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What You’ll Learn in This Article
- Whether you can rent a car right at Ikeda Port, and what the rental desk actually is
- Rates, hours, booking, and one-way return rules at Ikeda Port Mobility Station
- Whether same-day rental works, and how to avoid sold-out cars in peak season
- The Takamatsu–Ikeda ferry: travel time, fares, and frequency
- Driving times from Ikeda Port to Kankakei, Olive Park, and Angel Road
- Day trip vs. overnight, plus where to stay on the island
Can You Rent a Car at Ikeda Port? The Short Answer
Yes. There is a rental desk inside the ferry ticket building at Ikeda Port, so you can switch from ferry to car the moment you arrive.
The desk is called Ikeda Port Mobility Station, run by Kokusai Ryobi Ferry (the company on the Takamatsu route). It is a few steps from where you step off the ferry, so there is no need to travel to Tonosho Port to pick up a car.
Older guides often say Ikeda Port has no rental office and only offers car delivery, but the in-port desk is now operating. That said, the only vehicles on offer here are kei (light) cars, and this is the single rental point at the port.
Point
At Ikeda Port you can only rent kei (light) cars, from one desk. If you want a compact car or larger, or you simply want to be sure of getting a vehicle, you’ll have more choice by taking a ferry to Tonosho Port (more offices) or using one of the delivery-capable companies below.
Rates, Hours, and Booking at Ikeda Port Mobility Station
Rates include gasoline, and you can choose hourly or 24-hour blocks. Returns are at Ikeda Port only; one-way drop-off at another port is not possible.
| Duration | Rate (gasoline included, kei car) |
|---|---|
| 2 hours | ¥2,600 |
| 6 hours | ¥6,000 |
| 9 hours | ¥7,600 |
| 24 hours | ¥10,100 (approx. US$67) |
| Each additional day | ¥9,000 |
- Collision damage waiver (CDW): ¥1,100 per 24 hours
- Child / junior seat: ¥500 each
- Vehicle: kei (light) car such as the Daihatsu Tanto, seats 4
- Gasoline is included in the rate, so no refueling is needed at return
The desk is open 8:30–17:30. For same-day use, return within those hours. To book ahead, or for rentals longer than a day, call (+81-50-3615-6352, staffed 8:30–17:30) or reserve online.
Warning
Pickup and return are both at Ikeda Port only. One-way drop-off at Tonosho, Sakate, Fukuda, or other ports is not available here. If you want to enter and leave the island from different ports, use a company that offers one-way returns instead of this desk.
- Kokusai Ryobi Ferry | Ikeda Port car & bicycle rental (Japanese)
- Ikeda Port Mobility Station online booking (Japanese)
Same-Day Rentals and Peak-Season Tips
You can rent on the day if a car is free, but with one kei model from one desk, booking ahead is safer when it’s busy.
Rental cars across the island run short on weekends and holidays, in summer, during Golden Week, and in the autumn-foliage season at Kankakei. With its small fleet, Ikeda Port sells out especially fast, so reserve online or by phone if your dates are fixed.
Companies without their own desk at Ikeda Port may still deliver a car to the port. Rates and coverage change by season, so confirm when you book.
- Miki Rent-a-Car / Angel Rent-a-Car: pickup and one-way return available at several ports
- Marine Rent-a-Car: delivery to the port for a ¥2,200 delivery fee
Info
If you want a compact car rather than a kei car, or you need to enter and leave from different ports, offices are concentrated around Tonosho Port. Asking one of them to deliver to your port is the more flexible option.
Ferry Access: Takamatsu to Ikeda Port
Ferries to Ikeda Port run from Takamatsu on Kokusai Ryobi Ferry: about 60 minutes, 11 round trips a day, and no reservation needed to board.
Takamatsu–Ikeda takes about 60 minutes, with 11 round trips daily. You can board first-come without a reservation, but only about half the deck space is bookable for cars, so reserve ahead if you’re crossing with a vehicle.
| Type | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger (adult) | ¥700 (approx. US$5) | ¥1,330 |
| Passenger (child) | ¥350 | ¥670 |
| Car under 3–4 m (incl. 1 passenger) | ¥5,030 | ¥9,560 |
| Car 4–5 m (incl. 1 passenger) | ¥6,330 | ¥12,030 |
| Bicycle | ¥1,070 | — |
Info
If you cross from the Okayama side on Kokusai Ryobi Ferry, those sailings arrive at Tonosho Port, not Ikeda Port. Ferries serving Ikeda Port are essentially the ones from Takamatsu (no direct sailing from Okayama to Ikeda could be confirmed).
Driving Times from Ikeda Port to Major Spots
Ikeda Port sits near the center of Shodoshima, so Olive Park, Kankakei, and Angel Road are all relatively easy to reach.
| Destination | Approx. driving time |
|---|---|
| Shodoshima Olive Park | 5–10 min |
| Tonosho Port / Angel Road area | 20–30 min |
| Kankakei Gorge (Koun-tei / summit) | 25–40 min |
| Marukin Soy Sauce Museum (Hishio no Sato) | approx. 20 min |
| Nakayama Senmaida rice terraces | approx. 15 min |
Times vary by source, so check your actual route on Google Maps before setting off. The main road runs east–west along the island’s south coast, and reaching Kankakei means a climb up a mountain road.
Alternatives to a Rental Car (Bus & E-Bike)
If you’d rather not drive, you can also start from Ikeda Port by bus or electric-assist bicycle.
Public transport means the Shodoshima Olive Bus. A one-day pass is ¥1,600 for adults and ¥800 for children (approx. US$11/5.50) and can be bought at the Kokusai Ryobi Ferry desk at Ikeda Port (a higher November rate may apply in some years, to be verified). Services aren’t frequent, so check the timetable for the spots you want.
- Electric-assist bicycles: 16 at the Ikeda Port desk; ¥1,700 for 4 hours, ¥2,200 for a day
- Car share: a few Daihatsu kei cars around the Ikeda Port area; from ¥220 per 15 minutes, gasoline included
- A bike suits short hops nearby; a rental car is more efficient for a full loop of the island
If you’re weighing whether to tour the island without a car at all, the bus-based itinerary in our Shodoshima day-trip plan makes the call easier.
Fuel, Roads, and Parking Notes
Gas stations on the island are few and keep short hours. Be ready for the mountain road and busy car parks, too.
- Gas stations are limited, and many cut their hours on Sundays and holidays, so refuel early
- Cars from Ikeda Port Mobility Station are on gasoline-included plans, so no refueling is needed at return
- The road up to Kankakei is a mountain climb; allow extra time if you’re not a confident driver
- The Kankakei car park fills up at the autumn-foliage peak, so arrive early in the morning
For general tips on renting a car in rural Japan, see what to know before renting a car in the countryside.
Day Trip or Overnight?
The rental desk closes at 17:30. Trying to cover Kankakei, Hishio no Sato, and Olive Park in one go makes a day trip feel rushed.
The Ikeda Port desk runs 8:30–17:30, and the last ferry back to Takamatsu is in the 19:00 hour. Arrive in the morning and return the car in the evening and you have roughly 6–8 hours; add Kankakei and you’ll need to trim the other stops.
If you want to linger at Olive Park until sunset, or take your time over both Kankakei and Hishio no Sato, an overnight stay gives you more room. The island has lodging around the ports and near Olive Park, and if you simply rent a car again the next morning, the time pressure disappears.
Where to stay: for a relaxed stay, the island’s draw is its sea-view resorts. The three below all overlook the Seto Inland Sea; tap an image to check availability and rates
- Check rates & availability for Bay Resort Hotel Shodoshima (Klook)
- Check rates & availability for Olivean Shodoshima Yuhigaoka Hotel (Klook)
- Check rates & availability for Tenku Hotel Kairo (Klook)
Summary
Ikeda Port suits travelers who want to step off the ferry and into a kei car right away. If you need more vehicle choice or one-way flexibility, a Tonosho-side ferry or a delivery-capable company is the better fit.
- Ikeda Port Mobility Station rents kei cars (¥10,100 per 24 hours, gasoline included, 8:30–17:30)
- No one-way return, kei only, single desk, so book ahead in peak season or consider a Tonosho ferry
- Takamatsu–Ikeda runs about 60 minutes, 11 round trips a day, ¥700 one way for adults
- Central Ikeda Port makes Olive Park, Kankakei, and Angel Road easy to reach
- If you’re not driving, an Olive Bus one-day pass (¥1,600 adult) or an electric-assist bike also work
- For sunsets, Kankakei, and Hishio no Sato at a slower pace, an overnight stay at a sea-view hotel is worth it
