Hankyu Ferry Hibiki Cruise Review | Fukuoka to Osaka Travel Guide

3:30 p.m., JR Kokura Station in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Today’s ride is on the Hankyu Ferry *Hibiki*, headed for Osaka’s Izumiotsu Port.
A roughly 12.5-hour ferry trip.

The reason I came to Kokura Station was to catch the free shuttle bus to Shinmoji Port, where the ferry terminal is located.
Since the bus hadn’t arrived yet, I relaxed for a bit at a nearby café.

4:04 p.m., the shuttle bus arrived.
It looked like a group of tour passengers would also be boarding today, and the inside of the bus buzzed with lively conversation.

4:10 p.m., the bus departed right on time.
It drove through the streets of Kitakyushu, heading toward the port where the ferry awaited.

Along the way, the bus stopped at Moji Station to pick up more passengers.
After everyone boarded, it continued on toward the port.

4:45 p.m., we arrived at Shinmoji Port Terminal 2.
The building design mimicked the funnel mark of Hankyu Ferry.

For reference, the terminal for ferries to Kobe features a building inspired by the ancient Heijo Palace in Nara.
Each Hankyu Ferry terminal has a very distinctive look.

I headed to the counter and completed the boarding procedures.

Since I had booked a private cabin, I received a key card for my room.
The red key card felt thinner than expected—almost a little flimsy.

With my boarding pass and key card in hand, I headed toward the boarding gate on the second floor.

Past the boarding gate, a spacious floor with a beautiful view spread out.
Through the windows, I could see Terminal 1, which serves ferries to Kobe. It’s certainly an impressive sight.

When I rode Hankyu Ferry’s *Settsu* and *Yamato* in the past, I got a much closer look at that terminal.

The design, modeled after the Daigokuden Hall of the Heijo Palace from the Nara period, has a powerful presence that makes you want to look up in awe.

At the boarding gate, a staff member was waiting.
I handed over my ticket, and they politely returned the stub before allowing me through.
According to the onboard map, my cabin was on the top deck.

I took the elevator and arrived at the door.
Inserting the card key, I heard the lock click open.

The cabin was the most affordable private room option: the “Deluxe Single.”
A fully private space for one person.

The bedding included a pillow, futon, and mattress.
There was also a desk, air conditioner, sink, and television.
Amenities were plentiful, including a towel with the ferry’s logo, two packets of powdered tea, and a toothbrush set.

The room was well-equipped and felt very comfortable.

Once inside, I turned on the TV, but the signal kept cutting out—even before departure.
Maybe the reception was weak?

The cabin, located on the top floor, had no windows, so there was no view of the outside.
Also, a bit of noise leaked in—from nearby TVs and footsteps in the hallway.

I had expected a quieter experience from a private room, so these issues stood out.
That said, it was still a private space just for me, which I appreciated.

Not completely silent, but definitely good enough to get some sleep.

After dropping off my bags, I took a short walk around the ship and headed for the observation deck.

The observation deck was outfitted with white tables and chairs—securely fastened, so there was no risk of them being blown away.

Five minutes before departure, preparations began at the stern.
Thick ropes connecting the ship to the pier were removed, and the gangway slowly detached.

As soon as the ropes were released, the ship started moving.

5:30 p.m., the ship departed Shinmoji Port right on schedule.
I watched the scenery slowly recede as the ship pulled away from the pier, then made my way to the observation lounge on the 6th floor.

Located at the very front of the ship, this special space offered a panoramic view in the direction of travel.
It took about a minute to walk there from the deck.

I arrived at the observation lounge on the 6th floor.
Unlike the bright and lively areas of the ship, this room had a dim, quiet atmosphere.

Through the large window, the bow stretched out before me—it almost felt like I was steering the ship myself.

The weather was clear today.
The blue sea and sky spread endlessly in all directions, making for a stunning view.

After soaking it in, I headed to the restaurant on the same floor.

6:00 p.m., I arrived at the restaurant on the 6th floor.
Nearby, some passengers had brought their own bentos and were eating at the tables.

Rows of seats were lined up beside large windows, allowing guests to dine while enjoying the view.
Since I hadn’t brought food, I ordered a meal from the restaurant.

The restaurant operated cafeteria-style.
I grabbed a tray and selected dishes from the shelves, then paid at the counter before sitting down.

After washing my hands, I picked up a tray and began making my choices.
The food line started with side dishes, followed by salads and desserts.

Toward the back, larger dishes were displayed.
Rice and soup portions were selected by verbally indicating your preferred size—helpful size charts were posted near the counter to guide your choice.

After paying for my meal, I took a seat by the window.
Dinner with a view of the ocean, bathed in the light of the setting sun.

While I was eating, an announcement came over the speakers—a greeting from the captain.
He shared the ship’s schedule, the weather forecast for Osaka, and introduced the onboard crew.

Once I finished dinner, I returned to my cabin and got ready for a bath.

Around 6:30 p.m., I arrived at the large public bath on the 7th floor.
Beyond the noren curtain was a spacious bath area, along with private shower rooms.

I warmed up in the main bath, then moved to the open-air bath.
Soaking in the hot water while gazing out at the quiet sea—it was pure luxury.

Hair dryers were lined up at the sinks, clean and easy to use.
After getting dressed, I left the bath and stopped by a vending machine on the way back to my room.
I bought a lychee-flavored soda for 180 yen.

Back in my room, I sipped the soda while getting in a bit of computer work.
Then, at 10:40 p.m., I headed to the observation deck.

At 10:58 p.m., we passed under the Kurushima-Kaikyō Bridge.
The surroundings were pitch black, so I could barely make out the bridge’s shape.

Only the streetlights lining the road above gave a faint glow.

The night sea was colder than I’d expected.
After taking in the view, I returned to my cabin.

Then, a minor emergency—my card key wouldn’t open the cabin door.
No matter how many times I tried, there was no response.

I flipped it over, changed the angle—still nothing.

With no other option, I went down to the 5th-floor lobby.
The information counter was closed, but a sign nearby said,
“If your card key stops working due to magnetic interference, please use the phone to call a crew member.”

I picked up the receiver and explained the situation. A crew member arrived promptly.

He explained, “Smartphones can demagnetize the card, so try not to carry them together.”
Apparently, this card key is very sensitive to magnets.

I’d been carrying it in my pocket along with my smartphone and wallet—probably the cause.

In this day and age of smartphones, this feels like something that could use improvement.

With a replacement card in hand, I returned to my room and the door opened without issue.
By the way, you’re allowed to keep the card key as a souvenir after disembarkation.

I boiled water using the electric kettle in the room and made some tea.
There was a teacup and powdered hojicha on the desk.

Since it was powdered tea, it dissolved quickly—ready to drink right away.

By the time I wrapped up the remaining computer work, it was 12:50 a.m.
I fought off a bit of drowsiness and headed back to the observation deck.

At 1:02 a.m., the ship passed under the Seto Ōhashi Bridge.
Unlike the previous bridge, this one was brightly lit, and I could clearly see its full structure.

It looked beautiful in photos, but seeing it with my own eyes was far more impressive.

Satisfied after taking it all in, I returned to my room and got about three hours of sleep.

At 4:25 a.m., the ship passed under the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge.
Unfortunately, this bridge wasn’t lit up either—everything around was nearly pitch black.

It was a bit disappointing that none of the bridges on this trip were illuminated.
Visually, it lacked the impact I had hoped for.

The onboard restaurant would open soon, so I spent some quiet time in my room until then.

At 5:00 a.m., the restaurant opened.
Among several set meal options, I chose the mackerel set meal.

The system was clever: by selecting the matching items from the shelf and placing them on a tray,
the register automatically recognized it as the mackerel set—making it slightly cheaper than buying items individually.

For breakfast, I had grilled mackerel and a fried egg,
and for side dishes, I chose simmered hijiki and tofu.

After paying, I took my seat.
It had been a while since I last had mackerel—and it was delicious.

By the time I finished eating, I could see the land near Izumiotsu coming into view through the window.

At 5:45 a.m., an onboard announcement was made—only 15 minutes until arrival.
The lobby was already filling up with passengers waiting to disembark.

Fifteen minutes later, the ship docked at Izumiotsu Port right on time at 6:00 a.m.
The mooring ropes were secured, and disembarkation began.

I returned to my cabin, packed my belongings, took a final look around the room,
and then said goodbye as I stepped off the ship.

In front of the terminal, a shuttle bus bound for the Izumiotsu area was waiting.

It made stops at Izumiotsu Station and JR Izumi-Fuchū Station.
If you’re getting off at Izumi-Fuchū Station, there’s a one-way fare of 270 yen.

Once all passengers boarded, the bus departed at 6:12 a.m.

At 6:52 a.m., the bus arrived at JR Izumi-Fuchū Station.
After letting passengers off, it quickly departed.

From here, it takes about an hour to reach Osaka Station,
and roughly 30 minutes to Kansai Airport.

If you’re heading to Kansai Airport or Wakayama, Hankyu Ferry is a good choice.
If your destination is central Osaka, Meimon Taiyo Ferry might be the better option.

Choosing your ferry based on where you’re headed could be a smart move—
both ferries have their own unique appeal.

As for me, I continued on to Kansai Airport, ready for the next leg of my journey.

■Ferry Terminal: Hankyu Ferry Izumiotsu Port Terminal
■Address: 1-3 Ozushima-cho, Izumiotsu City, Osaka Prefecture, 595-0074
■Business Hours: 9:00 AM – until the last ferry departs

■Ferry Terminal: Kobe Rokko Island Port
■Address: 3-2-1 Kōyō-chō Higashi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, 658-0031
■Business Hours: 9:00 AM – until the last ferry departs

■Ferry Terminal: Shinmoji Port
■Address (Kobe-bound 1st Terminal): 1-1 Shinmoji Kita, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, 800-0113
■Address (Izumiotsu-bound 2nd Terminal): 1-1 Shinmoji Kita, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, 800-0113
■Business Hours: 9:00 AM – until the last ferry departs (Tickets for the 2nd Terminal to Izumiotsu are sold from 3:00 PM until the last ferry departs)

■ Name: Akashi Kaikyō Bridge
■ Opening Date: April 5, 1998
■ Location: Between Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and Awaji Island
■ Bridge Length: 3,911m

■ Name: Seto Ōhashi Bridge
■ Opening Date: April 10, 1988
■ Location: Between Shikoku and Honshu
■ Bridge Length: 12,300m

■ Name: Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge
■ Opening Date: May 1, 1999
■ Location: Between Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, and Ōshima
■ Bridge Length: 4,105m