Let’s enjoy a “Bicycle x Ferry Trip” on a ferry. Spending the night on board like a hotel and you can start cycling the next morning.
After a day’s ride, you can return to the ferry for a meal, a bath, and a good night’s rest.
I would like to introduce the Oita 70km cycling tour from Kobe to Oita using the ferry “Sunflower”, which celebrated its 50th anniversary and is well-known for its sun logo.
Contents
- About Ferry Sunflower
- Travel by Ferry Sunflower Gold
- Kouzaki Beach
- Saganoseki Cycling Road
- Saganoseki
- Kurogahama Beach
- Italian Lunch in Saganoseki
- From Saganoseki to Oita Prefectural Office and Funai Castle
- West Oita Port
- An Exquisite Ferry Trip – sent off by sunset and welcomed by sunrise
- Video Report
- Course introduction
- Summary
About Ferry Sunflower
On February 1, 2022, “Sunflower” celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The instantly recognizable sun logo has been the symbol of Sunflower since its first generation.
As of 2022, the main routes are Osaka-Beppu, Kobe-Oita, and Osaka-Shibushi for Ferry Sunflower, and Oarai-Tomakomai for MOL ferry.
In 2023, Ferry Sunflower Limited plans to launch Japan’s first LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)-fueled ferries, Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki.
For more information on Ferry Sunflower, please see below.
Travel by Ferry Sunflower Gold
Oita route starts and ends at Ferry Sunflower Kobe Port Terminal in the northeastern part of Kobe Rokko Island. The ferry that we are going to board is Sunflower Gold.
The ferry departs at 7:00 p.m. on the day of our visit, so we boarded at 6:00 p.m., 60 minutes before the departure time. Bicycles, like cars and motorcycles, are guided by an attendant.
Once on board, the restaurant and the large public bath were available soon.
Onboard Restaurant with a Sea View
The restaurant on board offers a buffet-style dinner and breakfast with a view of the sea from the windows.
Fresh vegetables and fruits, the chef’s homemade “seasonal dishes” and local gourmet foods are available.
The popular “Sunflower Curry” can also be enjoyed.
Large Public Bath with a View
The large public bath with a view, where you can enjoy a luxurious bathing experience on the ferry, is also available if you board it.
The spacious bathtub offers a view of the ocean, and will relieve the fatigue of travel and work.
Bathing hours are from 9:30 p.m. from the time of embarkation and from 5:00 a.m. the next morning. Shower rooms are available at any time during boarding hours.
Public Space
There are sofas on the ferry’s promenade and large windows from which to enjoy the view of Seto Inland Sea. The staircase leading from the promenade to the upper floors is truly luxurious, reminiscent of a “Hotel on the sea.”
The promenade also has stores and a game corner, allowing passengers to spend their time in their own way.
On board, passengers are informed not only of the route of the ferry, but also of the sunset and sunrise times of the day, as well as the time of passage at each location.
Incidentally, efforts are made to maintain air quality on the ferry at the level of medical institutions.
Cabins
Various types of rooms are available, including Deluxe, Standard, Private Bed, and Tourist.
We used Standard (4-person room) .
The room is equipped with bunk beds, a lavatory, and a digital TV. Hangers, toothbrushes, towels, slippers, adult nightwear, and life jackets are also provided.
Observation deck
Fifteen minutes before departure is announced by the sound of gongs.
Once on the observation deck, you will be greeted by a beautiful sunset over the mountains of Kobe.
At exactly 7:00 p.m., the ferry slowly leaves the port, beginning a 12-hour journey at a speed of about 40 km/h.
About an hour after leaving Kobe Port (around 8:00 p.m.), the ferry passes under the illuminated Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, a spectacular view point.
Afterwards, we had a meal at a restaurant.
After taking a bath in the large public bath, we went to bed earlier than usual.
Dawn and Breakfast
Waking up at 5:00 a.m., going out on deck, and we could see the beautiful sunrise behind the ferry.
After having breakfast at the restaurant and getting ready, we came close to Nishi-Oita Port.
Our ferry arrived at Nishi-Oita Port Ferry Terminal at 6:20 a.m.
From the port in the early morning, we started cycling immediately.
Kouzaki Beach
From Nishi-Oita Port Ferry Terminal, cycling 20km west on the prefectural road all the way, we arrived at Kouzaki Beach.
Sea turtles are said to come to lay eggs in the beautiful ocean here. There is also a covered BBQ garden, and the beach is well-equipped and popular.
Saganoseki Cycling Road
About 1km south of Kouzaki Beach is the starting point of Saganoseki Cycling Road, a coastal path in Saganoseki that utilizes the abandoned Saganoseki Railway line.
We thought we would take a break at Roadside Station Saganoseki on the way, but it was not open yet, so we just enjoyed the beautiful sea.
The flat route follows the abandoned light railway line that was in operation until 1963, and you can pass through tunnels and bridges as they were in those days.
▼Light Railroad Route (Saganoseki Area)
https://tabi-rin.com/archives/course/39617
Saganoseki
Saganoseki Bike Path ends just before Saganoseki Port Ferry Terminal.
Saganoseki is located on the eastern edge of Oita City, and its peninsula is located on the Strait of Toyo, facing Sadamisaki Peninsula in Ehime Prefecture.
It has a long history, and legend has it that Emperor Jinmu stopped here during his eastern expedition. It has also been an important point of maritime transportation since ancient times, with exchange between Kyushu and Shikoku, Seto Inland Sea area, and neighboring areas flourishing.
Between Saganoseki Port and Misaki Port on Shikoku’s Cape Sada, National Route94 Ferry connects by sea with National Route197 from Kochi City (Kochi Prefecture) to Oita City (Oita Prefecture).
Take a break with soft-serve ice cream colored in blue and yellow, inspired by Ferry Suzukaze. Kabosu (a type of citrus fruit) produced in Oita Prefecture is used as an ingredient.
Kurogahama Beach
From Saganoseki Port, we took Saganoseki Circular Road up a slope of over 10% to Kurogahama.
Sekizaki Observatory is located at the tip of the peninsula as you start to descend the hill.
Once down the hill, we reached Kurogahama Beach, which is part of Nippou Coastal National Park and selected as one of the 100 best beaches in Japan.
Kurogahama beach appears black due to black stones called serpentine rock. 2km from Kurogahama, a contrasting white sand beach, Shiragahama beach is located. This geographical feature of black and white beaches adjoining each other is rare in Japan and has been known as a scenic spot for many years.
A short cycling along the seashore will take you to this scenery, which has attracted the attention of this beach in the past few years.
The railway track leading to the sea (where boats are lowered) has become a hot topic on SNS, as it looks like a scene from “Spirited Away.”
Looking down on Shirogahama, we headed back toward Saganoseki Port.
Italian Lunch in Saganoseki
The old streets of Saganoseki are called “Sekiaji Sekisaba Street” (The local horse mackerel street) after the local specialty of this area.
While Sekiaji and Sekisaba are of interest, it is time for lunch at a popular Italian restaurant here.
We ordered a pizza and pasta sharing set with salad, soup, dessert, and drink.
We had a wonderful time with delicious Italian food while watching the calm harbor.
From Saganoseki to Oita Prefectural Office and Funai Castle
After riding along the bike path again from Saganoseki, we parted our ways. My partner was staying overnight in Oita, and I headed alone toward Oita Prefectural Office.
From Oita Prefectural Office, I took “Machinaka (Town) Art Discovery Route” around Oita Castle Site Park, also known as Funai Castle.
This route is named after the many statues and buildings along it.
▼Machinaka Art Discovery Route
https://tabi-rin.com/archives/course/39583
West Oita Port
Starting at 6:30 a.m., I returned to West Oita Port after cycling about 72km, and the time was only 3:00 p.m. The ferry departs at 7:15 p.m., so I decided to spend 3 hours here relaxing.
First, I had chiffon cake and coffee at Mint Café.
After the café time, I had a photo session with the beautiful harbor scenery in the background.
After completing the formalities at the terminal before 6:00 p.m., I boarded the ferry at 6:15 p.m.
An Exquisite Ferry Trip – sent off by sunset and welcomed by sunrise
The ferry Sunflower slowly leaves the harbor after a gong 15 minutes before the outbound trip.
After dinner, a bath, and an early bedtime, I woke up at 5:00 am.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the rising sun greeted me just ahead.
Blessed by the season and weather, I was greeted by sunset and welcomed by sunrise both on the way to and from Kobe, and my “Exquisite Ferry Trip” ended with the arrival at Kobe Port at 6:35 a.m.
Video Report
Course introduction
Distance: 72.8km Elevation gain (ascent): 319 m
▼Saganoseki area route to explore the remains of the light railway
https://tabi-rin.com/archives/course/39617
▼Machinaka Art Discovery Route
https://tabi-rin.com/archives/course/39583
Summary
I took the ferry for the first time in decades, and felt that it was truly a “Hotel on board”. I realized that the ferry is not just a means of transportation, but fun, comfortable, and luxurious.
You can go to bed early at night, get up early in the morning, and start cycling immediately upon arrival at the port. You can travel lightly with “0-nights” at the site.
Saganoseki cycling course is relatively flat, but there is a solid uphill at Saganoseki, and I was surprised at how beautiful the ocean is.
The trip from Kansai to Kyushu, which is too far to go by train, is comfortable and you can enjoy the whole day on the Ferry Sunflower.
There are also routes from Osaka South Port to Beppu (Oita Prefecture) and to Shibushi (Kagoshima Prefecture), so you can enjoy a variety of “Bicycle x Ferry Trip.”
When you go out on deck at the time of departure, the staff will see you off. It was a wonderful moment that is only possible on a ferry trip.
Texts&Photos : HANADA (TABIRIN Editorial Department)
Advertiser : Ferry Sunflower Limited
