Amakusa–Shimabara Ferry (Oniike–Kuchinotsu): 30 Minutes, ¥580 and Car Fares from ¥2,700, Timetable (Oct–Dec 2026)

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Shimatetsu Ferry, run by Shimabara Railway, links Oniike Port in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, with Kuchinotsu Port on the Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture. The crossing takes 30 minutes. From October to December 2026 the fare is ¥580 for an adult and ¥330 for a child, and a car costs from ¥2,700, with the driver’s fare included. The ferry is on its winter timetable because of a crew shortage: 13 sailings on weekdays and 15 on weekends and holidays. Cars cannot be reserved. You board in the order you arrive at the port.

In short

30 minutes, with departures from both ports at the same times (first 7:15, last 17:45).
Foot passengers and cars: no reservation. Buy a ticket at the port window and be there 20 minutes before departure.
Cash or credit card, but only cash in the last 10 minutes before departure.
A car under 3 m costs ¥2,700 (driver included). A family of 4 with a car 3 to under 4 m long pays ¥4,640 one way.

Checked with official pages on October 16, 2026 (Japan time).

1. Amakusa–Shimabara ferry timetable (October to December 2026)

Shimabara Railway runs two ships, Ferry Kuchinotsu and Ferry Amakusa II, between Kuchinotsu Port (Minamishimabara City, Nagasaki) and Oniike Port (Itsuwa, Amakusa City, Kumamoto). Both ports have departures at the same times, and the crossing takes 30 minutes. There are 13 sailings on weekdays and 15 on weekends and holidays.

Day	Departures (same from Kuchinotsu and Oniike)
Weekdays (13)	7:15, 8:00, 9:00, 9:45, 10:45, 11:30, 12:30, 13:15, 14:15, 15:00, 16:00, 16:45, 17:45
Weekends and holidays (15)	7:15, 8:00, 8:45, 9:30, 10:15, 11:00, 11:45, 12:30, 13:15, 14:00, 14:45, 15:30, 16:15, 17:00, 17:45

These times come from Shimabara Railway’s timetable and fare sheet (PDF) for October 1 to December 31, 2026 (checked October 16, 2026). The ferry has stayed on the winter timetable since March 2026 because of the crew shortage, and times can change. Times and fares for January 2027 onward had not been announced as of October 16, 2026. See the timetable and fares page and the route and port guide of Shimabara Railway Ferry.

Under the company’s rules, sailings are canceled when the wind is 15 m/s or more, waves are 1.5 m or higher, or visibility is 500 m or less. The ferry can also stop below these limits if it judges the crossing unsafe. Same-day status is posted on the top page of Shimabara Railway’s site.

The 30-minute crossing from Oniike Port to Kuchinotsu Port (YouTube, “MAI works”). This is a video by a member of the public, not related to Konomachi Note.

2. How much is the ferry? Passenger fares (October to December 2026)

Passenger fares are ¥580 for an adult and ¥330 for a child, including the fuel surcharge (this is what you actually pay). Elementary school children pay the child fare, and one preschool child rides free with each adult. The disability fare is ¥330 for adults and ¥210 for children. You must show the original disability certificate (a physical disability certificate) or the Mirairo ID app linked to Mynaportal. Group fares for 15 or more people are ¥530 (general), ¥430 (junior high, high school and university) and ¥305 (elementary school). Fares are set for three-month periods and include the fuel surcharge.

3. How much for a car?

The car fare includes one driver and depends on the length of the vehicle. For October to December 2026: under 3 m ¥2,700, 3 to under 4 m ¥3,400, 4 to under 5 m ¥4,100, 5 to under 6 m ¥4,600. A bicycle is ¥480, a motorbike of 125 cc or less is ¥1,080, and one of 126 cc or more is ¥1,280. These are special baggage fares, and the rider pays the passenger fare separately.

Vehicle length	Fare (Oct–Dec 2026)
Under 3 m	¥2,700
3 to under 4 m	¥3,400
4 to under 5 m	¥4,100
5 to under 6 m	¥4,600
6 to under 7 m	¥5,000
7 to under 8 m	¥6,000
8 to under 9 m	¥7,300
9 to under 10 m	¥8,400
10 to under 11 m	¥9,100
11 to under 12 m	¥10,600
12 m or longer	¥10,600 plus ¥1,000 for each extra meter

One-way total for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 elementary school children) with a car:

Car and passengers	Car fare	Other passengers	One-way total
Car 3 to under 4 m, 2 adults + 2 children	¥3,400	1 adult ¥580 + 2 children ¥660	¥4,640
Car 4 to under 5 m, 2 adults + 2 children	¥4,100	1 adult ¥580 + 2 children ¥660	¥5,340

Calculated with the October to December 2026 fares. The car fare already covers one driver, so only the other passengers are added.

Near Oniike Port, in Itsuwa, Amakusa City, boats go out to see wild dolphins off Tsujishima Island. VELTRA lists an Itsuwa dolphin-watching tour (about 1.5 hours) with availability and prices. See the Itsuwa dolphin-watching tour on VELTRA (ad)

4. Do I need a reservation? Boarding and payment

Cars, trucks, motorbikes and bicycles board first come, first served on the day, and cannot be reserved. Passengers on foot do not need a reservation either (groups of 15 or more must tell the company the number of people in advance). Only chartered buses from micro-bus size (6 m or longer) can be reserved. Mini buses (jumbo taxis) and commuter buses cannot.

The company asks you to arrive at the port 20 minutes before departure and finish boarding procedures 10 minutes before. Ticket gates start to open about 10 minutes before departure and the ship prepares to leave about 5 minutes before, so arriving at the last minute can mean missing the sailing.

You can pay by cash or credit card, but credit cards cannot be used in the last 10 minutes before departure. After that it is cash only. If you take a car, bring the vehicle inspection certificate (shakensho) and buy the boarding ticket at the window of each port. In a rental car this document is normally kept in the car, so ask the rental company if you cannot find it. The ferry does not accept data read from the IC tag of an electronic certificate on a PC or smartphone.

Vehicles can be up to 3.80 m high and 20 t in total weight. There is no fast charger for electric vehicles. Small pets such as small dogs can stay on the vehicle deck in a carrier, free of charge (tell the crew). Owners cannot stay in the vehicle or on the car deck with them.

5. How to get to Kuchinotsu Port and Oniike Port

Kuchinotsu Port is at Kuchinotsu-cho, Minamishimabara City, Nagasaki (ship office tel. 0957-61-0057). By car it is about 70 km and 90 minutes from Nagasaki Port (Route 251 via Obama Onsen), about 54 km and 80 minutes from Isahaya IC, about 35 km and 70 minutes from Shimabara Castle, about 25 km and 45 minutes from Unzen Onsen, and about 23 km and 30 minutes from Obama Onsen. For your car navigation, enter the phone number the company gives for this purpose, 0957-86-2165. By bus, the Kuchinotsu Port bus stop is a 2-minute walk away. Shimatetsu Bus publishes connection times to Shimabara Station, to Obama (transfer for Unzen) and to Isahaya Station. For a taxi, call Honda Kanko Taxi (tel. 0957-86-2100).

If you stay on the Shimabara side, you can compare inns in Unzen, Shimabara and Obama on Rakuten Travel. Find inns in Unzen, Shimabara and Obama on Rakuten Travel (ad)

Oniike Port is at Oniike, Itsuwa-machi, Amakusa City, Kumamoto (tel. 0969-32-1727). By car it is about 97 km and 150 minutes from Kumamoto Castle (Route 324), about 83 km and 120 minutes from Matsubase IC, about 15 km and 30 minutes from Hondo Port, about 43 km and 70 minutes from Sakitsu Church (Route 389 via Shimoda Onsen), and about 56 km and 90 minutes from Ushibuka Port. The Oniike Port bus stop is right next to the terminal (0-minute walk), and Sanko Bus connects to Hondo Bus Center and to Tomioka Port. For a taxi, call Oniike Taxi (tel. 0969-32-1166).

To compare fares on all Kyushu ferry routes, see Kyushu ferry routes guide.

Fares and operating hours are subject to change.