How to Get to Kochi: Flight, Train, Bus and Pass Options

Kochi is on Shikoku and no shinkansen line reaches it. From Tokyo the fastest way is usually a flight to Kochi Ryoma Airport, roughly an hour and a half in the air. From Osaka and Kyoto, most people take the shinkansen to Okayama and then the Nanpu limited express into Kochi, about two and a half hours on the second leg, or use an expressway bus from Osaka, which is simpler on the wallet but slower. This guide compares each route by starting city and travel style.

The fastest ways in brief

From Tokyo

A flight from Tokyo Haneda is the biggest time saver. Kochi Ryoma Airport is in Nankoku, east of the city, and an airport bus reaches the centre in roughly half an hour. If you prefer trains or want to avoid flight uncertainty, you can ride the shinkansen to Okayama, which takes roughly 3.5 hours, then transfer to the Nanpu line. That totals much longer than flying, so add a night if you must arrive early.

From Osaka and Kyoto

From Shin-Osaka or Kyoto, take the Sanyo shinkansen to Okayama, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from Shin-Osaka, then change to the Nanpu limited express, which runs through mountain valleys and along the Yoshino River before reaching Kochi. An expressway bus from Osaka goes straight to Kochi and suits those who are not in a hurry, want to save on fares and prefer no changes, but you must allow for traffic delays.

From airports and nearby cities

If you enter Japan through Kansai Airport, go first to Osaka or Shin-Osaka and continue as above, since most Thai travellers enter via Osaka or Tokyo and connect onward. From Takamatsu, a limited express crosses the island to Kochi in roughly two and a half hours. From Matsuyama you need several train legs or a bus, which is not ideal if time is short; check the latest routes first.

See Japan eSIM plans

While changing trains at Okayama or buying a bus ticket, having data on your phone makes checking platforms and times easier. Many travellers set up an eSIM before they leave, so they do not need to find a SIM at the airport or rely on station Wi-Fi.

Train vs bus vs rental car

• Train: comfortable, clear timetable and no traffic worries, which suits most travellers, but some periods have limited service
• Bus: economical and no changes, but slower and exposed to delays
• Rental car: good for the coast and the Shimanto River, but consider the international driving permit, narrow roads and tolls

Passes and tickets to consider

A nationwide JR pass covers the Sanyo shinkansen and JR Shikoku trains, which includes the Nanpu line, but you must work out whether your actual trips beat buying single tickets. There are also passes that cover only Shikoku, which may fit an itinerary circling the island. Conditions and coverage can change, and some privately operated lines may fall outside a pass, so confirm with the operators.

Luggage and reservations

Limited expresses on Shikoku have less luggage space than the main shinkansen trains. Large suitcases may need to go in the end-of-car storage, or you can use Japan's luggage forwarding services between cities. Reserve seats ahead during long holidays and spring. Some expressway bus routes require reservations, so check with the bus company.

Frequently asked questions