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 article [Preparation Edition] here

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To the Takeshiba Ferry Terminal (Takeshiba Pier)

Finally, it’s departure day. The passenger ship from Tokyo departs from the passenger ship terminal at Takeshiba Pier, so head towards Takeshiba. You can reach the Takeshiba Passenger Ship Terminal not only from Takeshiba Station but also by walking from Hamamatsucho or Daimon stations. If you’re coming to Tokyo from afar by plane, using a flight that arrives at Haneda Airport will make your journey smoother.

Unlike airplanes, you don’t need to arrive at the terminal hours before departure, but if possible, it’s reassuring to arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure time. Also, unlike airplane tickets, passenger ship tickets are not issued in electronic formats like QR codes. When you arrive at the terminal, first line up at the ticket counter, show your reservation number to the staff, and receive a paper ticket.

At the counter, I successfully received round-trip boarding passes for two people for the passenger ship “Tachibana Maru”. As explained in the previous article, if you book tickets for multiple people together, you’ll be assigned consecutive seats. After receiving your boarding ticket, fill in your name and other information at the desk in the center of the terminal.

The Tachibana Maru’s departure time is as scheduled at 22:30. We arrived at the terminal a bit early, so we kill some time. Around us, we see some gentlemen enjoying drinks in the waiting area seats.

While wandering around the terminal to pass the time, we discover that while most souvenir shops and restaurants are closed, only a convenience store called “Shop Takeshiba” is open.

Don’t underestimate Shop Takeshiba as just a convenience store. It has a wide array of diving and snorkeling equipment on display, including masks, fins, and boots. Even if you accidentally left your snorkeling gear at home, you can find most of what you need at Shop Takeshiba before departure.

They also had many unique souvenirs like Tokai Kisen’s mascot character goods and keychains. It might be worth visiting Shop Takeshiba again at the end of your trip to look for some memorable souvenirs.

Boarding the Tachibana Maru

As we were waiting, it finally became departure time, and an announcement echoed through the terminal. Passengers were called in order starting from the special class seats, and after a while, it was our turn with our special 2nd class seats.

With ticket in hand, we finally board the Tachibana Maru. Before boarding, show your ticket to the staff who will tear off the stub. We’re about to board the Tachibana Maru with its characteristic yellow color.

We line up and board in order. By the way, there’s a separate storage space for larger backpacks or suitcases apart from the assigned seats, so don’t worry if you have bulky diving gear.

Inside the Tachibana Maru

Next, let me introduce the interior of the ship.

The special 2nd class room we used for the outbound journey has a structure with bunk beds lined up, similar to a capsule hotel or sleeper train.

This photo shows the space for one assigned seat. It’s a compact space, but inside the box with a mattress, a pillow, sheets, and a blanket for cover are provided, making for a comfortable sleep. On the right side of the photo, along with a light, there’s also a power outlet, perfect for charging your smartphone for your Miyakejima trip. On the left side is a safe for valuables, which can be locked with a 100 yen coin.

By the way, the 2nd class room we used for the return journey looks like this, with a communal sleeping style. Simple pillows are provided, but you need to pay 100 yen to rent a blanket. The carpet mat is fairly soft and surprisingly comfortable to sleep on. There are coin-operated safes for valuables above each seat, so security isn’t much of a concern.

However, there are only two power outlets under the TV in the back of the photo, so you might have to compete with other passengers for them. There’s also the possibility of passengers talking late into the night or watching TV. These are some of the risks of the 2nd class room. It’s recommended for the return daytime journey, but it might be a bit risky for the outbound journey when you need to get a good sleep!

Head to the Deck Right After Putting Your Luggage Away

Now, resist the urge to rest in your seat or explore the ship’s interior, and head straight to the deck (observation deck) after putting your luggage away. Why? Because the first 30 minutes after departure are the highlight of this ship journey!

The Tachibana Maru, departing from Takeshiba, heads out to sea while offering views of the buildings in Minato Ward, Tokyo Tower, and Fuji TV in Odaiba. This moment of seeing the city scenery from the ship, which you can’t usually experience, is truly a special part of this journey.

And the climax is the scene of passing under the Rainbow Bridge.

When the announcement “We will now pass under the Rainbow Bridge!” echoes on the observation deck, the Rainbow Bridge is almost right in front of us. We pass under the bridge, a route we would never normally take. Even the passengers enjoying drinks on the deck put down their beers and take out their cameras to capture this moment. Looking to the side, I hear a child passenger worriedly exclaim, “The Tachibana Maru is going to hit it!” Indeed, the mast of the Tachibana Maru passes through with such a close clearance that even we adults hold our breath.

Even after passing under the Rainbow Bridge, there’s still plenty to see – the Daiba Fort, the factory area of Konan, Haneda Airport, and planes passing right overhead. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the best way to spend your time after boarding is to enjoy a drink on the deck, taking in the cool night breeze and using Tokyo’s night view as your appetizer!

Final Thoughts

I’ve written about my experience boarding the Miyakejima-bound passenger ship “Tachibana Maru”, but our journey has only just begun. In the next article, I’ll provide a detailed report on exploring the ship’s interior and how to spend your time on board.

You can read the next article here

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@ymtdw @ymdxd