All Reviews for Ferries & Cruises

It's an overnight ferry. Since I had originally used this reservation service before, I made the reservation from here. The check-in was smooth, and since the sea wasn't rough, I was able to rest.

夜行フェリーです。
もともとこちらの予約利用したことがあるのでこちらから予約いたしました。
スムーズに受付できまして、海も荒れていなかったので休むことができました。

I slept like a baby. Staff was great getting on and getting off

Since I had made a reservation in advance, I was able to board the ferry with plenty of time to spare on the day. It had been a while since I took a ferry, but the interior was spacious and there was an observation deck, so I was able to relax comfortably. It was the best experience. Thank you!

事前に予約していたので、当日は余裕を持って乗船できました^ ^久しぶりのフェリーでしたが、船内は広いし展望台もあったのでゆっくりリラックスできました。最高でした。ありがとうございます♪

Everything really clean and efficient. Room comfy and big

I came to Takamatsu for work, and since I was here, I thought I would take the opportunity to visit Shodoshima. I was torn between taking the high-speed boat and the ferry, but to enjoy the travel experience, I chose the ferry. The ferry was spacious and clean, and I spent a relaxing time looking at the surrounding islands. For this moment, I forgot about work and had fun.

仕事で高松に来ていまして、せっかくだから小豆島に行って見ようと思い､高速船とフェリーどっちにしようか迷いましたが旅行気分を味わう為、フェリーにしました。フェリーの中も広く､綺麗で周りの島々を見ながら
のんびり過ごしました。この時だけは仕事を忘れて楽しみました。

It was a bit early for the autumn leaves, but it was a fun river descent. There were three boatmen working well as a team, and more than half of the guests were foreigners, but I felt that everyone enjoyed it together.

紅葉には少し早かったけど　楽しい川下りでした。船頭さんが3名1組でチームワーク良く　お客は外人さんも半分以上おられましたが、一緒に楽しめたように思います

Second experience.
The weather forecast predicted rain.
Just in case, I brought a raincoat.
I was hoping it would hold off, but it started raining about halfway through!
The boatman put up a roof, so I was able to make it down to the end somehow.

２回目の体験。
天気予報は、雨。
念の為カッパ持っていきました。
なんとか、保つかなって思ってたのですが、半分位のとこで雨が！
船頭さんが、屋根を張ってくれたので　なんとか　最後まで下れました。

This was my second time using the service, and this time there were many international guests. The three boatmen, who were like comedians mixing in English, made it a lot of fun. I would like to participate again with my grandchildren. Thank you very much.

2度目の利用ですが、今回は、海外の方も多く、英語混じりのお笑い芸人ばりの船頭さん3人で、とても楽しかったです。
孫達と、また、参加したいと思います。
ありがとうございました。

It took about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Kameoka to Arashiyama. The travel time seems to vary depending on the water level; it can take as little as 1 hour or up to 2 hours at the longest. On the day I participated, the water level wasn't very high, so it was a calm boat trip while enjoying the scenery.

There were moments when the river narrowed or had significant drops, but that was also quite pleasant. For those seeking thrills, I think rafting would be a better option.

There were three boatmen who took turns rowing, as it is physically demanding work. It was very impressive to see them earnestly guiding the guests in English, especially since most of the customers were foreigners. Their efforts to entertain the guests, often with laughter, were evident.

Along the way, you can see rare wild birds and a trolley train, and you can leisurely enjoy the picturesque mountains and rivers that resemble Japan's original landscapes. However, I wouldn't recommend participating in the height of summer or winter (I heard that a roof is put up in the summer). Depending on the travel time, some people might get a bit bored, and I experienced a little seasickness.

I recommend this for those who love vehicles or want to experience something out of the ordinary. If you decide to participate, I think it's best to bring minimal luggage.

亀岡から嵐山まで1時間40分ほどかかりました。水の量によって所用時間が変わるようで、早ければ1時間遅くて2時間かかることもあるとのことでした。
私が参加した日は水が多くなかったようで、景色を眺めながら穏やかな船旅でした。
時折川幅が狭くなったり落差が大きいポイントがありましたが、それもまた心地よかったです。
スリルを求める人はラフティングの方が良いと思います。

船頭さんは3人で、力仕事なので交代しながら船を漕いでくれます。
お客さんのほとんどが外国人という中で英語で一生懸命案内している姿がとても印象的で、時折笑いも交えながらお客さんを楽しませようという気持ちが伝わってきました。

道中は珍しい野鳥やトロッコ列車が見えたり、日本の原風景のような山と川の景色をのんびりと楽しむことができます。ただ真夏や真冬の参加はおすすめしません。（真夏は屋根が出るとのこと）
所用時間によっては少し飽きてしまう人もいそうなのと、私は少しだけ船酔いしました。

乗り物が好きな方や非日常を味わいたい方におすすめです。
参加される際は荷物少なめが良いと思います。

I was a bit worried about sleeping in a shared space, so I reserved a family private room. I was able to relax. Waking up early and going to the deck to see the sunrise became a wonderful memory!

雑魚寝が少し心配だったので、ファミリー個室を予約しました。
ゆっくりできました。
朝早く起きて甲板に行き、朝日を見たのがいい思い出になりました！

The ship had various seating options, allowing for a relaxed experience. I enjoyed the scenery while eating udon as we traveled through the islands, making it a comfortable journey.

船内はいろんな席があり、ゆったり過ごせて、うどんを食べながら島の中をすすむ景色を楽しみ、快適な船旅でした。

I visited Shodoshima to see the Setouchi Triennale artworks. It took some time, but I chose the ferry, which was half the price of the high-speed boat, and I was able to purchase it at a discounted price with my JCB card. I relaxed comfortably for an hour in the women-only seating at the front of the ferry, enjoying a pleasant journey.

瀬戸内芸術祭作品見学のため小豆島へ。時間はかかるけど高速船ではなく半額のフェリーを選択、JCBカード会員割引価格で購入できました。先頭にある女性専用座席で1時間ゆったりくつろげて快適な船旅でした。

I had a very comfortable trip without any seasickness. There was a shop on board where you could eat light snacks. I was able to get a spacious seat and slept during the journey.

On the way there, I took the Yadon-go, and on the way back, it was the Takagi-san, the teasing master-go.

I heard that Yadon has become a character from Kagawa Prefecture. The snack called Yadon no shippo sold on board is delicious.

The original creator of Takagi-san, the teasing master, is said to be from Tonosho Town in Shodoshima.

The view from the deck was also nice, making it an enjoyable boat trip.

船酔いすることもなく大変快適でした。
船内に売店があり軽食も食べられます。
広い席が取れたので寝ていきました。

行きはヤドン号、
帰りはからかい上手の高木さん号でした。

ヤドンは香川県のキャラクターになって
いるそうです。船内販売のヤドンの尻尾
というスナック菓子が美味しいです。

からかい上手の高木さんの原作者は
小豆島土庄町の出身だそうです。

船上デッキからの景色も良く
楽しい船旅でした。

The river rafting was filled with nature and was incredibly healing. Despite the heat, the boatmen kept the conversation lively, making it a very enjoyable experience.

川下りも自然がたくさんですごく癒されました。暑い中船頭さん達が話を盛り上げてくれてすごく楽しい川下りでした。

It may have been a coincidence, but I couldn't see very well.

I thought that snorkeling in the shallow sea would allow me to see a clearer and more beautiful underwater world.

たまたまかもしれませんが、あまり、よくみえずでした。

シュノーケリングで浅瀬の海をみるほうが、きれいに、すっきりした海中がみえるんだと思いました。

I was looking forward to the Hozu River boat ride. I had a reservation for the 10 AM departure, but since I arrived early at the boarding area, I was able to change to the 9 AM departure. To my surprise, the boat had Makita fans installed at the front and back! I heard that the boatman had personally set them up as a trial. With temperatures exceeding 38°C in Kyoto, having fans made a huge difference, even at 9 AM! We were able to enjoy the nearly two-hour river ride comfortably. Besides the two of us, everyone else on the boat was from overseas, and the boatmen explained various things in easy-to-understand English with a touch of humor. It was enjoyable to listen to them. The boat's convenience store was also operating, and I was able to indulge in the oden I wanted to try. On that day, there hadn't been much rain for a long time, so the water level in the river was quite low, and the boatmen had to rely on their own strength for the ride. Thank you very much for the experience in the extreme heat.

楽しみにしていた保津川下り。10時出発の予約でしたが乗船場に早めに到着したので9時の出発に変更していただきました。乗った船にはなんと前と後ろにマキタのファンが設置してありました！聞けば船頭さんが試験的に個人の物を設置してくださったとか。最高気温38℃超えの京都で朝9時とはいえ送風機があるとないとでは大違い！２時間弱の川下りを快適に過ごすことができました。私たち2人以外は全員海外の方たちで、船頭さんたちがユーモアを交えたわかりやすい英語でいろいろ説明をされてました。それを聞いているのも楽しかったです。船のコンビニも健在で、食べたかったおでんも満喫できました。当日は長期間 雨が降っていなかったので川の水量がかなり少なく、船頭さんたちの人力頼みの川下りとなりました。猛暑のなか本当にありがとうございました。

The boarding time is long, but it's easier to access Fukuoka than transferring by bus or train within Nagasaki Prefecture. Onboard, there are food, drinks, shower rooms, and a relaxing space available. Before boarding, I was worried if I could board just with the voucher screen on my smartphone from Veltra, so I inquired at the counter, and they provided me with a paper boarding ticket.

乗船時間は長いけど長崎県内でバスや電車に乗り継ぐよりもラクに福岡にアクセスできます。
船内は食べ物、飲み物、シャワールーム、リラックスできる空間など一通り揃っています。
乗船前、ベルトラのスマホのバウチャー画面だけで乗船できるのか不安だったので窓口に申し出ると紙の乗船券を出してくれました。

【Beltora Staff Experience】
With the advance purchase, all I had to do was present the printed voucher, and there was no need for payment on-site. I took the afternoon ferry with Slowpoke, and the interior of the boat was adorable everywhere; I had fun for the entire hour! 😊

【ベルトラスタッフ体験談】
事前購入で、印刷したバウチャーを出すだけで、現地での支払いは不要でした。
お昼のヤドンのフェリーに乗りしたが、船内はどこも可愛くて、1時間ずっと楽しかったです(^^)

I was relieved that I could make a reservation for the high-speed ferry in advance, and it was easy to show the QR code at the check-in to complete the seat reservation and boarding process! The journey from Yakushima to Kagoshima City was a comfortable two hours.

事前に高速船の予約ができて、安心したのと、搭乗前に受付でQRコード見せるだけで席の予約と搭乗手続きができたのでラクでした！
屋久島〜鹿児島市内までも2時間も
快適そのものの旅でした

It was our family's first trip with three generations. Thank you very much for accommodating my father, who has knee arthritis, according to the situation. The children also had a great experience.

家族3代での初めての旅行でした。
膝関節症のある父に対しても
状況に合わせて対応して頂き
本当にありがとうございます。
子供達にも良い体験ができました。

Since my flight was delayed, I arrived at the terminal around 22:40, but I had reserved a Green Car sleeper, so it was fairly comfortable. There was a TV, but I ended up not watching it at all. Aside from the general passengers, there was absolutely no sense of privacy, so I was glad I chose the Green Car sleeper. The restrooms and shower rooms were very clean. It's a shame that the only food available was instant noodles. Beer was sold from a vending machine, but I couldn't buy any after 24:00.

フライトが遅めだったのでターミナルに着いたのが　22:40ぐらいだったが　グリーン寝台を予約しておいたから　まあまあ快適でした。テレビがついてはいたが　みることもなくおえてしまった。一般の方をのぞいたら　プライベート感はまったくないので　グリーン寝台にしてよかったと思った。トイレやシャワールームはとてもきれいでした。食べ物がカップ麺ぐらいしかないのが残念ですね。ビールは自販機で販売していたが　24:00以降は買えなかった。

Veltra made it possible for me -- as a foreigner with no Japanese language -- to reserve a private room on the overnight ferry from Hakata to Fukue. I'm so grateful for this, because it would've been very confusing to try and book it in person. It doesn't seem like a common route for foreigners.

TIPS FOR FELLOW TRAVELERS: look for "Terminal 2" Hakata Port on google maps, because there are multiple "Hakata Ports" and you don't want to end up at the wrong one.

Once you're at the terminal, head upstairs and wait in line to pick up your actual tickets. There are two lines - the left one is for passengers with vehicles and the right is for passengers only. The VELTRA voucher doesn't function as a ticket, so you have to pick up the actual tickets.

The ferry itself is very clean, quiet, and has multiple vending machines for snacks and drinks (including hot coffee and beer). There is a shower room, but no towels, so make sure to bring your own. Slippers are provided.

If you're large like me (188cm), I would highly recommend booking a twin room for yourself. It was very spacious and I had a great night's rest, considering the ferry begins making stops around 3 AM and you definitely feel it.

For what you get, the price is extremely fair. I actually was worried the booking might be wrong, because it seemed too cheap for a private room (compared to ferries in Europe and the USA). But it all worked out and I got everything that I paid for (and more)!

I made a reservation to catch the cherry blossom season. The cherry blossoms along the river were just a step away, but I enjoyed it. It seemed a bit long for the kids 😅. The boatman's stories and skills were perfect👌.

桜の季節を狙って予約しました。川沿いの桜はあと一歩でしたが、楽しめました。子供達には少し長かった😅ようですが。
船頭さんのお話も技術もバッチリ👌でした。

On November 25th, I visited during the peak of the autumn leaves. The boatman's storytelling was so entertaining that it created a fun atmosphere filled with laughter throughout the trip. Since it was late November, by the time we arrived in Arashiyama, I was completely chilled, but I was able to warm up both my heart and body with some hot sake from the onboard shop. I highly recommend visiting during the autumn foliage season.

１１月２５日、紅葉真っただ中に行きました。とにかく、船頭さんの語り口調がおもしろく、終始笑いが途切れない楽しい空間を作ってくださっていました。
１１月後半ということもあり、嵐山につく頃には体も冷え切っていたのですが、船上の売店で熱燗をいただき、心も体もあたたまることができました。紅葉シーズンがおすすめです。

I was able to see a lot of fish! My 2-year-old child was so excited that he was making sounds of joy (laughs). I usually get seasick easily, but I didn't feel particularly unwell this time. The duration was just under an hour, which was perfect.

たくさんの魚を見る事ができましたよ！2歳の子供も唸り声をあげて喜んでました（笑）船酔いしやすい私も特に気分が悪くなることはありませんでした。時間も１時間弱なのでちょうど良かったです。

The morning weather was bad, with wind and cold, but I was moved by the sight of small fish swimming energetically while diving. The coral was also clearly visible, and I was happy to see a turtle when the semi-submarine returned to the surface, as it was something that is not often seen. My mother was also very delighted. The cold was forgotten.

朝の天気は悪く風があり寒かったんですが、潜水して小魚達の元気に泳ぐ姿に感動し、珊瑚もよく見えて、半潜水艦が上に戻っていく時に、亀を見ることが出来て嬉しかった。なかなか見られないということだったので。母も大喜びでした。寒さ吹っ飛びました。

- I was very happy that there were women-only seats.
- I was able to relax a lot, which was great.
- Perhaps because it was the off-season? It was quiet, so I could enjoy the scenery at my leisure.

・女性専用シートが有るのが非常に嬉しかった。
・凄くリラックス出来て良かった。
・シーズンオフのせいか？空いているのでゆっくり景色も堪能出来た。

I was able to see a lot of fish. It was disappointing that I couldn't see a sea turtle, but everyone in the family who participated was satisfied. The boat was relatively stable and quite comfortable.

魚が沢山見れました。ウミガメが見れなかったのが残念でしたが、参加した家族全員満足してました。船の揺れも少なくまあまあ快適でした。

Riding the glass-bottom boat was a pleasant experience, especially since I don't usually get on boats. The breeze was just right, making it enjoyable. The smooth journey to the points where we could see fish and coral reefs was stress-free. It was really fun to see the fish up close in the water. However, many of the points had similar types of fish. Still, watching their movements kept us entertained throughout the experience. We were satisfied.

実際グラスボートに乗ってみると普段船に乗ることのない分、風が程よくて気持ちよかったです。魚やサンゴ礁が見れるポイントまでもスムーズな移動でストレスは感じませんでした。海の中を見る時すぐそこまで魚がいてとても楽しかったです。ですが見ることの出来るポイントの中には同じような魚ばかりでした。それでも魚の動きを見ていたら飽きずに体験出来ました。自分たちは満足しました。

After departing, we moved over the sea for a while. When we arrived at the point, we moved to the inner cabin, and the cabin sank. It was nice that we could look out from the front window, as the view was wide. However, the actual time was short, and it went by in an instant. What was disappointing was that the young female staff member, although not meaning any harm, was rather unfriendly and seemed to just be going through the motions, providing instructions without much engagement. I would have appreciated a bit more smiling or explanations. Well, I guess that's how it is...

出港してから、しばらく海上を移動。ポイントに着くと、内側の船室に移動して、船室が沈下します。正面の窓から眺めらるので、視界が広いのはよかった。でも、実質の時間は短く、あっという間でした。残念だったのは、係員の若い女の人が、(悪気はないが)あいそなく、黙々とルーティーンのように、指示説明だけしておられたこと。
もう少し笑顔とか、解説とか欲しかった。ま、こんなもんかなぁ……でした。