Getting around

Ferries

For islands, long coasts and the occasional slow trip to Korea or China.

What to know

  • Ferries in Japan range from short crossings to overnight trips, plus international routes.
  • Long routes run down the Sea of Japan coast and up the Pacific side from the Tokyo area to Hokkaido.
  • A ferry links Kagoshima with Naha, the main city in Okinawa.
  • Between Busan and Hakata (Fukuoka) you can take a high-speed or a slow ferry.
  • A weekly service connects Shanghai with Osaka and Kobe. It takes around three days.
  • Kansai Airport has a high-speed ferry link alongside its trains and buses.
  • In Tokyo, yakatabune boats serve food and drinks on the city's waterways. Day and night cruises run in Tokyo and Kobe bays and on the Seto Inland Sea.
  • The SUKIPPU round-trip ticket gives discounts on selected train and ferry routes in the Osaka and Shikoku area.

psst, check the weather forecast the day before. Ferries are the first thing to stop running when the sea gets rough.

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