Major hub

Large port

Medium port

Small port

Seasonal route

Japan

277 ports

ports: 277
Operators: 102
Takamatsu to Tonosho (Shodoshima): 1h
Nagoya to Tomakomai: 40h

MOL Sunflower, Shin Nihonkai Ferry and 96 other companies sail between 275 ports in Japan. Ferries also sail to Japan from Busan. The main crossing, from Takamatsu to Tonosho (Shodoshima), takes an hour and runs 23 times a day; the longest within Japan, from Nagoya to Tomakomai, takes 40 hours. Some sailings take cars, others foot passengers only. Some lines are seasonal.

Ferries to Japan

5 routes

South Korea

Busan to HitakatsuPanStar Cruise · Starline1h 10mAbout twice a day Busan to IzuharaPanStar Cruise · Starline2h 20m4 a week, October to June Busan to Hakata (Fukuoka)Camellia Line9hDaily Busan to ShimonosekiKampu Ferry · Pukwan Ferry10h 45m8 a week Busan to OsakaPanStar Cruise17h3 a week

Ferry companies in Japan

Calls at Oarai, Tomakomai, Osaka and four other portsCarsOvernight

11h 15m–18h

Shin Nihonkai Ferry

Calls at Otaru, Maizuru, Tomakomai Higashi and three other portsCars

16h 30m–46h 15m

Calls at Tokyo (Takeshiba), Izu Oshima, Miyakejima and nine other portsFoot passengers only

45m–12h

Shōdoshima Ferry

Calls at Takamatsu, Tonosho (Shodoshima), Shin-Okayama and two other portsCars

1h–1h 40m

Uwajima Unyu Ferries

Calls at Yawatahama, Usuki and BeppuCars

2h 20m–2h 50m

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry

Calls at Hakodate, Aomori, Muroran and OmaCars

1h 30m–7h

Calls at Hakodate and AomoriCarsOvernight

3h 50m

Calls at Tomakomai, Sendai and NagoyaCarsOvernight

15h–40h

Kyūshū Shōsen

Calls at Nagasaki, Fukue, Sasebo and five other portsCars on some sailings

1h–4h 20m

Calls at Hachinohe and TomakomaiCarsOvernight

7h 15m–8h 30m

Ocean Tokyu Ferry

Calls at Tokyo (Ariake), Tokushima and ShinmojiCarsOvernight

34h 30m

Calls at Karatsu, Indoji, Hakata (Fukuoka) and four other portsCars

1h 10m–4h 55m

Calls at Shinmoji, Kobe and IzumiotsuCarsOvernight

12h 30m

Meimon Taiyo Ferry

Calls at Osaka and ShinmojiCarsOvernight

12h 30m

Calls at Kure, Matsuyama and HiroshimaCars on some sailingsHigh speed

1h 20m–2h 42m

Meitetsu Kaijo Kankosen

Calls at Morozaki, Shinojima, Himakajima and two other portsCars on some sailings

10m–55m

Calls at Yanai and Mitsuhama (Matsuyama)CarsOvernight

2h 35m

Kokusai Ryōbi Ferry

Calls at Shin-Okayama, Tonosho (Shodoshima), Takamatsu and Ikeda (Shodoshima)Cars

1h–1h 10m

Calls at Hakata (Fukuoka), Uku, Nagasaki and six other portsCars on some sailings

34m–8h 30m

Kokudō Kyūshi Ferry

Calls at Saganoseki and MisakiCars

1h 10m

Tokyo Kyusyu Ferry

Calls at Yokosuka and ShinmojiCarsOvernight

20h 45m–21h 15m

Calls at Kobe, Takamatsu and Sakate (Shodoshima)Cars

4h 15m–4h 45m

Calls at Shichirui, Saigo, Kurii and three other portsCars on some sailings

44m–5h 50m

Kyushi Orange Ferry

Calls at Yawatahama and UsukiCarsOvernight

2h 20m–2h 25m

Fukuoka City Ferry

Calls at Hakata (Fukuoka), Genkaijima, Meinohama and four other portsCars on some sailings

10m–1h 5m

Calls at Ishigaki, Ohara (Iriomote), Kohama and five other portsCars on some sailings

12m–1h 13m

Setonaikai Kisen

Calls at Kure, Matsuyama, Hiroshima and MiyajimaCars on some sailings

45m–2h 42m

Calls at Mihara, Sagi (Sagishima), Shigei (Innoshima) and three other portsFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

40m–42m

Yaeyama Kanko Ferry

Calls at Ishigaki, Ohara (Iriomote), Kohama and four other portsCarsHigh speed

15m–1h 15m

Calls at Takehara, Shiromizu (Osakikamijima) and Tarumi (Osakikamijima)Cars

25m–30m

Calls at Takamatsu, Miyanoura (Naoshima), Uno and three other portsCars on some sailings

20m–1h

Tane Yaku Jetfoil

Calls at Kagoshima, Nishinoomote, Miyanoura (Yakushima) and Anbo (Yakushima)Foot passengers onlyHigh speed

1h 35m–2h 55m

Calls at Niigata, Ryotsu, Naoetsu and OgiCars

1h 7m–2h 40m

Calls at Matsuyama, Muzukijima, Mitsuhama (Matsuyama) and nine other portsCars on some sailings

40m–2h 44m

Calls at Wakayama and TokushimaCars

2h 10m–2h 15m

Calls at Kamoike and TarumizuCars

40m

Miyazaki Car Ferry

Calls at Miyazaki and KobeCarsOvernight

12h 15m–13h 30m

Shikoku Orange Ferry

Calls at Toyo, Osaka, Niihama and KobeCars

7h–8h

Calls at Taira and NagasuCars

45m

Calls at Setoda, Mihara, Mukaita (Sagishima) and SunamiCars on some sailings

28m–32m

Calls at Tokuyama and TaketazuCarsOvernight

2h

Calls at Kagoshima, Naze, Kametoku and four other portsCars

11h–25h 30m

Calls at Kagoshima, Naze, Kametoku and four other portsCars

11h–25h 30m

Calls at Akitsu and Onishi (Osakikamijima)Cars

35m

From BusanCars on some sailings

1h 20m–17h

Heartland Ferry

Calls at Wakkanai, Oshidomari (Rishiri), Rebun and Kutsugata (Rishiri)Cars

40m–2h 50m

From BusanCarsOvernight

9h

JR West Miyajima Ferry

Calls at Miyajimaguchi and MiyajimaCars

10m

Kobe-Kansai Airport Bay Shuttle

Calls at Kobe Airport and Kansai AirportFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

31m

Calls at Hagi, Honmura (Mishima), Aishima (Hagi) and two other portsCars on some sailings

30m–1h 45m

Calls at Toba and IragoCars

1h

Toba City Ferry

Calls at Toba, Toshi (Toshijima), Momotori (Toshijima) and three other portsFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

10m–40m

Calls at Kagoshima, Kikai, Koniya and two other portsCars

13h 30m–19h 45m

Suō-Ōshima Matsuyama Ferry

Calls at Ihota (Suo-Oshima), Mitsuhama (Matsuyama) and YanaiCars

2h 30m–2h 35m

Shimatetsu Ferry

Calls at Kuchinotsu and OniikeCars

30m

From BusanCarsOvernight

10h 45m

From BusanCarsOvernight

10h 45m

Koshikijima Shōsen

Calls at Sato (Kamikoshiki), Nagahama (Shimokoshiki), Kushikino and SatsumasendaiCars on some sailings

1h 35m–2h 35m

Shōdoshima Teshima Ferry

Calls at Uno, Ieura (Teshima), Karato (Teshima) and Tonosho (Shodoshima)Cars

1h

Calls at Naha, Kumejima and TonakiCars

3h–3h 30m

Calls at Imabari, Tomoura (Oshima), Kinoura (Hakatajima) and five other portsFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

1h 20m

Tsu Airport Line

Calls at Tsu and Chubu Centrair AirportFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

45m

Calls at Nishinoomote, Miyanoura (Yakushima) and TaniyamaCars

6h 30m–13h

Tokyo-wan Ferry

Calls at Kurihama and KanayaCars

40m

Zamami Village Ferry

Calls at Naha, Aka, Zamami and Aharen (Tokashiki)Cars on some sailings

10m–2h

Fujisan Suruga Bay Ferry

Calls at Shimizu and ToiCars

1h 30m

Gojiraiwa Kanko

Calls at Utoro, Cape Shiretoko, Rausu and three other portsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

30m–1h 38m

Calls at Kagoshima, Kuchinoshima, Takarajima and six other portsCars

16h 15m

Ōmishima Blue Line

Calls at Omishima, Okamurajima, Imabari and Kinoe (Osakikamijima)Cars

23m–1h 15m

Calls at Ishinomaki, Odomari (Tashirojima), Aji (Ajishima) and three other portsCarsHigh speed

1h 20m–1h 22m

Shiyūjima Kaiun

Calls at Takamatsu, Megijima and OgijimaCars

40m

Calls at Hikone, Chikubushima, Kaizu Ōsaki and three other portsFoot passengers only

10m–1h 15m

Izu Shotō Kaihatsu

Calls at Hachijojima, Aogashima, Chichijima and HahajimaCars on some sailings

2h–3h

Tsuyoshi Shōsen

Calls at Sasebo, Tsuyoshi (Hirado) and AinouraFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

48m–1h 7m

Ogasawara Kaiun

Calls at Tokyo (Takeshiba) and ChichijimaCarsOvernight

24h

Calls at Kagoshima and Miyanoura (Yakushima)Cars

4h–4h 10m

Calls at Yamakawa and NejimeCars

50m

Gotō Sangyō Kisen

Calls at Tainoura and NagasakiFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

1h 40m

Calls at Kumamoto and ShimabaraCarsHigh speed

32m–34m

Calls at Iwafune and AwashimaFoot passengers only

1h 35m

Calls at Naha, Minamidaito and KitadaitoFoot passengers only

15h–17h 30m

Calls at Kagoshima, Takeshima (Mishima), Satsuma-Iojima and two other portsCars

4h–6h

Calls at Kagoshima and NishinoomoteCars

3h 30m–3h 40m

Shimanami Kaiun

Calls at Akashi (Osakikamijima) and OsakishimojimaCars

15m

Haboro Enkai Ferry

Calls at Haboro, Yagishiri and TeuriCarsHigh speed

1h 35m–1h 45m

Iheya Village Ferry

Calls at Iheya and UntenCars

1h 20m

Calls at Shimoda, Kozushima, Toshima and two other portsCars

1h 35m–5h 10m

Calls at Heshikiya and TsukenCarsHigh speed

30m

Setouchi Shimatabi Line

Calls at Hiroshima, Kure, Mihara and two other portsFoot passengers onlyHigh speedSeasonal

4h–4h 25m

Calls at Shitadami (Oshima), Kurushima Strait, Edagoe (Hakatajima) and ImabariFoot passengers only

25m–1h 5m

Okushiri Island Ferry

Calls at Esashi and OkushiriCars

2h 10m

Aguni Village Ferry

Calls at Naha and AguniCars

2h

Ie Village Ferry

Calls at Motobu and IejimaCars

30m

Tokashiki Village Ferry

Calls at Naha and TokashikiCarsHigh speed

40m

Izena Village Ferry

Calls at Izena and UntenCars

55m

From BusanFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

1h 10m–2h 20m

Calls at Miyakojima and TaramaCars

2h

Sakata City Tobishima Ferry

Calls at Sakata and TobishimaFoot passengers only

1h 15m

Calls at Ishigaki and YonaguniCars

4h

Calls at Wajima and HegurajimaFoot passengers only

1h 25m

Calls at Kanita and WakinosawaCarsSeasonal

1h

Fuke Sumoto Liner

Calls at Fuke and SumotoFoot passengers onlyHigh speedSeasonal

40m

Questions

Where do ferries to Japan leave from?

From Busan to Shimonoseki (10¾ hours, eight times a week), Busan to Hakata (Fukuoka) (9 hours, every day), Busan to Osaka (17 hours, three times a week), Busan to Hitakatsu (1 hour 10 minutes, about twice a day) and Busan to Izuhara (2 hours 20 minutes, four times a week, October to June).

Which ferry companies sail in Japan?

MOL Sunflower: Oarai, Tomakomai, Osaka, Shibushi, Beppu, Kobe and Oita. Shin Nihonkai Ferry: Otaru, Maizuru, Tomakomai Higashi, Tsuruga, Niigata and Akita. Tokai Kisen: Tokyo (Takeshiba), Izu Oshima, Miyakejima and nine other ports. Shōdoshima Ferry: Takamatsu, Tonosho (Shodoshima), Shin-Okayama, Himeji and Fukuda (Shodoshima). Uwajima Unyu Ferries: Yawatahama, Usuki and Beppu. Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry: Hakodate, Aomori, Muroran and Oma. Seikan Ferry: Hakodate and Aomori. Taiheiyo Ferry: Tomakomai, Sendai and Nagoya. And 94 other companies.

Can I take my car on a ferry in Japan?

Partly. Some sailings take cars, others foot passengers only.

Do ferries in Japan run all year?

Yes. MOL Sunflower, Shin Nihonkai Ferry and 96 other companies sail all year round; some lines are seasonal.