How to Get to Naoshima: Routes, Ferries & Kagawa Access Guide

Two Ferry Ports, Two Routes to Naoshima

Every journey to Naoshima ends with a ferry ride across the Seto Inland Sea. There is no bridge or airport — you reach this island by boat from one of two mainland ports, each offering a different experience and serving different starting points.

Uno Port (Okayama Side)

Uno Port (宇野港) sits at the end of the JR Uno Line in Okayama Prefecture. It is the closer port to Naoshima, with the ferry or passenger boat taking just 15-20 minutes. According to the official Naoshima access guide, the one-way fare is ¥370 (~$2.50) for both the standard ferry and the passenger boat.

Uno is the better choice if you are coming via Shinkansen from Tokyo, Hiroshima, or anywhere along the Sanyo line. JR Uno Station is a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal.

Takamatsu Port (Kagawa Side)

Takamatsu Port (高松港) is on the Kagawa Prefecture side of the Inland Sea. The ferry from here takes about 50 minutes to reach Miyanoura Port (60 minutes in the return direction), costing ¥680 (~$4.50) one way. A high-speed boat is also available for ¥1,590 (~$11), cutting the crossing to about 25 minutes.

Takamatsu is the better option if you are coming from Kansai or want to combine Naoshima with time in Kagawa — Takamatsu is famous for its udon and Ritsurin Garden. The port is a 3-minute walk from Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station.

Route Comparison: Uno vs Takamatsu

	Uno Port	Takamatsu Port
Ferry time	20 min (ferry) / 15 min (passenger boat)	50 min (ferry) / 25 min (high-speed)
One-way fare	¥370 (~$2.50)	¥680 (~$4.50) ferry / ¥1,590 (~$11) high-speed
Nearest station	JR Uno (5 min walk)	Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko (3 min walk)
Best from	Tokyo, Hiroshima, Okayama	Osaka, Kansai, Kagawa
Arrives at	Miyanoura Port	Miyanoura Port
Last departure	~20:25	~20:30 (high-speed)
Car ferry	Yes	Yes
Reservation	Not needed	Not needed

Both routes arrive at Miyanoura Port (宮ノ浦港), Naoshima's main terminal. Some Takamatsu ferries also stop at Honmura Port (本村港), which is closer to the Benesse Art Site area on the island's east side.

From Major Cities: Which Route to Take

From Tokyo

Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama Station (approximately 3.5 hours), transfer to the JR Uno Line to Uno Station (50 minutes), then ferry to Naoshima (20 minutes). Total travel time: roughly 4.5 hours. This is a long journey — an overnight stay on Naoshima or in Okayama is strongly recommended.

From Osaka and Kansai

You have two options. The faster route goes via Okayama: Shinkansen to Okayama (50 minutes), JR Uno Line to Uno (50 minutes), ferry (20 minutes) — about 2.5 hours total. Alternatively, go via Takamatsu: Shinkansen to Okayama, Marine Liner to Takamatsu (55 minutes), then ferry (50 minutes) — about 3.5 hours but allows a stop in Kagawa.

For step-by-step instructions, see our detailed Osaka to Naoshima route guide. If you are wondering whether a same-day round trip works, check our Osaka to Naoshima day trip planning guide.

From Hiroshima

Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Okayama takes about 40 minutes. From there, follow the same Uno Line + ferry route. Total time from Hiroshima: approximately 2 hours. This is one of the easiest day-trip routes to Naoshima.

Ferry Tickets, Schedules, and Costs

All ferries to Naoshima are operated by Shikoku Kisen (四国汽船). Tickets are purchased at the port terminal on the day of travel — no advance reservation is required. According to Shikoku Kisen, ticket sales at Uno Port start at 5:30 AM, with the last sailing around 20:25.

From Takamatsu, ferry ticket sales begin 30-40 minutes before each departure, with the last high-speed boat departing around 20:30.

Route	Type	Time	One-Way Cost
Uno → Miyanoura	Ferry	20 min	¥370 (~$2.50)
Uno → Miyanoura	Passenger boat	15 min	¥370 (~$2.50)
Uno → Honmura	Passenger boat	20 min	¥370 (~$2.50)
Takamatsu → Miyanoura	Ferry	50 min	¥680 (~$4.50)
Takamatsu → Miyanoura	High-speed boat	25 min	¥1,590 (~$11)

Note that high-speed boats and passenger boats carry foot passengers only — no vehicles. If you are bringing a car, use the standard ferry.

JR Pass and Regional Pass Coverage

The Japan Rail Pass covers the Shinkansen to Okayama (Hikari trains, not Nozomi) and the JR Uno Line from Okayama to Uno Station. It also covers the Marine Liner from Okayama to Takamatsu. However, all ferries to Naoshima are operated by Shikoku Kisen, not JR, so they are not covered by any JR pass.

With a JR Pass via Uno, your only out-of-pocket cost is the ¥370 ferry. Without a pass, individual tickets from Osaka to Naoshima via Uno total roughly ¥4,400-5,500 one way.

For information on JR Shikoku's regional passes, which can offer savings if you are exploring Kagawa and Shikoku beyond Naoshima, see our JR Shikoku rail passes and network guide.

Seasonal Notes and Winter Travel

Ferry services run year-round, but schedules vary by season. In winter (December through February), some services are reduced — particularly high-speed and passenger boats. Standard ferries continue to operate daily.

During the Setouchi Triennale art festival (held every three years, next edition check the official site), additional ferry services are added to handle increased visitor traffic. Outside festival periods, Naoshima is relatively uncrowded.

Always check the Shikoku Kisen website for the current timetable before traveling, as weather can cause cancellations or delays. Missing the last ferry means an unplanned overnight stay — build a comfortable buffer into your return plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which port is better for getting to Naoshima — Uno or Takamatsu?

Uno is faster and cheaper: the ferry takes 20 minutes and costs ¥370 (~$2.50) one way. It is the better choice if you are arriving via Shinkansen from Tokyo or Hiroshima. Takamatsu makes more sense if you are coming from Osaka or Kansai and want to combine your visit with time in Kagawa Prefecture, though the ferry is longer (50 minutes) and costs ¥680 (~$4.50).

Can I use the JR Pass to get to Naoshima?

The JR Pass covers the Shinkansen to Okayama and JR trains to either Uno Station (via Uno Line) or Takamatsu Station (via Marine Liner). The ferries to Naoshima are operated by Shikoku Kisen, not JR, and are not included. Budget ¥370 from Uno or ¥680 from Takamatsu for the ferry portion.

How much does the ferry to Naoshima cost?

From Uno Port: ¥370 (~$2.50) one way for both the standard ferry (20 minutes) and passenger boat (15 minutes). From Takamatsu Port: ¥680 (~$4.50) for the standard ferry (50 minutes) or ¥1,590 (~$11) for the high-speed boat (25 minutes). No advance reservation is needed — buy tickets at the terminal.

Is a day trip to Naoshima possible from Osaka or Tokyo?

From Osaka, yes — it is tight but doable with about 2.5-3 hours each way, giving you 6-7 hours on the island. See our Osaka to Naoshima day trip planning guide for a sample itinerary. From Tokyo, a day trip is not practical at 4.5+ hours each way. An overnight stay is strongly recommended from either city for a more relaxed experience.