Japan Ferry Trip with Half Board Buffet for $70 🚢 12 Hours Spent in a Capsule Room.

MOL Sunflower Ltd.🚢
https://www.ferry-sunflower.co.jp/en/

Comfortable and convenient journy to get to your destination with MOL Sunflower.

Vessel name: “Sunflower Pearl”
Room type: Private bed
Fare: 10,000 yen ($70)
Route: From Kobe to Oita

Chapter
0:00 Opening
0:33 JR Sumiyoshi Station
1:50 Kobe Port Ferry Terminal Shuttle Bus
3:10 Kobe Port Ferry Terminal
5:35 Boarding
7:12 Room tour
9:01 Gong 15 minutes before departure
9:12 Departure
11:34 Dinner buffet
14:34 Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
15:00 Sunflower Music Night (live erhu performance)
15:52 Introduction of onboard facilities
23:26 Bedtime
23:38 Next morning
24:00 Breakfast buffet
25:45 Sunrise
26:51 Disembark

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I took a capsule sleeper ferry from Kobe to Oita! Hello everyone. I am heading to a certain station by train. The trip starts from JR Sumiyoshi Station in Kobe City. Exit the ticket gate and proceed to the left (toward the south exit). I found a signboard for “MOL Sunflower”!

Pass by the drug store, take the escalator down to the first floor, and turn left. Then turn left and go to the other side of the building. You can see the bus stop when you go down the stairs. This is the bus stop for Rokko Island Ferry Terminal.

If you board the Hankyu Ferry, you will also take the same bus. The bus fare to the ferry terminal is 230 yen. Payment is only cash in advance. It is convenient to prepare some coins in advance. Let’s take a look at the route of this ferry trip.

It is an 11 and a half hour ferry trip from Kobe Port to Oita Port. The ferry we will be boarding today is now in sight. It takes about 20 minutes by bus from Sumiyoshi Station to the ferry terminal. This building is characterized by its arch-shaped steel frame.

The sun painted on the hull is the symbol of Ferry Sunflower. Gross tonnage: 11,177 tons Overall length: 165.5m Overall width: 27m This ferry entered service in 2008, and its name is “Sunflower Pearl.” Hankyu Ferry “Yamato” is moored next door. This is a new ship that entered service in 2020.

There is a reception desk at the front. It has an open atrium and has a feeling of openness. Oita prefecture is famous for its hot springs. A taxi calling phone. 1st floor waiting room. To the 2nd floor There is a spacious waiting room on the 2nd floor.

A video of sightseeing in Oita is playing on a projector. There is an outlet at the table. This is helpful because I have a lot of equipment to charge. Lockers are located on each floor. The reception start time has arrived. The campaign includes 2 buffet meals for just 10,000 yen($70)!

The inside of the terminal has become crowded. Wait until boarding time. Boarding has begun. I always get excited when I board a ferry. Thank you for welcoming me. The entrance is not flashy, but I like this retro feel. This is the view from above.

The room I reserved this time is on the 6th floor. I booked a capsule room called “Private Bed”. Where is the room number “6804”? I found “6804”! It feels like a secret base. The bottom bunk is my bed. Amenities include earphones, toothbrushes, face towels. The sheets and comforter

The mattress is not very thick. You can adjust the air conditioning using the nozzle located at the bottom left of the TV. There is a shoe storage space under the bed. Lockers. (The coin will be returned.) changing room. this day, it was relatively empty. Let’s also take a look at the top bunk.

There is a shoe storage space under the stairs. The sound of the gong signals 15 minutes before departure. Let’s go to the 6th floor observation deck. You can enjoy the night view of Kobe from the port side. This bridge is the Higashi-Kobe Ohashi Bridge, which has a total length of 885m.

Let’s go up to the 7th floor deck. A wooden bench is installed. It’s a really atmospheric experience to sit on a bench and enjoy the scenery. The same bench is also installed on the starboard side. We departed on time. The rope is removed from the bollard and wound up.

A polite send-off with a lightsaber! lol Hankyu Ferry “Yamato” is also cool! “Yamato” bound for Shinmoji will depart 10 minutes later at 20:00. Let’s go to a restaurant for dinner. The price for the dinner buffet is 1800 yen($13). Credit cards can also be used for payment.

This time, the plan includes dinner, so you will enter with this ticket. The restaurant is open from boarding until 9:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Oita’s local cuisine “Ryukyu”. Roast pork. Seasoning. Salad. Dressings. Squid tempura. Chicken tempura. Fish Paste Stew. Shumai. Mackerel stew in miso. Meat and Potato Stew. Boiled Green Soybeans. Vermicelli salad.

Boiled butterbur and fried tofu. Okra with sesame dressing. Grilled pork with ginger. Fried Noodles. White rice. Japanese Mixed Rice. Miso soup. Japanese Curry. Pickles . Assorted fruit. Sweet potato with sugar. Bite size desserts. Ice cream (vanilla, chocolate). Drink bar. Alcohol will be charged separately. Let’s eat!

Oita’s specialty “Tori-ten” was crispy and very delicious. I have a sweet tooth. It was a very satisfying dinner buffet! Thank you for the meal. The spectacular view of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge from the ferry is a must-see! I would like you to see it live at least once!

Live performance of the Chinese folk instrument “Erhu” ♪ Sunflower ~ Sunflower ~ ♪ He is playing the theme song of “Ferry Sunflower”. Ferry Sunflower holds various events on weekends. I was truly healed by the beautiful tone of the erhu. Introducing the onboard facilities. First, let’s take a look at the onboard shop.

Restaurant closed. Salon next to the restaurant. There is a microwave, water cooler, and ice maker. Arcade. slots and claw machine. Oh! What is this creepy doll? Wow, it’s here too! Creepy and Kawaii 🤣 Apparently these dolls are called “Ugly Babies,” which are currently popular.

This is the space where the live erhu performance was held earlier. There is a vending machine corner at the back. This is a Cup Noodle vending machine. The shop closes at 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. This is the timetable for passing through the three major bridges.

Notice that the observation deck is closed… Too bad 😭 Smartphone charging spot. Safety deposit boxes. You can get a commemorative stamp here. Infant room. Smoking room. There is a window, so you don’t feel confined at all. Cigarette vending machine. 5F Toilet & Shower Room The toilets are very clean.

The shower room is available 24 hours a day. A hair dryer is provided in the washroom. Vehicle deck entrance door Lockers (100 yen coin return type). Let’s go upstairs. The observation deck on the 6th floor is also closed. There are massage chairs on both sides. The fee is 200 yen for 15 minutes.

Large public bath is open until 22:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. Let’s take a look inside with Google Street View. It can be used from 5:30 in the morning until port arrival. 6F toilet & shower room The structure is the same as the 5F shower room.

The air flow of the dryer was quite weak. There is a toilet and shower room for women on the opposite side. Smoking room. Break room. water cooler, water heater I’m thirsty, so let’s drink some cold water. Be careful with boiling water. Let’s go to the top floor.

There are 8 rooms called “Deluxe” on the 7th floor. This is the highest class room on this ship. I would like to stay in a room with a balcony next time! The 7th floor observation deck is also closed 😭 The size of the capsule is just right and I feel calm.

It’s already late, so I’m going to bed soon. good night. good morning. Let’s go to the restaurant to have breakfast. The regular price for breakfast is 700 yen. The breakfast menu looks like this. Let’s eat! Most Japanese people like miso soup. The furikake rice with dashi soup was also delicious.

I also had a croissant. There is a toaster so you can eat freshly baked bread. I ate too much yogurt and granola Thank you for the meal. It’s closed even in the morning 😱 It looks like night will soon be over. The bright morning sun illuminates the city of Oita.

We will enter Oita Port at sunrise. The deck has been opened. The Japanese flag flies majestically in the sea breeze under the blue sky. The scenery seen from the boat will make you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It was a really comfortable room. Thank you for the wonderful cruise!

Bus to Oita Station (fare 170 yen) This voyage ends here. See you on the next trip.