Sakurajima Ferry — Complete Guide
How often it really runs, what it costs, and how payment actually works — everything checked against Kagoshima City's official ferry site.
Official Sakurajima Ferry site →At a glance
The short version, if you're short on time.
Crossing time
About 15 minutes each way (up to ~20 min in rough weather).
Operating hours
4:00am–11:30pm, every day of the year — see the note below.
Frequency
Every 15–20 min in the daytime, tapering to every 30–60 min at night.
One-way fare (on foot)
¥250 adult · ¥130 child (age 1 to elementary school).
Heads up: it's no longer 24 hours
- Older guides — and plenty of blog posts still online — will tell you this ferry runs 24/7. That changed on October 1, 2025.
- It now runs 4:00am to 11:30pm daily. If you're planning around a very early or very late flight, don't assume you can catch it at 2am.
- The full timetable, with every single departure time, is on the official site.
Passenger fares
- Adult: ¥250 one-way. Child (age 1 through elementary school): ¥130 one-way. Under age 1: free — just tell the staff when you pay.
- Bringing a bicycle or something bike-sized? Bicycle ¥160, moped (~50cc) ¥330, motorcycle 125–750cc ¥480, motorcycle 750cc+ ¥640 — each on top of your own ¥250 passenger fare.
- Discounted fares (¥130 adult / ¥70 child) are available if you carry a Japanese disability handbook — show it at the counter.
Local tip: fares are the same whichever direction you're going, and you don't buy a ticket in advance — just pay when you reach Sakurajima Port (see "How payment actually works" below).
Vehicle fares
- Car fares are based on your vehicle's length and already include one driver's passenger fare — no need to pay separately for yourself.
- Larger vehicles (vans, campers, buses) keep scaling up from there — the official fare table covers every length up to 12m.
Car fare by length (one-way)
| Vehicle length | Fare |
|---|---|
| Under 3m (kei car) | ¥1,280 |
| 3–4m (compact / kei van) | ¥1,700 |
| 4–5m (standard sedan, most rental cars) | ¥2,350 |
| 5–6m (minivan, small SUV) | ¥2,630 |
Local tip: no reservation is needed for a private car — just drive up and join the line. Only sightseeing buses can book a spot ahead of time.
Official fare table →How payment actually works
- You pay at Sakurajima Port, not when you board — whichever direction you're heading, the fare gate/toll booth is on the Sakurajima side.
- Cash and major credit cards work: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, Discover and UnionPay, including tap-to-pay for most of those brands.
- National transit IC cards are accepted too — Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, Kitaca, TOICA, manaca, Hayakaken, nimoca, SUGOCA — but you can't top them up here, so make sure there's enough balance loaded before you go.
- There's also a Kagoshima-only rechargeable card called Rapica (¥3,000 to start: ¥2,500 usable + a refundable ¥500 deposit) — worth it only if you'll cross more than once or twice.
Boarding on foot
- Kagoshima side: board from the 2nd floor of the ferry terminal.
- Sakurajima side: board from the 3rd floor of the terminal.
- Boarding closes 30 seconds before departure on the Sakurajima side, so give yourself a few extra minutes there.
Boarding with a car, motorcycle or bicycle
- Drive or ride straight to the vehicle entrance at either port — no ticket-counter stop needed first.
- It's first-come, first-served. Expect a wait only during New Year, Golden Week or Obon, when the ferry sometimes adds extra sailings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring a bicycle on board?
Yes — bicycles ride for ¥160 in addition to your own ¥250 passenger fare, and there's no reservation needed.
Can I use my Suica, PASMO or ICOCA?
Yes, along with most other national transit IC cards — but you can't add money to them at the ferry, so travel with enough balance already loaded.
Do I need to book ahead if I'm driving?
No. Private cars, motorcycles and bicycles board first-come, first-served. Only sightseeing buses can reserve a spot.
Does it run on New Year's, Golden Week or Obon?
Yes — it operates every single day of the year, and the city sometimes adds extra sailings during those peak periods.
Wait, isn't this a 24-hour ferry?
It used to be — but since October 1, 2025 it runs 4:00am to 11:30pm daily. Plan around that if you're arriving very early or leaving very late.
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