How long does it take to drive from Takamatsu to Matsuyama?

Takamatsu-chuo IC to Matsuyama IC is 151.1 km and about 98 minutes on the expressway, according to the Drive Plaza route search. The standard-car toll was ¥3,910. Add the time on local roads and for breaks.

How do I get to the Iya Kazurabashi bridge by car?

Take the expressway from Takamatsu-chuo IC to Ikawa-Ikeda IC (89.6 km, about 62 minutes). From Ikawa-Ikeda IC, the Miyoshi tourism association says the bridge is about 1 hour via National Route 32 and prefectural roads. Park at the municipal Kazurabashi Yume-Butai car park and walk about 5 minutes.

Can I use Uchiko-Ikazaki IC without ETC?

No. According to Drive Plaza, Uchiko-Ikazaki IC is ETC-only, so a car without an ETC unit cannot use it. Ask your rental company for a car with ETC and an ETC card.

Where do I pick up a rental car at Matsuyama Airport?

Times Car Rental has a counter at the back of the JAL domestic ticket lobby; call the shop on the dedicated phone and a shuttle collects you in about 10 minutes. ORIX Rent-A-Car has a counter in the airport and takes you to its nearby rental site by free shuttle.

Shikoku road trip planner: Takamatsu, Iya, Matsuyama, Shimanami Kaido

Q: How much is the Shimanami Kaido toll?

For a standard car between Nishiseto-Onomichi IC and Imabari IC, our Drive Plaza search showed ¥2,950 with ETC on a weekday, ¥2,310 with ETC on a holiday and ¥4,920 in cash (regular toll). ETC discount conditions depend on the day and time, so check the official toll search for your trip.

This guide starts from Takamatsu Airport or Matsuyama Airport. From Takamatsu-chuo IC, the expressway takes you to Tokushima in about 46 minutes, Ikawa-Ikeda (for the Iya Valley) in about 62 minutes, Kochi in about 85 minutes and Matsuyama in about 98 minutes. The Shimanami Kaido between Imabari and Onomichi is 59.4 km and about 60 minutes, with a lower ETC toll on holidays. Check the weather before you drive to the Iya Kazurabashi bridge.

How long are the main drives in Shikoku?

Drive	Distance	Time	Toll (standard car)
Takamatsu-chuo IC – Tokushima IC	65.6 km	about 46 min	¥2,100
Takamatsu-chuo IC – Ikawa-Ikeda IC	89.6 km	about 62 min	¥2,590
Takamatsu-chuo IC – Kochi IC	123.6 km	about 85 min	¥3,350
Takamatsu-chuo IC – Matsuyama IC	151.1 km	about 98 min	¥3,910
Tokushima IC – Naruto-kita IC	19.8 km	about 17 min	¥810
Matsuyama IC – Uchiko-Ikazaki IC	33.9 km	about 30 min	¥1,080

Source: Drive Plaza toll and route search, standard car, weekday 10:00 departure (checked on 26 October 2026). Times are between interchanges only.

On these routes the toll was the same with ETC and in cash in our weekday search. ETC discounts depend on the day and time, so check the official toll search for your own trip.

Uchiko-Ikazaki IC is ETC-only, according to Drive Plaza. A car without an ETC unit cannot use it.

How much is the Shimanami Kaido toll?

The Shimanami Kaido (Nishiseto Expressway) crosses the islands and bridges between Onomichi in Hiroshima and Imabari in Ehime. Nishiseto-Onomichi IC to Imabari IC is 59.4 km and about 60 minutes. Here the toll does change with ETC and the day.

Payment	Toll (standard car)
ETC, weekday	¥2,950
ETC, holiday	¥2,310
Cash (regular toll)	¥4,920

Source: Drive Plaza toll and route search, Nishiseto-Onomichi IC – Imabari IC, standard car (checked on 26 October 2026)

Nishiseto-Onomichi IC is in Hiroshima Prefecture. If you start from a Shikoku airport, drive the Shimanami Kaido from the Imabari end and come back. ETC discount conditions depend on the day and time, so check the official toll search before you go.

On the way there are Ohama PA, Setoda PA, Kamiura PA and Kurushima-kaikyo SA, and two Michi-no-Eki:

Stop	Notes
Michi-no-Eki Imabari Tatara Shimanami Park	Right by Omishima IC, with views of the Tatara Bridge. 9:00–17:00. 300 parking spaces
Michi-no-Eki Yoshiumi Ikiikikan	On Oshima island, facing the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge. Seafood and shichirin charcoal grill. 9:00–17:00. 100 parking spaces

Source: Japan Michi-no-Eki Association (checked on 26 October 2026)

How do I drive to the Iya Kazurabashi bridge?

Take the expressway from Takamatsu-chuo IC to Ikawa-Ikeda IC: 89.6 km, about 62 minutes, ¥2,590.
From Ikawa-Ikeda IC, follow National Route 32 and prefectural roads to the bridge. The Miyoshi tourism association says this takes about 1 hour.
Park at the municipal Kazurabashi Yume-Butai car park (350 spaces, ¥500) and walk about 5 minutes to the bridge.

Stop	Notes
Michi-no-Eki Oboke	Overlooks the Oboke Gorge. Museum of yokai legends and stones. 9:00–17:00. 52 parking spaces
Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge	45 m vine bridge about 14 m above the river. Crossing ¥550 for adults. 8:00–17:00 (September–March), 8:00–18:00 (April–June), 7:30–18:30 (July–August)

Source: Drive Plaza toll and route search; Miyoshi City Tourism Association; Japan Michi-no-Eki Association (checked on 26 October 2026)

The bridge is open all year but may close temporarily, for example under heavy rain warnings. Check the weather and the tourism association’s page before you drive into the valley.

Where do I pick up the car?

Airport	Company	How you get to the car
Takamatsu	Toyota Rent a Car	Counter in the 1F arrival lobby (being renovated, so check the airport floor map). 8:00–20:00
Takamatsu	Nippon Rent-A-Car	“NR counter” in the arrival lobby, then shuttle to the office (about 3 minutes). Book a flight that lets you reach the office by 20:00
Matsuyama	Times Car Rental	Call from the counter at the back of the JAL domestic ticket lobby; a shuttle comes in about 10 minutes. 8:30–19:00. Credit card only
Matsuyama	ORIX Rent-A-Car	Counter in the airport, then free shuttle to the rental site. 8:00–20:00

Source: Takamatsu Airport; Toyota Rent a Car; Nippon Rent-A-Car; Times Car Rental; ORIX Rent-A-Car (checked on 26 October 2026)

Toyota and Nippon Rent-A-Car at Takamatsu Airport and ORIX at Matsuyama Airport list ETC cards for rent. Nippon Rent-A-Car Takamatsu Airport accepts returns of cars rented at its other offices, and ORIX offers one-way rentals except in Hokkaido, Okinawa and remote islands. See booking a rental car and expressways and ETC.

What can I see around Takamatsu and Naruto?

Stop	Notes
Ritsurin Garden	Garden in Takamatsu, on local roads from Takamatsu-chuo IC. Admission ¥500 for adults. Prefectural East Gate car park
Kotohiragu Shrine	785 stone steps to the main shrine, about 1 hour one way. No shrine car park. Set your navigation to JR Kotohira Station
Michi-no-Eki Kurukuru Naruto	About 3 minutes from Naruto IC. Farm market, Naruto Kintoki sweet potato, rooftop zip line. 9:00–17:00
Naruto Park (Uzu-no-Michi)	About 5 minutes from Naruto-kita IC. Walkway over the Naruto whirlpools. Paid Naruto Park car park (¥500)

Source: Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association; Kotohiragu Shrine; Japan Michi-no-Eki Association; Uzu-no-Michi (checked on 26 October 2026)

For Naruto Park, set your navigation to the Onaruto Bridge Memorial Museum Eddy. Entering Uzu-no-Michi may lead you somewhere else, according to Uzu-no-Michi. More tips are in our car navigation guide.

What can I see around Matsuyama and Kochi?

Stop	Notes
Dogo Onsen Honkan	Public bathhouse in Matsuyama. Kami-no-Yu ground floor ¥700 for adults, 6:00–23:00. Dogo Onsen car park (93 spaces, ¥100 per 30 minutes, 1 hour free if you bathe)
Michi-no-Eki Uchiko Fresh Park Karari	Farm shop and restaurant in Uchiko, on the Matsuyama – Uchiko-Ikazaki drive. 166 parking spaces
Kochi Castle	Keep ¥500 (18 and over), 9:00–17:00. Kochi Park car park next to it (65 spaces, ¥370 for the first hour)

Source: Dogo Onsen; Japan Michi-no-Eki Association; Kochi Castle (Kochi Prefecture) (checked on 26 October 2026)