Meimon Taiyo Ferry Osaka II Review | Fukuoka to Osaka Cruise

At 3:30 p.m., I arrived at “Ferry Terminal Station” in Osaka city.
Tonight’s ship is Meimon Taiyo Ferry’s “Ferry Osaka II.”
It’s about a 12 hour 30 minute journey from Osaka Nanko to Shinmoji Port, Fukuoka Prefecture.

The station is directly connected to the ferry terminal by a long corridor.
After exiting the ticket gates, I turned left and headed straight to the ticket counter.

After completing the procedures at the counter, I received my boarding pass.
With the ticket in hand, I headed up to the boarding entrance on the 2nd floor.

The moment I entered the waiting area, I was surprised.
Even though it was a weekday, there was a crowd like during a busy holiday.

The first sailing of Meimon Taiyo Ferry is the cheapest option to travel.
Perhaps because of that, there were some group travelers here and there.

At 4:08 p.m., the boarding announcement was made.
At the boarding gate, staff scanned the QR code on my ticket, and I passed through the gate.

Through the corridor windows, I could see other ships docked.

The walk to the ship was surprisingly long—about 2 minutes at a leisurely pace.
Finally, I boarded.

Arriving at my room,
I found it was the second-cheapest shared cabin, “Tourist Class.”
The layout is like a capsule hotel, with two beds facing each other in one compartment.

There was one corner compartment at the front and one at the back.
Luckily, I was able to secure a corner compartment this time.

The bedding consisted of a mattress, pillow, and futon.
Closing the curtain created my own private space.
The light was touch-controlled with three brightness settings.
There was also a drink holder, hanger, and a small foldable mesh shelf—surprisingly well equipped.

After putting down my luggage, I set out to explore the ship.
First, I checked the restaurant location, then the large bath.
After a while, I went up to the top-floor observation deck.

At 5:00 p.m., the ship departed Osaka Nanko on schedule.
“Hotaru no Hikari” (Auld Lang Syne) began playing inside the ship.

Looking toward the shore, staff waved flags.
Some waved energetically with big motions, others stood quietly at the bottom of the stairs waving gently.
Passengers returned their waves in warm farewell.

Lost in the almost cinematic scene, my gaze dropped to the swirling water below.

“Wow, the water’s really dirty…”

Before departure, I hadn’t noticed, but once the ship started moving, murky green and brown water churned vigorously.
This phenomenon is common in enclosed water areas with poor tidal flow—it’s not unique to Osaka Nanko.
Dirty water tends to stagnate here.

Curious, I looked it up and found that the Kaiyukan Aquarium has conducted detailed research on Osaka Port water quality, with explanations starting on page 25.

It was a moment that reminded me of environmental issues.

This ferry’s route is through the Seto Inland Sea.
Unlike the Sea of Japan side, the waves are calm, and the ship’s unique large rocking is barely felt.
No worries about seasickness, so I could fully enjoy my meals.

After slowly savoring the departure scenery, I headed to the restaurant on the 6th floor.

At 5:20 p.m., I arrived at the observation restaurant on the 6th floor.
It was a buffet style—once you pay the fee upfront, you can take as much food as you like.

Boiled shrimp, fried foods, fresh seared bonito tataki, and other appetizing dishes lined up.
I grabbed my food and moved to a window seat, enjoying the sea view leisurely while eating.

After finishing my meal, I headed back to the observation deck.

18:12 Passed under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.
With the sunset behind, the bridge gleamed beautifully.
It quickly disappeared into the distance as I watched it shrink away.

Afterwards, I headed to take a shower.

At exactly 19:00, I checked the monitor at the entrance to the large bathhouse, which showed “Moderately crowded.”
The limit is 18 people, and currently, 10 were inside.

When I entered, many had already finished and were changing in the dressing room.
Only four people, including myself, remained inside the bath.

Outside, the sun had already set, but a faint glow still lingered over the sea beyond the window.
I soaked in the tub slowly, warming my body while gazing at the sea.

After the bath, I returned to my room and relaxed for a while.
By 21:30, the lights were out and the room was completely dark.

Quietly slipping out of the room, I headed to the observation deck.

At 21:28, we passed under the Seto Ohashi Bridge.

The illuminated bridge floated in the night sky, and a steady stream of spectators gathered on the observation deck.
Some took photos on their phones, others quietly admired the beauty.

However, the summer heat and sea breeze made me sweat.
Soon, I retreated inside the ship.

At the vending machine corner, I filled a cup with cold water and quenched my thirst.
Feeling refreshed, I returned to my room and fell asleep.

At 4:00 AM, I woke up.
With 30 minutes until the restaurant opened, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and got ready.

Still feeling groggy, I went to the TV lounge to kill time.
There were people sleeping on chairs, some lifting their hips as if trying to get comfortable.

I thought it would surely be more comfortable to sleep in the cabin, but quietly left the area.

At 4:30 AM, a ship announcement played:
“The restaurant is now open. Please feel free to use it.”

I headed to the observation restaurant for breakfast.

The breakfast buffet offered lighter items than dinner.
Boiled eggs, sausages, shredded cabbage, and two types of bread.

Feeling that bread alone wasn’t enough, I took extra sausages and put the bread in the conveyor oven.

The first try was a bit underdone.
The second pass ended up burning the bread.
I felt a little embarrassed that I couldn’t even toast bread properly.

Another problem arose:
The burnt bread surface became so smooth it slipped from the tongs.
With a line forming behind me, I hurriedly forced the tongs into the bread to retrieve it.

Still, the breakfast was delicious.

The 12 and a half hour voyage was almost over.
After eating, I returned to my room and started preparing to disembark.

15 minutes before disembarkation, an announcement was made:
“This is a 15-minute warning for disembarkation. Please prepare to disembark.”

Upon hearing this, passengers started gathering in the entrance area.

At 5:32 AM, disembarkation began.
I followed the flow and left the ship.

Outside the terminal, free shuttle buses to JR Moji Station and JR Kokura Station were waiting.
At 5:43 AM, once all passengers were seated, the bus departed for the city.

At 6:26 AM, we arrived at JR Kokura Station.
The bus ride from Shinmoji Port takes about 40 minutes.
Being able to travel this distance for free is a great convenience.

The first ferry of the day arrives at Kokura Station around 6:30 AM.
For early risers like me, this is ideal.
From Kokura to Hakata, the Shinkansen takes just 16 minutes.
Even the local rapid train takes 1 hour 27 minutes, so there are plenty of options.

Highly convenient, affordable, and excellent value — this ferry was a great choice.

■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 Kaikyō Bridge
■ Opened: April 5, 1998
■ Location: Between Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture and Awaji Island
■ Length of Bridge: 3,911m

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

■ Name: Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge
■ Opened: May 1, 1999
■ Location: Between Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture and Ōshima Island
■ Length of Bridge: 4,105m