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, Taiwan and Russia.
Click on the icon to open a map of Japan.
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.
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 ¥50,000 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.jpThe 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
Osaka Shanghai
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 6542Japan-China International Ferry Company
Pacific Building
9-14 Daikanyame
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/- 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
10-64-1
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
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.jpKampu 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 (¥24,000 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.krCamellia 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 and ¥18,000 one-way. 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 7161Nikkan 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.
Taiwan
Okinawa Keelung/Kaohsiung
Weekly ferry services operate between the Taiwanese ports of Keelung and Kaohsiung, and the southern Japanese-island of Okinawa. The ferries arrive in and depart from Naha, the capital of Okinawa, often stopping at the Miyako and Ishigaki Islands en route. Fares for the 20-hour journey range from ¥15,600 to ¥29,300 one-way. Please contact the Arimura Sangyo Company for further information.
Arimura Sangyo Company
2-16-10 Minato-Machi
Naha
Okinawa
Tel. +81 (0)98 860 1980
Fax. +81 (0)98 860 1955
Arimura Sangyo Company
C/- Hai Ten Shipping Co Ltd
9-11 F Typhone Building
232 Cheng Kung1st Road
Kaohsiung
Taiwan ROC
Tel. + 886 (0)7 330 9811
Fax. + 886 (0)7 330 6177
Russia
Fushiki Vladivostok
From July until the first week in October a twice-monthly ferry service operates between Fushiki, near Toyama on the Japan Sea Coast, and the Russian port city of Vladivostok. One-way tickets cost between ¥25,200 and ¥88,800 with discounts of 10% on return fares. The journey takes approximately 40 hours. Please contact the following agency for further information.
Toyo Kyodo Kaiun
4F Shuwa-Sakurabashi Bldg
4-5-4 Hachobori
Chuo-ku
Tokyo
Japan
Tel. +81 (0)3 5541 7511
Fax. +81 (0)3 3552 7322
Wakkanai Korsakov
From mid-July until the end of September the East Japan Sea Ferry Company operates a regular service between Wakkanai, on the northern tip of Hokkaido, and the Russian port of Korsakov. Fares for the 8-hour journey range from ¥20,000 to ¥30,000 one-way. Please contact the East Japan Sea Ferry Company for further information.
East Japan Sea Ferry Company
1-4-1 Kaiun
Wakkanai 097-0023
Hokkaido
Japan
Tel. +81 (0)162 23 3780
Fax. +81 (0)162 23 6730
Email. saharin.w@kaiferry.co.jp
East Japan Sea Ferry Company
9F Tsutai Building
11-1292 4 jo- Nishi
Chuo-ku Minami
Sapporo 064-0804
Japan
Tel. +81 (0)11 518 2780
Fax. +81 (0)11 418 2783
Email. info@kaiferry.co.jpEast Japan Sea Ferry Company
C/- Sakhalin Fantastic Ltd
154 Lenina Str
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Sakhalin 693000
Russia
Tel/Fax. + 7 4242 42 0917
Email. sfl@bgtelecom.ruNote: Prices and journey times are estimates only.
