Kosupa Travel

Continuing from the previous article, I’d like to share my experience report on boarding the Miyakejima-bound passenger ship “Tachibana Maru”.

Miyakejima is a popular island that’s easily and affordably accessible by ferry from Tokyo. However, there isn’t much detailed information about the main transportation method – the large passenger ferry “Tachibana Maru”. Without knowing the boarding process and necessary supplies, you might find yourself in trouble on the ship. So, in this article, I’ll provide a detailed report on the process from purchasing a ticket for the large passenger ferry to disembarking at Miyakejima.

You can read the previous articles here

[Embedded links to previous articles]

Let’s Visit the Ship’s Restaurant Area

After enjoying Tokyo’s night view from the observation deck, let’s head to the ship’s restaurant. I recommend going early as it closes at 23:30.

The system uses meal tickets for various food items and drinks, including beer. Among these, I particularly recommend the curry. You might have heard of the famous “Yokosuka Navy Curry”. It’s said that curry in military food saved Japanese soldiers from malnutrition, and the Yokosuka base was the first among all naval bases in Japan to include curry in their menu. As we pass Haneda Airport, we can see Yokosuka harbor on the right side of our direction of travel. Personally, I recommend enjoying curry on board, feeling as if you’ve become part of the navy.

Don’t Worry If the Restaurant is Full

Depending on how crowded it is, there might not be any seats available in the restaurant, or it might be closed at certain times. But don’t worry. There are many vending machines in front of the restaurant and on each floor where you can purchase meals, snacks, drinks, and ice cream.

Let’s Use the Shower Room

After finishing your meal, let’s take a shower to prepare for tomorrow. There are about five shower rooms each for men and women, but depending on the time, you might have to wait in line. I recommend using them early while keeping an eye on the situation.

Don’t forget that you’ll need a 100 yen coin to use the shower. The shower runs for 5 minutes after inserting the coin. You can pause it temporarily, so by pausing and resuming frequently, you can use it for a longer time. Conversely, if you let it run continuously, 5 minutes will pass in no time, so be careful.

Only body soap is provided as an amenity, so you’ll need to bring your own shampoo, cleansing products, and face wash. You can also buy a hand towel for 100 yen at the general information counter, but it’s small and not of very good quality, so I recommend bringing a chamois towel in advance.

※Chamois towels, originally used in swimming, are highly absorbent and can be wrung out to dry quickly for repeated use. They’re compact and portable, making them popular among travel enthusiasts. As Miyakejima offers many beachside activities, this is a good opportunity to add one to your travel kit!

[Amazon product link for Mizuno Swim Towel]

Lights Out at 23:30

At 23:30, it’s lights out time, and the passenger areas become dark. After this time, conversations in the cabins can be disturbing to others, so either get a good night’s sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s journey, or if you’re not ready to stop drinking, head to common areas like the observation deck to enjoy some drinks in the night breeze.

Final Thoughts

In this article, I’ve reported on exploring the interior of the Tachibana Maru. I hope this article has been helpful in some way for your trip preparation!

@ymtdw @ymdxd