Shodoshima Island Autumn Leaves Day Trip from Kyoto

Meet your other travellers bright and early at 06:45 at Kyoto AVANTI and look forward to a day of exploring Shodoshima Island.

You will board a ferry from either Hinase Port or Himeji Port on the mainland to Shodoshima. The journey from Hinase Port to Obe Port takes around an hour while the journey from Himeji Port to Fukuda Port will take around 1 hour and 45 mins. Regardless, enjoy the surrounding scenery as you approach the island and maybe catch up on some sleep!

Upon arrival to Shodoshima, the bus takes you to the Sancho Summit Station of the Kankakei Ropeway. At an elevation of 612m, enjoy spectacular autumnal views of the island, Kankakei Gorge and the Seto Inland Sea from the various observation decks. There is also a restaurant and souvenir shop you can visit before boarding the ropeway (50 minutes for free time at Sancho Summit Station and ropeway ride.)

The Kankakei Ropeway runs the entire length of the magnificent Kankakei Gorge, nationally designated as one of three most beautiful gorges of Japan and is a popular filming location. The combination of the quirky shaped rock cliffs with the fiery autumn colors is breathtaking so make sure to soak in the moment as the ropeway descends down the ravine. After 5 minutes, the ropeway arrives at KOUN Hillside Station (Kountei) and the tour will head for the final activity.

Shodoshima is affectionately known as 'Olive Island' due to being the first area of Japan to successfully grow olives over 100 years ago thanks to the Mediterranean-type climate that blesses the island. Tourists flock to the island to see olive trees, taste olive products and buy souvenirs. You will have around half an hour of free time to buy olive-based souvenirs and appreciate this thriving local industry.

Board the ferry at either Sakate Port or Fukuda Port to take you back to the mainland with the scheduled return to Kyoto around 21:00.