Review of Ferry Yakushima2 | Orita Kisen | Japan’s Overnight Ferry Experience | Yakushima – Kagoshima

Ferry Terminal – South Wharf Passenger Terminal

From Kagoshima Station

■ Walk – Kagoshima Station → Kagoshima Ekimae Station Approx. 7 minutes
■ Train – Kagoshima Ekimae → Izuro-dori Station Approx. 10 minutes (170 yen)
■ Walk – Izuro-dori Station → South Wharf Passenger Terminal Approx. 17 minutes
Cost – 170 yen, Time Required – Approx. 35 minutes

Ferry Terminal – Miyanoura Port
Bus – Miyanoura Port (Bus Stop) About 1 minute walk

The room I reserved this time is the cheapest cabin on Ferry Yakushima 2, the 2nd class cabin.
Shoes are not allowed inside, so you need to take them off in the hallway before entering each room.

The room also includes a fitting room in the corner for changing!
The room had an old CRT TV playing vintage Japanese films.

The pillows provided in each room are leather-type.
The pillows were torn and had some holes, so I used the towel I brought with me as a pillow cover.

The Udon Corner is located on the 2nd floor.
You can enjoy soba and udon at this dining area on Ferry Yakushima 2.

I ordered the meat udon.
The udon was a bit soft, but the sweetness typical of meat udon was just right, and the broth was delicious!

Ship Name – Ferry Yakushima 2
Length – 122.4 meters
Gross Tonnage – 3,392 tons
Cruising Speed – 21.8 knots (40.37 km/h)
Capacity – 494 people
Vehicle Capacity – 26 passenger cars, 17 buses

The information counter is located directly in front of you as you enter the boarding area.
If you have any issues on the ship, visit the information counter.

By the way, cigarettes are sold at the information counter for smokers.
The brands available include Mevius, Seven Stars, IQOS Mint, Camel Craft, and Marlboro.

Coffee is also available for 110 yen per cup.

The shop is located near the entrance on the 1st floor.
You can purchase Yakushima souvenirs and snacks here.

In addition to food items, magazines and Yakushima’s specialty crafts are also available for sale.

There is a locker where you can rent a blanket for 100 yen.
I boarded on November 13th, and it was very cold inside the ship during the voyage, so having a blanket was very comfortable.

The locker is located near the 2nd class cabin area on the 1st floor, so use it if you feel cold!

The Sea Turtle Room is located on the 1st floor.
Yakushima is famous as the top sea turtle nesting site in Japan.

In the Sea Turtle Room, you can see baby sea turtles born on Yakushima!
It is open only about an hour before disembarkation.

If you go before the opening time, you’ll find the door closed with a sign saying “Tank Cleaning”.
When I boarded, it was opened from 16:30, and there were two small sea turtles swimming in a beautiful tank. They were very cute!

All species of sea turtles are said to be at risk of extinction, so Yakushima is making efforts to protect the eggs and hatch them before releasing them into the sea.
In the Sea Turtle Room, various materials addressing the issues faced by sea turtles are displayed.

If you’re on board, be sure to check it out!

The smoking area is on the 1st floor.
The boarding area on the 1st floor seems to be converted into a smoking area during the voyage.

The game corner is located in front of the Udon Corner on the 2nd floor.
The game corner has several UFO catchers and slot machines.

It’s perfect for killing time (^ – ^)

The Kids Room has a few toys and some sofas.
It was lively until disembarkation, so it’s recommended for families with children!

The Theater Jomon is a multipurpose hall.
Near the game corner, there is a door leading inside where many chairs are arranged and a stage is set up in the middle.
It seems to be capable of accommodating various events such as lectures and shows.

The Tea Room is located at the bow (front) of the ship, where you can enjoy the view in the direction of travel through the windows.

It is a relatively calm space.

The Observation Room features several comfortable sofas for relaxing.

It is covered with windows all around, so you can enjoy the view from any seat.

The top floor area of the Ferry Yakushima 2 is designated as an observation space.
The observation space is bright due to the incoming natural light.

There are two telescopes available for 100 yen each.

There are three toilets on the 1st floor and one on the 2nd floor.

This is a bathroom equipped with showers.
It has a sauna with a temperature of 92°C.

There is a bathtub in the bathroom, but it is not usable.
Soap and towels are not provided, so you need to bring your own.

Vending machines are installed on both the 1st and 2nd floors.
The vending machine on the 1st floor sells slim alcohol drinks, while the one on the 2nd floor, in front of the Udon Corner, sells general items like juices and tea.

Each floor has doors leading to the outdoors, so you might enjoy stepping outside for a change of scenery.

The wooden deck has a modern atmosphere and is excellent.