Chapter 1 — Access
Access
From Matsuyama City Station to a house on Gogoshima takes about an hour, connections included. The ferry needs no reservation and you buy your ticket on board.
Two ferry routes.
Two routes leave Takahama Port, one for Yura Port and one for Tomari Port. Each runs somewhere over ten sailings a day from morning to night, roughly hourly during the day.
First, to Takahama Port.
Takahama Port sits right beside Takahama Station, the last stop on the Iyotetsu Takahama Line. Walk out of the ticket gate and the pier is in front of you.
| From | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Matsuyama City Station (Iyotetsu) | About 20 min | Takahama Line to the last stop |
| JR Matsuyama Station | About 30 min | Takahama Line from Otemachi Station, 5 min on foot |
| Dogo Onsen | About 50 min | Tram to Matsuyama City Station, then the Takahama Line |
| Matsuyama Airport | About 50 min | Limousine bus to Matsuyama City Station, then the Takahama Line |
| Matsuyama Airport (by car) | About 20 min | Rental car, 8.8 km. About ¥1,900 by taxi |
| By car (Matsuyama IC) | About 35 min | Paid parking at the Takahama Port pier (¥200 for 2 hrs, then ¥100/hr; as of 2025). You can also take the car across |
MemoFor train and bus fares and timetables, please check the official Iyo Railway site. On weekends and public holidays there is also a “cycle train” you can wheel your bike straight onto.
Riding the ferry.
No reservation is needed. Tickets are sold on board (there is an online prepayment service as well). If you are taking a car, line up in lane 1 at the pier.
Yura Port is about 13 minutes away, Tomari Port about 10. Look back from the deck for Matsuyama, look ahead for the island: a short crossing of a little over ten minutes.
MemoDuring the summer holidays some sailings also call at Funakoshi Port, and a few sailings are suspended over the New Year period. Please check current operations with Gogoshima Ferry.
Getting around the island.
The island is hilly and the villages are spread out. Around the ports your feet are enough; to see the island, an electric-assist rental bike is the way to go.
- Rental bikes — Pick up and drop off at either Yura Port or Tomari Port. Electric-assist is the one to take. You can reserve ahead, or simply sign up on board the ferry. Arranged by Gogoshima Ferry Co., 089-961-2034. If you are staying at a D1 GOGOSHIMA house, the electric-assist bikes at Space Gogoshima are free to use (see the Stay page for details).
- Micro EV rental cars — Two-seaters, also handled by Gogoshima Ferry Co.
- Gogoshima Fureai Taxi — A taxi run by islanders, by reservation only. Book by the day before at the latest.
- On foot — Every D1 house is within walking distance of a port, and for the shops by the ports walking is plenty.
MemoFor current numbers and prices, please see the official rental bike page.
Stay on the island.
Step off the boat and walk a minute or two. Five whole-house rentals are waiting to become the base for your island time.
See the houses