Advance booking is recommended. Same-day tickets are sold at the port only if passenger space remains.
MOL Sunflower · long-distance overnight ferry
Oarai - Tomakomai ferry rules
Booking, arrival, vehicles, baggage and both terminals in one official-source guide.
A · publication readyVerified 2026-07-28
The 30-second answer
Book if you can. Walk-up depends on remaining space.
Walk-up travel is possible only when space remains, but vehicle space can sell out separately. Reserve bicycles by phone and use the correct west-port terminal in Tomakomai.
Booking approachRecommended
Foot deadline75 min early
Vehicle deadline135 min early
Online bookingAvailable
What can travel
Passenger, vehicle and baggage rules
“Yes” means the operator publishes a carriage category. Space and vessel restrictions still apply.
Advance booking is recommended. A passenger seat may remain while the vehicle deck is already full.
Advance booking is recommended; motorcycle displacement and plate details are required.
A folding or bagged bicycle is treated as paid checked baggage and must be reserved by phone; an unbagged bicycle can travel as a vehicle.
Pet rooms or with-pet rooms must be reserved; pet-room cage capacity is limited and counter processing is required.
Folding bicycles, skis, and snowboards cannot enter cabins; they are carried as paid checked baggage between ports.
Use the right terminal
Both ends of the route
Oarai Port Ferry Terminal
2 Minato-Chuo, Oarai-machi, Higashiibaraki-gun, Ibaraki 311-1305
Open official terminal page ↗Tomakomai West Port Ferry Terminal
1-2-34 Irifune-cho, Tomakomai-shi, Hokkaido 053-0003
Open official terminal page ↗Before boarding
Four checks at the port
- Confirm today’s operating route and vessel on the operator site.
- Bring any booking or ticket reference; drivers should also bring the vehicle registration document when required.
- Finish check-in at least 75 minutes before departure on foot or 135 minutes before departure with a vehicle.
- For evening sailings, reach Oarai around 18:00 on foot or 17:30 with a vehicle; reach Tomakomai around 17:30 on foot or 16:30 with a vehicle. Night-sailing passengers should reach the terminal around 22:45. Complete the staffed-counter procedure before boarding.
Pet travel / checked 2026-09-12
Taking a dog or cat? Choose the pet space before the ticket
On Oarai–Tomakomai, reserve either a With-Pet cabin to stay together or a separate pet-room cage. An ordinary passenger cabin cannot take your pet. Match the ship, your animal and its carrier before paying.
Separate pet-room cages — ship dimensions, H × W × D
| Ship | Standard cage | Larger animal |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo / Furano (evening service) | 55 × 53 × 72 cm | 85 × 75 × 110 cm extra-large cage; telephone reservation only |
| Kamui / Pirika (late-night service) | 65 × 91 × 58 cm | No extra-large cage listed; confirm suitability with the operator |
Every cage needs a reservation. These are the ship's pet-room cages, not the dimensions allowed for your boarding carrier. A With-Pet cabin is a different reservation.
Check your situation
- Your dog is under six months old
The operator does not accept puppies under six months. Check the animal restrictions before searching tickets.
- Your dog has no recent rabies vaccination proof
Dogs need proof of rabies vaccination within one year at check-in; the operator accepts an image of it on the day. Deferral and antibody certificates are not substitutes. This particular proof requirement currently applies to dogs, not cats.
- Your own cart is exactly 65 cm wide, or cannot close
The July 24, 2026 terms specify a customer-provided lidded cart/carrier under 65 cm wide, with the whole animal enclosed. Exactly 65 cm does not meet 'under 65'; an open sling does not meet the enclosure rule. Confirm a suitable alternative before booking.
- You plan to board Kamui / Pirika with only a leash
Do not rely on leash-only boarding. The overview mentions a leash, but the terms dated July 24, 2026 require an enclosed cart/carrier. Bring one that meets those terms, or resolve the discrepancy with the operator before paying.
- You want to leave your pet in the car
The operator asks passengers not to leave pets in vehicles. The vehicle deck closes during the voyage, so you cannot return to care for them. Reserve suitable pet accommodation instead.
What the Direct Ferries link can — and cannot — confirm
Direct Ferries lists pets on this route and instructs travellers to add the pet when searching. The link below can check ticket options. A normal ticket result alone does not confirm your animal's acceptance or a With-Pet cabin/cage. If the required pet space is not explicitly confirmed, use the operator's pet booking guidance before payment. Extra-large cages require a telephone reservation.
Affiliate booking option / PR
Check Oarai–Tomakomai sailings
Ready to travel from Oarai to Tomakomai? Direct Ferries lists this crossing. Enter your travel date and party details to check the sailings and ticket options it offers. Use the boarding and baggage rules above when planning your departure.
In one paragraph
Oarai - Tomakomai boarding summary
Walk-up travel is possible only when space remains, but vehicle space can sell out separately. Reserve bicycles by phone and use the correct west-port terminal in Tomakomai.