Review of Meimon Taiyo Ferry Fukuoka | Japan’s Overnight Ferry Experience | Osaka – Fukuoka

The largest ship in history, “FERRY FUKUOKA,” features an interior concept of “Bayside City Sparkle.” The ship’s modern waterfront feel is conveyed through its blue and white color scheme. The corridor with the suite and deluxe rooms on the 8th floor features artworks reminiscent of fireworks reflected on the water and blue disk sculptures.

Boarding Location – Osaka Nanko
Train – Approx. 4-minute walk from Osaka Metro New Tram Ferry Terminal Station
Bus – Immediate access from Nanko Ferry Terminal (Bus Stop)

About 23 minutes from Sakaihigashi Station (Bus Stop) to Nanko Ferry Terminal (Bus Stop) (Adult: 510 yen / Child: 210 yen)

Boarding Location – Shin-Moji Port Ferry Terminal
Bus – About 40 minutes by free shuttle bus from JR Kokura Station (North Exit)
Bus – About 20 minutes by free shuttle bus from JR Moji Station (North Exit)

If you plan to use the free shuttle bus with a wheelchair, you need to inform them by phone one week before boarding.

The highest room price is for the suite at 23,100 yen, and the lowest fare is for a tourist room at 8,800 yen. If you made an online reservation, you can board the ferry by scanning the QR code displayed on your smartphone.

It’s recommended to book online, as you can get a 20% discount on the fare! Fares vary depending on the season, so please check the official website for the latest prices.

▼ Meimon Taiyo Ferry Official Website Fare Page https://www.cityline.co.jp/fare

Available in – Public spaces only Usage – 30 minutes per session, up to 3 sessions per day, reset at midnight

Name – Meimon Taiyo Ferry “Ferry Fukuoka” Length – 195 meters Gross tonnage – 15,025 tons Cruising speed – 23.2 knots (42.96 km/h) Passenger capacity – 675 people Vehicle capacity – 140 passenger cars, 162 trucks

The entrance is a distinctive atrium space with a symmetrical design. It is located right in front of the boarding gate.

A wide range of items is available, including souvenirs from Kansai and Kyushu, snacks, drinks, and daily necessities.

There are plenty of amenities such as towels, slippers, shampoos, and razors for sale, so you don’t need to worry if you haven’t prepared shower supplies in advance.

Be sure to check out the exclusive merchandise available only on the ship.

The TV lounge is a rest area with a large LCD television.
Several people were using the TV lounge during the voyage.

Located next to the observation restaurant on the 6th floor and next to the observation lounge on the 7th floor.

The promenade had many windows, revolving fixed chairs, and long tables.
Many people were eating food they brought with them on the promenade during the voyage.

There was a place for children to play.
The kids room had a slide and a TV showing cartoons.

There are also sofas for parents to sit and watch their children.
The kids area is accessible at any time from boarding to arrival.

There are two male and two female toilets on each of the 6th and 7th floors.
The toilets near the Tourist Comfort Room on the 6th floor only have a curtain over the entrance, not a door.

The multi-purpose toilet has a large diaper changing table for babies.
There is also a shower room.

The shower room in the multi-purpose toilet is stocked with shampoo, conditioner, and body soap.
There is also a dryer available for drying your hair.

The game corner has several crane games and slot machines.
It’s nice to have a small place to play on a sometimes monotonous ship ride.

The vending machines offer not only drinks but also cup noodles and ice cream.
The vending machine corner is equipped with a water dispenser, a machine for charging smartphones, and a microwave for heating food.

It’s great to be able to heat up your lunch or bread.

The shower rooms are located separately for men and women, with blue curtains for men and red curtains for women.
The shower rooms are equipped with conditioner, shampoo, and body soap.

The shower time varies depending on how hard you press the faucet as part of a water-saving measure. When I used the shower, the maximum water flow time was about 20 seconds.

There are only two hair dryers, so you may need to share if it’s crowded. The shower rooms are available for use from boarding time until 10 minutes before arrival.

In the large public bath, men and women have separate areas, with blue curtains for men and red curtains for women.
You can enjoy a panoramic view of the vast ocean from the bath.

You can store souvenirs that need refrigeration in the refrigerated lockers.
Coin lockers are convenient for storing valuables or large items like souvenirs!

The observation lounge is a relaxing spot with large windows that offer views of the outside scenery.

The lounge is furnished with sofas and chairs.

It has a more subdued atmosphere compared to other areas due to fewer lights.

Smoking rooms are provided on each floor.

The rooms are simple with no chairs, only ashtrays and trash bins.

There is a narrow ventilation vent in the ceiling.

You can enjoy various views such as the starry sky over the Seto Inland Sea, illuminated bridges and cityscapes, and the vast ocean early in the morning.

The deck can be crowded when passing through three large bridges or during departure times.

The observation restaurant on the Meimon Taiyo Ferry is spacious, and there are sofa seats towards the back of the restaurant.
If you buy breakfast and dinner together, you can save 200 yen, as the usual price of 2,600 yen is reduced to 2,400 yen!

▼ Details about the Meimon Taiyo Ferry Observation Restaurant
https://www.cityline.co.jp/attraction/restaurant

Dinner had a wide variety of dishes.
There were Chinese dishes, fried foods, stews, and everything was delicious.

The katsuo tataki was available in unlimited quantities, but I had several refills of the boiled shrimp because they were so tasty.

Some people peeled the shrimp before eating, but I preferred to eat them with the shell on. There was just a hint of salt, which was quite nice. I recommend it!

Breakfast had mostly light dishes with minimal oil compared to dinner.

There were two types of bread: butter rolls and sliced bread. Near the bread section, there was a conveyor oven, so you could toast the bread. Just place the bread on the conveyor, and after a while, it will come out from the back. It’s best to put it on the conveyor only once, as toasting it twice can burn the bread.

If you prefer rice, I recommend the curry rice!
The curry on the Meimon Taiyo Ferry is famous for being delicious, so be sure to try it if you’re on board! Enjoying it while gazing at the sea was exceptional.

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, connecting Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture and Awaji Island, is the 2nd longest suspension bridge in the world with a total length of 3,911 meters. (The longest is the Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey, at 4,608 meters).

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, completed in 1995, is renowned for its striking beauty and advanced technology, making it a popular sightseeing spot both domestically and internationally. It also serves as a crucial transportation link between Honshu and Awaji Island.

The Seto Ohashi Bridge, connecting Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture and Sakaide City in Kagawa Prefecture, has a total length of 12,300 meters.

Opened in 1988, the Seto Ohashi Bridge functions as an important transportation infrastructure connecting Shikoku and Honshu via land. It is actually a collective term for six linked bridges.

– Shimotsui Seto Ohashi (Okayama – Hitsuishijima)
– Hitsuishijima Bridge (Hitsuishijima – Iwagurojima)
– Iwagurojima Bridge (Iwagurojima – Hasashima)
– Yoshi Bridge (Hasashima – Yoshi)
– Kita Bisan Seto Ohashi (Yoshi – Mitsugo Island)
– Minami Bisan Seto Ohashi (Yoshi – Ban’s Island)

The Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, connecting Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture and Oshima, is the world’s first triple-span suspension bridge.

Due to the fast tidal currents and complex sea areas it spans, the bridge was designed with considerations for ship navigation, incorporating lessons from the Seto Ohashi and Akashi Kaikyo Bridges, along with the latest technology.