Casual Cruises with Sunflower Ferries
We offer memorable and comfortable ferry journeys on four routes connecting the Tokyo metropolitan area with Hokkaido, and the Kansai region with Kyushu.
Oarai (Ibaraki) - Tomakomai (Hokkaido) Route
The evening-service ferries, Sunflower Furano and Sunflower Sapporo, feature ocean-view restaurants and spacious public baths, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxing voyage while taking in the vast seascape.
For late-night departures, the environmentally friendly LNG-fueled ferries Sunflower Kamuy and Sunflower Pirika entered service in 2025. These vessels connect Tomakomai and Oarai in approximately 18 hours.
Osaka - Beppu (Oita) Route
Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki, Japan's first LNG-fueled ferries, entered service in 2023. They connect Osaka and Beppu in approximately 12 hours.
In addition, our daytime cruise services, operated seven times a year, have become increasingly popular among travelers.
Families with young children can travel with peace of mind thanks to onboard facilities including a children's play area, baby care rooms equipped with diaper-changing stations, and nursing rooms.
In 2026, this route became the first ferry service to be certified as a "Welcome Baby Ferry" by the MIKI HOUSE Child & Family Research and Marketing Institute.
Osaka - Shibushi (Kagoshima) Route
The ferries Sunflower Satsuma and Sunflower Kirishima, which entered service in 2018, connect Osaka with the nature-rich city of Shibushi in approximately 14 hours and 40 minutes.
Kobe - Oita Route
Sunflower Gold and Sunflower Pearl provide overnight services between Kobe and Oita, connecting the two cities in approximately 12 hours.
Recommended for First-Time Ferry Travelers
Because the Osaka-Beppu and Kobe-Oita routes sail through the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, they generally offer a stable and comfortable voyage.
These routes are especially recommended for travelers experiencing a long-distance ferry journey for the first time.
Supporting Sustainable Logistics
Long-distance ferries play an important role in Japan's logistics network by promoting modal shift, the movement of freight transportation from long-haul trucking to maritime transport. Through this initiative, ferries help support regional economies while contributing to more sustainable transportation.