FAQ & Contact FAQ & CONTACT FAQ

As a guide, you can bring up to 2 carry-on items (suitcases, etc.) per person into the cabin (max 30kg total weight and max 2m total dimensions per item). Please check any luggage exceeding these limits at the port counter as registered baggage. For safety reasons, large items that obstruct boarding or disembarking cannot be brought into the cabin.

For folding bikes: if it’s folded compactly and stored in a dedicated bike travel bag, it’s treated as a carry-on item and you can bring it into the passenger cabin for free. If it’s only folded and not in a bag, the designated baggage fee will apply.

Depending on the cabin, you may not be able to bring it in. Staff may ask you to place it in a location they will show you.

A regular bike that doesn’t fold at all is treated as special baggage (shipped cargo) and requires a separate special baggage fee.

If you're bringing a vehicle, you need to make a reservation in advance. Please have your vehicle inspection certificate ready when booking (for driver-accompanied vehicles). On the day of departure, complete your vehicle check-in at Kagoshima New Port at least 2–3 hours before departure (times vary by company, so please check). At other ports, check-in is required at least 1 hour before departure. You must present your vehicle inspection certificate at the counter. If your vehicle's length or width exceeds standard limits due to cargo, extra fees will apply. Note that the vehicle freight rate includes 2nd-class passage for one driver. For shipping unaccompanied vehicles, please contact the cargo department directly.

You can bring motorcycles and bicycles on the ship. These are generally treated as special baggage, and a prescribed fare will be charged separately from your passenger ticket.

Advance reservations are required for motorcycles and bicycles. Please provide the model name, engine displacement, and license plate number when booking. For the Kagoshima – Amami Islands – Okinawa route (departing from Kagoshima New Port), check-in is from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on the day of departure. Please note that sidecars and trikes are treated as automobiles rather than motorcycles.

For the Kagoshima – Kikai – China route (departing from Kagoshima Main Port North Pier), please check in between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM on the day of departure.

Access to the vehicle deck is not permitted after departure. You will not be able to return to your car until arrival at the destination port, so please make sure you don't leave anything behind in your vehicle before boarding. Please bring any luggage you need to the passenger area beforehand.

You can bring small pets like birds, cats, and small dogs on board if you provide your own cage or pet carrier. On the day of travel, you'll need to use the paid pet room and leave your pet inside their cage. Cages must be no larger than 2m in total dimensions (length + width + height), weigh no more than 30kg, and are limited to two per person. Large dogs or pets exceeding these sizes are handled as cargo; please contact the ferry company in advance for cargo rates and regulations. Regardless of your ticket class, pets are not allowed in passenger cabins (excluding service dogs such as guide, mobility, or hearing dogs).

You're free to enter and leave the pet room during the voyage. You can take care of your pet, such as giving them water or cleaning up after them. However, please note that you cannot take your pet out of the pet room (to cabins or decks). Please be mindful of your pet's barking and physical condition. We take no responsibility for the life or death of your pet.

If you're boarding with a vehicle, you can leave your pet in the car. However, you won't be able to access the vehicle deck during the voyage, so you won't be able to check on your pet until arrival at your destination. Additionally, you cannot leave your car windows open during the voyage.

The ferry company cannot be held responsible for anything that may happen to your pet during the voyage, so this option is only recommended if you're confident in your pet's health management and is at your own risk.

You can board on the day if seats are available without a reservation. However, same-day reservations are not accepted, so please purchase your ticket directly at the counter. During peak seasons, the ferry may be fully booked, so we recommend booking in advance. Note that vehicle transport requires advance reservation.

You can book round trips. Since bookings for both outbound and return trips open one month before the respective boarding dates, please book each leg once it's within that one-month window. For Amami Kaiun, if the date one month prior falls on a weekend or holiday, phone reservations will be accepted starting at 9:00 AM the following business day.

About Reservation Cancellations and Changes

If you made a reservation by phone

If you made a web reservation (Smart Ferry Reservation)

If you made a reservation through a travel agency (including online)

Please check seat availability yourself, or come directly to the ticket counter on the day of departure and we’ll handle it as a standby request on the spot. To make sure you can board, please book as early as possible.

All seats and berths in the cabins are reserved. Everyone is assigned a section, including in 2nd class cabins. After boarding, get your cabin location 안내 at the onboard information desk. Also, please note you can’t sleep anywhere other than your assigned cabin.

To ensure women travelers can rest comfortably, we provide women-only cabins on Kagoshima routes only. Women-only cabins are available in 2nd class berths and 2nd class Western-style rooms, making them perfect for solo female travelers or women traveling together. Please note that boys under elementary school age may accompany women in these cabins.

Payment on board, including at the restaurant and shop, is cash only. Credit cards and electronic payment are not accepted on the ferry. Please bring sufficient cash before boarding. Major credit cards are accepted when purchasing tickets at the port terminal.

Goshuincho (ship stamp books) to collect as a keepsake of your voyage, as well as each ship’s stamp, are sold at the onboard shop. Quantities are limited, so please understand if they’re sold out.

During peak periods—like summer vacation, Obon, and the New Year holidays—especially on the day reservations open, the reservation center phone lines get extremely busy. We’re sorry if you can’t get through, but please stay on the line or call back later. Some sailings can also be booked online, so if calling is difficult, please consider booking via the web. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for your understanding.

To ensure women travelers can rest comfortably, we provide women-only cabins on Kagoshima routes only. Women-only cabins are available in 2nd class berths and 2nd class Western-style rooms, making them perfect for solo female travelers or women traveling together. Please note that boys under elementary school age may accompany women in these cabins.

Each ship has a barrier-free cabin that can be used by wheelchair users. In principle, these cabins are reserved for passengers with disabilities and their companions, and aren’t available to the general public. We give priority to those who need them, so if you’d like a barrier-free cabin, please let us know when you book.

Bedding (mattress, pillow, blanket) is provided in all classes, so you don’t need to bring your own. Amenities like towels and toothbrushes vary by ferry company and class. Deluxe and 1st Class rooms include loungewear (yukata or samue), a toothbrush, soap, etc., in the room. 2nd Class rooms (including berths and Western-style rooms) generally don’t include amenities, so please bring your own toiletries and towels. Deluxe and 1st Class areas have dedicated shower rooms with shampoo and other toiletries provided.

There is a restaurant (dining hall) and shop on board. Please check the posted notices on the ship for operating hours. The restaurant serves hot meals at dinner, breakfast, and lunch times. The shop sells light meals such as drinks, snacks, and cup noodles, as well as souvenirs and travel items. Daily necessities such as shampoo, soap, and towels are also available (however, stock is limited). Details vary depending on the ship you board, so please contact us for more information.

Each ship has shower facilities. On Marix Line’s Queen Coral Plus, there’s a scenic-view bath (large public bath) you can use for free. Hours vary by ship, so check onboard. Shampoo, body soap, and towels aren’t provided, so bring your own.

Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas (smoking rooms). All indoor areas including cabins and corridors are non-smoking, so please use the smoking rooms on board if you wish to smoke. Electronic cigarettes are also prohibited outside designated areas.

You're welcome to bring your own food and drinks. You can enjoy packed lunches and snacks in public spaces or in the restaurant outside business hours. Hot water dispensers are available in the restaurant and other areas for your free use. Please use them for instant foods or preparing baby formula. Eating and drinking is not permitted in some cabins.

Free wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) service is available onboard. You can connect near the special and first-class cabins and in the ship's entrance area (near the information desk). However, since this Wi-Fi relies on land-based signals, connectivity becomes unstable while sailing or offshore. It does not provide 100% constant internet access, and high-bandwidth activities (such as video streaming) may cause speed restrictions or disconnections, so please refrain from these. There may be times when connection is unavailable depending on signal conditions, so please enjoy your voyage with the mindset of "forgetting your phone and relaxing during the journey."

小さなお子様連れの方も安心してご乗船いただけます。マリックスラインのクイーンコーラルクロスには キッズルーム があります。

また、 一部のフェリーには、授乳室を備えており、航行中いつでもご利用可能です。おむつ替えシート付きの多機能トイレも設置されています。

The onboard shop sells light snacks like drinks, snack foods, ice cream, and instant noodles, plus each company’s original goods and souvenirs from along the route. We also carry everyday essentials you might need while traveling (shampoo conditioner, soap, towels, etc.). Stock is limited, so please buy early. We also sell alcoholic beverages, but please be careful not to drink too much.

On the day of travel, go to the port terminal counter and fill out the Boarding Application Form with the required details (booking number, route, name, etc.), then submit it to purchase your ticket. You must submit this form even if you have a reservation or a voucher from a travel agency. After purchasing your ticket, follow the staff's instructions to board. No special documents are required, but you must present your vehicle registration if you are transporting a vehicle. In addition to cash, credit cards are accepted at each port counter.

Kagoshima - Amami Islands - Okinawa Route

Kagoshima - Kikai - China Route

Tickets are issued and purchased at the port counter on the day of departure. However, you can purchase boarding vouchers (coupons) in advance. You can buy boarding vouchers in advance from designated shipping agents or travel agencies affiliated with each company, and exchange them for tickets at the counter on the day of departure. Even if you have a boarding voucher purchased in advance, you'll still need to fill out and submit a boarding application form at the counter on the day of departure.

Credit card payment is available at ticket counters at each port (applicable to passenger fares, vehicle transport fares, berth and class fees, fuel surcharges, pet room fees, etc.). Please note that some ports (agencies) may not accept credit cards, so please bring cash. Only cash is accepted onboard. Please bring sufficient cash for meals and shop purchases onboard.

For passengers only, no special documents are required. Simply fill out the boarding application form distributed at the counter on the day of departure. If traveling with a vehicle, you will need your vehicle inspection certificate (shaken). Use the information from the certificate to complete the vehicle transport application form and submit it at the counter.

Passengers requesting student discounts, disability discounts, or other discounts must present proof (such as a student ID) at the counter, so please prepare these documents in advance.

Even if you have made a reservation in advance, you will still need to fill out the application form and complete the counter procedure on the day of departure.

"Conditional operation" is a status announced in advance when weather or sea conditions might prevent the ship from docking at its intended port. In some cases, the ship may bypass the destination and proceed to the next port. If you disembark at an unplanned port, you'll be responsible for any resulting accommodation or transportation costs.

If a ferry is canceled due to a typhoon or severe weather, any tickets you’ve already purchased can be refunded or moved to another date. Once the cancellation is decided, each operator will contact you using the details you provided when booking. Reservations for canceled sailings will be treated as canceled, so please adjust your schedule and make a new booking. If you don’t board, there’s no refund fee and you’ll receive a full refund, so don’t worry.