Kyushu is the third largest of the four main islands of Japan and is located in the southwest of the country. This is the birthplace of Japanese civilization, famous for its natural beauty, rich culture, and many attractive tourist attractions. You can get to the Kyushu region in many ways, such as flying to Fukuoka International Airport, taking the Shinkansen bullet train to Hakata Station ( Fukuoka ), or taking a cruise to Fukuoka by sea. And today I will introduce to you how I got to Kyushu by cruise from Osaka / Kobe.
Hankyu Ferry is one of the oldest ferry operators in Japan, established in 1968. It operates two main routes connecting the Kansai region with Kyushu: from Izumiotsu Port (Osaka) and Kobe Port to Shinmoji Port (Fukuoka).
You can purchase ferry tickets either directly at the ticket counter or online. I highly recommend booking online so you can choose your preferred cabin type in advance.
Link to book tickets online at Hankyu Ferry's website: https://www.han9f.co.jp/en/
You just need to visit the website, fill in your details, select the type of room you want to book, and click to submit the registration form. After that, you will receive a booking code in the email you provided. Then, simply bring this booking code to the ticket counter on the day you plan to travel, make the payment, and receive your ticket to board the ferry (arriving about 1 hour before the departure time is recommended).
For this trip, I chose to depart from Kobe, and the embarkation point is located on Rokko Island. Please avoid confusing it with Kobe Port.
Cruise port address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gTF3kfzujkbN6t8w6
Take the train to Island Kitaguchi Station, and then there will be a free shuttle bus from the station to the port.
The Hankyu Ferry has a total of 7 floors: 3 dedicated to cargo and vehicles, and 3 for passenger accommodation, dining, entertainment, and shopping.
Elevators and stairs connect the different floors.
The ferry boasts a spacious restaurant offering a variety of traditional Japanese dishes.
Since I boarded around 7:30 PM, I decided to have dinner first before exploring and taking photos.
Some of the restaurant's dishes that I took photos of.
The dishes are mostly seafood, including sashimi, ...
The meal I chose today consisted of Aji furai (fried horse mackerel), along with a mixed salad and Oden (a traditional Japanese dish made with tofu, fish cakes, daikon radish, and other ingredients simmered in a soy-based dashi broth). The price for this meal was around 1000 JPY (~160,000 VND), which is very reasonable.
The ferry offers various room types, with prices varying depending on the type of room and the travel date. Weekends and holidays are generally more expensive.
Royal and Suite rooms offer ocean views from both the bedroom and bathroom. Prices range from 22,000 JPY to 33,000 JPY per person.
Deluxe rooms are available, with options for pet accommodation. Prices range from 16,000 JPY to 20,000 JPY per person.
Standard and Deluxe bunk bed rooms are also available. Prices range from 8,000 JPY to 16,000 JPY per person.
You can see details of each room type, along with prices for each day on the Hankyu Ferry homepage: https://www.han9f.co.jp/en/
On the ferry, there is also an entertainment area for guests, featuring attractions such as claw machines, pachinko, ...
If you depart from Kobe, you'll pass under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world. Don’t miss the opportunity to take photos from the ferry’s deck.
On the 5th floor, there is also a convenience store selling souvenirs, snacks, beer, alcohol, drinks, and more. You can buy food and drinks here and enjoy them in the restaurant on the 6th floor. However, the food options at the store are not very diverse, so you might want to buy your favorite snacks and enjoy them at the restaurant on the 6th floor.
The 7th floor features a spacious bathhouse and onsen (hot spring) with both indoor and outdoor baths, offering stunning ocean views.
After exploring and taking photos, I returned to my room to rest and wake up early for the sunrise. Since I traveled in late July (summer), the sunrise was quite early, around 4:30-5:00 AM.
Here's the view I woke up to around 4:30 AM.
The sun hadn’t risen yet, but the horizon was already painted with beautiful golden hues.
The 7th floor of the ferry offers many great spots for photography.
Around 5 a.m., the sun began to rise, which was what I had been looking forward to the most in this experience.
Although it was mid-summer and extremely hot, the early morning hours were pleasant, thanks to the cool sea breeze and the sun's low position. It felt almost like autumn.
Sunrise lasts only about 15-20 minutes, so don't miss these beautiful moments. Witnessing the sunrise at sea was the main reason I chose to travel to Kyushu by ferry.
I waited until the sun had risen higher, then went down to the 5th and 6th floors to take more photos of the ferry from different angles.
The windows in the 5th-floor corridor are another favorite spot of mine. The ocean view is truly refreshing and energizing.
Soon, land came into view. About 30 minutes later, we docked at Shinmoji Port.
At the end of the 6th-floor corridor, there's a room where you can enjoy breakfast with a scenic view. It's located right at the front of the ferry.
After the ferry docks, head down to the 1st floor, where a bus will be waiting. The bus offers a free ride from the Hankyu Ferry dock to the nearest train station, Kokura Station.
After taking the free bus to Kokura Station, I boarded a rapid train to Hakata Station (about a 1-hour journey) to begin my Kyushu adventure.
Arriving at Hakata station, I will rent a car to explore the first province in my Kyushu trip: Fukuoka . The next post will share my day exploring Fukuoka. Remember to follow me on social media platforms so you don't miss out on new posts.
I hope this post gives you an alternative way to travel from Osaka/Kobe to Fukuoka and offers a glimpse into the luxurious experience aboard the Hankyu Ferry.
See more of my articles about Fukuoka HERE
See more of my articles about Kumamoto HERE
See more of my articles about Yufuin Floral Village – Oita HERE
See more of my articles about Takachiho Gorge – Miyazaki HERE
See more of my articles about Doya rice terraces – Nagasaki HERE
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