Tonosho Port is the gateway to Shodoshima Island and the busiest terminal on the island. It handles the highest number of ferries and high-speed boats traveling to major cities in Honshu, such as Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture and Okayama. It is an extremely convenient hub for arriving and departing from the island.

You will find a tourist information office inside the Tonosho Port Sightseeing Center, located right next to the port's harbor. Beyond providing sightseeing information, it offers a wide range of services, such as bicycle rentals and luggage storage, to allow travelers to start sightseeing immediately upon arrival.
Brochures for various tourist facilities and hotels are also available. You have access to hotel shuttle buses, scheduled sightseeing buses, city buses, and taxi stands right in front of the center for a smooth transfer to your next destination. You can choose from a wide selection of souvenirs in the shop inside the center, which is said to be one of the best on the island.

Planning your schedule is essential when visiting a vast island like Shodoshima Island. The area around Tonosho Port also offers many charming spots.

Angel Road: Located near Tonosho Port, Angel Road is a sandbar that appears and disappears with the tides. It's considered a romantic spot that makes your wishes come true if you cross it at low tide.

Meiro no Machi: Meiro no Machi (or “town in a maze”) near the port was built with a complex design to protect residents from pirates. The old townscape is perfect for nostalgic strolls.

Shodoshima Island is the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, and crossing the entire island by car takes about three hours. You can rent a bicycle to get around Tonosho Port, but accessing remote attractions is more difficult, so buses or cars will be necessary.

Shodoshima Island's busiest and most crowded time of the year is during the Setouchi Triennale art festival.

The popularity of the Setouchi Triennale
The Setouchi Triennale is a world-renowned contemporary art festival held every three years across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. The last event was held in 2025. Shodoshima Island serves as a key hub rich in history, culture, and nature, with venues including olive groves, terraced rice fields, and soy sauce breweries.
The festival period is typically divided into three seasons: spring, summer, and autumn. The island becomes extremely crowded in these periods due to the sudden stream of Japanese and international travelers to the area. It is especially crowded on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, Golden Week, and summer vacation (Obon).

Crowd control for transportation:
During peak times, ferries traveling between the islands are extremely crowded, with long lines forming, especially in the morning and evening. As city buses on the islands also experience congestion, additional buses are available, but waiting times may still not be inevitable.
We recommend purchasing ferry tickets as early as possible when visiting Shodoshima Island during the art festival. You can also travel outside of peak hours, such as in the early morning. To get around the island, you should use public transportation and rent bicycles. It is also essential to plan ample travel time when making your schedule to enjoy the art and nature stress-free.

Convenient transportation tickets are available for international visitors to travel the vast Shodoshima Island effectively.

Shodoshima Olive Bus 1-Day Pass
The most recommended ticket for international visitors wishing to tour the island in a productive and cost-effective way via city buses is the 1-Day Pass provided by Shodoshima Olive Bus. It offers unlimited rides on all Shodoshima Olive Bus routes on the island and makes travel smooth, as there is no need to pay for each trip. Priced at 1,600 yen for adults and 800 yen for children, the pass can be purchased at the Shodoshima Olive Bus office in Tonosho Port, inside the buses, or at the Tonosho Port Sightseeing Center.
Using this pass also allows cost-effective and convenient visits to the many attractions dispersed on the island, like Olive Park and Hishio no Sato, famous for their soy sauce. When getting around the island, check bus schedules and combine bus rides with bicycles for stress-free travel.

Shodoshima Island is a unique and charming place where the green of olive groves, the history of soy sauce breweries, and the beautiful nature of the Seto Inland Sea coexist in harmony. During the Setouchi Triennale, the entire island becomes a canvas for contemporary art, painted with vibrant energy. Use Tonosho Port as your base, make the most of the one-day passes designed for international visitors, and travel early to avoid crowds. This will surely make your journey through this beautiful paradise of the Seto Inland Sea an unforgettable, special experience.