Job Discussion Forums

sandinista445 · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 136 Location: 世界

This is my first post from Asia. I've been teaching in China for a few weeks now and although winter vacation is still far off I've decided to start planning my winter vacation.

I plan on travelling a little bit in China during the break, but would also like to visit Korea and Japan, since I'm teaching in the Northeast they're not too far away. I was wondering if anyone had taken a ferry from the Northeast of China to Korea and then from Korea to Japan (or the opposite route from Japan). I would like to see Korea, but going to Japan is really the point of the trip (I have to see Kyoto). I was wondering if the trip could be done cheaply...I'm being paid a Chinese salary so I really have to budget.

If anyone could steer me in the right direction, recommend a ferry line that links any of the three countries, I would be very grateful. Preferably a ferry that isn't too far from Beijing (one leaving from around Tianjin would be perfect).

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

saloc · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 102

There is a ferry between Osaka and Shanghai. I took it about seven years ago and, if memory serves, it took 3 days. Can't remember what it cost, but I don't think it was particularly expensive.

freddie's friend daniel · Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 84 Location: Osaka-fu

I think there might be more than one ferry serving the Shanghai-Osaka route. One company called Chinjif (China Japan International ferries) offers return fares between 30 000yen (for 3rd class "accommodation") and 150 000 (for a bit more luxury). It seems to take 2 days.

A bit closer to home for you is the "China Express Line" sailing between Kobe and Tianjin. It takes 50 hours apparently and costs between 33 000 and 105 000yen return.

From Korea, there's the Panstar Dream between Osaka and Pusan, taking 18 hours and costing 13 000 yen for basic accommodation. That's as well as the ferry links that the other posters mentioned between Pusan and western Honshu in Japan (Shimonoseki, Hiroshima). If Kyoto is your goal, you'd be as well to sail into Osaka or Kobe to avoid costly train fares up to Kyoto from the west.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I came to Japan via the ferry from Pusan to Shimonoseki, and if you have time to kill, I strongly recommend it. If your time is limited, I'd check out the ferry that goes directly to the Kansai area, unless you want to explore Western Japan.

Stosskraft · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 252 Location: Japan

I am looking for ways to get to Bangkok from Tokyo this December. I was going to fly, but this idea of a ferry has caught my attention. I have never been on a ferry of ship for that matter and I would like to see if anyone has done this trip before.

Does anyone know of a ferry or Ship from Japan (anywhere in Japan is ok) that goes to Thailand ? Is this a more cost-effective mode of transportation vs. flying? I am not in a hurry for time, so a trip taking a couple days is not a problem.

Can anyone offer some different suggestions on getting to Thailand, that are hopefully a little cheaper and a little more exciting than flying (given travel time is not an issue)?

Thanks

PS. If anyone can recommend a good/cheap travel agent?(around Tokyo/Tochigi). I would like to research the prices for air tickets starting soon if nothing else seems viable.

freddie's friend daniel · Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 84 Location: Osaka-fu

There's a nice ferry site here:

http://www.funenavi.net/ja/index.jsp

...but it doesn't list any passenger ferries for Japan<->Thailand. It would be a bit of an adventure but I think your best bet is to find a ship sailing to Thailand from your nearest Japanese port and see if you can make private arrangements to travel with them. You might have to swab the decks or something, though!

oyttam · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 7:00 am Post subject:

My wife and took the ferry last summer from Kobe to Tinjin, we got a second class private room for 40,000 yen each (not bad when the air fair was 100,00 yen) it took 52 hours and was very relaxing.

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

JaredW · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:36 pm Post subject:

I hear that planes are faster and cheaper than ferries. I could be wrong though. And, for １３０００￥ try going to chichi and haha shima. I haven't been there but I hear its gorgeous.

freddie's friend daniel · Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 84 Location: Osaka-fu

That 13000 yen, 18-hour trip is one way and as long as the weather is good, it's a nice journey down the Inland Sea.