Taking the ferry from Busan to Fukuoka was one of those travel experiences that seemed a little strange at first, but ended up being a really fun way to travel between Korea and Japan.
Instead of flying, you leave Busan in the evening, spend the night on the ferry, and wake up in Fukuoka the next morning.
I took the New Camellia ferry from Busan to Hakata Port in Fukuoka, and we booked the cheapest accommodation available. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the lowest-cost room, but it ended up being completely fine for what we needed: somewhere to sleep for a few hours before arriving in Japan.
In this guide, I’ll go through how to book the ferry, what the experience is actually like, the different room options, what I thought of the cheapest room, how the return trip works, and a few things I’d know before taking the ferry myself.
Jump to
- Busan to Fukuoka Ferry at a Glance
- How to Book the Busan to Fukuoka Ferry
- Don’t Forget the Return Ferry
- Getting to the Busan Ferry Terminal
- Check-In and Boarding
- What the New Camellia Ferry Is Like
- New Camellia Room Types
- The Cheapest Room: 2nd Class
- Sleeping on the Ferry
- Food, Drinks and Facilities
- Arriving in Fukuoka
- What I’d Bring on the Ferry
- Is the Busan to Fukuoka Ferry Worth It?
- Final Thoughts
Busan to Fukuoka Ferry at a Glance
The ferry between Busan and Fukuoka is operated by Camellia Line, using the New Camellia ferry.
The basic schedule makes the two directions quite different:
| Busan → Fukuoka | Fukuoka → Busan | |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry | New Camellia | New Camellia |
| Departure | 10:30 PM | 12:30 PM |
| Arrival | Around 7:30 AM next morning | Around 6:30 PM same day |
| Busan terminal | Busan Port International Passenger Terminal | Busan Port International Passenger Terminal |
| Fukuoka terminal | Hakata Port International Terminal | Hakata Port International Terminal |
| Journey | Overnight | Daytime |
The current published schedule lists the Busan to Hakata ferry departing at 10:30 PM and beginning disembarkation around 7:30 AM the next morning. The return ferry from Hakata to Busan departs at 12:30 PM and arrives around 6:30 PM. (Camellia Line)
That difference is worth knowing when you’re planning your trip.
The trip to Fukuoka is an overnight ferry, so you’re basically using the ship as your accommodation for the night.
The trip back to Busan is during the day, so you’re spending the afternoon and early evening on the ferry instead.
How to Book the Busan to Fukuoka Ferry
Booking the ferry is pretty straightforward.
I would book directly through the Camellia Line online reservation system. The booking system lets you search for either a one-way or round-trip ticket and choose your travel dates, number of passengers and available fare/class.
I’d recommend checking the official Camellia Line website before booking because schedules, fares and availability can change.
Book a round trip if you know your dates
If you’re planning to visit Fukuoka and then return to Korea, I’d check the round-trip option when you make your reservation rather than treating the two journeys as completely separate trips.
Just remember that the two legs aren’t mirror images of each other.
The Busan to Fukuoka trip is overnight, while the Fukuoka to Busan trip is a daytime sailing.
Choose your accommodation carefully
One thing I’d pay attention to is the accommodation option you select.
This isn’t like booking an airline seat where you just choose a seat and you’re done. The New Camellia has several different room classes, ranging from shared 2nd-class accommodations to private rooms.
We went with the cheapest option because we weren’t looking to have some luxurious ferry experience. We just wanted somewhere to sleep overnight.
That ended up working out perfectly fine for us.
Check the schedule for your specific date
Ferry schedules can change for holidays, special services and other operational reasons, so make sure you check the schedule for your actual travel date rather than relying entirely on a blog post or an old screenshot.
Camellia Line publishes its current schedules on its website and notes that irregular suspensions can occur.
Don’t Forget the Return Ferry
This is something I’d specifically point out when planning a Busan to Fukuoka trip because the return ferry leaves in the morning.
On the regular schedule, the ferry leaves Hakata Port at 12:30 PM and arrives back in Busan around 6:30 PM.
So your schedule might look something like this:
Day 1: Spend the day in Busan → board the ferry in the evening
Day 2: Arrive in Fukuoka in the morning → spend your trip in Japan
Last day: Get to Hakata Port in the morning → board at 12:30 PM → arrive in Busan around 6:30 PM
The return journey is actually pretty convenient because you don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night or spend another night on the ferry.
You get on around lunchtime, spend the afternoon relaxing on the ship and arrive back in Busan that evening.
Just make sure you leave enough time to get to Hakata Port and complete the required check-in and immigration process.
Getting to the Busan Ferry Terminal
The ferry leaves from the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal.
The terminal is conveniently located near Busan Station, which makes it relatively easy to reach even if you’re coming from another part of Busan.
If this is your first time visiting the city, I also have a guide to my favorite things to do in Busan that covers some of the beaches, attractions, food and other experiences I’d recommend adding to your trip.
And if you’re staying around Gwangalli, check out my Gwangalli Beach nightlife guide for some of my favorite bars, craft beer spots and places to hang out around the beach.
This is one of the nice things about taking the ferry from Busan. You don’t have to make the trip all the way out to Gimhae Airport.
We headed to the terminal in the evening, checked in, went through immigration and then boarded the ferry.
The terminal itself is more like what you’d expect from an international ferry terminal than a huge airport. It’s pretty easy to figure out where you’re supposed to go.
Check-In and Boarding
This is one part where you don’t want to cut it too close.
For the regular Busan to Fukuoka sailing, Camellia Line’s published information lists immigration from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, with the ferry departing at 10:30 PM.
I’d give yourself plenty of time to get through the terminal, check in, clear immigration and find your way onto the ferry without rushing.
Once you’re on board, the feeling changes pretty quickly from “I’m at a port” to “Oh, we’re actually staying on this thing tonight.”
What the New Camellia Ferry Is Like
The New Camellia is much bigger than I expected.
It’s basically a small hotel that happens to move across the ocean.
The ship has multiple decks, different types of accommodation, restaurants, vending machines, a duty-free shop, entertainment areas and an observation bath.
You definitely don’t have to spend the entire trip locked in your room.
That’s actually part of what makes taking the ferry more interesting than flying. Once you’re on board, you can walk around, look outside, grab something to eat or just find a seat and relax.
For me, the novelty of being on a ferry heading from Korea to Japan was a big part of the experience.
You’re not going to get that feeling sitting in an economy seat on a plane.
New Camellia Room Types
There are several accommodation options on the New Camellia, so the experience can be pretty different depending on how much you want to spend.
2nd Class
This is the cheapest option.
It’s a shared room rather than a private cabin, making it the choice for people who are mainly looking for the lowest-cost place to sleep.
2nd Class Sleeping Berth
There are also shared sleeping accommodations that give you a bit more separation than the most basic open-room setup.
This is worth considering if you want to save money but don’t love the idea of sleeping in a completely open shared room.
1st Class Western-Style Room
These are private rooms designed for smaller groups and couples.
They make more sense if you’d rather have your own space for the overnight journey.
1st Class Japanese-Style Room
These are larger Japanese-style rooms designed for groups.
They’re another private option if you’re traveling with several people.
Special Class
The higher-end options include private rooms with additional amenities such as private bathrooms and more space.
At the top end, the ferry also has special accommodation that is much closer to what you’d expect from a proper hotel room.
Obviously, this is a very different experience from what we did.
We went in the complete opposite direction.
The Cheapest Room: 2nd Class
This was probably the part of the ferry I was most curious about before the trip.
We booked the cheapest room.
And honestly?
It was fine.
I wouldn’t choose it because I wanted a luxurious night’s sleep, but that wasn’t really the point.
We were traveling overnight, and all we really needed was a place where we could lie down for a few hours.
The room was shared, so obviously you’re giving up the privacy of having your own cabin. But once it was time to sleep, we just settled in and went to bed.
For an overnight ferry, that’s basically all I needed.
Would I book the cheapest room again?
For another overnight trip, probably.
The whole reason I took the ferry was to get between Busan and Fukuoka without spending a ton of money on transportation and a hotel.
I didn’t need a private bathroom or a fancy bed for that.
If you’re expecting a cruise ship cabin or a hotel room, you’re going to be disappointed.
If you’re thinking, “I need somewhere to sleep between Korea and Japan and I’d rather spend the extra money on Fukuoka,” the cheapest option makes a lot more sense.
Sleeping on the Ferry
Once the lights went down and everyone settled in, it was surprisingly easy to switch into “this is my hotel tonight” mode.
The ship does move, obviously, but it didn’t feel dramatically different from sleeping somewhere on land.
The biggest thing I’d recommend is bringing whatever you normally need to sleep comfortably.
Also, remember that you’re arriving in Fukuoka early in the morning.
That can actually be a great thing.
You wake up, get off the ship, go through immigration and suddenly you’re starting your day in Japan.
Instead of losing half a day to travel, the ferry essentially turns the transportation into the overnight portion of the trip.
Food, Drinks and Facilities
There is more to do on the New Camellia than I expected.
The ferry has a restaurant, vending machines, a duty-free shop, entertainment areas and an observation bath.
There are also vending machines selling drinks, snacks and other small items.
I’d bring some Japanese yen with you because they did not take card onboard.
The observation bath
One of the more unusual features is the observation bath.
Yes, you can actually take a bath while crossing the ocean.
It’s the kind of thing that makes the ferry feel much different from simply taking a plane between the two countries.
Arriving in Fukuoka
The ferry arrives at Hakata Port International Terminal.
The ferry begins disembarkation around 7:30 AM, although the exact timing can vary. You’ll then go through Japanese immigration before you’re officially into Fukuoka.
One thing I’d keep in mind is that 7:30 AM is when disembarkation starts, not necessarily when you’ll be standing outside the terminal.
Immigration takes some time, especially if there’s a large number of passengers arriving at once.
So I’d give yourself some buffer if you’re booking an activity or train immediately after arrival.
What I’d Bring on the Ferry
You don’t need to pack like you’re going on a cruise.
For the overnight ferry, I’d keep a small bag with the things you’ll want during the night.
That would include:
- Passport and travel documents
- Phone and charger
- Power bank
- Toiletries
- A change of clothes
- Earplugs if you’re a light sleeper
- Headphones
- Anything you normally use to sleep comfortably
The biggest mistake would be putting everything into your main luggage and then realizing you don’t want to dig through your bags after boarding.
Keep the stuff you need for the night easy to reach.
Is the Busan to Fukuoka Ferry Worth It?
For me, the ferry was a fun alternative to flying.
It’s obviously much slower than taking a plane, but that’s not really what you’re paying for.
You’re getting transportation, an overnight place to sleep and a completely different travel experience.
The ferry leaves Busan at night, so you can spend the evening getting ready to leave, board the ship, sleep and then arrive in Fukuoka the following morning.
Then, when it’s time to come back to Korea, you take the opposite route during the day and arrive in Busan that evening.
And I think that’s the best way to think about it.
You’re not choosing the ferry because you want the fastest way to get to Japan.
You’re choosing it because the journey itself is part of the trip.
Final Thoughts
I’d never really considered taking a ferry between Korea and Japan until I actually did it.
Afterward, I was glad we did.
The New Camellia is much more like a proper passenger ship than I expected, and even though we booked the cheapest room, it was perfectly adequate for an overnight trip.
Would I upgrade to one of the nicer rooms someday? Probably, especially if I was traveling with a group or wanted to make the ferry part of the experience itself.
But for our trip, the cheapest room did exactly what we needed it to do.
We got on the ferry in Busan, went to sleep, and woke up in Japan.
And that’s a pretty cool way to travel between the two countries.
