Transportation - International Ferries

• For visitors on a budget or for those who simply have a sense of adventure and some time to spare, travelling overland between Japan and Europe or Asia can be an attractive alternative to air travel. There are several different routes to Japan, many of which combine long distance rail travel on services such as the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Manchurian and Trans-Mongolian Railways, with ferry transport.
  
  Although the required journey times can often be considerably longer, travel by ferry is generally much cheaper than the cost of flying, with direct connections available between several major Japanese port-cities and China, Korea and Russia.
  
  Many of these international ferry services are very popular and advance reservations are recommended. Reservations can be made through major travel agencies within Japan, directly with the ferry company or at your port of departure.
  
  Ferry schedules are subject to seasonal changes and may also vary according to the weather. It is best to confirm schedule details with the relevant ferry company or at local tourist information centres within Japan.

Transportation - International Ferries - list

• FERRIES TO / FROM CHINA

  
  Osaka - Shanghai
  The Shanghai Ferry Company operates a weekly service between Osaka and the Chinese port city of Shanghai. One-way tickets cost between ¥20,000 and ¥40,000 with discounts of up to 40% on return fares. A 10% discount for students is also available. The journey takes approximately 48 hours. Please contact the Shanghai Ferry Company for further information.
  
  The Shanghai Ferry Company
  5F DAI Building, Midosuji
  4-1-2 Minami Kyuhoji-cho
  Chuo-ku
  Osaka 541-0058
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)6 6243 6345
  Fax. +81 (0)6 6243 6308
  Email. pax@shanghai-ferry.co.jp
  
  The Shanghai Ferry Company
  Room BCF
  4F The Panorama Shanghai
  No 53 Huangpu Road
  Shanghai 20080
  China
  Tel. +86 (0)21 6537 5111
  Fax. +86 (0)21 6537 9111
  Email. sfco@shanghai.cngb.com
  
  The Japan-China International Ferry Company connects Osaka and Kobe with Shanghai. The ship departs on a weekly basis, alternating each week between Osaka and Kobe. Fares range between ¥20,000 and ¥50,000 one-way with discounts of up to 40% on return tickets. A 10% discount for students is also available. The journey takes approximately 48 hours. Please contact the Japan-China International Ferry Company for further information.
  
  Japan-China International Ferry Company
  2F Sanai Building
  1-8-6 Shin-machi
  Nishi-ku
  Osaka
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)6 6536 6541
  Fax. +81 (0)6 6536 6542
  
  Japan-China International Ferry Company
  Daikanyama Parkside
  Village 204
  9-8 Sarugaku-cho
  Shibuya-ku
  Tokyo
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)3 5489 4800
  Fax. +81 (0)3 5489 4788
  Email. gifcot@dream.com
  
  Kobe - Tanggu Port (Tianjin)
  China Express Line ships sail once a week between the Chinese Port of Tanggu, near the city of Tianjin, and Kobe. Fares start at ¥20,000 one-way with discounts of up to 40% on return tickets. A 10% discount for students is also available. The journey takes approximately 48 hours. Please contact China Express Line for further information.
  
  China Express Line
  4-5 Shinkocho
  Chuo-ku
  Kobe 650-0041
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)78 321 5791
  Fax. +81 (0)78 321 5793
  Email. pax@celkobe.co.jp
  
  China Express Line
  C/O- Tianjin jin-Shen Ferry Co. Ltd
  N.1 22/F Ocean Shipping Plaza
  Hebei District
  Tianjin
  China
  Tel. + 86 (0)22 2420 5777
  Fax. + 86 (0)22 2420 5970
  
  Shimonoseki - Qingdao
  Orient Ferry Ltd. operates a regular service between Shimonoseki, on the western tip of the main island of Honshu, and the Chinese port city of Qingdao. One-way tickets cost between ¥18,000 and ¥70,000 with discounts of 10% on return fares. Passengers departing from Shimonoseki are also required to pay a passenger facility service charge of ¥600. The journey takes approximately 40 hours. Please contact Orient Ferry Ltd. for further information.
  
  Orient Ferry Ltd
  1-10-64
  Higashi-Yamato-cho
  Shimonoseki 750-0066
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)832 32 6615
  Fax. +81 (0)832 32 6616
  Email. orient.f@crocus.ocn.ne.jp
  
  Orient Ferry Ltd
  Qindao Office
  Haitian Hotel
  Room 1267/1268
  48 Xiang Gang Xi Road
  Qingdao 266071
  China
  Tel. + 86 (0)532 389 7636
  Fax. + 86(0)532 389 7637
  Email. aolin@public.qd.sd.cn
  

• FERRIES TO / FROM KOREA

  
  Shimonoseki - Busan
  The Kampu Ferry Company sails daily between Shimonoseki, on the western tip of the main island of Honshu, and the South Korean port of Busan. Fares range between ¥8,500 and ¥18,000 one-way. Passengers departing from Shimonoseki are also required to pay a passenger facility service charge of ¥600. Discounts of 10% are available on return fares. The journey takes approximately 14 hours. Please contact the Kampu Ferry Company for further information.
  
  Kampu Ferry Company
  1-10-60 Higashi Yamato-cho
  Shimonoseki-shi
  Yamaguchi-ken
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)832 24 3000
  Fax. +81 (0)832 24 3006
  Email. ryokaku@kampuferry.co.jp
  
  Kampu Ferry Company
  4-15 Jungang Dong
  Jung-Gu
  Busan
  Korea
  Tel. +82 (0)51 464 2700
  Fax. +82 (0)51 463 7020
  
  Fukuoka (Hakata) - Busan
  There is a choice of two services on the route between Fukuoka (Hakata), on the southern island of Kyushu, and Busan in South Korea.
  
  JR Kyushu 'Beetle' Hydrofoil
  The journey between Fukuoka and Busan on this high-speed service takes just 2 hours and 55 minutes. The Hydrofoil operates daily and costs ¥13,000 one-way (¥26,000 return). Please contact JR Kyushu for further information or visit the JR Kyushu 'Beetle' web site.
  
  JR Kyushu
  Senpaku Department
  3F Hakata-ko Kokusai Terminal
  14-1 Nakahama-cho
  Hakata-ku Fukuoka 812-0031
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)92 281 2315
  Fax. +81 (0)92 272 5219
  Email. beetle@jrkyushu.co.jp
  
  JR Kyushu
  C/- Korea Marine Express
  International Ferryport 15-3 4-Ga
  Jungang-Dong
  Jung-Gu Busan 600-014
  Korea
  Tel. + 82 (0)51 465 6111
  Fax. +82 (0)51 465 6115
  Email. jbb2@jbb2.co.kr
  
  Camellia Line Ferries
  Camellia Line ferries operates three times a week on this route The journey takes approximately 15 hours and 40 minutes and costs between ¥9,000 one way and ¥17,100 round trip. Discounts of 10% are available on return fares. Please contact the Camellia Line Company for further information.
  
  Camellia Line Company
  3F Hakata-ko Kokusai Terminal
  14-1 Nakahama-cho
  Hakata-ku Fukuoka
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)92 262 2323
  Fax. +81 (0)92 262 2332
  Email. passenger@camellia-line.co.jp
  
  Camellia Line Company
  International Ferryport 15-3 4-Ga
  Jungang-Dong Jung-Gu
  Busan 600-014
  Korea
  Tel. +82 (0)51 466 7799
  Fax. +82 (0) 51 466 7161
  
  Nikkan Kyodo Kippu
  The Nikkan Kyodo Kippu is a discount ticket allowing passengers on either the Kampu Ferry service from Shimonoseki, or the JR Kyushu 'Beetle' service from Fukuoka, to travel between a number of Japanese cities and Seoul, Korea at a significantly reduced fare. Prices for the ticket vary according to the city of departure and include travel by JR train (including the Bullet Train) to the port of departure, travel by ferry or jetfoil to Busan, and rail travel from Busan to Seoul within Korea. The Nikkan Kyodo Kippu is valid for 7-days one way and is available within Japan from major travel agencies and at JR Travel Centres in major JR railway stations.
  
  

• FERRIES TO / FROM RUSSIA

  
  Wakkanai - Korsakov
  From June until mid September Heart Land Ferry operates a regular service between Wakkanai, on the northern tip of Hokkaido, and the Russian port of Korsakov. Fares for the 5.5-hour journey range from ¥24,800 to ¥34,,800 one-way. Please contact Heart Land Ferry for further information.
  
  Heart Land Ferry
  8-2 Odori-Nishi
  Chuo-ku
  Sapporo 060 - 0042
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)11 233 8010
  Fax. +81 (0)11 233 2783
  
  Heart Land Ferry
  2-7-1 Kaiun
  Wakkanai 097-0023
  Hokkaido
  Japan
  Tel. +81 (0)162 23 3780
  Fax. +81 (0)162 23 6730
  
  Heart Land Ferry
  C/- Sakhalin Fantastic Ltd
  154 Lenina Str
  Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
  Sakhalin 693000
  Russia
  Tel/Fax. +7 4242 42 0917
  Email. sfl@bgtelecom.ru