Shodoshima, home to Olive Park, Angel Road and the Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village, is the largest island in Kagawa’s part of the Seto Inland Sea and one of the most charming in Japan. Known as the olive island, it was the first place in Japan where olives were grown successfully, and its sunny hills, groves and Mediterranean-style windmill feel a world away from Tokyo. The island is also known for soy sauce breweries, hand-stretched somen noodles and the dramatic Kankakei Gorge. Ferries from Takamatsu take about an hour, so you can visit on a day trip, though an overnight stay lets you slow down. This guide covers the three highlights, practical tips and where to stay.
1. Shodoshima Olive Park
Shodoshima Olive Park sits on a sunny hillside above the sea, with olive groves, herb gardens and a white Greek windmill that has become the island’s best-known landmark. Entry is free, and the park is open 8:30 to 17:00. A fun extra: you can borrow a broom for free and take a photo “flying” like Kiki from the Studio Ghibli film Kiki’s Delivery Service, whose live-action version was filmed here. The park explains how olives arrived on Shodoshima more than a century ago, and shops sell olive oil, cosmetics and olive-flavored treats, including olive ice cream. Walk up to the windmill for the classic view over Uchinomi Bay, especially beautiful in the soft light of late afternoon. Olives are usually harvested in autumn, when the trees are heavy with fruit. Buses run along the south coast from Tonosho and Ikeda ports, or you can rent a car or e-bike to explore at your own pace.
2. Angel Road
Angel Road is a narrow sandbar near Tonosho that appears only at low tide, linking the shore with a chain of small islands. Twice a day, as the tide goes out, the path rises from the sea, and for a few hours you can walk across to the islands before the water returns. Local legend says that couples who cross Angel Road holding hands will be blessed with happiness, so it is a popular spot for proposals and photos, and you will see small wooden ema plaques with wishes written by visitors at the lookout on the hill above. It is free to visit. Check the tide table published by Tonosho town before you go, and plan to arrive about an hour before low tide so you have time to cross and return safely. The lookout gives a lovely view of the sandbar and the islands, even when the path is under water. Angel Road is a short walk from several hotels in the Tonosho area.
3. Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village
The Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village (Nijushi no Hitomi Eigamura) recreates a seaside village from the early Showa era, built as the set for the 1987 film version of Twenty-Four Eyes. The story, from a 1952 novel by Shodoshima-born writer Sakae Tsuboi, follows a young teacher and her twelve pupils, the “twenty-four eyes” of the title, through the years before and during the war; the 1954 film by Keisuke Kinoshita is considered a classic of Japanese cinema. Today you can walk through wooden houses, a small cinema and a traditional schoolhouse with old desks, and the village feels like stepping back in time. Kids enjoy the old-fashioned snacks and games. Nearby, the original Misaki Branch School, the real schoolhouse that inspired the story, can also be visited. The village is on a peninsula on the south side of the island, reached by bus or car from Tonosho and Sakate. Check the current admission and hours on the official website before your visit.
Where to Stay Near Shodoshima
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Staying overnight on Shodoshima lets you catch Angel Road at the best low tide, watch sunset over the Inland Sea and explore the quiet villages after the day-trippers leave. Tonosho, the island’s main port town on the west side, is the most convenient area, with the widest choice of hotels and easy access to Angel Road and the ferries to Takamatsu.
Luxury
Bay Resort Hotel Shodoshima is a full-service resort hotel on the island with restaurants, large baths and spacious rooms. It is a comfortable choice for families and travelers who want a relaxing island stay.
Resort hotel with sea views and large baths.
Mid-Range
Kokuminshukusha Shodoshima is a good-value lodge with simple Japanese- and Western-style rooms. It offers a classic Japanese holiday experience at a reasonable price.
Good-value public lodge on the island.
Budget-Friendly
Shodoshima Olive Youth Hostel is a friendly hostel with private and shared rooms in the olive-growing countryside. It is a great base for budget travelers exploring the island by bike or bus.
Friendly hostel with private and shared rooms.
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Hotels in Shodoshima on Booking.com
Stay on Shodoshima to catch Angel Road at low tide and enjoy the island after the last ferries leave.
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Quick Tips for Visiting
- Check the Angel Road tide table before you go and arrive about an hour before low tide.
- Ride the Kankakei Ropeway for spectacular autumn colors: in November a round trip costs 2,700 yen, and from October 21 to November 30 it runs 8:00 to 17:00.
- Renting a car or e-bike is the easiest way to see the island; buses run, but not very often.
- Try hand-stretched somen noodles and visit a soy sauce brewery in the old Hishio no Sato district.
- Ferries from Takamatsu to Tonosho run about hourly: about 1 hour by car ferry (700 yen) or about 30 minutes by high-speed boat (1,400 yen).
Getting there by train: From Tokyo, take the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama, then the JR Marine Liner rapid train across the Seto Ohashi Bridge to Takamatsu in about 55 minutes; the whole trip takes about four and a half hours on the fastest trains. From Takamatsu port, next to the station, ferries reach Tonosho in about an hour and high-speed boats in about 30 minutes, and other ferries serve Ikeda. Ferries also link Shodoshima with Okayama and Himeji. The ferries are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it for your route.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can you walk across Angel Road?
Angel Road appears at low tide, twice a day. Check the Tonosho town tide table and arrive about an hour before low tide.
Is Shodoshima Olive Park free?
Yes. Entry to Shodoshima Olive Park is free, and it is open from 8:30 to 17:00. You can borrow a broom for a Kiki’s Delivery Service-style photo.
How do you get to Shodoshima from Takamatsu?
Ferries from Takamatsu port reach Tonosho in about an hour for 700 yen, or about 30 minutes by high-speed boat for 1,400 yen.
What is the Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village?
It is the film set from the 1987 movie Twenty-Four Eyes, based on Sakae Tsuboi’s novel, recreating a seaside village and schoolhouse from the early Showa era.
