SHIKOKU FERRY SERVICES
2010年08月04日
The last few months have seen some tough times for the ferry operators in the Inland Sea. Rising fuel prices have hit them hard as have cheaper rates to use the Seto Great Bridge and a general decline in inter-island commutes overall.
This is sad, every island needs as many lifeline arteries as possible and Shikoku isn’t an exception. I use these spacious, well-equipped passenger-vehicular ferries as lot as part of my work visiting schools to give talks and can say they are truly a great and relaxing way to travel. We can even lay down on a carpeted floor and have a nap if we wish. How cool is that? I can’t think of many other ferry services in this world that allow napping without trying to charge for it.
This acute financial situation has given the Shikoku Ferry Company http://www.shikokuferry.com/ and the Kokudo Ferry Company http://seaagent.com/companies/ship_manager_operator/company_profile/Utaka_Kokudo_Ferry.html a chance to combine most services and both have acceptable English translations of ferry timetables.
Without Japanese they’re easy to understand with the departure times from Takamatsu on the far left, the Shikoku Ferry services in red and the Kokudo’s in blue. These ferries run to Uno in Okayama (one hour) and from Uno one can catch a train to Okayama City and the Shinkansen lines which run through a lot of Japan.
Both terminals are centrally located and accessible on foot to the West on the coastal road from the JR Takamatsu Central Station and less than ten minutes away.
I interviewed Mr. Matsumoto from the The Shikoku Ferry Group which run regular vehicular and passenger services from Takamatsu to Shodo Island (two ports:Ikeda and Tonosho) not including high speed ferries, at regular times throughout the day and early evening. He said that these timetables are unlikely to change in the near future as both companies had worked out an agreement on this prior to publication.
When I visited the offices to talk with Mr. Matsumoto, I nearly had a heart attack. There right in front of my eyes was JC’s picture large as life. There he was enjoying an ice-cream in the publicity material (a free one no doubt) and in another sitting back enjoying what was most likely a free lunch. With wine! Drinking on the job … this was a big shock I can tell you!
Anyway, please let’s all use these wonderful services as they are super reliable, fast, (one hour to Shodo Island and one hour to Uno) clean and it's important that they be patronized by us all no matter what the financial situation is.
Please keep those cards letters and comments on Pat’s Blog coming in! We’ll get back to you I promise and in the meantime, in between time, have a cool and great summer please …
This is sad, every island needs as many lifeline arteries as possible and Shikoku isn’t an exception. I use these spacious, well-equipped passenger-vehicular ferries as lot as part of my work visiting schools to give talks and can say they are truly a great and relaxing way to travel. We can even lay down on a carpeted floor and have a nap if we wish. How cool is that? I can’t think of many other ferry services in this world that allow napping without trying to charge for it.
This acute financial situation has given the Shikoku Ferry Company http://www.shikokuferry.com/ and the Kokudo Ferry Company http://seaagent.com/companies/ship_manager_operator/company_profile/Utaka_Kokudo_Ferry.html a chance to combine most services and both have acceptable English translations of ferry timetables.
Without Japanese they’re easy to understand with the departure times from Takamatsu on the far left, the Shikoku Ferry services in red and the Kokudo’s in blue. These ferries run to Uno in Okayama (one hour) and from Uno one can catch a train to Okayama City and the Shinkansen lines which run through a lot of Japan.
Both terminals are centrally located and accessible on foot to the West on the coastal road from the JR Takamatsu Central Station and less than ten minutes away.
I interviewed Mr. Matsumoto from the The Shikoku Ferry Group which run regular vehicular and passenger services from Takamatsu to Shodo Island (two ports:Ikeda and Tonosho) not including high speed ferries, at regular times throughout the day and early evening. He said that these timetables are unlikely to change in the near future as both companies had worked out an agreement on this prior to publication.
When I visited the offices to talk with Mr. Matsumoto, I nearly had a heart attack. There right in front of my eyes was JC’s picture large as life. There he was enjoying an ice-cream in the publicity material (a free one no doubt) and in another sitting back enjoying what was most likely a free lunch. With wine! Drinking on the job … this was a big shock I can tell you!
Anyway, please let’s all use these wonderful services as they are super reliable, fast, (one hour to Shodo Island and one hour to Uno) clean and it's important that they be patronized by us all no matter what the financial situation is.
Please keep those cards letters and comments on Pat’s Blog coming in! We’ll get back to you I promise and in the meantime, in between time, have a cool and great summer please …
"Pat has lived in Takamatsu continuously since arriving here on a one year study and leave 1981. Originally from Tasmania, Australia, he was involved in education at a variety of levels including as a specialist teacher for children with learning difficulties, and at senior high schools throughout the state. Pat is employed full-time by the i-pal Kagawa International Exchange as a co-oridintaor for international relations amongst other duties including traveling to schools and giving talks in Japanese to kids about Australia. He has been involved with youth education exchanges between Japan and Australia for many years.
Pat has been many things in his colorful life including a seaman, helmsman, welder, carpenter, traffic warden, scholarship/studentship winner at the university of Tasmania, staff at the Australian Embassy in London to name but a few. Pat has far too many hobbies which include tennis, playing jazz flutes and saxes, riding bicycles with the Takamatsu Cycling Club all of which his long-suffering family tolerate. Recently he's become interested in painting again. His wife wishes he would put more time in to helping around the house and the garden which he artfully avoids ..."
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Posted by pat at 16:48
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Nice article Pat !
Posted by JC at 2010年08月12日 08:51
I think the ferry companies are going to do well during the Setouchi Art Festival. As we learned yesterday, the high speed ferries can be quite expensive, though. My advice is to take the lower speed car ferries, save money, and enjoy the ride. And during the art festival, you can get a 2-day pass for 3,500 yen if you go to the art festival offices, across the street from the port.
Posted by RT at 2010年08月12日 11:12
that's such useful information, RT
thank you!
thank you!
Posted by pat at 2010年08月12日 11:24
The ferries truly are a great way to travel here in Japan, provided you aren't in a hurry. The scenery is great and the pace relaxing. Whenever my wife and I take a trip to Honshu we take the boat to Uno. Cheaper than the bridge, and sitting in the lounge is more relaxing.
Posted by Steve at 2010年08月12日 23:36
I'm interested to read Pat's repots!
Posted by tomo at 2010年08月18日 21:50
