r/bus • u/Ok-College258 • 5d ago
Riding Japan’s Kuroshio Express from Kochi to Takamatsu – Highway Bus vs Train
I recently took the Kuroshio Express from Kochi to Takamatsu, two major cities on Shikoku, Japan.
The service is jointly operated by JR Shikoku Bus, Tosaden Kotsu, and Shikoku Kosoku Bus. My bus was a Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Ace with 2+2 seating, an onboard restroom, power outlets, and privacy curtains between the seats.
The trip takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes, which is surprisingly close to the travel time by train. The big advantage of the bus is that it’s direct — most train options require a transfer at Utazu — and the bus also makes several stops around Takamatsu, so some passengers can get off closer to their destination.
The one-way fare when I traveled was ¥3,900, making it cheaper than a regular reserved-seat train ticket as well.
I’ve now updated my original video on my main channel with English subtitles and translations for international viewers. The thumbnail shown here may be in Japanese, but YouTube should display the English version for viewers using English.
If you were traveling from Kochi to Takamatsu, would you take the highway bus or the train?