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Know the rule before you reach the ramp
Japan ferry rules, route by route.
Check whether to book, how early to arrive, what can travel with you, and which terminal to use. Only routes that answer all five questions from official operator information are listed.
Official-source coverage
21
routes across 11 operators
Official-source route database. All 21 A-rated routes open as individual booking and boarding guides.
Live schedules and prices
Compare ferries to and within Japan
When you are ready to book, compare current sailings and prices on Direct Ferries. Availability and fares are provided by the booking site, not this rules database.
Compare ferries and prices ↗
Five questions answered Booking, arrival, modes, terminal and procedure.
No live claims Fares, schedules, delays and availability are intentionally excluded.
Held routes stay out Nine B-rated routes are not shown as publication pages.
Find a route
Search by port or ferry operator
Search route, port or operator
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21 verified routes
Browse by sailing region
Hokkaido & Tohoku
6 routes
Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry
A · verified
Aomori - Hakodate
regional vehicle ferry
Latest check-in 40 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry
A · verified
Aomori - Muroran
regional vehicle ferry
Latest check-in 40 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Taiheiyo Ferry
A · verified
Nagoya - Sendai
long-distance Pacific ferry
Latest check-in Foot 60 min · vehicle 90 min
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
MOL Sunflower
A · verified
Oarai - Tomakomai
long-distance overnight ferry
Latest check-in Foot 75 min · vehicle 135 min
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry
A · verified
Oma - Hakodate
regional vehicle ferry
Latest check-in 40 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Taiheiyo Ferry
A · verified
Sendai - Tomakomai
long-distance Pacific ferry
Latest check-in Foot 60 min · vehicle 90 min
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Browse by sailing region
Sea of Japan & Sado
2 routes
Sado Kisen
A · verified
Naoetsu - Ogi
regional car ferry
Latest check-in 30 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Sado Kisen
A · verified
Niigata - Ryotsu
regional car ferry
Latest check-in 30 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Browse by sailing region
Kansai, Shikoku & Kyushu
13 routes
Setonaikai Kisen
A · verified
Hiroshima - Matsuyama
daytime cruise ferry
Latest check-in 20 min before departure
Booking Optional
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Hankyu Ferry
A · verified
Izumiotsu - Shinmoji
overnight Seto Inland Sea ferry
Latest check-in 60 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Miyazaki Car Ferry
A · verified
Kobe - Miyazaki
overnight Pacific ferry
Latest check-in 60 min before departure
Booking Reserve first
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
MOL Sunflower
A · verified
Kobe - Oita
overnight Seto Inland Sea ferry
Latest check-in 60 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Hankyu Ferry
A · verified
Kobe - Shinmoji
overnight Seto Inland Sea ferry
Latest check-in 60 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Jumbo Ferry
A · verified
Kobe - Shodoshima
island vehicle ferry
Latest check-in 30 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Jumbo Ferry
A · verified
Kobe - Takamatsu
short-distance vehicle ferry
Latest check-in 30 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
MOL Sunflower
A · verified
Osaka - Beppu
overnight Seto Inland Sea ferry
Latest check-in 60 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
MOL Sunflower
A · verified
Osaka - Shibushi
overnight Seto Inland Sea ferry
Latest check-in 60 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Orange Ferry
A · verified
Osaka - Toyo
overnight Seto Inland Sea ferry
Latest check-in 30 min before departure
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Ocean Tokyu Ferry
A · verified
Tokushima - Shinmoji
long-distance coastal ferry
Latest check-in Foot 30 min · vehicle 60 min
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Ocean Tokyu Ferry
A · verified
Tokyo - Tokushima
long-distance coastal ferry
Latest check-in Foot 30 min · vehicle 60 min
Booking Recommended
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
Tokyo Kyusyu Ferry
A · verified
Yokosuka - Shinmoji
long-distance overnight ferry
Latest check-in 60 min before departure
Booking Reserve first
Foot Car Motorcycle Bicycle
No publication-ready route matches that search.
Routes with unresolved boarding questions are intentionally excluded.