it. There weren't many tourists at Takamatsu Station; I only had one person in front of me. When exchanging, they tore off the bottom half of the physical receipt and gave me back the top half. Then, they asked me to fill out a simple personal information form, which was then affixed to the pass. The whole process took about 5 minutes and was very simple and convenient. The 7-day JR Pass for Shikoku is incredibly useful. Besides JR, it can also be used on trams in Takamatsu, Matsuyama, and Kochi. I didn't spend a single penny on transportation during the 7 days, using the pass for everything, which was super convenient. The main route for the 7 days was Takamatsu-Matsuyama-Uwajima-Kochi-Takamatsu, using these places as stops, and then visiting other places like Shimonada, Uchiko-cho, Oboke, Nahari, Kotohira, etc. One pass covered everything, truly super convenient. I even got to ride the Anpanman train several times; the train car ceilings were printed with Anpanman, which was beautiful and added a touch of childlike fun to the entire journey. I roughly calculated that I rode ¥34,000 worth of transport, and the pass cost ¥20,000. I definitely got my money's worth! 🤣

Excellent value! From Wakayama, take the ferry to Tokushima, and you can exchange your pass at JR Tokushima. The pass will be attached to a travel sheet for inspection by staff, allowing you to use limited express trains without seat reservations. You can also take the ferry to Shodo Island and use the island's buses for free for 5 days. It's truly great value.

Super convenient! Worth buying! This was my first time visiting Shikoku, and I bought a 5-day pass. I traveled from Takamatsu to Matsuyama Dogo Onsen, where I ate Uwajima sea bream rice. In Kochi Hirome Market, I had seared bonito. I saw the Naruto whirlpools in Tokushima, visited Angel Road on Shodoshima, Ritsurin Garden, and Kotohira-gu Shrine (besides JR, you can also take the Kotoden train to Kotohira, which is super convenient and passes by Ritsurin Garden). This pass covered almost all my transportation costs for this trip (except for the bus from Naruto Station to Uzunomichi, which required an extra payment). I could freely use JR local and limited express trains, as well as the Matsuyama-Kochi tram. The 5-day pass covered approximately 31,000 yen worth of travel, so it definitely paid for itself and was a great deal!

Unlike other JR passes, this four-country JR pass does not allow for reserved seat bookings. You can only choose unreserved seats on a first-come, first-served basis. Fortunately, there are more unreserved carriages, with reserved seats usually only having one car! This ticket is worth buying if you plan to travel long distances, as it includes free rides on Shodoshima ferry buses and city trams in various cities. If you take a circular route like the one in Matsuyama and go in the wrong direction, you can get off and re-board with the pass. This time, for seven days, I traveled from Takamatsu to Shodoshima, Imabari, Matsuyama, Ozu, Yawatahama, Marugame, Kochi, and other places, and it was well worth the price.