Consisting of several thousand islands, Japan is naturally home to an extensive network of domestic ferry routes.

While Japan's four major islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, are connected with each other by bridges and tunnels, most smaller islands can only be reached by ship. But even between the major four islands, ferries can be an interesting, if not particularly fast alternative to trains, buses and airplanes.

Most domestic ferries transport people, vehicles and cargo. While shorter routes are served by small ships, able to carry a couple of cars and a few dozens of passengers, large liners are employed on longer routes.

Larger ferries can carry hundreds of vehicles and passengers and are usually equipped with a range of amenities such as public baths and restaurants. Some come close to being luxury liners.

Boarding a ferry

Tatami space on board of a ferry

On most long-distance ferries, passengers have the choice between three classes, 2nd class, 1st class and special class:

• 2nd class without bed
  the cheapest option
  Common space with a carpet or tatami mats to rest on.
• 2nd class with bed
  typically 20%-40% more expensive than 2nd class w/o bed
  Dormitory with about 4-12 beds.
• 1st class
  typically twice the cost of 2nd class w/o bed
  Room with about 2-4 beds.
• Special class
  typically 2.5 to three times the cost of 2nd class w/o bed
  Room with about 2 beds.

Bicycles can also be taken onto ferries. As a rule of thumb, the cost for bringing a bicycle is about 100 Yen for each hour of travel. So, on a 9 hour trip, for example, a bicycle will cost around 900 Yen.

Ferry tickets can be reserved and purchased through the ferry companies directly (by phone, online or at the ferry terminal) or through travel agencies. The availability of English speaking staff cannot be counted on.

Below are maps showing major domestic ferry routes. Click here or on a route name below for more details about ferry routes and access information to major ports:

Long Distance Routes:

 
Aomori and Hokkaido:

 
Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai):

 
Okinawa and Kagoshima: