From Hakata (Fukuoka) to Naoetsu (Joetsu)
PORT OF HAKATA
Port of Hakata
At last I arrived at Fukuoka City. I felt fatigue. I walked to the Chuo Futo (=central pier) seeing the city. The name "Hakata" is an another name of Fukuoka. Its port is called "Hakatako" (=port of Hakata). Fukuoka City is the biggest city in Kushu.
Hakata Port International Terminal
I dropped at "Hakata Port International Terminal" to collect some brochures and to have a dinner.
Hakata Port International Terminal
The South Korea route is booming. In 2002, ferries of Camellia Line, JR Kyushu and Mire Jet (KOR) run between Hakara and Pusan, South Korea. The southern Korea has become one of the fascinating destinations for the Japanese public.
Japanese passenger volumes (not including foreigners)
11991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
| S.Korea | 112,500 |
98,200 |
91,300 |
120,900 |
134,100 |
130,400 |
158,700 |
193,400 |
224,200 |
257,700 |
285,100 |
| China | 14,000 |
14,400 |
12,900 |
11,100 |
9,600 |
14,200 |
12,400 |
13,400 |
11,000 |
12,200 |
14,300 |
| Taiwan | 1,400 |
1,300 |
1,400 |
1,300 |
500 |
800 |
1,300 |
1,600 |
1,700 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
| Russia | 600 |
1,600 |
1,800 |
2,200 |
3,100 |
||||||
| Total | 127,900 | 113,900 | 105,600 | 133,300 | 144,800 | 146,800 | 172,300 | 208,400 | 238,700 | 273,100 | 303,500 |
(Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)
Kyuetsu Ferry Ferry Terminal
Kyuetsu Ferry Ferry Terminal is located at the tip of the Chuo Futo (=central pier).
Matt
Kyuetsu Ferry is a subsidiary of Higashi Nihon Ferry which is based in Sapporo, Hokkaido. It was founded in 1991. The head office was located at Hakata station area, but removed here. Kyuetsu Ferry operates the Hakata - Naoetsu (Honshu) route (901km) and Higashi Nihon Ferry operates the Naoetsu - Muroran (Hokkaido) route (678 km).
The Hakata - Naoetsu route was opened on April 9, 1996. The feature of this route is "a few tourists but many truckers." Thanks to this route, we can sail around Japan by ferries. 19,000 passengers and 33,000 vehicles passed through this terminal in 2001.
NEW RAINBOW BELL
New Rainbow Bell
This is the New Rainbow Bell (2001, 11,410 G/T). She was built by MHI Shimonoseki Shipyard.
Former Rainbow Bell (1996, 13,597 G/T) & Rainbow Love (1997, 13,621 G/T) were luxury cruise ferries, which focused on tourists. But the expectations fell through. They had gone into the red at once. Kyuetsu Ferry examined to convert passenger ferries into RoRo vessels. But they decided to treat passengers and build simplified passenger ferries - New Rainbow Bell & Love.
Former ships were provided with escalators. But this ship doesn't have an escalator but has stairs and lift. And you go out once and enter the hall.
Reception
When you enter the hall, you see the reception. If you know about the former ships, you will be confused. Very plain reception.
Entrance Hall
Entrance Hall
Very plain stairs, too. But an electromotive chair for the physically challenged is provided.
Rainbow Hall
When you go up the stairs, you go out the "Lounge" and see the cafeteria named "Rainbow Hall."
Rainbow Hall
Vending Machines
Oh, vending machines !! Is this also spartan ferry?
Menu
Don't worry. Ordinary low-priced dishes were provided. Former Rainbow Bell & Love offered nice high-priced dishes. But many passengers did not order such dishes. For that reason, high-priced dishes were abolished and waitresses were also disappeared.
Ticket Vender
You can buy tickets here. If you buy a ticket, cooks in the galley will obtain the information at once, and you will receive the dish from the counter.
Counter
You may eat here or only stay here.
You can buy ice cream, coke, etc.
By the way, have you ever seen a similar ferry? Yes, the Ocean North. I suppose they refered to the Ocean North & South, when they built this ferry. The Ocean North and the New Rainbow Bell are both so-called "Casual Ferries," but the New Rainbow is much better than the Ocean. Because cooks are on board and the engine is so quiet.
Public Baths
Public Baths
I show you how to take a Japanese bath. Next to the bathroom, there is an area for changing clothes. The bathtub holds a lot of hot water for soaking, getting warm and relaxing. Washing should be done outside the tub.
Game Corner
Cabins
Cabin
There are 20 cabins for ordinary passengers behind the reception (pass. capacity: 80), and 6 cabins for truckers on the opposite side (pass. capacity: 70). The feature of this ferry is that the capacity of ordinary passengers and the capacity of truckers are almost equal. In fact, the number of truckers was much larger than the number of ordinary passengers on the Hakata - Naoetsu route.
Port of Hakata
Truckers tend not to go on board in Japan nowadays. Because ferries take only trailers on board. But I saw many truck drivers on this route. Most of them might be owner-drivers, I suppose.
Port of Hakata
We left Hakata at 22.00. The night view of Fukuoka (Hakata) was beautiful.
Shiroi Fune
The "Shiroi Fune(=White Ship)," a movie was introduced at the lounge. Since 1998, the schoolchildren of Shiotsu elementary school at Hirata, Shimane prefecture and the captains & crew members aboard the Rainbow Bell & Love have been contacting with each other, and the schoolchildren and teachers got on board the Rainbow Love on August 1998. The story was made into a movie in 2002.
Salon
Next morning, the salon was opened. Former ships had got carpeted salons.
Breakfast
The breakfast was "Washoku(=Japanese food)" only (650 yen, $5.2). This is an ordinary Japanese style breakfast. I think the price is somewhat higher.
By the way, I found a serious problem. I used up films. On the contrary, films were NOT sold on this ferry! So, I couldn't take photos until I arrive at Naoetsu. That was an accident.
Naoetsu(Joetsu)-Muroran (Higashi Nihon Ferry)
02/11/21