The Shikoku Rail Pass is a transportation ticket jointly issued by JR Shikoku and various private railways in the Shikoku region. It can be used to travel around the prefectures of Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi. If you are unable to drive, the Shikoku Rail Pass is a good choice for exploring the cities and towns of Shikoku.
Ticket Version
According to age, there are two versions: adult (12 years old and above) and children (6-11 years old).
According to the number of days of use, there are three-day, four-day, five-day, and seven-day options.
Price
Divided into domestic and international selling prices.
Foreign Prices (Children are half the price of adults):
3 days: Adults ¥12,000
4 days: Adults ¥15,000
5 days: Adults ¥17,000
7 days: Adults ¥20,000
Japanese Prices
3-day ticket price: Adults ¥12,500
4-day ticket price: Adults ¥15,500
5-day ticket price: Adults ¥17,500
7-day ticket price: Adults ¥20,500
Validity period
Depending on the purchased version, there is a time limit for usage, and it must be used continuously. (The duration is calculated based on dates, not hours of usage)
Sales Location
1. Purchasing tickets overseas: You can buy voucher tickets (MCO or E-MCO) from travel agencies, and then exchange them for physical tickets in Japan.
Explanation: There are two types of vouchers, one is a paper voucher called MCO, and the other is an electronic voucher called E-MCO.
2. JR West Japan Official Website Reservation
The reservation website is: JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION.
However, the prices for reservations made on this website are the same as the prices for purchases made within Japan.
3. Purchasing in Japan: Visit the JR Shikoku Travel Center (Warp) for your purchases.
Warp has branches in the following locations: JR Takamatsu, JR Matsuyama, JR Tokushima, JR Kochi, and Osaka Umeda.
☆ Kagawa Prefecture ☆
■ JR Takamatsu Station Green Window
Hours: 04:20-22:00
Function: Purchase and exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, collect reserved tickets from the official website.
■ Warp Takamatsu
Hours: Weekdays 10:00-18:00; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00-17:30
Function: Purchase, exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, collect official website reservations.
■ Information Center at Kotohira-cho Station
Hours: 10:00-17:00
Services: Purchase (cash only) and exchange MCO. Unable to exchange E-MCO or collect reserved travel passes from the official website.
☆ Ehime Prefecture ☆
■ JR Songshan Station Green Window
Hours: 04:50-11:05
Function: Purchase, exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, collect official website reservations.
■ Warp Songshan
Hours: 10:00-18:00; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 10:00-17:00
Function: Purchase, exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, collect official website reservations.
☆ Tokushima Prefecture ☆
■ JR Tokushima Station Green Window
Hours: 06:30-20:00
Function: Purchase, exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, collect reserved tickets from the official website.
■ Warp Takamatsu
Hours: 10:00-18:00; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00-17:00
Function: Purchase, exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, collect official website reservations.
☆ Kochi Prefecture ☆
■ JR Kochi Station Green Window
Hours: 04:30~23:00
Function: Purchase and exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, collect reserved items from the official website.
■ Warp Kochi
Hours: 10:00-18:00; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00-17:00
Function: Purchase, exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, collect reserved items from the official website.
☆ Osaka and Okayama ☆
■ Warp Umeda
Hours: Wednesday to Friday 13:00-17:00, Saturday 11:00-17:00 (Closed on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and holidays)
Function: Purchase and exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO, unable to receive the pre-booked travel pass from the official website.
■ Japan Travel TiS Okayama
Hours: 10:00-16:00 (Closed on Tuesdays and during year-end and New Year holidays)
Services: Exchange MCO, exchange E-MCO. Unable to receive the pre-booked travel passes from the official website, and also do not sell travel passes.
Note: For the business hours and services offered by each unit, please be sure to confirm on the official website.
Purchase Conditions
Targeting foreign tourists, the sales are limited to those who hold passports issued by countries other than Japan and possess the “”short-term stay”” qualification as stipulated in the “”Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act”” of Japan.
Ticket Information
1. One registered paper ticket, with the pass you can ride for free an unlimited number of times on the transportation within the usage area (limited to non-reserved seats).
2. If you wish to ride in a reserved seat, you must purchase a single reserved seat ticket or the reserved seat commutation tickets (4 times, ¥1200 Japanese Yen) separately.
When purchasing, you will be given a form for this.
Please fill in the information here.
Please fill in the following information: (When filling in the data, please use English and avoid using handwriting) Additionally, when specifying the number of days to use, please select it by circling it.
Finally, a JR train ticket will be given and then affixed to the Pass (cannot be torn off).
(this is a composite photo).
The scope of use for the Shikoku Rail Pass
1. The pass is valid for all trains on JR Shikoku, Tosa Kuroshio Railway, Asa Coast Railway, Takamatsu Kotohira Electric Railway, Iyo Railway, and Tosa Electric Railway.
2. On JR Shikoku and Tosa Kuroshio Railway, you can take non-reserved seats in ordinary cars of limited express trains, rapid, and local trains. However, you cannot take reserved seats, Green cars, or the Iyonada Monogatari train (a separate Green ticket is required).
3. For JR Shikoku’s Seto-Ohashi Line, you can travel as far north as Kojima. Beyond that (north of Kojima) falls within JR West’s area, and an additional fee is required.
4. The pass can be used for the Shodoshima Ferry (ferry service between Takamatsu Port and Tonosho Port) and Shodoshima Olive Bus (public bus on Shodoshima Island).
Usage Instructions
1. When taking the train, you can only use the manual ticket gate. When passing through, you need to show your ticket to the station staff for inspection. The first time you use it, the station staff will stamp it at the designated area.
2. This ticket can only be used for the unreserved seat. If you wish to ride in a designated seat, please go to the JR Shikoku Green Window, Green Ticket Machine, Travel Service Center (Warp branch, Warp Plaza at the station), or Nakamura Station, Sukumo Station, Aki Station of Tosa Kuroshio Railway to purchase a designated seat ticket and make a reservation. No reservation is required for the unreserved seat.
3. Reserved seats can be pre-booked up to one month before departure.
4. If you want to ride in the business car (Green), you will need to pay an additional Green fee and a special express fee.
5. Not suitable for boarding sleeper trains – Sunrise Seto Goto
6. Not available for use on buses in various regions (except for buses on Shodoshima Island), additional fees apply for boarding.
7. When boarding the ferry to Shodoshima, there is no need to exchange tickets. You can directly board with the round-trip pass. (Reported by user kbai123 on 2018.04.24)
Important Notes
1. Unable to board the Sunrise Seto and Shao Ye trains.
2. The pass does not include free rides on reserved seats. If you want to ride in the reserved seats of JR and Tosa Kuroshio, you can purchase 4 special express reserved seat tickets for an additional ¥1200. For more details, please refer to the official document.
Additional Explanation
1. Some photos in this article are provided by the Shikoku Tourism Promotion Organization.
2. More than two tickets can be purchased at once, but the usage dates must not overlap.
3. When purchasing the Shikoku Rail Pass, you can take advantage of discounted fares on other modes of transportation, such as JR Shikoku buses and Nankai ferries. For details, please click here to inquire.
4. For any questions, please refer to the “Frequently Asked Questions” on the official website first.
5. An introduction to the Anpanman Train (in Japanese).
6. For an introduction to the formations of JR Shikoku’s various limited express trains, click here to view.
Common Problem
Q1: Can the Shikoku JR Rail Pass be used on the Yoto Line San Brothers?
A1: The three brothers of Yodo Line have 3 types of cars.
Shiman torokko is a reserved seat for all cars
Kaiyodo Hobby Train has unreserved seats for all trains.
Railway Hobby Train All trains have unreserved seats
Only reserved seats need to be reserved in advance and additional reserved seat tickets must be purchased
『Original Source：https://nicklee.tw/1217/』
