I decided to travel to Kyushu at the end of the year. There are many options for ferries heading to Kyushu. This time, I chose the Hanshin Kyushu Ferry departing from Kobe to Shimonoseki. The "Sunflower" is a major image on the Kansai to Kyushu route. However, I found it to be a bit expensive after doing some research. In contrast, the Hanshin Kyushu Ferry was quite affordable and the ship was new. That's why I chose to board the "Ferry Yamato," a ship that started operating on June 30, 2020. Before departure, I explored the ship's 5th-floor lobby. The security staff were keeping an eye out for any suspicious individuals, which actually made me feel reassured. The public spaces on the ship are mainly located from the 5th to the 7th floor, with open areas and elevators connecting them. There are also many staircases, but the ship is wheelchair accessible. On the 7th floor, there is an observation lobby with plenty of seating areas for relaxation. The ship has various facilities like a kids' room, a game corner, and even karaoke rooms. There is a vending machine corner with reasonably priced drinks and snacks. The ship also has a microwave and a notice reminding passengers to refrain from drinking alcohol in public areas. The ship offers free Wi-Fi, but it may not be very reliable. I found it more practical to use my smartphone's 4G for internet access. The outdoor public spaces are spacious, and you can enjoy the view of other ships departing and the lively night scenery. I also visited the ship's large communal bath and open-air bath before dinner. The dining options on the ship were impressive, with a wide variety of choices. I decided to have dinner at the ship's restaurant, where I enjoyed dishes like "Kurose Buri no Harami" from Miyazaki Prefecture. The menu was extensive and I had a great time choosing my meal. I ordered a dish recommended by the chef and enjoyed a toast with Asahi beer from the Tornado Dispenser. The ship also offered unique dishes like plate udon and ostrich thigh carpaccio. We shared the dishes and enjoyed the meal with Kyushu soy sauce, known for its sweet flavor. Overall, the dining experience on the Hanshin Kyushu Ferry was delightful and exceeded my expectations.

Ferry Yumato Dining (Kobe City Higashinada Ward - Kitakyushu City Moji Ward, Hankyu Ferry) on a Friday. After work hours, I left the office with a polite "excuse me" and headed to Rokko Island via the Hankyu train from Fukushima Station. In this strange era where you can travel to Kyushu for around 3000 yen thanks to national travel support, I enjoyed the centrifugal force in an open-air bath, watching the lights of Kobe Port. After feeling refreshed, it was time for a meal. I considered buying food to bring on board, but since I was getting such a good deal on the trip, I decided to splurge on the ferry. There were a variety of delicious fried chicken dishes, but I chose the unusual "Ostrich Leg Carpaccio" and the common "Grilled Chicken" for my meal. The ferry also sold original wines, so I bought a bottle of Hawk wine from Hyogo Prefecture to take home, but unfortunately, bringing outside drinks was not allowed in the restaurant, so I could only take a photo. The ostrich meat was light and lean, with a red meat flavor that didn't seem like poultry at all, more like beef, horse, or deer meat. The portion was also generous. The grilled chicken was also a great deal at 420 yen for the amount served. The rocking of the ship added to the excitement, and my mood was at its peak. The next morning, the restaurant opened at 7 am. I found the curry set intriguing and ordered it. The set included a curry rice bowl with corn salad on the side, and the portion was surprisingly large. Having curry for breakfast was a fun experience. After a satisfying meal, we landed in Kyushu. This turned out to be a miscalculation. (January 20-21, 2023)

This is a restaurant located inside the Yamato ferry of the Sanko Ferry. It operates in a cafeteria style, where you can pick up your favorite items. The dishes are covered with plastic wrap for hygiene. The prices are reasonable, and you can get a good amount of food for around 2000 yen per person. The menu is extensive, with both fresh items and hot soups available. You can also order individual dishes. The area where you pick up your food can get crowded, but once inside, there is plenty of space and it's not too crowded. The restaurant has short operating hours, so it's recommended to go early.

Yes, it's dinner on the way back. Once you remember the system, you can focus on what to eat. I wanted to eat okonomiyaki. A thick okonomiyaki with summer vegetables. Covered in sauce. It also has meat in it. Lots of cabbage. Surprisingly, it was really full of vegetables. Also, mentaiko. It was a large piece of mentaiko. And salmon sashimi. Okonomiyaki and sashimi... An interesting combination. It's the result of choosing what you like, right? My father chose squid sashimi and we shared sashimi. Pudding. It's rich and delicious. It was so good!

It's a trip. I arrived early in the morning, so I headed to the restaurant as soon as it opened. I was thinking about what to eat... and then I found the menu for morning curry. I decided right away. The curry was easy to eat. My elementary school-aged child said it was spicy. Is that so? I also had pudding. It was a rich and smooth pudding. It was a delicious pudding.

I used it on a trip. I thought it wouldn't be crowded before it got crowded, but it does get crowded. You line up in a row and pick the dishes you want in a tray. The dishes start with small bowls, then move on to the main dishes, and finally warm rice and soup. When you reach the register, it's time to pay. I had already decided what to eat by looking at the menu, but the small bowls looked delicious again. Cold tofu, cod roe, egg tofu, hijiki, salad, shabu-shabu salad, pudding, natto, coffee jelly, etc. The main area has sashimi, oil-drenched chicken, fried chicken, hamburgers, tonkatsu, mapo eggplant, okonomiyaki, somen, and Kobe beef sushi, among other things. I took Kobe beef sushi, oil-drenched chicken, and yellowtail sashimi. Quite the indulgence, isn't it? The sashimi, sushi, and oil-drenched chicken were delicious, but the soy sauce was especially good! I wonder where the soy sauce came from. It had a sweetness to it that I liked. The oil-drenched chicken was huge. I had it cold, but upon closer inspection, I noticed that there were several microwaves placed towards the table seating area, so you could warm it up yourself. I see... Eating on board a ship feels special somehow. I enjoyed my meal while occasionally feeling the ship sway. It wasn't enough to make me seasick.

I had business in Kyushu this time and traveled by ferry. It was my first time on board and the inside was clean with a nice open-air bath. I could relax and rest well without getting tired during the trip. For meals, I could choose my favorite dishes or order directly. The oden and teppanyaki were delicious and reasonably priced! I am satisfied.

I took a ferry from Izumiotsu Port in Osaka to Shimonoseki Port in Fukuoka Prefecture! The meals were self-service, so you could choose your own side dishes. I had oden, sashimi, and grilled fish, and everything was delicious and reasonably priced. Thank you for the meal!

I am Shin Uemon! This time, I used the Hankyu Ferry for the Satsuma round trip. The outbound journey was on the new ship Izumi, so there was a certain level of satisfaction with the restaurant and cabins. The return journey was on the veteran ship Yamato. There was quite a difference in facilities and cabins compared to Izumi. The price is the same. I used a special room on the Yamato. Twin beds, a table and chairs. Toilet and bath included. The room on the Yamato is slightly larger. My wife had some appreciation for the meals on the outbound journey, so for dinner that day, we decided on "Mapo Tofu". We ordered the popular menu items "Beef Steak Teppanyaki" and fried chicken from Kawauchiya. Ham salad, white rice, miso soup. I was a little surprised by the 900ml pack of shochu "Kuro Kirishima". It's only 1,100 yen! That's cheap! Well, even though it's a popular menu, since it's a ferry restaurant, I didn't have high expectations for the beef steak teppanyaki. As expected, the imported beef's unique smell didn't go away even when I poured the sauce on it. I wish they would make more effort. My wife was disappointed that there was no Mapo Tofu, and the lack of unity in choices like gratin made her seem very unmotivated. The most shocking part was the fried chicken. It was tough and dry. My wife said, "This is probably the worst fried chicken ever," and she was right. How can fried chicken be this bad? It was quite a shock considering the meals on the outbound journey were better than expected. The quality is at the level of the old ferry restaurants. The sashimi of Kurose Buri that my wife ate was delicious. Ferries have evolved. Long-distance ferries are not just a means of transportation, but also accommodation. Once you board, you naturally spend your time only on the ship. I hope they show the enjoyment of spending time on both new and traditional ships. There is no enjoyment in this restaurant. As a special crew member of the space battleship Yamato, I can't accept this. I want the ship named Yamato to have pride. It is the "Yamato of Shikishima". I feel sorry for Emperor Suujin. We drank again with snacks bought at the shop. The final day of sighing for the two of us. Currently, there are various restrictions due to the renovation of the ferry terminal at Kobe Port. Next time, I will definitely book a round trip on the new ship. If it's bad, I'll buy somewhere else. I used the yukata I bought at Shionian as my shipwear. I took a self-portrait, but it's a little blurry. I put on my glasses and took another picture. By the way, people also evolve. This is how it was 34 years ago. Isn't this evolution?

From Kobe Port to Shimonoseki Port, the Hankyu Ferry Yamato operates. The cafeteria serves breakfast from 7:00 until arrival (arrival time is 8:30 on the day). Arriving before 7:00, there was already a line outside, taking about 20 minutes to get a seat. The menu had only 4 items, with limited information online. I found the "Morning Curry Set for 500 yen" to order. Inside, there were individual side dishes displayed, but I stuck with the curry set. I was instructed to take the salad after ordering at the register. I secured a counter seat with a view of the sea. The curry set consisted of curry rice and salad, with a decent portion of rice, though it may be considered small by some. The curry was different from curry udon, with minced ingredients and a tasty flavor suitable for breakfast.

Today, I boarded the Hankyu Ferry "Yamato" from Shimonoseki Port to Kobe Port. The ship is 195m long, has 13,700 horsepower, and travels at a speed of 50km/h. Although the facilities are old, the maintenance is well done and the ship is kept clean, making it a popular choice for the general public. It is affordable, allows you to travel while sleeping, and offers a unique experience different from being on land. Enjoying a bath in the large public bath while looking at the open sea, followed by a cold beer, I lost track of time. The restaurant opens at 7:00 pm when the ship departs. Due to summer vacation, there were many young groups, possibly sports clubs from Kansai and Kyushu, crowding the restaurant. As soon as it opened, there was a long line. The restaurant has buffet lines on both sides, offering a variety of options such as Kyushu's famous chicken rice and Okinawa's bitter melon stir-fry. The "Kyushu soy sauce" on the table turned out to be a sweet soy sauce.

I enjoy traveling by boat and having delicious food on board is the best thing. My only image of this was from my college days, so this experience was a good one. I hope for a bit more evolution though. The price is reasonable and no issues there, but the taste is important. The meals are self-service, where you can choose what you want to eat. [2016.07.23] Dinner: 1. Ham salad 2. Jumbo dumplings 3. Grilled local chicken 4. Almond jelly 5. Unlimited rice refills.

As of July 2016, the "Yamato" was operating between Shimonoseki and Kobe. The restaurant inside the ship was surprisingly spacious and clean. It operated on a cafeteria-style system where you pick up a tray at the entrance and choose dishes to put on your plate. I ended up going over budget quickly when I picked out various dishes (laughs). I had bitter melon champuru and fried foods as snacks with my beer. My wife tried the recommended dish on the "Yamato" menu, which was Turkish rice. The taste was okay. If you sit by the window, you can enjoy your meal while looking out at the Seto Inland Sea. It's nice to do this once in a while.

I received a slow summer vacation for a week. Following last year's Shikoku tour, this year I planned a Kyushu tour. However, I have only booked the round-trip ferry, and I haven't decided on hotel reservations or even the route to take. It's going to be a carefree trip where I decide on the route for the next day while reading guidebooks. I have taken short-distance ferries before, but this will be my first time spending a night on a long-distance ferry. I received the key at the front desk and went to my room. Although the second-class single room is small, it is clean and comfortable. The ship has a spacious feel with an open atrium. There is also a large communal bath, so I plan to take a bath later. At 5:30 pm, the ship departed from Izumiotsu Ferry Terminal. It will be a 12.5-hour journey to Shimonoseki Port in northern Kyushu. I toast to the upcoming enjoyable tour with expectations and the setting sun. Gradually leaving Osaka behind, I enjoy the sea breeze and a can of beer. The distant lights in the north are probably from Kobe. The setting sun is beautiful. We are passing under the majestic Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. At this point, I head to the 6th-floor restaurant. It's a cafeteria-style restaurant with a mix of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. I opted for a freshly made hamburger and of course, a draft beer. I also got a spaghetti salad. The sizzling hamburger arrives on a hot plate. Tonight's dinner marks the prologue to my 9-night, 10-day Kyushu tour. It's not a handmade hamburger, but it tastes delicious when eaten on a ship. I enjoy the warm vegetables and spaghetti salad with the hamburger. The sunny ferry has its last order at 8 pm, but alcohol is still available, so I get a highball from the fridge. I sip on it while enjoying the view of the Seto Inland Sea. As Typhoon No. 18 approaches, Kyushu is expected to have rainy weather tomorrow. I suddenly decide to head to Yamaguchi Prefecture to avoid the rain. This was my experience at the Hankyu Ferry Restaurant Izumiotsu-Shimonoseki route "Yamato."