Access to Kochi from Okayama/Takamatsu. Limited Express Nanpu/Shimanto

JR Shikoku 2000 series Anpanman car

Shimanto Connects Takamatsu (高松) with Kochi (高知), Nakamura (中村) and Sukumo (宿毛). Nanpu depatrs from Okayama to Kochi, Nakamura and Sukumo via Seto Ohashi bridge (瀬戸大橋). Most of these trains are combined to operate between Utazu (宇多津) and Kochi, Nakamura and Sukumo. These trains are operated on Non JR line, “Tosa Kuroshio Railway” between Kubokawa (窪川) and Sukumo. If you take these trains on this section, you need to pay some extra. I will show you the extra fare below.

When you go to Kochi, use Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama (岡山) and transfer to Nanpu at Okayama. Most of Nanpu are connected with Nozomi, Hikari, Mizuho and Sakura in right connection time.

Route and Schedule

Nanpu connects Okayama with Kochi in 2 hours 30 minutes to 40 minutes, and Okayama with Nakamura in 4hour and 30 minutes. Shimanto connects Takamatsu with Kochi in 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes, and Takamatsu with Nakamura in 4 hours and 15 minutes.

The number of Shiokaze and Ishizuchi are operated as follows:

Nanpu

Okayama and Kochi — 7 round trips
Okayama and Nakamura — 4 trips to Nakamura, 5 trips to Okayama
Okayama and Sukumo — 3 trips to Sukumo, 2 trips to Okayama

Shimanto

Takamatsu and Kochi — 4 round trips
Takamatsu and Nakamura — 1 tirp to Nakamura
Takamatsu and Sukumo — 1 trip to Takamatsu

Most of Shimanto are operated with Nanpu between Utazu and Kochi except one trip to Kochi and one trip from Sukumo to Takamatsu.

View Nanpu / Shimanto in a larger map

Hotels in Kochi
Hotels in Takamatsu

x=all trains stop *=Some of trains stop

Extra fare

If you take these train between Kubokawa and Sukumo, you need to pay the extra fare. This section is not covered by Japan Rail Pass because this section is operated by Tosa Kuroshio Railway.

*If you take non reserved seat, you can reduce 200yen from Limited express surcharge.
*When you take Green seat, you need to pay non reserved limited express surcharge too.

Accommodation

All trains are operated by JR Shikoku 2000 series. The seat configuration in Green seat is 2+1 and in Ordinary seat is 2+2. The seat pitch in Green seat is 1170 mm and in ordinary class is 980 mm.

Some of the trains are operated as “Anpanman” train. “Anpanman” is one of the most popular animation character in Japan. Lots of characters are painted on the train. Some of the trains have the specialized Anpanman seat too.

Train formation

JR Shikoku 2000 series

Nanpu 3 cars formation

Nanpu 3 cars formation

Nanpu 4 cars formation

Shimanto 2 cars formation (This formation are combined with Nanpu)

Shimanto 3 cars formation (This formation are combined with Nanpu)

Shimanto 3 cars formation (This formation are operated by Shimanto only)

G=Green seat R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non-Reserved ordinary seat

Images

JR Shikoku 8000 series

JR Shikoku 2000 series

Photo credit
JR Shikoku 2000 series Anpanman painted exterior by Mitsuki-2368 (Mitsuki-2368が撮影) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
JR Shikoku 2000 series Green seat by Rsa [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
JR Shikoku 2000 series Ordinary seat by Rsa [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
JR Shikoku 2000 series train By L73MuOVg4dJHp0g (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons