大阪～沖縄の新たな交通手段！フェリーでスロートラベル

大阪～沖縄の新たな交通手段！フェリーでスロートラベル

Hello! This is Trade Center Station in Osaka. I’m going on a ferry trip to Naha in Okinawa. First, I’ll head from the station to the ferry terminal. I’ll enter the ATC Building connected to the station. The weather is perfect for traveling. The interior of the ATC Building is a passageway. No need for an umbrella even on a rainy day. There are many ferry information boards inside the building. After walking for about two minutes, we will come to a large atrium. If you make a reservation online, you don’t need to go to the ticket counter. Convenience stores and restaurants are also open. This is the ferry company’s waiting area. Ferries bound for Beppu and Shibushi are departing. The ship we are boarding is bound for Shibushi. That ship is bound for Beppu, “Sunflower Kurenai.” For Shibushi, please take the elevator on the right. The ferry terminal is just ahead, but we will take a bus. The bus is free and runs seven times a day on weekdays. On this trip I will board two ships. The first ship is the Sunflower bound for Shibushi. From Kagoshima to Naha, take a Marix Line ferry. It takes about one minute to reach the ferry terminal. This is the first ship we will board. Built in 2018, length 192 m. “Sunflower Satsuma” Opposite is the “Sunflower Kurenai” we saw earlier. The large sun on the hull is the mark of the “Sunflower.” I also took a look from the stern. Now let’s enter the ferry terminal. There is also a ticket window and waiting area here. There are no shops or restaurants. Boarding begins at 5:00 p.m. Board the ship from the wharf via the passageway. Then take the escalator to the upper deck. This leads to the 6th floor lobby of the ship. Passenger areas are on floors 6 to 8. The ceiling is an oval-shaped screen. Projection mapping is displayed. It is a spacious lobby. There are windows facing the sea. Let’s eat at that restaurant later. The information desk and shop are also open. My cabin is a “Standard Single.” I reserved it online for $125. This is a private room with a lock for one person. The room is approximately 4 square meters in size. It’s a simple room with only a bed and a desk. This is the smallest private room with a lock on this ship. The mattress is thin but has springs. There are no windows, so it may feel a bit cramped I got another Sunflower towel. Handrail, towel hook, mirror, etc. Functionally adequate. The air conditioner can only adjust the airflow. It’s not spacious, but it’s comfortable enough for a trip. Well, we’re about to set sail. The staff strikes a gong 15 minutes before departure. Stairs from the 6th floor to the 7th floor. Further from the 8th floor to the outdside deck. A ramp is installed at the exit. Some improvements are desired for wheelchair users. The vermilion funnel is bathed in the setting sun. The outside deck is on the 8th and 7th floors. Let’s go down to the 7th floor. It’s spacious. The Song of Sunflower is playing from the speakers. That song has been playing over and over in my head throughout the voyage. Beyond the railing is the stern deck. Departure preparations begin. First, stow the vehicle ramps. It would be fun to take my car on a ship. Next, loosen the ropes. They work together to remove the ropes from the bollards. The winch on the ship pulls up the ropes. The ship departed on time at 5:55 p.m. The staff are seeing off this ship from the wharf. It’s a 15-hour voyage to Shibushi. This is a Norwegian cargo ship. There two self-propelled cranes on the deck. I would like to enjoy a long voyage on a cargo ship someday. The ship will continue moving backward for a while. The navigation signal “O” means that a ship is sailing. We are leaving the harbor between those lighthouses. “Sunflower Kurenai” will depart next. “Kyoto” bound for Shin-Moji and “Orange Ehime” bound for Toyo. The ship is turning counterclockwise while moving backward. The bow of the ship must be facing in the direction of travel. The turn is almost complete. The ship is heading toward the setting sun in the west. The flat building visible behind the white lighthouse is the Expo site. The ship is passing by the red lighthouse. Beyond the long breakwater is a thermal power plant. The outside deck is difficult to walk on due to strong winds. A Chinese container ship is entering Osaka Port. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is faintly visible. Let’s return inside the ship. This is the lobby on the 8th floor. The atrium is surrounded by a rest area. There are two smoking rooms on board. The inside of the ship is bright and open with many windows. We have returned to the 6th floor lobby. Let’s take a look at the shop. There is a wide selection of souvenirs and daily necessities. Sunflower towels are $1. It’s not cigarettes, it’s tea. Kagoshima is famous for its sweet potato shochu. It is also known for its pewterware, ceramics, and cedar woodwork. There is also a wide variety of original merchandise available. The ship is sailing southwest in Osaka Bay. The sunset and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in harmony. On the port side is Kansai International Airport. The 7th floor grand bath is open until 9:45 p.m. Outside the window is Osaka Bay at dusk. By the way, my channel is about to reach 100,000 subscribers. This is all thanks to everyone watching. I’m planning to give away new Sunflower towels as commemorative gifts. A water heater, microwave oven, and ice maker are available. The lockers are coin-operated. The restrooms are very clean. There is a kids’ room on the 6th floor. A lonely Rody is waiting for children. Next to it is a game corner. If you’re lucky, you can get Myaku Myaku,the Expo character. Let’s eat at a restaurant. Dinner buffet for $13. This price is very reasonable. The taste is also very satisfying. Open until 8:30 p.m. There is also a wide selection of desserts. Alcoholic beverages are charged separately. It tends to be less crowded after 7:30 p.m. Rice dumplings are available for Children’s Day in May. Take the elevator inside the ship to the 8th floor. It is an architecturally beautiful atrium space. The ship is off the coast of Tokushima, but it is dark and nothing can be seen. This is an illustration of this ship by Ryohei Yanagihara. The projection mapping is about to begin. It is a light and sound show, and a planetarium. Let’s explore the ship a little more and then go to sleep… Well, it’s 5:00 a.m. The ship is still empty. If you’re hungry, you can get instant noodles from the vending machine. The ship is sailing from the coast of Kochi to the Hyuga-nada Sea. The shops and restaurants open at 7:00 a.m. Breakfast buffet: $5 Less crowded than at dinner time. A variety of Japanese and Western dishes are available. There is also a good selection of bread and side dishes. I ate while looking at the cloudy sky over the sea. This fried fish cake is a specialty of Sunflower. Coffee after breakfast. I like this lazy time. The outside deck is closed due to rain. I also like taking a bath in the morning. The ship is sailing from Hyuga-nada to Shibushi Bay. This is the uninhabited island of Biro. That is Kimotsuki Mountains on the Osumi Peninsula. We will arrive at Shibushi Port shortly. The rain has stopped, so I went out to the outside deck. The weather forecast for today is rain. Docking operations are on standby. The ship is entering Shibushi Port. The Biro island we saw earlier is offshore. The wharf is coming into view. We have passed between those lighthouses. this is a Greek bulk carrier. He fires the line with a gun. The rope is connected to the end of the line. Rope to the bollard. And then the next rope. Everyone’s movements are very efficient. At many wharfs, ropes are dragged along the ground. However, in Shibushi, they carry the ropes on their shoulders. Then ropes are hoisted up with a winch. The vehicle ramp is also being deployed. At 8:55 a.m. Arrival on schedule. It seems that the docking operations on the bow side have been completed. It’s good that the rain stopped. Let’s disembark. Built in 2018, it’s not a old ship. Both the private room and common areas were very comfortable. Proceed from the 6th floor lobby to the disembarkation gate. Go down the gangway to the wharf. It’s raining a little. Our journey on the Sunflower Satsuma has come to an end. This ship will depart again for Osaka this evening. This is the ferry terminal ticket counter and waiting area. From here, it’s about a 2-hour ride on the free bus to Kagoshima Central Station. There will be a short break at a parking lot along the way. There are no shops or restaurants. The bus will depart in about 5 minutes. Arrival at Kagoshima Central Station. It has started raining again. I wanted to sightsee around Kagoshima City if the weather was nice. Let’s just walk around the station area. The Meiji Restoration was led by young people from Kagoshima. There are many volcanoes in Kagoshima. These are characters related to volcanoes. This is the building of Kagoshima Central Station. There are many restaurants on the 5th floor. This is a famous restaurant for Kagoshima pork dishes. Kagoshima is one of Japan’s leading pork-producing areas. “Kagoshima pork and vegetable steamed set” for $10. Enjoy the pork and vegetables with the special sauce. After eating, I wandered around the station. I bought some bread to eat on the ship. I’ll take the bus from the station to the port. The bus departs from East 5 at 4:30 p.m. It costs $1 and takes 20 minutes to get to Kagoshima Port. Let’s take a look at the route from Kagoshima. We will stop at Amami, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu, and Yoron. After that, we will arrive at Naha Port via Motobu. We have arrived at the ferry terminal. Kagoshima Port has many ferries departing for various islands. Be careful not to go to the wrong boarding area. Go to the counter on the 3rd floor to check in. Fill out and submit the boarding application form. The boarding gate is on the 2nd floor. This is the ferry bound for Naha. Built in 2021, length 145 m. “Queen Coral Cross” Next to it is another ferry. “Naminoue” bound for Naha, departing tomorrow. Two companies operate four ferries between Kagoshima and Naha. Board the ship via the self-propelled boarding bridge. The ship will stop at five ports on its way to Naha. Boarding gates differ for remote islands. Take the escalator to the 3rd floor of the ship. The interior is decorated in blue and white. Passenger areas are on the 3rd and 4th floors. My cabin is a “1st-class.” It is a private room for one person. I reserved it online for $200. It’s great that there is a window in the cabin. I picked up my room key at the information desk. The desk, stool, refrigerator, and other amenities are compactly arranged. On the desk are an electric kettle and a wooden box. The wooden box contains a tea set. This ship sometimes rocks a lot. This is not a locker. The mattress is made of thin urethane. Indoor clothes are provided. There is storage space under the bed. A large mirror and hangers are also useful. There is no bathroom, only a toilet. The ship is still new, so the sink area is clean. There is a shop next to the information desk. This shop closes many times during voyages. There are not many staff members on board. It’s hard work for the staff because they have to do so many different jobs. There are outside decks on the 3rd and 4th floors. The 4th floor has a large roof. That ship is the “Toshima 2” sailing between Kagoshima and the Tokara Islands. It’s almost time to set sail. Departure operations began both on the ship and at the wharf. A forklift removes the steel plate under the vehicle lamp. Forklifts are very useful at each port along this route. They transport cargo and equipment, and pull ropes. Staff members also move to their positions on forklifts. At a signal, they release the ropes from the bollards. The ship departed at 6:00 p.m. as scheduled. The ship signals its departure with a whistle sound. The 25-hour voyage to Naha has begun. The ship passes between the lighthouses and exits the harbor. Many ships are anchored in Kagoshima Port. That’s the “Yakushima 2” bound for Yakushima Island, and the “Toshima 2.” It’s going to rain all night. That’s the high-speed boat returning from Yakushima Island. The ship will continue southward in Kagoshima Bay for a while. That is the cruise ship “Spectrum of the Seas.” Let’s return into the ship. I will have dinner at the restaurant. Buy a meal ticket and place your order. “Kagoshima pork cutlet set meal” for $10. I also bought this brown sugar shochu for $3 at the shop. The ship is heading from Kagoshima Bay to the East China Sea. There is no large bath on board, only showers. It’s not very spacious, but the facilities are adequate. The wind and rain are strong, and the ship is rocking. I’ll have a drink of the remaining black sugar shochu and go to sleep… Well, we’ve arrived at Naze Port in Amami Island at 5:00 a.m.. They do docking work even in the rain, of course. Pulling up the rope with a forklift. The ferry won’t be canceled with this amount of rain. The ferry’s cargo supports life on the remote island. Amami Island has an area of 1,200 square kilometers and a population of 120,000. It is the third largest remote island in Japan. The central town of Amami Island is Naze. The port call time is 50 minutes. Many staff members are boarding the ship. The rain is getting heavier and there is thunder. The restaurant is open only for 30 minutes in the morning. I’ll have the Japanese set meal for $5. The rain has eased up. Cargo handling continues at the wharf. It’s almost time to depart. Departure operations have begun at the ship and the wharf. The ship departed on time at 5:50 a.m. The town of Naze spreads out along the inlet. It has developed as the gateway to Amami Island since ancient times. The staff move to their next positions. The sky is cloudy, and the morning sun is not visible. This is a Japan Coast Guard patrol boat. The beautiful sea around Amami is known as “Amami Blue.” I’d like to come back on a sunny day. The next port of call is Tokunoshima Island. We’ll arrive in about three hours. This port is located on the east side of Tokunoshima Island. It was raining, so the sea water is cloudy. Tokunoshima Island has an area of 250 square kilometers and a population of 24,000. It is home to many endemic species and is known as the “Galapagos of Japan.” The arrival at 9:10 a.m. is on schedule. On this island, passengers disembark by descending stairs to the wharf. Vehicles also board and disembark. That is a shuttle bus for a nursery school on the island. The port call time is 30 minutes. The ship will be busy during the port call. Let’s take a look around the ship At the end of the 4th floor corridor are the view seats. The smoking room has windows. The coin locker fee is $1 or $2. Passengers can use vending machines and hot water dispensers. The rain is getting heavier again. We’re setting sail in the rain. The ship is turning around while moving backward. We are leaving the harbor. That red lighthouse is small and cute. The next port of call is Okinoerabu Island. We’ll arrive in about two hours. It’s coffee time in my cabin in the morning. Okinoerabu Island is coming into view. The sea is rough and the ship is rocking. Okinoerabu Island has an area of 94 square kilometers and a population of 12,000. It is an island of uplifted coral reefs with numerous limestone caves. A thick rope is connected to a thin line. Let’s watch him throw the line toward the wharf. It’s about 20 meters to the wharf. A forklift pulls a rope up from the sea. The position of the bollards varies depending on the wharf. There are various procedures for rope work. The rope extends from the bollard to the ship’s winch. We arrived at 11:45 a.m., 15 minutes behind schedule. Rope work continues at the wharf. It is dangerous to approach the rope carelessly. All lines are retrieved by the ship. Staff members will be loading and unloading cargo on the ship. Vehicles and forklifts will be moving on and off the ramp. The staff are carrying passengers’ suitcases outside the ship. The port call time is 30 minutes. The restaurant is open for lunch for 30 minutes only. “Beef bowl” for $5. You may bring your own food into the restaurant. Many containers lined up along the wharf. They unloaded so many containers in such a short time. Efficient work is required. That container is for transporting livestock. The vehicle lamp is being stored. The winch is winding up multiple wires. It takes about two minutes to store the lamp. The rope extends from the winch to the bollard. He unties the rope from the bollard and throws it into the sea. The ship slowly moves away from the wharf while reeling in the ropes. He is giving instructions to the ship and the wharf from the platform. The whistle sound echoes through the harbor. The cargo operations continue even after the ship has departed. Okinoerabu Island slowly recedes into the distance. It is 1 hour and 40 minutes to the next port of call, Yoron Island. Are there any parts of the ship I haven’t seen yet? Pet room. Sinks facing the corridor. Makeup room is shared by men and women. The restrooms are very clean. There are many rest areas on board. You need identification to buy alcohol from a vending machine. There is a kids’ room next to the information desk. The walls are decorated with paintings of rare animals from Okinawa. The 4th floor corridor surround the atrium. The design is also excellent. Yoron Island is coming into view. The sky is gradually clearing up. The blue sea and sky are perfect for a southern island. Yoron Island has an area of 21 square kilometers and a population of 5,000. It is famous for its beautiful coral reefs and starry skies. A crew member is looking at the wharf from the platform. The sea is shallow, so the wharf juts out into the ocean. He is good at throwing lines onto the wharf. Throw! The bollards are located at the end of the wharf. Therefore, a forklift is not necessary to pull up the rope. I’d like to stand on that platform once. The hull is brought up against the wharf. The method of retrieving lines to the ship also varies depending on the port. Departure from Okinoerabu Island was slightly delayed. However, we arrived at Yoron Island at the scheduled time of 1:40 p.m. Passengers and forklifts board the ship. The offices and waiting area at the whatf are very simple. There is also a waiting area on the hill. The port call time here is also 30 minutes. Departure time. This ship stops at five remote islands. I wanted to stay one night on each island if possible. This is a trip I hope to take someday. The next port of call is Motobu Port on Okinawa Island. It will take 2 hours and 30 minutes to arrive. The weather forecast for this afternoon is sunny. Let’s take a look at the “Second class.” It costs $110 from Kagoshima to Naha. I was relaxing on the ship in the afternoon. Clear skies! It’s finally sunny. Iejima Island has a rocky mountain in the center. There are many large hotels on Sesoko Island. Minna Island is small but offers a variety of marine sports. I plan to visit all the islands someday. The ship is about to arrive at Motobu Port. Many gravel transport ships are anchored. They are transporting gravel to be used for the landfill at Henoko. Motobu is a port town in the northern part of Okinawa Island. Several ferries to the islands are arriving and departing. The ship docks on the port side at Motobu Port. There are not many ferries that can dock on both sides. This function is necessary for ferries that stop at several remote islands. The last rope is tied to the bollard. At 4:40 p.m., we arrived on schedule. The large shadow of this ship is on the wharf. That ship “Ieshima” is bound for Iejima Island. It’s time to set sail. Many students are on the outside deck. Is it a school trip? I hope they have a good time. This ship will depart next. The port call time at this port was also 30 minutes. The blue sea and clear sky are really refreshing. The sound of the whistle stirs up feelings of travel. Next is our final destination, Naha. The ship accelerates rapidly. It takes about two hours to get to Naha. The sea surface is shining. I can see the silhouettes of ships. The ship proceeds along the coast of Okinawa Island. Let’s have tea time in the cabin. I bought Sakurajima Island bread at Kagoshima Central Station. The sun slowly sets over the western sea. The ship is approaching Naha. The airplane is landing at Naha Airport. That’s the cruise ship “Star Navigator.” Our ship will arrive at Naha Port before sunset. Entering Naha Port. Another plane is landing at Naha Port. Naha Airport faces the sea. It is located near Naha Port. That’s the cruise ship “Diamond Princess.” Naha is a popular port of call for cruise ships. The landing planes are illuminated by the setting sun. The ship’s hull is dyed orange. The ship is changing direction before docking. At Naha Port, the ship docks on the starboard side. The turn is complete. He throws the line from the platform. He throws from this spot. This is the last line throw of this voyage. Their movements are skilled and efficient. It’s 7:00 p.m. We arrived on time. The ship was delayed on the way, but it arrived on time in the end. This is the last rope. They carry the rope to a bollard a little further away. The 25-hour voyage has come to an end. I was able to see the sunset from the ship. Let’s disembark. The voyage felt long, but now that it’s over, it seems short. Comparing the two ships was also a fun experience. Naha Port at sunset. Descending the stairs to the wharf. Self-Defense Forces personnel were also on board the ship. Thank you for your hard work, “Queen Coral Cross.” It takes about two hours by plane from Osaka to Naha. By ferry, it’s a three-day trip. It would be nice to stay in Kagoshima or one of the islands. There are many ways to enjoy slow travel. I want to enjoy this route again and again. It is a 10-minute walk from Naha Port to Asahibashi Station. Thank you for watching! CAPSULE JAPAN uploads videos every other Friday. Let’s travel together again in two weeks!

大阪から沖縄の那覇まで、フェリーを乗り継いで旅しました。
まず大阪から志布志まで「さんふらわあ さつま」に乗船。
次に鹿児島までバスで移動し、那覇まで「クイーンコーラスクロス」に乗船しました。
大阪から那覇まで飛行機だと２時間ほどですが、フェリーだと２泊３日。
フェリーならではスロートラベルをぜひお楽しみください！

0:00　オープニング
0:28　大阪
4:06　「さんふらわあ さつま」
27:22　志布志
33:27　鹿児島
38:46　「クイーンコーラルクロス」
48:36　奄美
52:55　島めぐり
1:15:47　那覇

#フェリー
#大阪
#沖縄
#那覇
#鹿児島
#志布志
#さんふらわあ
#マリックス
#日本
#フェリー旅
#船旅