Destination Earth presents: Ferry from Nagasaki to Goto | Fukue Island | Nagasaki Prefecture | Japan
After spending some time around Nagasaki and Sasebo on Japan’s southern coast, we were ready to explore a place that is even more remote – Goto (Fuke Islands). This small island is (thankfully) just a ferry ride away. As you probably know, we LOVE going on ferries! They are a cheap way to get around, you get some amazing water and coastal views from the boat, and we’ve always been going somewhere really cool on them. Today was no different.
Today we will take you on this journey as we make our way to Goto before starting a series of wonderful hikes and adventures on this island!
Fuke Island, known as Fukeshima in Japanese, is a small yet captivating island in the Nagasaki Prefecture, off the southwestern coast of Japan. Nestled in the East China Sea, near the larger island of Kyushu, it is part of a group of islands renowned for their scenic beauty and rich marine biodiversity. With its mix of rocky coastlines and lush vegetation, Fuke Island stands out for its natural charm and tranquility.
Though modest in size, Fuke Island is brimming with biodiversity. It provides a habitat for a range of plant and animal species, both on land and in the surrounding waters. Seabirds often frequent its shores, while the vibrant marine ecosystem attracts snorkelers, divers, and fishers seeking to explore the underwater world.
Tourism on Fuke Island focuses on its natural appeal. The lack of heavy development allows visitors to enjoy a more serene experience, perfect for hiking, birdwatching, and exploring the rugged coastline. The island’s connection to Saikai National Park, a nearby park celebrated for its coastal landscapes, further enhances its attraction to nature enthusiasts.
While the island itself does not boast significant historical landmarks, its setting within the culturally rich Nagasaki Prefecture adds to its allure. The region has a storied past, influenced by maritime trade, Christian history, and various cultural interactions. Many visitors to Fuke Island also use it as a base to explore other nearby sites, soaking in the history and culture of the area.
Fuke Island’s charm lies in its simplicity and natural beauty. Its peaceful atmosphere offers a retreat from the bustling city life, making it an ideal spot for those seeking quiet reflection and a connection with nature. With its picturesque landscapes and vibrant marine life, Fuke Island invites you to discover the hidden gems of Japan’s coastal regions.
Goto is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, that encompasses the Goto Islands, a group of islands in the East China Sea known for their historical significance and stunning landscapes. Located about 100 kilometers west of Nagasaki City, Goto’s geography features beautiful coastlines, mountainous terrains, and lush forests. The Goto Islands have a rich Christian history, having served as a refuge for hidden Christians during the Edo period when Christianity was banned in Japan. This legacy is still visible today, with sites like the Oura Church and the Dozaki Church attracting visitors interested in Japan’s Christian past. Goto’s natural beauty is another major draw, with its picturesque beaches, clear waters, and hiking trails providing a wealth of opportunities for outdoor activities and exploration.
on this season of destination Earth
akane and I head back to her home
country of Japan to explore the southern
reaches of the island
join us as we make our way across
Nagasaki prefecture as we learn about
its Atomic past discover its incredible
Countryside and Hike some of Japan’s
most scenic trails where are we off to
today let’s find out car train bus plane
motorcycle
boat and everything in between
there are thousands of different ways to
travel the globe
during our travels the Khan and I have
experienced pretty much all of them it’s
not often that you get to do all them
all at once though
but on our trip from hirido to Nagasaki
in southern Japan it sure felt like it
well we’re back at the train station bus
station that we started our time here in
this time thankfully we’re not waiting
around for multiple hours waiting for
our shuttle bus to show up that never
did so today we’re going to be probably
taking that train behind me and that’s
going to continue on our next leg of the
journey so we just spent about 15
minutes or so on the way here and then
we have about an hour and a half train
ride to the next destination
we began our day of travel by heading
from our wonderful stay at the iwaki
resort hotel in the town of Hilo
we had already by this point taking a
series of flights and Subways to get
where we work but this was the first
above ground trend of the trip so it
doesn’t really matter what public
transit form you’re taking you’re going
to need one of these cards and every
single time that you come onto a bus or
a train or whatnot you’re going to come
up and you’re going to scan it it’s
going to show your balance and how much
that you have on your card and then
afterward you’re going to scan to get
off because this is one of those areas
where
pay for the distance that you go so
obviously the shorter distance the less
you pay it’s not a flat rate what I love
about these is you still get to beat the
traffic but maintain your view
the train ride from pilado to sasebo was
quick and because we had already spent
time in this small City we felt as
though we already knew where to go we
have made it to sasebo
so now next step checking how to get
from the train to the bus
that way
well we got to the bus station we had
enough time to run to the washroom and
so now we have for long in an hour and a
half yeah
about an hour and a half bus ride and
that will take us to Nagasaki the bus
ride was just as quick as the train
although you may disagree with me I
actually enjoy traveling by coach
comfy seats lots of views I can sleep
comfortably if needed not to mention
this option is often one of the cheapest
ways to travel from point A to point B
especially for longer distances within
the same country
for me this Choice was almost always a
win and today was no different
arriving back in Nagasaki we made our
way to the Waterfront to wait for the
ferry
so we have a arrived in Nagasaki after a
really good bus ride it was probably
closer to the two hour mark
uh so now we have about three hours
where we’re gonna take advantage of the
beautiful warm sun today we’re gonna sit
outside
uh it’s 12 30 now so at 3 30 the ticket
booths open up in order to get the cheap
ferry over to the island now there’s two
ferries that you can take there’s a more
expensive faster way where you can
pre-book your tickets
this one however a little bit slower a
lot cheaper but you have to actually
show up in person to book your ticket so
you can come for about an hour an hour
and a half early to line up and get your
ticket that said they said that they
never run out of tickets it’s a fairly
big Ferry 400 people I believe is what
she said and then the last time we were
here and there wasn’t even close to that
many people going over so we’re uh
in our waiting phase and then uh how
long was the ferry three hours yes which
uh the other one needs four hours but
this one
yeah so we got a bit of a weight and
then a bit of a ferry ride over
um but
it’s all right it’s a great day good day
to travel and hey look there’s some
kites over there and uh yeah
oh no
perfect
look at that complimentary blankets even
though I don’t know if it’s gonna stay
this hot but it is like
no no oh I see that’s gonna say you
don’t need a blanket it’s like 100
degrees in here
sorry first time on a boat where I sit
on the ground I guess
yeah that’s right
heading outside we were ready to finish
our day with the sun setting on our
evening cruise to our Island destination
[Music]
yes it was good to see you we’ll be back
in about four days after we finish our
time
Island and uh so now we have a three
three hour very right ahead of us and
well this is the first couple minutes
so we’ll see you a little bit later we
downloaded some movies there is Wi-Fi on
the boat so far I can’t get it to work
um so if you’re taking a boat don’t come
prepared we can have Netflix just
download it onto our phone we’re good to
go for the next few hours
[Music]
try to create something
and maybe this whole thing
becomes more than
[Music]
it just might be
[Music]
let’s try to create something
and maybe this
whole thing
comes
[Music]