⚓ FERRY SUNFLOWER ⚓ Take a Cruise from Tokyo to Hokkaido If you plan to travel to Hokkaido during your visit to Japan, how do you intend on going? By bullet train (shinkansen)? By plane? Drive? Have you ever considered taking a ferry and resting in peace during the trip? This time, JAPANKURU tried traveling to Hokkaido via the Sunflower Ferry from Oarai in Ibaraki Prefecture for the first time! Shosen Mitsui Sunflower Ferry (商船三井さんふらわあ) ⏰: Oarai departure → 19:45 pm · Tomakomai arrival → 13:30 Tomakomai departure → 6:45 pm · Oarai arrival → 2:00 pm 💴: from 8740 yen *Fares vary depending on the room type and season, more details are available on the website For more information on booking tickets online! 🚢Sailing Route: Tokyo → Ibaraki → Hokkaido Recently, more and more travelers want to visit Hokkaido. There are many ways to travel from Tokyo to Hokkaido. Of course, the easiest and quickest way is by plane. However, if you have enough time, we recommend everyone an economical and affordable way, ferry. Take the ferry, not just to go from Tokyo to Hokkaido, but also to see some new places, the first stop to take this ferry is from Tokyo to Ibaraki Prefecture's Oarai Port Ferry Terminal, and finally sail to Hokkaido's Tomakomai Port to enter the island of Hokkaido⚓ Hitachi Flower Park / Otaru Canal Although this journey may seem like a long one, everyone can enjoy full relaxation and enjoy the facilities on board. It is also a fun travel experience! 🚢Departing from Tokyo! The first thing you need to do is head to the Oarai Port Ferry Terminal. To reach the port there are several solutions are available to you: > If you want to take the bus If you want to use public transportation to Ibaraki, we recommend that you take a bus from Tokyo Station and go to Oarai Port. Worried about taking a bus from Tokyo Station? Don't be! It's not very difficult at all! Once you reach JR Tokyo Station, head to the Yaesu South Exit. After exiting, take a right and you will find the JR Expressway Bus Terminal at Tokyo Station. Use ticket vending machines to buy bus tickets! If you have any questions when buying tickets you can ask the counter staff. From there you'll see buses lined up. We got on bus stop 4, and it's possible you will too but be sure to double check. There are employees around each bus stop or you can check inside the bus terminal as well. > If you want to drive Of course, if you are a master of self-driving traveler, you can of course drive to the ferry! As long as you are ok with paying extra, you can have the car transferred in the ferry with you so that you can drive to Hokkaido's Honjo Island (or Ibaraki Prefecture) immediately after the ferry arrives. *The additional cost of the car will vary depending on evening and night voyages and the size of the vehicle. Please check on the official website.* Once you arrive at Oarai Port you can get your tickets to ride the ferry and relax until you go aboard⚓ 🚢WHAT ABOUT INSIDE FERRY SUNFLOWER!?! Priceless Super Seaview Restaurant No matter if you have lunch or dinner, you can enjoy endless sea views while you eat. This is why we recommend that you definitely go to the restaurant for a meal! The dining room is modest but rather nice. Different spaces are available according to your desires or just the group with which you travel. Bottom tables are popular so come early if you want to enjoy the view! In the evening, different dishes are offered: meat, fish, curry, etc. And a panoply of desserts: cakes, fruits, and ice cream from Baskin-Robbins. If you can, absolutely choose the seat next to the window! > Single meal ticket Breakfast 1,050 Yen / Lunch 800 Yen / Dinner 1,900 Yen > Two-course meal ticket (breakfast and lunch) 1,550 yen > Three-course meal ticket (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) 2,400 yen ⏰Dinner 6:30pm ~ 8:00pm Breakfast 7:30am ~ 9:00am Lunch noon ~ 12:45pm Information Desk The information desk of course, is an information desk. But here you can also get information about what movies are available on your room's TV📺 ⏰ From Oarai: Day 1 - When you board~10:30pm Day 2 - 8:00am~By disembarkment From Tomakomai: Day 1 - When you board~10:00pm Day 2 - 8:00am~By disembarkment Exclusive Spaces for Children and Parents Even if you are accompanied by young children you can find activities for them to spend time in the 'Kids Land' available inside has a lot of small games for your children to spend. Nearby is a baby room where you can change diapers, but what we thought was amazing was the purified hot water server for milk formula!! Coin Laundry Souvenir Store The shop has all sorts of Ferry Sunflower souvenirs, special Hokkaido & Ibaraki food and drinks, along with toiletries you might have forgotten. ⏰ From Oarai: Day 1 - From departure~10:00pm Day 2 - 8:00am~12:30pm From Tomakomai: Day 1 - From departure~9:30pm Day 2 - 8:00am~12:30pm Public Baths & Saunas ⏰ From Oarai: Day 1 - When you board~11:00pm Day 2 - 6:30am~By disembarkment From Tomakomai: Day 1 - When you board~10:00pm Day 2 - 6:30am~By disembarkment Smoking Corner Game Corner Extra Entertainment Each time there are two different forms of entertainment. Sometimes there will be a small musical performance, other times there will be a person to draw you :) Public Space As you board the ship there are plenty of areas open to people to sit, relax, and enjoy the view! 🚢DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE ROOMS! *Fares are divided into four periods depending on the season, Period A, Period B, Period C, and Period D. Please note that the periods differ for departures from Oarai and from Tomakomai. 1. Looking to Save Money? Tourist Room If you are a backpacker and want to save money, dormitories are there for you. You will not have much space, but enough for a trip of this kind. All the equipment you will need is available: storage for your suitcase, electric outlets, and comforter. 💴 Cost: 8,740 yen 2. Comfort Room Similar to a capsule hotel structure, the Comfortable Room includes a TV, headlamp, hanger, outlet, and more necessities for a comfortable and affordable stay. 💴 Cost: 13,330 yen 3. Superior Room (Japanese style, Western style, 2-story type, etc.) It is a common room type of hotel with shower and toilet in all rooms. You can stay for 2 to 4 people, and some types are also available. *Superior Rooms include toiletries, a shower, and toilet. Superior Room: Japanese Style Superior Room: Bunk Bed Style Superior Room: Ocean View Type 4. Got a Pet? Superior with Pet Room As mentioned earlier, this ferry allows pets to get on the boat, and there are spaces for dogs to run around. Such a friendly ferry also has room types that allow you to live with pets. Even cleaning supplies and feeding utensils can help you. You're ready to go! 💡🐩Please be aware that not all animals are allowed to board the boat, and that there is an added 8,000 yen fee. The detailed cost information can be found on the official website. 💴 Cost: 17,910 yen Pet Room & Dog Run ⏰ From Oarai: Day 1 - When you board~10:30pm Day 2 - 8:00am~By disembarkment From Tomakomai: Day 1 - When you board~10:30pm Day 2 - 8:00am~By disembarkment 5. Premium Room Prestige Suites offer a very private space for passengers to rest, and the room is spacious, even if it is the use of wheelchair passengers, you can easily come and go freely! 💴 Cost: 26,110 yen 6. Suite Room There is only one Suite on the ferry, so it is considered a special space. From its privatized balcony you will have a clear view of the ocean. If you want to take full advantage of this trip, it is certainly the luxury you could pay for yourself. 💴 Cost: 44,000 yen 🚢Finally Arrived in Hokkaido! Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan. It's extremely cold in the winter but very nice and comfortable in the summer! Every year around August, Hokkaido is a place where many people want to get away from the heat and humid summer. Whether visiting Sapporo's famous attractions or driving around the island, Hokkaido is a great place to explore! Some places that we advise you check out: ❄Winter → Otaru, Biei, Noboribetsu 🌞Summer → Furano Bon voyage~👋🚢 🚢Shosen Mitsui Ferry Sunflower (商船三井さんふらわあ) 🌞Evening Ferry🚢 ・Oarai ➡ Tomakomai: Depart at 7:45pm, arrive at 1:30pm (next day) ・Tomakomai ➡ Oarai: Depart at 6:45pm, arrive at 2:00pm (next day) 🌙Night Ferry🚢 ・Oarai ➡ Tomakomai: Depart at 1:45am, arrive at 7:45pm ・Tomakomai ➡ Oarai: Depart at 1:30am, arrive at 7:30pm Keep an eye out for our articles on things to do in Ibaraki and Hokkaido! ✈🗾JAPANKURU HOME PAGE🐶 ●Instagram● ●Google+● ●Pinterest●
