After spending 18 days in South Korea, we decided to travel to Japan by sea. From Busan, there is a ferry that connects the city to Fukuoka in Japan in about 10 hours, overnight. We wanted to avoid flying for such a short journey.

The Camellia’s line

There is only one company operating between these two cities: the Camellia Line.

Tickets can be booked directly on their website, but we noticed that there are sometimes discounts available on the Klook APP or website.

The ferry runs overnight, making it a convenient option if you want to save a night of accommodation. Prices vary depending on the type of cabin you choose, from shared dormitories to private cabins.

Boarding & Organization

The organization can be a bit confusing. Our ticket indicated that we had to be at the port at 4:00 pm, but boarding didn’t actually start until 8:00 pm, and the ferry finally departed at 10:00 pm.

Be prepared for some waiting time at the terminal, especially if you arrive early as instructed.

At the terminal, even if you have already booked your ticket online, you still need to check in and go through customs. The Camellia Line staff will then assign your cabin number before boarding.

So the boat started at 10:00 pm and arrived in Fukuoka in 5:00 am but the disembarkation is at 7:00 pm.

The differents cabin’s categories

To save money we we have chosen the cheapest option, but we quickly regretted it.

You can see every options on Camellia’s website. The cheapest one was 2nd class cabin witch are basically a dormitory but lying on the floor like japonese tradition.

What we hadn’t noticed beforehand was that the space between each ‘bed’ is very small and there isn’t even a proper cushion.

So, when we were on board we quickly decided to change our cabin. The staff suggest us 1st class Western-style room B without window but you only 30 euros more. The cabin was very confortable with all the necessary for a good night.

Is the ferry worth it ?

If we had understood the boarding time and the different cabins available, I think the experience would have been enjoyable. For us, it was a bit stressful not to fully understand the organisation and having to change cabins. It’s a really cheap option especially if you have large suitcases.

Ultimately, considering the time spent waiting to board and the journey itself, it might be more cost-effective to fly. Still, it was a good experience, and we’re glad we did it.