“Where is the Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal?”
“Is transferring to the ferry complicated?”
“Are there places to stop by while waiting?”

These are common questions for first-time visitors to Takamatsu in Shikoku. In this guide, a local writer explains everything clearly from how to find the terminal, to transferring between transportation, and how to spend your waiting time.

Get ready to explore Takamatsu with confidence and enjoy Sanuki udon and island-hopping in the Seto Inland Sea!

What is Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal?

The terminal has three key features:

① Located next to JR Takamatsu Station
② Within walking distance of Kotoden and the ferry terminal
③ Simple and easy-to-understand layout

From the Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal, a wide variety of highway buses operate as follows, connecting destinations from western Japan to the Kanto region.

 

Inside the Terminal

The terminal is a single-story building.
The waiting area is located right in front of the bus stops, making it easy to see when your bus arrives.

Ticket Counters

There are three counters:

Foot Bus, JR Shikoku Bus and Shikoku Kosoku Bus

For popular routes like Osaka and Kobe, you can compare departure times and buy tickets from the counter with the earliest departure.

Ticket machines are also available.

Waiting Area

The waiting area has benches and counters.
Announcements for departures and arrivals are played inside, so you won’t miss your bus.

You can also work on your laptop at the counter seats, but there are no power outlets.

There are no coin lockers inside the terminal.
Coin lockers are located inside JR Takamatsu Station, slightly to the left after exiting the ticket gates.

Highway Bus Stops

The bus stops are arranged in a single row, making them simple and easy to understand.
The nearest stop is No.1, and the farthest is No.5.
Stops 4 and 5 are for drop-off only, so boarding is from Stops 1–3.

Important: Don’t Confuse with the Takamatsu Station Bus Terminal

There is another bus terminal in front of the Takamatsu station, but that one is for local and airport buses.
Express buses depart from the Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal next to the station, so you need to be careful.
If you are unsure, check the signs or the bus operator’s website in advance.

Access to the Terminal

The terminal is right next to JR Takamatsu Station, so it is very easy to find.
It is also about a 5-minute walk from Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station.

From JR Takamatsu Station

First, exit through the ticket gate.

JR Takamatsu Station has only one ticket gate, located toward the front of the train. While boarding a front car will put you closer to the exit, it also tends to be more crowded. Please note that the front car on the Takamatsu side of the Marine Liner (operating between Okayama and Takamatsu) is reserved seating.

After exiting, turn right.
You will see shops on the left and ticket machines and a lunch box shop on the right.

Walk through the passage between them, passing the ticket office and restaurants.

There is also a Seven-Eleven, convenient for shopping before boarding.

Continue straight and turn right when you see a udon restaurant.

Follow the arrow in the photo straight ahead, and you’ll arrive at the Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal!

There are no stairs or traffic lights along the way from JR Takamatsu Station, making the route simple and easy to follow.

From Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station

Next, we’ll show you how to get there from Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station.

Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station is the last station of the Kotoden line. While JR trains connect you to destinations across Shikoku, Kotoden is convenient for getting around Takamatsu City and other areas within Kagawa Prefecture.

From here, it’s about a 5-minute walk to the Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal.

After getting off at Takamatsu-Chikko Station, you’ll immediately see a main street. Turn right and continue straight.
The city center and shopping streets are on the left.

Walk along the road until you reach a large intersection and cross it.

Continue straight.

You will soon see JR Takamatsu Station ahead.

A large seawater pond in front of the station is a helpful landmark.

Enter the station building, and the ticket gate will be in front of you.
Follow the JR route described above from here.

Access from the Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal to the ferry terminal.

If you are heading to islands like Naoshima or Shodoshima, the ferry terminal is about a 10-minute walk from the Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal.
However, allow at least 30 minutes for ticket purchase and transfer.

Exit the bus terminal and turn left.

You will soon see an escalator with a sign for “Takamatsu Port.”

Take the escalator up to the connecting walkway.

Walk along the passage. When you see a building ahead, turn right.

Follow the signs for the passenger terminal.

Enter the Takamatsu Port Passenger Terminal building.

Inside, continue straight past the seating area.

Exit the building and continue straight to see the Seto Inland Sea.

This is the final checkpoint. The ferries depart from the left, and the high-speed boats from the right, so please be careful not to go the wrong way.
However, ferries to Megijima and Ogijima depart from the right side.

Note: Ferries to Megijima and Ogijima depart from the right side.

Follow the paths to reach the boarding pier.

On clear days, you can enjoy beautiful views of the islands from Takamatsu Port.

Recommended 3 Spots Nearby

The Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal is located next to Takamatsu Station, so there are many restaurants and places to relax nearby.
Here are three recommended spots that are easy to find, even for first-time visitors.

◆ “Merikenya Takamatsu Ekimae” located in front of the Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal

A great place to try Sanuki udon right in front of the terminal.
Open until 8:00 PM, which is convenient compared to many udon shops that close early.

After placing your order, you can pick tempura, rice balls, and other items as you like, and then pay at the end.

Around lunchtime or just before closing, some tempura items may be sold out, but on this day, we visited right after opening, so there was a wide variety available.
I chose kake udon and anago tempura!

As you may know, Kagawa’s udon varies greatly from shop to shop, both the broth and the noodles can be completely different.

Merikenya’s kake udon is known for its light, delicate broth. The noodles are classic Sanuki udon.

The tempura selection changes daily, so you won’t know exactly what’s available until you visit, but you can find many tempura items that are local specialties of Kagawa.

◎ Basic Information for “Merikenya Takamatsu Ekimae”

Hours	7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Closed	Open daily (no regular holidays)
GoogleMaps	https://maps.app.goo.gl/xUA2GWCJp4qQptwT9
Phone	+81-87-811-6358
Official Website	https://merikenya.com/index.php/merikenyashop/takamatsuekimae

◆ Seven-Eleven Kiosk Takamatsu Station

It’s always nice to be able to stop by a convenience store before boarding a highway bus.

There is a Seven-Eleven at Takamatsu Station.
It is open from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM, so you can still purchase your preferred items before departing on a night bus!

They also sell souvenirs from Shikoku, so it’s a good idea to stop by before your departure.

◎Basic Information for “Seven-Eleven Kiosk Takamatsu Station”

Hours	6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Closed	Open daily (no regular holidays)
GoogleMaps	https://maps.app.goo.gl/iYHPK8ezbenk2s1L9
Phone	+81-87-811-2325
Official Website	https://www.e-map.ne.jp/p/711map/dtl/537993/?&p_s1=40000&p_f2=1&p_f3=1&p_f4=1&cond40=1&cond41=1&&his=ar,nm&srchplace=34.3394639,134.0494778

◆PRONTO JR Clement Inn Takamatsu

Located in front of Takamatsu Station, the business hotel JR Clement Inn Takamatsu has a PRONTO café on the first floor where you can enjoy breakfast.

When heading from Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station to the bus terminal, it will be on your right. The calm and relaxed atmosphere makes it a great spot if you have some extra time.

◎Basic Information for “PRONTO JR Clement Inn Takamatsu”

Hours	6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Closed	Open daily (no regular holidays)
GoogleMaps	https://maps.app.goo.gl/KQ3cB2PzSsgJtvgd9
Phone	+81-87-873-2331
Official Website	https://shop.pronto.co.jp/detail/4042/

Enjoy a Comfortable Bus Journey

The Takamatsu Station Express Bus Terminal is easy to find and conveniently located, making transfers smooth and hassle-free.

We hope you’ll use the access tips and nearby spots introduced in this article to fully enjoy your trip to Kagawa!