Korean Job Discussion Forums

[travellingwilly]

i have to go to japan very soon and i am looking into the ferry from busan to fukuoka.i just would like some feedback from anyone who has done this journey.can you do the return in one day ok?

thanks,

travellingwilly.

[ulsanchris]

you can not do the trip in one day by taking the ferry. if you take the fast ferry the trip is about three hours one way. I believe you have to be at the terminal at 7 am. the ferry leaves at 8. arrives in fukoka at 11. the return ferry is at 1 pm. so as you can see you can't get your visa processed in that short of time. you have to wait over night.
there is also an overnight ferry, which i suggest you avoid like the plague.
if you want to do a one day run then i think only flying is the only option.
usually the school makes the travel arrangements.
you will need
you passport
blue paper, proving you have a job. your employer should give this to you.
2 passport photos
6000 yen or 60,000 won for the cost of the visa
up to 6000 yen for your accomodation
have 4000 yen for food. thats eating some cheap meals and a few drinks during the day. YOu may want more than this.
you need 400 yen left over to pay the departure tax at the ferry terminal. I didn't have this. Fortunately i had some korean won and they took that.

[whatthefunk]

Its possible, but it would suck. One company has a boat leave at 9:00 am. You get to Fukuoka at 12:00. Last return boat leaves at 4:00pm. That gives you three hours. It'll cost around 140,000won for the boat, plus maybe an additional 25,000won for food etc... Id take a plane or spend the night...
www.kangsantravel.com

[Gwangjuboy]

hey whatthefunk! I love the pic. I am getting stiff here!

[U.S.A.]

If you're going due to a visa run, try the link below:

http://www.theulsanweb.com/howto/fukouka.html

[gilgamesh]

I did this exact thing two weeks ago.

Fast ferry from Busan to Fukuoka left at 12:00pm, three hour journey. Straight from the bus stop at the ferry terminal to Hakata subway station, Hakata subway to the subway stop near the Korean consulate (sorry, I forget the name..), 20 minute walk to consulate dropped off paperwork, returned to Hakata, found my hotel, located some entertainment for the evening... , back to the consulate at 10-10:30am the next morning, back to Hakata then bused to ferry terminal to catch the 12:00pm returning to Busan. A bit of a rush, but no worries at all.

Fukuoka is a nice place, I am going to go back sometime soon...

PM me if you need any more info...

[ajuma]

The advantage of taking the "slow" ferry is that you don't have to spend money on a hotel in Japan. I've done the trip 3 times, and it's easy! You arrive outside of Fukoka in the wee hours, but don't dock until 9am. Take a taxi (a little pricey, but fast...see if you can find some others to share with) to immigration. Show them your return ticket, and they'll process you that day so you can make the return trip.


DON'T DON'T DON'T take won to Japan as there is NO WHERE to exchange it!!! Change your money here first!!!

[whatthefunk]

[ajuma]

I haven't done it in a while, but I think about 160,000-200,000 round trip for regular class. I MAY BE WRONG!!! but I think that's the right ball park. Cheaper than flying and staying in a hotel...oh, and BRING FOOD. Food in Japan is OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive!!

And if you're looking for some places to hang out while waiting for your visa, the Skydome is pretty cool, and there is a hotel where you can stay in the lobby all day and no one bothers you!

[whatthefunk]

The fast ferry would cost about the same then. For one night in a hotel and round trip on the boat it costs 180,000 won.