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WEST JAPAN

Short haul ferries in west Japan

Kansai

Osaka City Tosen (ferry)
Osaka City

Universal City Port
Capt. Line

Kobe Airport-Kansai International Airport
OM Kobe

Seto Naikai (Inland Sea)

Tsuneishi-Onomichi (11.8km)
Bingo Shosen

Suda-Awashima-Shishijima-Miyanoshita (16.3km)
Awashima Kisen

Honshu-Shikoku

Osaka/Kobe-Toyo/Takuma-Niihama (Higashi-ko) (238km)
Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry (Orange Ferry)

Kobe-Shodoshima-Takamatsu (Higashi-ko) (119km)
Jumbo Ferry
Jumbo Ferry
Jumbo Ferry
Jumbo Ferry Fan Site

Wakayama-Tokushima (61km)
Nankai Ferry
Nankai Ferry

Uno-Takamatsu (18km, Discontinued on December 16, 2019)
Kokudo Ferry (Utaka Kokudo Ferry)
Shikoku Ferry

Kasaoka-Tadotsu (53.3km)
Sanyo Kisen

Hiroshima (Ujina)-Kure-Matsuyama (Kanko-ko) (66.2km)
Setonaikai Kisen
Ishizaki Kisen

Yanai-Matsuyama (Mitohama) (61.2km)
Boyo Ferry

Yanai-Ihota-Matsuyama (Mitohama) (61.2km)
Suo Oshima Matsuyama Ferry

Honshu-Kyushu

Tokuyama-Takedatsu (48km)
Suonada Ferry

Shimonoseki (Karato)-Kita Kyushu (Moji-ko) (4km)
Kanmon Kisen

Kyushu-Shikoku

Kita Kyushu (Kokura)-Matsuyama (Kanko-ko) (184km)
Matsuyama Kokura Ferry

Saganoseki-Misaki (31km)
Kokudo Kyushi Ferry

Beppu-Yawatahama (89km)
Uwajima Unyu (Uwajima Unyu Ferry)

Usuki-Yawatahama (67km)
Uwajima Unyu (Uwajima Unyu Ferry)
Kyushi Orange Ferry

Saiki-Sukumo (Katashima) (78km)
Sukumo Ferry

Shikoku

Kyushu

Oita Oita Airport
Oita Daiichi Hovercraft Co., Ltd.

Kitakyushu (Wakamatsu)-Kita Kyushu (Tobata) (0.6km)
Kita Kyushu City

Fukuoka (Momochi-Umino Nakamichi (8.2km)/Hakata Futo-Umino Nakamichi (7.4km))
Yasuda Sangyo Kisen

Sasebo-Saikai (Yorifune, Yokose-nishi, Yokose-higashi, Ogoori, Hatakejimo, Kawauchi) (20.4km)
Segawa Kisen
Segawa Kisen

Togitsu-Nagasaki Airport
Huis Ten Bosch-Nagasaki Airport
Yasuda Sangyo Kisen

Nagasaki-Tomi-Kegenoo-Nagasu(8.4km)
Nomo Shosen

Kunimi (Tabira)-Nagasu (14km)
Ariakekai Jidosha Kososen Kumiai (Ariake Ferry)

Shimabara (Gai-ko)-Omuta (Miike-ko) (33km)
Shimabara Tetsudo

Shimabara (Gai-ko)-Kumamoto (21km)
Kyusho Ferry
Kumamoto Ferry

Kagoshima (Kamoike)-Tarumizu (14.5km)
Iwasaki Corporation (Kamoike Tarumizu Ferry)

Kagoshima-Sakurajima (4.2km)
Kagoshima City (Sakura-jima Ferry)

Ibusuki-Onejime
Nankyu Senpaku

Okinawa island

Motobu-Onna-Chatan-Naha
Daiichi Marine Service

Information

Takamatsu-based Shikoku Ferry, which operates the Uno-Takamatsu route, will make an end of nighttime operation from July 16, 2014.

Shimabara-based Shimabara Tetsudo will sell its ferry operation on the Shimabara (Gai-ko)-Omuta (Miike-ko) route to Nagasaki-based Yamasa Kaiun on April 1, 2015.

On April 1, 2015, Sakurajima Ferry's new ferry, Sakurajima Maru No.2 entered service on the Kagoshima-Sakurajima route. She is the second electric propulsion ship, "Super Eco Ship (SES)" following the Sakurajima Maru (2011).

Kyusho Ferry and Kumamoto Ferry, which operate ferries on the Shimabara-Kumamoto route, are out of service from April 16 to April 27, 2016, because the Kumamoto Ferry Terminal was damaged by the Kumamoto earthquake on April 14, 2016.

Kyusho Ferry and Kumamoto Ferry reassumed the ferry services between Kumamoto and Shimabara on April 22, 2016, after the Kumamoto Terminal was restored earlier than expected.

On June 17, 2016, Kokudokyushi Ferry's Yunagi (998gt) entered service on the Saganoseki-Misaki route. The New Hoyo 2 (699gt, 1993) was replaced.

In June 2016, Kokudokyushi Ferry's "Shuttle Hoyo" & "New Hoyo 3" will be renamed "Hayanami" & "Aikaze" respectively.

In November 2016, Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry (Orange Ferry) ordered two 15,000gt car ferries from I-S Shipbuilding. The two ferries are expected to enter service in summer of 2018.

On September 7, 2017, the Akebono Maru (about 2,700gt) , which is being built for Uwajima Unyu, took the water at Naikai Zosen Corporation Setoda shipyard. She is set to enter service on the Yawatahama-Usuki route in December 2017. The Sakura (2,334gt, 1997) will be replaced.

On December 18, 2017, Uwajima Unyu's Akebono Maru (about 2,700gt) started running on the Yawatahama-Usuki route.

Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry (Orange Ferry)'s Orange Ehime will enter service on the Toyo-Osaka route on August 25, 2018. The Orange 8 will be replaced.

Nankai Ferry will launch a new car ferry at the end-of-the-financial-year of 2019 (by March 31, 2020). The new ship will be about 2,820gt/1,300dwt car ferry. Old "Ferry Tsurugi" will be replaced.

Soon after 8 a.m. on July 26, 2018, the Ishitegawa (699gt), a car ferry of Setonaikai Kisen, and the Daiei Maru No.10 (489gt), a cargo ship collided with each other off the coast of Kure City. 1 passenger and 1 crew on the ferry were injured.

At 2 p.m. on July 28, 2018, a ferry of Sakurajima Ferry hit a pier when she arrived at Sakurajima. 6 passengeres were slightly injured.

On September 12, 2018, Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry announced that the Orange Osaka will enter service on the Toyo-Osaka route on December 6, 2018. The Orange 7 will be replanced.

From October 19, 2018, Sukumo Ferry Corp. will shut down route for the time being due to rapidly rising fuel costs.

Sukumo Ferry's New Ashizuri (999gt, 1985) was sequestrated by Kitakyushu-based Kotobuki Nenryo, a fuel supplier on July 5, 2018 because of a non-payment of about 20 million yen, a fuel bill.

On December 6, 2018, Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry's Orange Osaka entered service on the Toyo (Saijo)-Osaka route,

On December 11, 2018, Kokudo Kyushi Ferry announced that it will build a new terminal building, which is due to open in December 2019, at the port of Saganoseki.

In December 2018, Hiroshima-based Setonaikai Kisen announced that it will launch a new 980gt cruise ferry on the Hiroshima-Kure-Matsuyama route in August 2019. Tokyo-based GK Design Group has designed her, and the construction will begin in January 2019 at Kanda Shipbuilding.

Shimabara-based Kyusho Ferry's new ropax, "Rainbow Kamome" (850gt, LOA: 60.5m、Beam: 15.5m)will enter service on the Shimabara-Kumamoto route on December 22, 2018. The cost of constructing the ferry is estimated to be around 1.5 billion yen. The "Ferry Aso" retired on November 29, 2018. The route (21km) will be operated by the "Rainbow Kamome" and the "Ferry Kumamoto."

Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corporation held a keel laying ceremony for the "Ferry I" (2,820gt) for Nankai Ferry at its Mizushima Shipyard on December 19, 2018.

On February 14, 2019, Matsuyama-based Ishizaki Kisen announced that two new car ferries (875gt, Pass: 300, Car; 35) will be built for its Matsuyama-Kure/Hiroshima route. Both ferries will be built at Naikai Zosen, and the first ship is set to enter service in October 2019, and the second ship in 2020 respectively.

On March 9, 2019, Jumbo Ferry's Ritsurin 2 (3,651gt) hit a barge (610gt), which was towed by a tug boat in the port of Kobe.

On April 3, 2019, a car ferry (980gt) which is being built for Hiroshima-based Setonaikai Kisen Inc. took the water at Kanda Shipbuilding Kawajiri shipyard. The ferry was named "Sea Paseo". She is expected to enter service on the Hiroshima-Kure-Matsuyama route in August 2019.

Jumbo Ferry intends to launch new car ferries on its Kobe-Takamatsu route in 2022.

Sukumo Ferry's New Ashizuri (999gt), which had been out of service since October 19, 2018, was sold to Iki Shogyo Kaihatsu, a property developer in late May, 2019.

On July 1, 2019, Jumbo Ferry announced that it will launch the Ritsurin 2 and the Konpira 2, which cat's face is painted on their bow, called 'Nyanko(=kitty cat) Ferries' to mark the 50th anniversary on July 5.

On July 5, 2019, Matsuyama-based Ishizaki Kisen's "Kyokuyo Maru" (875gt) took the water at Naikai Zosen Setoda shipyard. The Kyokuyo Maru is expected to enter service on the Matsuyama-Kure-Hiroshima route in October 2019.

On August 1, 2019, Setonaikai Kisen's Sea Paseo (980gt) entered service on the Hiroshima-Kure-Matsuyama route. Her concept is "Park on the SETONAIKAI."

Ishizaki Kisen's Kyokuyo Maru (875gt) entered service on the Hiroshima-Kure-Matsuyama route on October 11, 2019.

Setonaikai Kisen's "Sea Paseo II" will take the water at Kanda Shipbuilding Kawajiri shipyard on May 10, 2020.

On November 11, 2019, Shikoku Kyuko Ferry gave notice to the Shikoku District Transport Bureau to close the Uno-Takamatsu route on December 16, 2019.

On November 20, 2019, Nankai Ferry announced that the Ferry I (=ai) (2,825gt) will enter service on the Tokushima-Wakayama route on December 15, 2019. The Ferry Tsurugi will be replaced.

Sanoyas Shipbuilding delivered the Ferry I (2,825gt) to Nankai Ferry on December 3, 2019.

On August 1, 2020, Setokaikai Kisen's Sea Paseo 2 (980gt) and Ishizaki Kisen's Shoyo Maru (871gt) entered service on the Matsuyama-Kure-Hiroshima route.

On August 27, 2020, Kokudo Kyushi Ferry's "Suzukaze" (about 1,200gt) took the water at Usuki Shipyard in Usuki. She is expected to enter service on the Saganoseki-Misaki route in February 2021. The "Harukaze" will be replaced.

Jumbo Ferry ordered a car ferry (LOA: 131.5m, Pass: 800, Lane meter: 1,100m, Sea speed: 18.5knots) from Naikai Zosen. Set to be completed in September, 2022.

On February 1, 2021, Kokudo Kyushi Ferry's Suzukaze (1,148gt, LOA: 86.65m, Beam: 13.40m, Pass: 292, Car: 57) entered service on the Saganoseki-Misaki route.

The Oita Prefectural Government signed a temporary contract with Griffon Hoverwork Ltd. to build three hovercrafts in August, 2021. The hovercrafts are expected to connect Oita city and Oita Airport from 2023.

On December 4, 2021, Uwajima Unyu's Reimei Maru (about 2,700gt) took the water at Naikai Zosen's Setoda shipyard. She is set to enter service on the Yawatahama-Beppu route on June 23, 2022.

Jumbo Ferry's new ship, "Aoi" (5,200gt, LOA: 131.76m, Beam: 21.00m, Depth: 13.05m, Draft: 5.60m, Pass: 620, Truck (12m): 84, Truck (8m): 4, Car: 20) took the water at Naikai Zosen Setoda shipyard on May 28, 2022. She is expected to enter service on the Kobe-Shodoshima-Takamatsu route on October 22, 2022. The Kompira 2 will be replaced.

On May 23, 2023, Ferry Oosumi No.11 for Iwasaki Corporation (Kamoike-Tarumizu Ferry) took the water at Naikai Zosen Setoda shipyard. She is expected to be completed in autumn of 2023.

On August 22, 2023, Baien, hovercraft (LOA: 26m, Beam: 13m, Pass: 80, Max speed: 45knots) arrived at the port of Tokyo from Griffon Hoverwork Ltd. in the U.K. Baien, as well as Banri and Tanso are expected to be operated on the Oita-Oita Airport route by Oita Daiichi Hoverdrive from 2024.

Sakurajima Ferry's Sakurajima Maru No.15 (Cherry Queen, 1,134gt, Pass: 731) was spld at a price of about 39 million yen, and left the port of Kagoshima for Malaysia on September 7, 2023.

On September 1, 2023, Ferry Oosumi NO.12 for Iwasaki Corporation (Kamoike-Tarumizu Ferry) (1,443gt, LOA: about 76.90m, Beam: 13.30m, Depth: 9.50m, Draft: 3.70m draft, Pass: 500, Bus 14, Car: 54) took the water at Naikai Zosen Setoda shipyard.