Jumbo Ferry

Jumbo Ferry Co., Ltd. is a Japanese ferry company running connections between Kobe, Shodoshima and Takamatsu across the blue waters of the Seto Inland Sea. With 3-4 daily departures, it links Shikoku with the Honshu mainland.

Ritsurin 2 connects Takamatsu and Kobe in around 4.5 hours, and Kobe with Sakate (Shodoshima) in around 3 hours, with a brief stop on Shodoshima. The Kobe-Shodoshima crossing costs around 1,990 yen per person (plus 340 yen at weekends and for night ferries); cars cost around 8,000 yen including the driver.

The fleet consists of two ships: Aoi and Ritsurin 2. Aoi, introduced in 2022, is billed as a "terrace resort on the Seto Inland Sea", with distinctive features such as an observation deck for passing under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, plus a scenic bath and foot bath. Premium seating includes private rooms with balconies and reclining seats for a relaxed crossing.

The nearest stations to Kobe Sannomiya Ferry Terminal are JR Sannomiya, Hankyu Sannomiya, Hanshin Sannomiya and the Sannomiya subway station (20-30 minutes on foot). A shuttle bus runs for 230 yen (5-10 minutes). Shodoshima is the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, around 20 km across.