Shin Nihonkai Ferry
⛴️ The Modern Kitamaebune
Shin Nihonkai Ferry is a Japanese marine transportation company operating regular ship routes on the Sea of Japan, between Hokkaido and Kyoto, Niigata and Akita prefectures. Its ferries are arranged into floating hotels for an original experience on a few-hour long, short cruise.
Alongside the usual trains 🚅, bus and planes ✈️, ferries also make for a quite popular transportation mean to travel in Japan, especially on the longest routes between the archipelago’s islands. The cruise ships combine:
- The comfort of an all-inclusive accommodation;
- A range of prices catering to every traveler’s type; and,
- The luxury of a slow travel, ideal for supporters of slow tourism.
As a matter of fact, several hours, and even days, can be necessary to connect Japan’s large port cities by sea. Consequently, most of these long cruises are operated by night. The Japan Long Course Ferry ⛴️ Service Association (JLCFSA) gathers most of the operating Japanese ferry companies.
The Sea of Japan route between the Kansai area and Hokkaido
Shin Nihonkai Ferry is one of these marine transportation companies operating along Japan’s coastlines all year round, with weekly trips between several ports. This company specifically serves cities of Honshu, the main land, that are located on the Sea of Japan:
connects them to Otaru and Tomakomai, the closest ports to Sapporo on Hokkaido island.
In the past, this maritime route between Honshu and Hokkaido was sailed by ships called kitamaebune, to transport food and goods for commercial trade with the north of Japan, until the advent of railway in the early 20th century.
On average, the duration of a cruise is:
- ~21 hours on the Maizuru - Otaru trip; and,
- ~16,5 hours on the Niigata – Otaru trip.
On a side note, the route to Hokkaido on the Pacific Ocean side, that connects Nagoya and Sendai, is operated by the Taiheiyo Ferry company.
Cruise on a comfortable boat
The cost of the cruise takes into account:
- The length of the trip;
- The time of the year, with a high season during the Golden Week; and,
- The type of room selected.
The more space, equipment and privacy in the room (Suites, Deluxe or State Room), the higher the rate. On the opposite, dormitories (Tourist S, A or C) offer very interesting and affordable prices for travelers on a small budget. A set of bed-sheets and a pillow are available for every passenger, regardless of the room option. Every space is also squeaky clean.
Make sure to bring enough cash on board to enjoy the restaurants and entertainments. These are certainly optional spending, but keep in mind that the cruise can last several dozen hours without calling to a port.
Each ferry has several types of restaurants, from the familiar Japanese eatery (shokudo), with simple and tasty dishes like curry rice, to the gastronomic restaurant for which booking in advance is strongly recommended. Prices are maintained at a reasonable cost compared to restaurants on land and there is no particular price increase on board. Allow on average ¥1,000 (~US$6.72) for a meal at the shokudo, and ¥1,500 (~US$10.07) for dinner. Vending machines selling drinks and dried foods are also available.
As for entertainment, you’ll find the typical cruise activities, such as the game of bingo, music or artistic performances, and even movies. Other amenities expected when traveling in Japan can be found on board:
- A gym;
- Arcade games;
- A sento shared hot bath (with separated spaces for men and women and towel rental);
- A children's playground; and,
- A laundry room.
Several indoor and outdoor decks have panoramic views on the sea, offering a space stretch your legs or a place to seat at a table outside the cabin. When pets are allowed, they can use a walking area near the heliport. Like their bigger counterparts navigating several weeks between several countries, Japanese ferries are wide enough to accommodate several hundreds of passengers and vehicles.
Note however that the ferries of the Shin Nihonkai Ferry do not provide an internet 📶 connection on board, but the company is working on it for 2025. While a pocket Wi-Fi could be useful, the connection might not be good. Otherwise, most of the private rooms have Japanese TV channels on demand.
As for sea sickness, it is recommended to make sure to prepare and bring the necessary medication for the trip. The waves at are the roughest in winter, while the route is smoother from spring 🌸 to autumn 🍁. The engines are working non-stop and their noise can either lull to sleep or disturb the most sensitive travelers until the destination port.
Long distance sailing, especially with the Shin Nihonkai Ferry, can help cutting the average cost of a trip, as it combines travel fares and accommodation fee. Traveling by ferry requires more time but is usually:
- More affordable than a train or a flight for a domestic trip; and,
- More comfortable than night coaches as one can sleep lying down and uninterrupted by the drivers’ mandatory breaks.
Moreover, it is a pleasant and original experience for those who enjoy taking their time to travel, with the safety and exceptional quality of the Japanese-style service.