Getting around during the Setouchi Triennial 瀬戸内トリエンナーレ中に移動する

Published on : 29/05/2019
by : J.R.

La Triennale de Setouchi — The Setouchi Triennial

Tips for getting around the Seto Inland Sea

On the occasion of the major contemporary art event, the Setouchi Triennale, visitors and art enthusiasts will have to sail between the different islands of the Seto Inland Sea to visit the works. To get to the various exhibition sites, you will have to take a boat to cross the channel. Fortunately, the public transportation network between the islands is well developed and reinforced during the Triennale. A little guide to make your life easier!

How to reach the ports from the big cities?

The 2019 Setouchi Triennale takes place on 12 islands, during three sessions (spring, summer, and autumn). The port in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture is the ideal base point to reach the various islands, as it offers direct connections to 6 of the islands. The port of Uno offers connections to 4 islands.

The islands in the western part of the Setouchi region (which mainly participate in the autumn session: from September 28 to November 4, for 38 days) are reached from different ports located in Shikoku: Marugame, Tadotsu, and Miyanoshita. It is possible to travel to these cities by train from Takamatsu Station.

Directions to Takamatsu and Uno

To participate in the Setouchi Triennale, it is recommended to come from the cities of Hiroshima, Osaka, or Tokyo.

To reach Takamatsu and Uno from most of these cities, you will first need to travel to Okayama. The city is easily accessible by Shinkansen, from Hiroshima in 40 min, from Shin-Osaka station in 50 minutes, and from Tokyo in 3h30 by train, or 1h20 by plane.

Once in Okayama, take a JR Shikoku train on the Kaisoku line from Central Station (1 hr journey), which will take you directly to Takamatsu Station, very close to the port.

For Uno Port, still from Okayama, take a JR West train on the Kaisoku Line, change from Chayamachi to the JR Uno Line, and get off at Uno Station. The total trip takes less than an hour.

Grand pont seto — The Great Seto Bridge
Wikimedia Commons

How to navigate between the islands of Setouchi?

There is a whole network of buses and ferries to get from island to island. For simplicity, the network is divided into two: the western part of the islands, and the eastern part. The separation between the two areas occurs at the Great Seto Bridge, which connects the islands of Shikoku and Honshu. To the east, the most important islands are Naoshima, Shodoshima, Teshima, and Inujima. West of the bridges, Honjima, Takamijima, and Awashima is the most visited islands.

Be careful though, not all the islands are directly connected! For example, it is not possible to reach Ogijima directly from Teshima, or Sanagijima from Awashima. Some islands, therefore, act as a "hub", from where it is possible to reach the more remote islands. In the western part of the Setouchi region, it is rather the island of Takamijima, and in the eastern part, Naoshima.

To find out which ferry you should take to get to a particular island, it is recommended to rely on the official website of the Setouchi Triennale:

Rates and tips

Ferry prices vary depending on the distance, between 240 and 2,000 yen (between $2.25-22/1.75-18€) per trip. The ferries operate all day, generally, between 7 am and 8 pm (depending on the lines) with a frequency of 1 to 2 hours, thanks to the reinforcement put in place for the Setouchi Triennale.

There is also a 3-day Ferry Pass which allows unlimited use of the ferries connecting the 5 islands of Naoshima, Teshima, Megijima, Ogijima, and Shodoshima. It is sold at 2,500 yen for adults (around $24/9€) and 1,250 yen for children (around $13/11€) and is valid for 3 consecutive days.

Ferry Setouchi — A ferry in Takamatsu Bay
Wikimedia Commons

Finally, we recommend using the official mobile app, offered in English. It brings together all the essential information to enjoy the Setouchi Triennale once there: maps and schedules of buses and ferries with routes, maps of the islands, restaurants, bike rentals, information on the works, and notifications of traffic information.

Discovering the Seto Inland Sea and the Setouchi Triennial

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