Japan Guide
Getting around
By ferry
One of the most pleasant ways of travelling around this island nation is by ferry. If you have the time, the overnight journeys between Honshū and Hokkaidō in the north, and Kyūshū and Shikoku in the south, are highly recommended. A particularly good-value service connects Niigata on Honshū and Otaru on Hokkaidō, a relaxing eighteen-hour cruise costing as little as ¥5250. Also memorable are the cruises across the beautiful Inland Sea, or from Kyūshū to the Southwest Islands and Okinawa.
There's little reason to shell out extra for the first-class sections of ferries, which provide more luxurious accommodation and facilities, as second class is fine. On the overnight ferries in particular, the cheapest fares, which entitle you to a sleeping space on the floor of a large room with up to a hundred other passengers, are a bargain compared with train and plane fares to the same destinations. Ferries are also an excellent way of transporting a bicycle or motorbike (though you'll pay a small supplement for these) and many also take cars.
Ferry schedules are subject to seasonal changes and also vary according to the weather, so for current details of times and prices it's best to consult the local tourist information office.