Meimon Taiyo Ferry Fukuoka Experience! How to Book

■Ferry Terminal: Osaka South Port Ferry Terminal
■Address: 2-2-24 Nanko Minami, Suminoe-ku, Osaka 559-0032
■Business Hours: Open year-round, 9:00 AM to 7:50 PM
■Phone Number: 06-6613-1402

■Ferry Terminal: Shinmoji Port Ferry Terminal
■Address: 1-6 Shinmoji, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 800-0115
■Business Hours: Open year-round, 9:00 AM to 7:50 PM
■Phone Number: 093-481-1780

■ Name: Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
■ Opened: April 5, 1998
■ Location: Between Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture and Awaji Island
■ Bridge Length: 3,911 meters

■ Name: Seto Ohashi Bridge
■ Opened: April 10, 1988
■ Location: Between Shikoku and Honshu
■ Bridge Length: 12,300 meters

■ Name: Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge
■ Opened: May 1, 1999
■ Location: Between Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture and Oshima
■ Bridge Length: 4,105 meters

6:02 PM, JR Kokura Station in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Today, I’m taking the Meimon Taiyo Ferry “Ferry Fukuoka.”
Tonight, I’ll be experiencing a 12-hour voyage to Osaka Nanko.
I came to Kokura Station to catch the free shuttle bus.
Since the bus hadn’t arrived yet, I took a break at a nearby café.

Twenty minutes later, I returned to the bus stop to find the bus already there.
I loaded my luggage into the trunk and boarded the bus.
The driver picked up the mic and made an announcement:
“Anyone headed for Hankyu Ferry?”
“Sometimes people board the wrong one by mistake.”
Hankyu Ferry’s bus stop is also in front of Kokura Station—
just about a 30-second walk from ours.
After a short pause with no response from the passengers,
“Alright, then.”
“Let’s get going!”
And with that, the bus departed on time at 6:40 PM.

7:25 PM — we arrived at Shinmoji Port.
The ride took about 45 minutes.
I got off the bus and retrieved my luggage from the trunk.
I headed straight to the counter for check-in.
After checking in, I took the escalator to the boarding gate on the second floor.
The staff at the gate scanned my boarding pass, and I stepped onto the ship.
Since I had booked a private room, I picked up the key at the information desk.

The room key was a high-security dimple key.
It felt a little tricky to open.
I even started doubting whether it was the correct key.
I had expected it to insert and turn easily, like a bike lock—but no luck.
Maybe I was just bad at it, or maybe it takes a certain trick.
To make matters worse, I had been holding in my need to use the restroom, which made me even more anxious.
After inserting and removing the key three times, I finally got the door open.
I dropped off my luggage and made a dash to the toilet.

After using the restroom, I returned to the room.
The room was “First S,” the cheapest private room for solo travelers.
It had air conditioning, a sink, and even a TV—comfortable like a hotel room.
After relaxing for a bit, I headed to the observation deck to watch the departure.

7:53 PM — the ferry departed Shinmoji Port, 3 minutes behind schedule.
The farewell song “Auld Lang Syne” played through the speakers.
Onshore, red lights waved gently in the distance.
About ten staff members were waving at us.
Passengers waved back in response.
The ship slowly pulled away from Shinmoji Port.

8:00 PM — I arrived at the observation restaurant.
It was a buffet-style restaurant.
Once you pay, you can eat as much as you like.
Baked curry, fried food, and fresh sashimi (seared bonito).
There were also udon noodles and pork-broth soup dumplings.
I grabbed a plate and found a seat.
A window seat would have been nice, but it was pitch-black outside—
and the window reflected the interior.
There’s nothing more awkward than eating a meal while staring at your own reflection.
So I avoided the window seats.
After finishing dinner in a non-window seat, I returned to my room to get ready for a bath.

Once ready, I headed to the large bath on the 7th floor.
To my surprise, there were only three people inside, including myself.
I made sure to try the open-air bath as well.
As soon as I opened the door: freezing cold.
It’s December, and the icy wind was relentless.
But once I sank into the hot water, it felt absolutely divine.
I was the only one in the open-air bath—
a private and luxurious soak all to myself.
After drying my hair, I returned to the room and went to bed early.

1:15 AM — I woke up.
So sleepy.
Waking up in the middle of a nap like this is the worst for your body.
I washed my face at the sink and left the room.
Climbing the stairs, I headed to the freezing observation deck.

1:22 AM — the ship passed under Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge.
The orange lights illuminating the bridge made its shape beautifully visible.
The temperature was 2°C. The cold air stung my skin.
Naturally, no one else was around; the deck was empty.
I had looked forward to this bridge passage, but it was just too cold.
I couldn’t bear it any longer and jogged back inside,
heading straight for the shower room in search of warmth.

The shower rooms on the 7th floor were private booths.
The water-saving faucets automatically stopped after a few seconds.
The warm shower soaked into my frozen body.
I dried my hair with one of the two available hair dryers.
No one else was around at this hour, so I used it right away.
After buying a Coke (¥180), I returned to my room and began working on my computer.

3:19 AM — the display monitor in the room changed.
It showed “Seto Ohashi” along with a photo of the bridge.
Apparently, we were about to pass under it.
Time to head back out to the freezing observation deck.
Looks like I’m about to get cold again.

3:24 AM — we passed under Seto Ohashi Bridge.
Though I was only outside for a few minutes, it felt even colder than earlier.
I had no energy left to enjoy the view afterward and retreated to my room.
I dove into the warm bed and slept until morning.

6:50 AM — I woke up.
I brushed my teeth at the sink and got myself ready for the day.
Something I’d been wondering since yesterday: the toothpaste included with the room’s toothbrush set smells like the medicated patches you get at a hospital.
Rather than feeling refreshed after brushing, it left a very… distinctive impression.
Now then, it’s almost time to pass the final bridge.
After getting ready, I headed to the observation deck.

7:11 AM — we passed under the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge.
Its scale was unlike any of the bridges we’d passed so far.
It felt like sailing through a massive gate—truly awe-inspiring.
In the daylight, you can really appreciate the details of the structure.
Maybe it was just too cold, but there weren’t many people around.
Only three of us were there, including me.
I expected more of a crowd, but the observation deck was surprisingly quiet.
With this, I’ve now seen all the bridges on the route.

I returned to my room and boiled some water using the kettle provided.
Next to it was a packet of deep-steamed Shizuoka green tea.
One packet wasn’t quite enough, so I used two.
The slightly bitter, warm tea soaked into my body.
Once I had settled in, I headed to the observation restaurant.

6:40 AM — I arrived at the restaurant.
Compared to dinner, the breakfast had fewer greasy dishes, but the variety was still excellent.
When I previously took the first ferry, the “Ferry Osaka II,” breakfast was limited to bread and boiled sausages.
But the second ferry’s breakfast is on another level.
There were many desserts—and even curry!
If you want to enjoy a proper breakfast, I definitely recommend the second ferry.
After picking up some food, I headed to a seat.
Outside the window, the calm morning sea reflected the sunrise.
I enjoyed breakfast while watching the gentle waves.
Afterward, I returned to my room and brushed my teeth again with that menthol-medicated-patch-flavored toothpaste.
It’ll soon be time to part ways with that unique taste.
I spent the remaining time relaxing in my cabin.

Fifteen minutes before disembarkation, an onboard announcement was made.
Hearing the voice, passengers gradually gathered at the entrance.
At 8:30 AM, disembarkation began.
I followed the crowd and stepped off the ship.
Like spiders scattering, passengers made their way into the city of Osaka.
I was one of them, heading toward the Ferry Terminal Station.
The Meimon Taiyo Ferry “Ferry Fukuoka” I rode this time—
I’d like to ride it again when traveling between Osaka and Fukuoka.
Thank you so much for reading until the end.