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Ferry & Cruise Ships

From short ferry crossings to overnight trips, party boats and international cruises, there are many ways to explore the seas and waterways surrounding Japan.

Ferries

Travel down the left side of the country on the Sea of Japan or up the right side from Tokyo to Hokkaido . Alternatively, head south to the bottom of Japan's southern island of Kyushu and travel to the subtropical islands of Okinawa on the ferry from Kagoshima to Naha . Wherever your destination, Japan offers ferry options to get there.

Ferry passes allow you to discover more of Japan in an economical way. For example, explore the Osaka and Shikoku region by making use of the SUKIPPU round-trip ticket. You can get discounts on train and ferry travel on selected routes.

A number of international ferry options are available. Travel from Busan in Korea to Hakata in Fukuoka by high-speed or slow ferry. Alternatively, you can take the once-a-week ferry from Shanghai that travels to Osaka and Kobe in around three days.

Cruise Ships

If you are looking for a more luxurious time, you can board a number of cruises offering you a grander experience on the water. Day and night cruises often run in the bays of the waterside cities—such as Tokyo and Kobe—offering you a different view of the respective cities. The low-slung Yakatabune party boats that crawl through Tokyo's waterways are a great way to see the city while eating and drinking. Cruise around the Seto Inland Sea with its lemon trees, sea shrines and whirlpools or even farther afield with a trip around the Japanese archipelago and on to destinations in Korea and China with Princess Cruises: Cruise schedules , Cruise Compete: Cruise plans , Celebrity Cruises: Cruise plans .

Browse a range of coastal scenic cruises and information on fare prices and travel times in English. You can check the location of the boarding points and detailed information of courses through this site .

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