Matsuyama Transport
- Published on : 08/09/2017
- by : Japan Experience
- Youtube
Matsuyama Travel 松山交通
Matsuyama, the prefectural capital of Ehime Prefecture, is the largest of the four main cities (Kochi, Takamatsu and Tokushima are the others) on the island of Shikoku.
Find information here on getting to and around Matsuyama by public transport.
Matsuyama Station, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku
Ishizuchi, an express that runs along the north coast of Shikoku from Takamatsu to Iyo-Saijo, Matsuyama, and on to Uwajima
Matsuyama Station
Matsuyama Station is the main point of access for arriving in the city, though Matsuyama-shi Station is nearer to the center of town and its attractions including Matsuyama Castle.
Matsuyama-shi Station is a much more imposing structure than JR Matsuyama Station as it is built into a large Takashimaya department store with a Ferris Wheel on top and the underground shopping arcade Matsuchika Town below. Matsuyama-shi Station is also the older of the two stations having opened in 1888.
Matsuyama Station is on the JR Yosan Line from Takamatsu Station in Takamatsu.
The Shiokaze Express runs through to Okayama Station in Okayama on Honshu and takes three hours.
Ishizuchi Express trains to Takamatsu take two hours and 30 minutes approximately.
From Matsuyama Station trains also run south east to Yawatahama (for ferries to Beppu and Utsuki in Oita Prefecture) and Uwajima.
Iyotetsu trams run from outside the station to Matsuyamashi Station and city taxis gather outside the main entrance.
There are a number of hotels near Matsuyama Station including the Hotel Sunroute Matsuyama, Business Hotel Mimachi, Guest House Casablanca, Terminal Hotel Matsuyama and the New Kajiwara Hotel.
Shiokaze, an express that runs between Okayama and Matsuyama
Iyotetsu train in Matsuyama
Iyotetsu Trains
Iyotetsu (伊予鉄) operates Matsuyama's local trains, buses and trams. The company's livery is a bright orange. The local IC card for Matsuyama is I-card (い〜カード) and can be used on Iyotetsu trains, buses, trams and taxis.
The Iyotetsu train network has three lines which run from Matsuyama-shi Station: the Takahama Line north west to Takahama on the coast, the Gunchu Line south west to Gunchu Port and the Yokogawara Line east and inland to Yokogawara.
Iyotetsu trams in Matsuyama
Iyotetsu Trams
There are five Iyotetsu tram lines in Matsuyama: the Iyotetsu Johoku Line, Iyotetsu Jonan Line, Iyotetsu Hommachi Line, Iyotetsu Otemachi Line and Hanazono Line.
There are five routes: Route 1 a clockwise loop from Matsuyama-shi Station to JR Matsuyama Station to Kiyacho to Teppocho to Okaido and Matsuyama City Station; Route 2 an anti-clockwise loop from Matsuyama-shi Station to Okaido to Teppocho to Kiyacho to JR Matsuyama Station and Matsuyama-shi Station; Route 3 from Dogo Onsen via Okaido to Matsuyama-shi Station; Route 5 from Dogo Onsen via Okaido to JR Matsuyama Station; Route 6 from Dogo Onsen via Okaido to Honmachi 6-chome. (There is no Route 4)
A one-day ticket on Iyotetsu trams is 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for children, a two-day ticket is 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
Tram at JR Matsuyama Station
Iyotetsu Matsuyama-shi Station
Iyotetsu Buses
Iyotetsu operates local buses, limousine buses and highway buses.
A limousine bus runs from Dogo Onsen via JR Matsuyama Station to Matsuyama Airport. The fare is 610 yen from Dogo Onsen and 460 yen from Matsuyama Station. Buses take around 40 minutes and run from 6.02am until 6.52pm from Dogo Onsen to Matsuyama Airport. From Matsuyama Airport buses begin at 8.05am and run until 9.25pm.
Another limousine bus connects Dogo Onsen via JR Matsuyama Station to Matsuyama Tourist Port. The fare is 770 yen from Dogo Onsen and 610 yen from Matsuyama Station. Buses take around 40 minutes and run from 6.56am until 8.41pm from Dogo Onsen to Matsuyama Tourist Port. From Matsuyama Tourist Port buses begin at 5.15am and run until 10.35pm.
Iyotetsu highway buses connect Matsuyama with Tokyo (12 hours), Osaka (5 hours-5 hours, 30 minutes), Kobe (4 hours), Kyoto (5 hours, 30 minutes), Fukuoka (9 hours, 45 minutes), Fukuyama (2 hours, 45 minutes), Nagoya (8 hours), Okayama (2 hours, 50 minutes), Kochi (2 hours, 30 minutes), Takamatsu (2 hours, 30 minutes) and Tokushima (3 hours, 5 minutes). There is also a JR highway bus to Tokyo.
A Shikoku Highway Bus 3-day Rider is available for 6,600 yen for adults.
Ehime Free Wifi (SSID: Ehime_Free_Wifi) is available on Iyotetsu limousine buses, city trams and the Botchan Ressha.
Iyotetsu bus in Matsuyama
Iyotetsu Network Map © Iyotetsu; Click to enlarge
Ferries
There are ferry connections from Matsuyama and other ports in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku to various destinations in both Kyushu and Honshu.
Mitsuhama Port - Yanai in Yamaguchi with Boyo Ferry in 2 hours, 30 minutes (www.boyoferry.co.jp)
Matsuyama Tourist Port - Kokura with Matsuyama Kokura Ferry in 7 hours, 5 minutes (www.matsuyama-kokuraferry.co.jp)
Yawatahama Port - Beppu with Uwajima Unyu Ferry in 2 hours, 50 minutes (www.uwajimaunyu.co.jp)
Matsuyama Tourist Port - Hiroshima with Ishizaki Kisen (www.ishizakikisen.co.jp) and Setonaikai Kisen (setonaikaikisen.co.jp) in 2 hours, 40 minutes by car ferry or 1 hour, 8 minutes by direct high speed boat.
Matsuyama Tourist Port - Kure with Ishizaki Kisen and Setonaikai Kisen in 55 minutes by high speed boat or 1 hour, 55 minutes by car ferry.
More information including full timetable and fares for Hiroshima-Kure-Matsuyama ferries.
Toyo Port - Osaka with Orange Ferry (www.orange-ferry.co.jp) in 8 hours.
Niihama Higashi Port - Kobe with Orange Ferry in 7 hours.
The overnight ferry to Kokura
Taxis lined up at Matsuyama-shi train station
Taxis
Taxis ranks can be found at both Matsuyama and Matsuyama-shi stations. Taxi companies operating in Matsuyama include:
Iyotetsu: 089 948 3151
Ehime Kintetsu Taxis: 089 924 6111
Matsuyama Taxis: 089 924 6161
Matsuyama Daiichi Kotsu: 089 974 2700
Shikoku Kotsu: 089 977 1234
Minara Station on the Iyotetsu Yokogawara Line
Matsuyama-shi tram station
Book Hotel Accommodation in Japan
Guide Books on Japan
Matsuyama transport: find information on getting to and getting around Matsuyama by train, bus, tram and ferry.
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