Looking for a unique way to travel from Tokyo to Kyushu? Welcome aboard the Ocean Tokyu Ferry, a 35-hour, 2-night, 3-day ferry journey offering a one-of-a-kind experience! This isn’t your typical ferry—there’s no restaurant onboard, but you can enjoy a variety of frozen and retort meals from vending machines available 24/7. Let’s dive into the details of this memorable trip!
Ferry Terminal & Boarding
The journey begins at the Tokyo Ferry Terminal, where I arrived to complete the boarding process. If there’s space available, you can even board on the same day, but I opted to book and pay online in advance. The ferry I boarded was Ferry Bizan, one of the four ships in the Ocean ToKyu Ferry fleet.
After a short wait, we began boarding just 10 minutes before departure—talk about cutting it close! Once aboard, I headed to my accommodation: the most affordable option, the capsule room. It’s cozy but functional, with a small light, power socket, and plenty of space to stretch out. You need to make your own bed, which took a bit of effort, but it was worth it!
At 19:10, the ferry departed from Tokyo. As we sailed past landmarks like Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree, I settled in for the long journey ahead.
Dinner from the Vending Machines
As there’s no restaurant on board, I headed to the vending machine area for dinner. Tonight’s meal was a set meal of rice with a chicken and vegetable dish in black vinegar sauce, paired with a hot cup of egg soup—purchased from another vending machine! The frozen food selection onboard is surprisingly extensive, including udon, pasta, rice dishes, and more. Luckily, there are plenty of microwaves to heat up your meal at any time of the day.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meal. For something frozen, it tasted almost as good as a freshly prepared dish!
Breakfast on Day 2: Frozen udon noodles
Morning came, and it was time for breakfast. Once again, the vending machines came to the rescue. I decided to have udon with tempura, which was easy to prepare. Just add hot water and microwave! While the noodles were softer than I’m used to, the flavor was rich and satisfying, perfect for starting the day.
Vending Machines & Shop
The ferry is equipped with vending machines for snacks, drinks, and even toiletries! It’s a handy feature for those small items you might forget to pack. There’s also a small onboard shop selling ferry-themed goods and some seasonal treats like Halloween-themed snacks.
Lunch: Doria & Frozen Mikan
As we docked at Tokushima Port around midday, I decided to try another vending machine delicacy—Pietro’s Doria. This dish, featuring eggplant and meat sauce, was rich and cheesy, making for a perfect lunch. For dessert, I couldn’t resist trying a frozen mikan (tangerine), which reminded me of school lunch days in Japan. Frozen but still bursting with flavor, it was a nostalgic and refreshing treat.
Evening: Yakitori & Beer
By evening, I settled down with some yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and a cold beer from the vending machine, just in time to watch the Hanshin Tigers’ championship game. Four delicious skewers—chicken thigh, cartilage, tsukune (meatball), and crispy chicken skin—made for the perfect accompaniment. Even though the TV signal wasn’t great, it added a quirky charm to the experience. Go Hanshin!
Day 3: Arrival at Shin-Moji Port
After a good night’s rest, we arrived early in the morning at Shin-Moji Port. The quiet port town welcomed us with the sounds of dockworkers as the ferry prepared for docking. After 35 hours on board, the journey had flown by surprisingly quickly. A taxi took me to the nearest station, and from there I caught a train to Fukuoka.
Breakfast: Fukuoka’s Famous “Maki no Udon”
I couldn’t leave Fukuoka without trying the local specialty, Maki no Udon. I ordered the goboten udon (burdock tempura udon), a delicious bowl with soft, chewy noodles and crispy tempura in a warm broth. A unique feature of Fukuoka udon is that the noodles are much softer than elsewhere in Japan, but they absorb the soup perfectly. The meal was comforting and absolutely satisfying!
Final Thoughts
My 35-hour ferry journey was a truly unique experience. While the lack of a restaurant might seem inconvenient, the well-stocked vending machines provided plenty of tasty options, and the ferry itself was a comfortable way to travel. I can’t wait for my next ferry adventure, and next time, I’ll be booking a private room!
