Busan to Osaka Ferry Guide: PanStar Miracle Timetable, Cabins, Real Costs and Seasickness

Sailing days, cabins for couples and solo travellers, the charges added to the fare, seasickness and getting from Osaka Port into the city.

Last updated: October 2026
Quick answers

How long is the crossing?About 17 hours overnight: you leave Busan in the afternoon and dock in Osaka the next morning.
Which days does it sail?Busan to Osaka on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday; Osaka to Busan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
What does the cheapest berth really cost?If you’re happy to share an Inside cabin with other passengers, one adult pays 232,000 won one way from Busan at full fare, surcharge and port fees included.
Can a couple share a cabin?Yes, in a suite or by paying for the empty berths, because the shared four-berth cabins are split by gender.
When should I reach the terminal?In Busan two hours before departure, and in Osaka around the time ticketing opens, since nobody boards or gets a refund once ticketing has closed.
How do I get from Osaka Port into town?Walk or take the shuttle to Cosmosquare Station, then ride the Metro to Namba, Umeda or Shin-Osaka.
White cable-stayed bridge spans crossing the sea between small islands under a pink sky before sunrise, with pine trees in the foreground and a small fishing boat on the water
The Seto-Ohashi Bridge at dawn. Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

1. The PanStar Miracle at a glance

The PanStar Miracle is the only passenger ship sailing directly between Busan and Osaka. The Osaka Port and Harbor Bureau lists berth KF-2 at the Osaka Port International Ferry Terminal as the Busan route, and the Miracle is the ship that uses it. The PanStar Dream, which used to sail this route, has been sold, so reviews, prices and facility details from its time describe a different ship.

The crossing in brief

  • Overnight in both directions: you leave in the afternoon or early evening and dock the next morning.
  • Sailings run on set days of the week, so the calendar shapes your plans.
  • Dinner, breakfast and a bed are part of the fare.
  • The cheapest berths are in shared cabins split by gender.
  • A fuel surcharge, port fees and, when leaving Japan, a departure tax come on top of the fare.
  • The Busan terminal is a walk from Busan Station, and the Osaka terminal is a walk or a short shuttle ride from the Metro.

The ship

The Miracle was built in Busan, at the Daesun Shipbuilding yard in Yeongdo. It runs on a hybrid system that pairs diesel engines with electric motors, and it carries shipping containers and vehicles as well as passengers, which makes it a car ferry and a cargo ship at the same time.

SpecificationPanStar Miracle
Gross tonnage22,000 tons
Length171 m
Passenger capacity355
PropulsionDiesel engines and electric motors (hybrid)
CargoContainers and vehicles
Built byDaesun Shipbuilding, Yeongdo, Busan

The ship’s profile is on PanStar’s PanStar Miracle page.

Ferry or cruise?

PanStar markets the trip under names such as “Miracle Cruise” and “Seto Inland Sea Cruise”. A common complaint in reviews is that the name made people expect a big cruise ship, and some reviewers say the Miracle feels more like a cargo ship.

The clearest description is a cruise ferry. There’s a buffet restaurant, an outdoor pool deck, a sauna and an evening show, all on a working ship that carries freight between the two ports. The fare pays for the crossing, a night’s sleep and two meals, and the cruise-style extras come on the side.

On a trip through Korea and Japan, the crossing takes the place of a flight and a night in a hotel. You board in Busan in the afternoon, sleep on board, and reach Osaka the next morning with all your luggage.

🎟️ Tickets for the crossing are sold on Klook (and on KKday from a phone), where you choose one-way or return, your departure port and your cabin class. The other buttons lead to Osaka tours and attractions for the day you dock.See on Klook →See on Viator →See on KKday →See on Trip.com →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Busan Harbor Bridge, a two-tower cable-stayed bridge, over the sea at Busan's North Port, seen from above with factory and warehouse roofs below and container cranes and mountains in the distance under a cloudy blue sky
Busan Harbor Bridge over the waters of Busan’s North Port. Photo: 써머트리, 정민규 / Busan Metropolitan City Tourism Policy Division, KOGL Type 1 (Busan Tourism Archive).

2. Sailing days, times and check-in

The ship leaves Busan on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and leaves Osaka on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, docking the next morning in both directions. Korea and Japan share the same time zone, so there’s no clock change on board.

Timetable

RouteDaysDepartsDocksTime at sea
Busan to OsakaSunday15:00Monday 08:3017 h 30 min
Busan to OsakaTuesday, Thursday16:00Wednesday, Friday 09:0017 h
Osaka to BusanMonday, Wednesday, Friday17:00Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 10:0017 h

The Sunday sailing leaves Busan an hour earlier than the weekday ones and docks half an hour earlier, so it spends a little longer at sea. PanStar keeps the timetable and the expected times at each landmark on its Osaka route information page. The docking time is when the ship reaches the pier; getting off comes later, as the section on arriving in Japan explains.

Check-in on the day

Boarding tickets are issued only on the day you sail, at the port you’re leaving from, so even an online booking ends with a visit to the PanStar counter.

You’ll need your passport, and it must have at least six months left before it expires.

Departing fromTicketing opensDepartsCar check-in closes
Busan (Sunday)13:0015:0012:30
Busan (Tuesday, Thursday)14:0016:0013:00
Osaka (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)15:0017:0013:00

The last column only matters if you’re shipping a car or a motorbike.

The ticketing deadlines in PanStar’s notices are earlier than the closing times shown on its timetable page, so plan around the notices.

Departing fromDeadline in PanStar’s notices
Busan (Sunday)Be at the third-floor ticket counter by 13:30. Checked bags are taken only from 13:00 to 13:30
Busan (Tuesday, Thursday)Ticketing closes at 14:50
Osaka (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)Ticketing closes at 15:50

Don’t cut it fine. In Busan, PanStar and Busan Port Authority both advise arriving two hours before departure. In Osaka, the ticket window opens two hours before the ship sails, and PanStar’s Japanese FAQ asks passengers to arrive at least 90 minutes ahead. Once ticketing has closed you can’t board and you can’t get a refund, and one reviewer on the Miracle found the Busan counter already shut at 2:50 pm. Reviewers also say the ship sometimes sails early, by more than half an hour on some departures from Osaka.

3. Planning a return trip by ship

A return trip by ship gives you no nights in Osaka, two nights or three, depending on the day you leave Busan and the sailing you take back. The table pairs each departure from Busan with the next two sailings home.

Departure and return combinations

Leave BusanDock in OsakaSail back from OsakaDock in BusanNights in Osaka
Sunday 15:00Monday 08:30Monday 17:00 (same day)Tuesday 10:00None (two nights on board)
Sunday 15:00Monday 08:30Wednesday 17:00Thursday 10:00Two
Tuesday 16:00Wednesday 09:00Wednesday 17:00 (same day)Thursday 10:00None
Tuesday 16:00Wednesday 09:00Friday 17:00Saturday 10:00Two
Thursday 16:00Friday 09:00Friday 17:00 (same day)Saturday 10:00None
Thursday 16:00Friday 09:00Monday 17:00Tuesday 10:00Three

If you’re crossing one way from Korea into Japan, only the first two columns matter: pick the sailing that suits your plans and carry on from Osaka.

Turning around on the same day

Every day the ship arrives in Osaka is also a day it sails back, so a same-evening return works whichever day you leave Busan. The time ashore is shorter than the timetable suggests. Getting off the ship and through immigration takes a while after docking, ticketing for the return opens in mid-afternoon, and the shuttle back to the terminal runs in the early afternoon. Worked through, that leaves about three to four hours in central Osaka: you’d reach Namba late in the morning and need to head back in the early afternoon.

PanStar’s “Two Night” package tours run on this same-day schedule. They bundle the return crossing with a private coach and a guided day on a theme such as Osaka Castle, Universal Studios Japan, hot springs, Osaka food, shopping at Harborland or Kobe sake. The Osaka Castle version comes with a Korean guide and needs at least four people to go ahead.

Staying longer

Leaving Busan on Thursday and sailing back on Monday gives three nights in Osaka, a full weekend included. For a longer stay, any later Monday, Wednesday or Friday sailing works in the same way.

If you’d like a few days in Busan before you sail, our Busan itinerary guide can help you plan them.

4. Cabin classes and fares

PanStar’s price list runs from shared four-berth cabins up to a single Presidential Suite, and every price is per person for one sailing. A return costs exactly twice the one-way fare, with no return discount.

Tickets bought on the Korean side are priced in won and tickets bought on the Japanese side in yen, so the table shows both price lists.

Fares by cabin class

CabinOne way (won)One way (yen)Berths per cabinCabins on boardBedsFloor area
Presidential Suite1,200,000¥120,00021Double24.7 m²
Royal Suite700,000¥70,00035Single and double17.0 m²
Balcony Suite500,000¥50,000230Two singles12.6 m²
Ocean View250,000¥25,000430Two capsule-style bunk beds11.6 m²
Inside200,000¥20,000430Two capsule-style bunk beds11.6 m²
Family180,000¥18,00084––

There’s also a top-tier Owner’s Room that doesn’t appear on the public price list.

What the classes mean

Inside and Ocean View cabins share the same floor area and bunk layout. The Inside cabin has no window, and the Ocean View adds a window and a sofa. A Balcony Suite has its own balcony over the sea. PanStar’s cabin page shows photos and floor areas for each class.

Reviewers often compare the Inside cabins to a capsule hotel, and each bunk has a curtain you can draw.

What the fare includes

The price list says every cabin fare includes dinner and breakfast on each sailing. If you’re buying a discounted or promotional fare, check on the booking screen whether meals are part of it before you pay.

PanStar also runs seasonal sales, advertised as a percentage off, and discounts and free tickets can’t be used on peak dates. The table shows the full fare; sales are announced on PanStar’s notices and events pages.

5. Which cabin for couples, solo travellers and families

Inside and Ocean View cabins sleep four. When your group is smaller than that, PanStar fills the spare berths with other passengers, and these shared cabins are split by gender.

Couples

This is the point that confuses couples most. A man and a woman who each book a single berth in a shared cabin will sleep in separate cabins, each with strangers of their own gender.

To keep a four-berth cabin to yourselves, you pay for the two empty berths on top of your own fares. A Balcony Suite is made for two, so a couple simply pays two fares.

How you bookWhat you getFare for two, Busan to Osaka, one way
Two berths in shared Inside cabinsSeparate cabins, split by gender200,000 won each
A whole Inside cabinPrivate four-berth cabin, no window600,000 won
A whole Ocean View cabinPrivate four-berth cabin with a window700,000 won
A Balcony SuitePrivate room for two with a balcony1,000,000 won

These are fares only, before the surcharge and port fees in the next section.

Tip for couples: A whole Ocean View cabin costs only a little more than a whole Inside cabin and adds a window, so compare the two before you choose.

Solo travellers

One person can’t book a whole four-berth cabin. Travelling alone, you either take a berth in a shared cabin or pay a single supplement for a suite.

Who is in the cabinExtra per sailing (won)Extra per sailing (yen)
Two people in a four-berth cabin100,000 per empty berth¥20,000 in total
Three people in a four-berth cabin100,000 for the empty berth¥10,000
One person in a Balcony Suite200,000¥20,000
One person in a Royal Suite300,000¥30,000
One person in a four-berth cabinNot possibleNot possible

Whatever combination you choose, confirm the final amount on the booking screen before you pay.

Families and groups

In a suite, up to two guests pay the adult fare whatever their age. The eight-berth Family cabin is charged at a minimum of seven adult fares, even if fewer of you use it, according to the Japanese and English price lists. PanStar’s Korean FAQ calls the four-berth cabins the largest on board, though, so check the Family cabin with PanStar when you book.

Child’s ageFare
Under 6Free for one child per adult, as long as the child is added when you book. A child under 6 who takes a berth of their own pays the child fare.
6 to 11Half the adult fare for the same cabin

A child under 6 who shares a parent’s berth leaves their own berth empty, so a family of four with a small child may still face an empty-berth charge to keep a four-berth cabin to themselves. If your group includes a child under 6, check how the cabin is counted when you book.

Age discounts can’t be combined with online or other discounts, and children are expected to stay in the same cabin class as the adult travelling with them.

Reviews give a feel for the space. One family of five fitted into an Ocean View cabin with two suitcases, while another traveller found the Inside cabin too cramped and upgraded to a Balcony Suite on the spot.

6. Costs on top of the fare

The fares on PanStar’s price list leave out the fuel surcharge and port fees, and when you leave Japan there’s the Japanese departure tax as well.

Charges per person, per sailing

ChargeLeaving BusanLeaving OsakaNotes
Fuel surcharge25,000 won¥2,500Free under 6. Can change every month; recent months have ranged from 20,000 to 36,000 won (¥2,000 to ¥3,600)
Terminal fee and tourism fund7,000 won (6,000 won under 12)NoneCharged in Busan only
Osaka Port terminal feeNone¥700Not charged for children under 6
Japan’s International Tourist TaxNone¥3,000Only when leaving Japan. Children under 2 are exempt. Charged separately from the fare

The price list doesn’t show the fuel surcharge, so look up the amount for your sailing in PanStar’s notices or on the checkout screen.

Japan’s National Tax Agency explains the departure tax on its International Tourist Tax page.

Totals for one adult in an Inside berth

TripTotal at full fare
Busan to Osaka, one way232,000 won
Osaka to Busan, one way, bought in Japan¥26,200
Return, bought in KoreaAbout 494,000 won

PanStar doesn’t spell out how the Osaka-side charges are paid on a return bought in Korea. Reviews of returns booked on the Korean site say they were charged in won along with everything else at booking, at roughly ten times the yen amounts, which is where the return total in the table comes from. Check the total on the checkout screen before you pay.

Why older posts quote lower prices

Complaints that come up again and again in reviews: not realising taxes were added to the advertised fare, and finding the crossing far more expensive than on the older ship. Prices in posts about that ship don’t match today’s fares, so go by PanStar’s own price list.

7. Where and how to book

PanStar’s official booking site, panstarcruise.com, is in Korean, English and Japanese. Book on the Korean side and you pay in won by card; book on the Japanese side and you pay in yen by card.

Booking direct

For each passenger you’ll need the name in English as it appears in the passport, date of birth, passport number, contact details and home address.

There’s no waiting list for full sailings. Changes and cancellations within 24 hours of the original booking are free; after that, the fees in the cancellation section at the end of this guide apply.

One English-language review mentions a card being declined on the official site, so have a second card ready when you book.

Booking through a reseller

Travel sites such as Klook and KKday also sell the crossing, and they don’t all offer the same cabin classes. Korean-language sellers sell an Inside ticket that you upgrade afterwards, while English-language sellers ask you to choose your cabin at the start.

Resellers sometimes list the crossing below the full fare, so compare their price for your cabin class with the official site before paying.

8. Busan Port International Passenger Terminal

PanStar’s ticket counter is on the third floor of Busan Port International Passenger TerminalMap at 206 Chungjang-daero, Dong-gu. PanStar’s Busan office on Haegwan-ro in Jung-gu is a separate building, so head straight to the terminal on the day.

Leaving Korea step by step

  1. Collect your ticket at the PanStar counter on the third floor.
  2. Check in any hold luggage at the baggage area on the first floor.
  3. Go through security and emigration, then wait in the departure area.
  4. Board the ship with your carry-on bags.

Luggage carts aren’t allowed in the departure area, so from security onwards you carry or wheel your own bags.

Getting to the terminal

From Busan Station, a moving walkway and the Busan Port pedestrian deck take you to the terminal on foot. Busan Port Authority’s terminal access guide describes each route.

Starting fromRouteTime
Busan Station (train)Station building exit 10, moving walkway, Busan Port pedestrian deck, terminalAbout 10 to 15 min
Busan Station (Metro Line 1)Exit 6, station building exit 10, moving walkway, pedestrian deckAbout 20 min
Choryang StationExit 6, First Underpass intersection, crossing on Chungjang-daeroAbout 20 min
Gimhae Airport (public transport)Light rail to Sasang, Line 2 to Seomyeon, Line 1 to Busan Station, pedestrian deckAbout 70 min
Gimhae Airport (car)By roadAbout 30 min

From Gimhae Airport by public transport you change trains twice before Busan Station; our Gimhae Airport to Busan guide walks through each change.

City busMain stopsFare by transit card
5-1Centum City, Seomyeon, Jagalchi1,550 won
42Suyeong Station, Kyungsung Univ.·Pukyong Nat’l Univ. Station1,550 won
172Myeongji, Sinpyeong Station1,550 won
1004Gimhae, Seomyeon, Busan Station (every 30 minutes or more)2,100 won

Bus fares above are adult fares with a transit card; see our Busan transit card guide and the wider guide to getting around Busan.

Inside the terminal

Opening hours inside the terminal shift with the ship’s schedule, so treat the hours below as a guide.

FloorServiceHours
2FBusan Bank (currency exchange)Varies
2FZimcarry luggage storage10:00 to 19:00
2F7-Eleven, Busan City tourist information, baby room, caféVaries
3FFood court, 7-ElevenVaries
3FSaebusan Pharmacy08:00 to 18:00
3F, past emigrationBusan Duty Free (alcohol, tobacco, cosmetics and more); pickup counters for Lotte, Shinsegae and Shilla duty freeVaries

The terminal’s roaming centre has closed, so sort out your phone plan with your own carrier before you arrive. Busan Bank also has a foreign currency ATM in the terminal, open from 06:00 to 22:00; for changing money before you go, see our guide to money in Korea.

Goods bought at a downtown or online duty-free shop in Busan are collected from the pickup counters at the end of the departure area. Orders from PanStar’s own online duty-free shop are the exception: you receive them after boarding, at the ship’s duty-free shop.

Time to spare before boarding

If you reach the area early, Choryang Ibagu-gil is a short walk from Busan Station. If you’re staying in Busan the night before, our guide to where to stay in Busan compares the neighbourhoods, and the rooms below are close to Busan Station.

🏨 The ferry terminal is a walk from Busan Station along the pedestrian deck, so a room near the station suits the night you arrive in Busan or the night before you sail.See on Trip.com →See on Agoda →See on Expedia →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Front of Busan Port International Passenger Terminal with Korean and English signs, a field of pink cosmos flowers in front and a blue sky
Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, where the PanStar Miracle sails for Osaka. Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

9. Facilities on board

Most public areas are on decks 5 and 7, with the Solarium up on deck 8, and the information desk is on deck 5. PanStar’s facilities page describes each one.

Where everything is

FacilityDeckDetails
VIP Lounge7Suite guests only
Mu Gung Hwa & Cherry Blossoms7Dining area for Royal Suite guests and above
Yume7Restaurant for suite guests only
Mascarade7Main restaurant, also the show venue
Bada5Sushi bar
Pocha7Outdoor Korean street-bar with light snacks
Hyeon Hae Tan7Outdoor infinity pool facing the sea
Solarium8Sky garden and jogging track
Sauna5Free for suite guests, 10,000 won per person for everyone else
Spa & Therapy5Paid treatments, pay on the spot
GX Room5Yoga 06:30 to 07:10, Zumba 17:00 to 17:30
Duty Free & CVS5Convenience store prices are the same as on land
Casino & Game Bar5Games and amusements
Kids Club5Toys and play mats
Symposium5Meeting room

Smoking is allowed only in the designated area under the outdoor stairs at the back of deck 5.

Pool, sauna and evening shows

The pool is often closed on the Osaka route. In the ship’s first year PanStar announced that the pool would be suspended on its Osaka sailings and open only on a limited basis during its one-night cruises around Busan. Reviewers mention finding it shut in rough seas and shut in November, and others found it open for about two hours in the evening.

The sauna has shampoo, conditioner and body wash, but you bring the towel from your cabin. Many reviewers like the sea view from the sauna, and a few found the bath lukewarm.

Shows and events on board are free. Reviewers describe about an hour of magic, a live band and singing at around 8 pm. Some also found parts of the ship not in use, such as the game machines in the kids’ club, the LP corner and the nail salon.

Wifi and phone signal

PanStar says the ship offers high-speed wifi by satellite. Reviewers say it was free, weak inside the cabins and prone to dropping out now and then. Phones stay on Korean networks until around Tsushima and switch to Japanese networks after that, according to reviews.

Paying on board

Payment on board is mostly by card or PanStar Pay, the ship’s mobile payment, and cash is hard to use. The duty-free shop is the exception: it takes won, yen and US dollars in cash as well as cards. You must be 19 or older to buy alcohol or tobacco.

Packing for the cabin

Cabins have no disposable toothbrushes or toothpaste, because of Korean regulations, so pack your own or buy them at the convenience store on board. Reviewers mention one towel per person, and slippers that aren’t to be worn outside the cabin.

Suites have an in-room safe, while Inside and Ocean View cabins only have a lockable wardrobe. Pets can’t travel on the ship.

10. Meals on board

Dinner and breakfast are buffets with salad, Korean, Western and Japanese dishes, and fruit.

What’s on the buffet

Dishes mentioned in reviews include samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), jokbal (braised pig’s trotters), jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), Korean snack food such as fish cakes and rice cakes, and tonkotsu ramen. Reviewers also mention janchi guksu, a light noodle soup, put out as a late-night snack.

Complaints that come up: the food is lukewarm, a lot of the fruit is frozen, and the buffet has no raw fish. For sushi, there’s the separate Bada sushi bar listed in the facilities table.

Lanyards and seating by cabin class

Many reviewers say passengers wear a lanyard whose colour shows their cabin class: light blue for Inside and Ocean View, orange for Balcony Suites and above. Window seats and the order in which guests eat depend on class, and several reviews say suite and Ocean View guests start first, with Inside guests about an hour later.

Suite guests also have their own restaurants, listed in the facilities table above.

Drinks and bringing your own food

Japanese reviewers find drinks on board pricey and the choice small, and some suggest bringing your own canned beer.

PanStar’s guidance on outside food doesn’t agree with itself. The Korean FAQ allows food you’ll finish before you get off, the package tour notes ban outside food, and the Japanese FAQ allows drinks only. If you plan to bring food, ask PanStar when you book. One reviewer also had to throw away a half-finished coffee at the security check in Busan.

11. Bridges and views along the route

Between Busan and Osaka the ship passes Tsushima, sails under Kanmon BridgeMap, and continues through the Seto Inland Sea under Seto-Ohashi BridgeMap and Akashi-Kaikyo BridgeMap.

Expected times

SailingKanmon BridgeSeto-Ohashi BridgeAkashi-Kaikyo BridgeDocks
Busan to Osaka (Sunday)20:0003:30 next day07:00 next day08:30
Busan to Osaka (Tuesday, Thursday)21:3005:00 next day08:30 next day09:00
Osaka to Busan (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)04:30 next day21:0018:0010:00 next day

These are PanStar’s expected times, and the company notes that they shift with the weather and conditions in port.

The bridges

BridgeWhat it is
Kanmon Bridge1,068 m long, linking Honshu and Kyushu
Seto-Ohashi BridgeA chain of bridges carrying both a road and a railway
Kurushima-Kaikyo BridgeThree suspension bridges joined end to end
Akashi-Kaikyo BridgeSuspension bridge, 3,911 m long

The Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge isn’t on PanStar’s table, but according to the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway company, ships taking the middle of the Seto Inland Sea have to pass through its strait. Reviewers sailing from Osaka passed it around 10:30 pm, and on the sailings from Busan it comes in the middle of the night.

Which bridges you’ll see in daylight

Checked against sunrise and sunset times in the nearest city to each bridge, the sailings from Busan pass the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in daylight for almost the whole year, though the Sunday sailing reaches it around sunrise from mid-December through January. The Seto-Ohashi Bridge comes around sunrise on the Tuesday and Thursday sailings from May to August only, and always in darkness on the Sunday sailing. Kanmon Bridge is usually dark by the time a Busan sailing gets there, but from mid-June to early July the Sunday sailing passes it about half an hour after sunset, while the sky still holds a little light.

Sailing from Osaka, you pass the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in daylight only from mid-March to mid-September. The rest of the year you see it lit up, from sunset until 11 pm, or midnight on weekends and holidays; the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge illumination page has the schedule. On this sailing the Seto-Ohashi Bridge comes after dark and Kanmon Bridge before dawn, and the Seto-Ohashi and Kurushima-Kaikyo bridges are lit up only on set days.

Reviewers say there’s an announcement before each bridge, except in the middle of the night.

Kanmon Bridge seen from the green deck of a ferry with a red funnel, under a cloudy sky
Kanmon Bridge, photographed from a different ferry, the Kurushima on the Matsuyama to Kokura route. Photo: Gohachiyasu1214, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge seen from a ship below, its towers and deck in dark silhouette against a golden sky, with a city in the distance
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge against a golden sky, seen from the water. Photo: buzzhiro, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

12. Seasickness and the rough stretch of the route

The rough part of the route is the open sea between Busan, Tsushima and the coast of Kyushu, known as the Korea Strait, and reviews agree on this almost without exception.

The Seto Inland Sea is enclosed by islands and land, so its waves stay low, as a Japanese cruise line’s guidance explains.

When the ship moves most

Sailing from Busan, expect the rolling soon after departure, around dinner time. Sailing from Osaka, it comes the next morning as the ship approaches Busan.

The Miracle is fitted with fin stabilisers to reduce rolling. Reviewers’ experiences still vary: one took seasickness tablets and spent the evening in the cabin anyway, one who is usually prone to seasickness was fine, one got tablets from the ship’s medical room, and one found the sailing home during typhoon season rougher.

Getting ready

Saebusan Pharmacy on the third floor of the Busan terminal sells seasickness medicine, so you can pick some up after collecting your ticket.

Seasickness tip: From Busan, the rough water comes in the first hours of the trip, so take your medicine before the ship leaves port instead of waiting until you feel unwell. From Osaka, take it before breakfast on the morning you reach Busan.

Calm blue sea seen from the stern of a boat, with white wake, distant islands and a blue sky
The Seto Inland Sea, photographed from a high-speed boat between Shodoshima and Takamatsu. Photo: Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, The Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

13. Luggage allowance and banned items

Carry-on bags are free with no limit on the number of pieces, as long as each one stays within the size and weight limits in PanStar’s baggage rules.

Luggage rules

TypeRule
Carry-onFree, with no limit on pieces, if the three sides add up to 200 cm or less and the bag weighs 30 kg or less
Checked bags from Busan10,000 won up to 20 kg, then 5,000 won for every extra 5 kg
Checked bags from OsakaPer person, total weight: ¥1,000 up to 20 kg, ¥1,500 up to 25 kg, ¥2,000 up to 30 kg
Power banks and devices with lithium batteriesLithium batteries up to 100 Wh, other batteries up to 160 Wh, nothing over 160 Wh, and no more than five per person. Keep them on you or in a seat pocket, never inside a suitcase (checked or carried). Power banks stay unplugged from your devices and can’t be charged or used on board
BannedDangerous goods, live animals, electric bikes, e-scooters and other lithium-battery mobility devices, and alcohol of 70% or stronger

If your power bank is rated over 100 Wh, ask PanStar before you pack it. The suitcase rule covers laptops, cameras and other devices with lithium batteries too, so keep them with you rather than packed in a suitcase.

How strict it is in practice

Reviewers say carry-on bags weren’t weighed, and many say the luggage allowance is the reason they chose the ship, especially with shopping to bring home. If you’re planning a big shop, our Busan shopping guide is a good place to start.

You can’t send luggage on the ship without travelling with it yourself.

Bicycles have their own fees, covered in the section on vehicles and bikes.

14. Arriving in Japan at Osaka Port

Passport holders from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days.

From the ship to the street

PanStar’s arrival procedure page sets out the order.

  1. Take the bus from the ship to the terminal, then the escalator up to the arrivals hall on the second floor.
  2. Go through immigration with your passport and arrival card.
  3. Have your hand luggage inspected at customs.
  4. Collect any checked bags.
  5. Hand in your paper customs declaration at the customs desk, then walk out.

Customs declaration and Visit Japan Web

Every arriving passenger fills in a paper customs declaration. Japan’s electronic customs gates are only at seven airports (New Chitose, Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka and Naha), and there are none at Osaka Port, according to Japan Customs.

For immigration you can fill in a paper arrival card or register in advance on Visit Japan Web, which is optional. One reviewer who registered on Visit Japan Web was told it only covered immigration and still had to fill in the paper customs form.

Food you can’t bring into Japan

Leave meat snacks behind. Jerky, ham, sausages, bacon, meat-filled dumplings and anything else made from meat can’t enter Japan without an inspection certificate, even as a gift or for your own use. Breaking the rule can bring a heavy fine of up to ¥3 million or a prison sentence. The Animal Quarantine Service page lists what’s covered.

Plant rules are strict too. Pears and apples from Korea can’t come in at all, other fruit such as citrus, persimmons and strawberries needs an inspection certificate from the Korean government, and soil is banned from every country. One reviewer who brought rice was told to have it checked by quarantine.

How long it takes to get out

PanStar’s Japanese FAQ says passengers start leaving the ship 30 minutes to an hour after it docks, and reviews describe much the same wait. Suite guests get priority disembarkation as an official perk, and reviewers say the higher cabin classes go first in general and mention a single shuttle bus between the ship and the terminal. The bus, immigration and customs all come after that wait, so plan your first stop in the city for an hour and a half to two hours after the docking time.

📶 On arrival days the Osaka shuttle bus is announced during immigration instead of running to a timetable, so Japanese data from the moment you step off helps with maps and train routes from the port.See on Yesim →See on Saily →See on Airalo →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Osaka Port seen across the water from the Cosmosquare side, with red container cranes, white buildings, white clouds and rippling water
Osaka Port from the Cosmosquare side of the harbour. Photo: Aspere, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

15. From Osaka Port into the city

The ship docks at Osaka Port International Ferry TerminalMap, 1-20-52 Nankokita, Suminoe-ku, in the Cosmosquare area of Osaka’s Nanko waterfront.

The nearest station is Cosmosquare StationMap, on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line and the New Tram Nanko Port Town Line. Despite its name, Osakako Station is a different stop, one further along the Chuo Line.

Walking or taking the shuttle

The walk to Cosmosquare Station takes about 15 minutes, according to PanStar’s Japanese site. Reviewers warn that the route has no shade, which makes it a hot walk in summer.

On arrival days the shuttle bus has no timetable; its departure is announced while you’re going through immigration. With light bags, walking saves you waiting for it.

Trains from Cosmosquare

DestinationRouteTime (approx.)Fare
NambaChuo Line, change at Awaza to the Sennichimae LineAbout 23 min¥290
UmedaChuo Line, change at Hommachi to the Midosuji LineAbout 30 min¥290
Shin-Osaka (shinkansen)Chuo Line, change at Hommachi to the Midosuji LineAbout 37 min¥340
Universal Studios JapanChuo Line, change at Bentencho to JR, change at Nishikujo to the Yumesaki LineAbout 30 min¥420
Kyoto StationChuo Line, change at Bentencho to JR, Special Rapid Service from Osaka StationAbout 1 h¥1,080
Kansai AirportChuo Line, change at Bentencho to the JR Kansai Airport RapidAbout 1 h 25 min¥1,420

Times are counted from Cosmosquare Station, so add the walk or shuttle and the time spent in immigration. The fares to Namba, Umeda and Shin-Osaka, which stay on the Metro, match Osaka Metro’s fare table; the other routes include a JR section.

To Universal Studios Japan by boat

For a different route to Universal Studios Japan, take the Chuo Line one stop to Osakako Station and walk about 10 minutes to the Captain Line pierMap on the west side of the Kaiyukan. The boat reaches Universal City Port in about 10 minutes for ¥900 per adult one way (¥1,100 on special fare days), and it doesn’t sail in bad weather, so check Captain Line’s website before you go.

Lockers and supplies

PanStar’s Japanese FAQ says the terminal itself only has vending machines for drinks and frozen food and a microwave, plus free wifi on the third floor. The nearest convenience store is close to the station.

For bags, use the coin lockers at Cosmosquare Station, listed on Osaka Metro’s Cosmosquare Station guide. Reviewers put them at ¥300 to ¥700 depending on size, cash only; treat those as reviewers’ figures.

🏨 The ship docks in the morning, so a hotel near Namba or Umeda, each one change from Cosmosquare, works well. Check that it will hold your bags until check-in.See on Trip.com →See on Agoda →See on Expedia →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Street near Cosmosquare Station with a tall glass tower on the left, a pedestrian bridge with stairs, an empty road and a blue sky
The streets around Cosmosquare Station. Photo: Aspere, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

16. Sailing back from Osaka to Busan

At the Osaka terminal, the PanStar ticket counter is on the first floor. After collecting your ticket and checking any bags, you clear emigration in the first-floor departure hall, and a bus takes you out to the ship. The ticketing opening time and deadline are in the timetable section.

Getting to the Osaka terminal

On sailing days a shuttle bus runs to the terminal at fixed times from bus stop No. 2 in front of Cosmosquare Station, above the station’s exit 2.

Shuttle stopDeparturesRide
Bus stop No. 2, Cosmosquare Station (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)14:10, 14:30, 14:50, 15:10About 5 min

To be at the terminal when the ticket window opens, take the 14:50 shuttle at the latest. The final shuttle at 15:10 still reaches the terminal well before ticketing closes.

The terminal only has a drop-off area for people seeing passengers off. If you’re driving yourself, use one of the paid car parks nearby.

Sailings from Osaka carry their own surcharge, port fee and departure tax, listed in the section on costs on top of the fare.

Arriving in Busan

After docking in Busan you leave the ship for the arrivals hall and go through quarantine, immigration and a customs check of your hand luggage. Then you collect any checked bags and head out past the customs desk, where you hand in a declaration only if you have something to declare.

Foreign passengers can use either a paper arrival card, handed out on the ship and in the terminal, or the online e-Arrival card, according to a PanStar notice. If your nationality enters Korea visa-free, check whether you need a K-ETA before you travel.

Japanese reviewers of the Miracle say getting through entry in Busan took about 15 minutes.

From the terminal you can walk back to Busan Station along the pedestrian deck and carry on by KTX train to Seoul.

17. Taking a car, motorbike or bicycle

PanStar carries cars and motorbikes only for owners of vehicles registered in Korea or Japan, travelling with the vehicle in their own name, so this doesn’t apply to most visitors.

Cars and motorbikes

Vehicles are booked as a return trip only and for tourism only, with a set of customs documents prepared well before departure. A motorbike leaving from Korea must be registered in Korea and have an engine of 125cc or more. Japanese-registered bikes travel under the scheme for vehicles leaving from Japan, where the engine must be over 125cc. The full rules and fares are on PanStar’s vehicle page.

Bicycles

Bicycles can travel as checked luggage for a fee.

BicycleFrom BusanFrom Osaka
Standard40,000 won¥4,000
Folding20,000 won¥2,000

One of PanStar’s FAQ answers says expensive items such as bicycles can’t be checked in and are kept in a suite cabin instead, so confirm with PanStar how your bike will travel when you book.

E-bikes count as lithium-battery mobility devices, which the luggage rules ban, so this only works for pedal bikes.

PanStar has also posted a notice about Japan’s system of fines for cycling offences, so read up on Japan’s cycling rules before you ride.

18. Cancellations, refunds, and ferry or flight

Cancellation fees depend on how close to departure you cancel and whether your ticket was full fare or discounted, as set out in PanStar’s price list and terms.

Cancellation fees and date changes

When you cancelFee on a full-fare ticket
After payment, up to 3 days before departureNone
2 days before10%
1 day before30%
Departure day, up to 2 hours before sailing50%
From 2 hours before sailingNo refund
When you cancelFee on a discounted ticket
From 24 hours after payment to 7 days before departure30%
6 days to 1 day before50%
Departure dayNo refund

On a return booking you can’t cancel the outbound sailing on its own, though the return sailing can be cancelled separately for the usual fee. A ticket for a sailing you missed can’t be used later.

TicketDate change fee per person, per sailing
Full fare, bought on PanStar’s websiteFirst change free, then 10,000 won (¥1,000)
Discounted20,000 won (¥2,000)

Moving to a peak-season date can add a surcharge even on the free change. Tickets bought through a reseller follow that reseller’s own change rules.

If the sailing is cancelled

PanStar says sailings are rarely cancelled unless the port itself closes, and its notices and reviews show the ship sailing as normal even with typhoons around.

What happensWhat you get back
Cancelled for weather, or for a breakdown PanStar isn’t responsible forFull refund, no other compensation
Cancelled because of a breakdown or accident PanStar is responsible forFull refund plus 30% of the fare
Late by half the normal sailing time or more, for the same reasonAn extra 10% refund
Late by the full normal sailing time or more (the trip takes twice as long), for the same reasonAn extra 30% refund

Cancellations go up on PanStar’s notice board, and PanStar also contacts the person who made each booking. In the new ship’s first autumn on the route, damage that PanStar believes was caused by an object floating in the sea meant a part had to be replaced; only the German manufacturer makes that part, so the ship was out of service for more than a month. The last scheduled maintenance took it off the route for a month from mid-February. Planned maintenance and temporary suspensions are posted on the notice board first.

Reviews show why it’s worth watching the notices yourself. One traveller first heard of a cancellation from the duty-free pickup counter, before PanStar’s text message arrived, and another was told the night before. When a sailing from Osaka was cancelled, one reviewer says PanStar paid for two hotel nights and meals. Give accurate contact details when you book, and check the notices the day before and on the day.

Ferry or flight

Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan, Trinity Airways (formerly T’way Air) and Eastar Jet fly direct from Gimhae to Kansai, while Korean Air and Asiana don’t fly this route. Airfares change a lot from date to date; Gimhae Airport’s route page (in Korean) lists the flights.

PanStar MiracleDirect flight, Gimhae to Kansai
How oftenThree sailings a week each wayMore than 10 flights a day
Time on the wayAbout 17 hours, overnight1 h 25 min to 1 h 35 min scheduled
IncludedBed, dinner and breakfastDepends on the airline
LuggageGenerous carry-on allowance, no limit on piecesAirline allowance
Into central OsakaMetro from CosmosquareNankai Rapi:t to Namba in about 38 min, ¥970 plus a ¥700 limited express ticket (Regular Seat)
Busan endTerminal within walking distance of Busan StationGimhae Airport

The Rapi:t timetable and seat types are on Nankai’s website.

The ship suits travellers with children or older relatives, people who’d rather not fly, anyone carrying a lot of shopping, and travellers crossing from Korea into Japan who’d like the night’s accommodation taken care of on the way. It suits people who get badly seasick less well, and it’s risky on a short trip with fixed dates, because there’s no backup ship if a sailing is cancelled. If the sailing days don’t line up with the Osaka stay you want, flying is simpler.

Some reviewers fly one way and take the ship the other, using the luggage allowance for their shopping on the way home. If you’re starting from Seoul, a flight from Gimpo Airport to Kansai is quicker.

Other ferries from Busan to Japan

Busan also has ferries to Fukuoka, Shimonoseki and Tsushima: see our guides to the New Camellia ferry to Fukuoka, the Bukwan Ferry to Shimonoseki and the ferry to Tsushima. From Fukuoka, or from Shin-Shimonoseki Station on the Shimonoseki side, you can carry on to Osaka by shinkansen.

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Busan to Osaka ferry: frequently asked questions

Q. How long does the ferry from Busan to Osaka take, and which days does it run?
The crossing takes about 17 hours, or half an hour longer on Sundays. It leaves Busan on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and comes back from Osaka on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Q. Where can I book the PanStar ferry?
On PanStar’s own site in English, Korean or Japanese, or through resellers such as Klook and KKday. Resellers don’t all sell every cabin class, so compare before you pay.
Q. Why does the ticket cost more than I expected?
The advertised fare doesn’t include the fuel surcharge, port fees or Japan’s departure tax. Older blog posts also quote prices from the previous ship, which no longer sails the route.
Q. Can my partner and I share a cabin?
Yes, as long as you book a whole cabin. Shared four-berth cabins are split by gender, so couples either pay for the two empty berths or book a suite.
Q. Are meals included in the fare?
Full-fare tickets include a buffet dinner and breakfast on each sailing. On a discounted fare, check the booking screen to see whether meals come with it.
Q. Will I get seasick?
The ship rolls most on the open sea near Busan and Tsushima, while the Seto Inland Sea is usually calm. If you’re prone to it, take medicine before the rough stretch.
Q. How early should I get to the terminal?
In Busan, two hours before departure; in Osaka, around the time the ticket window opens, which is also two hours ahead. Ticketing closes well before the ship sails, after which there’s no boarding and no refund, and reviewers have seen the ship leave early.
Q. Is there wifi on board?
Yes, the ship has satellite wifi, which reviewers used for free. The signal is weaker in the cabins and drops out from time to time.
Q. Should I walk or take the shuttle from the Osaka terminal?
Cosmosquare Station is about a 15-minute walk with no shade. On arrival days the shuttle has no fixed times and is announced during immigration; with light bags, walking means you don’t have to wait for it.
Q. How long do immigration and customs take in Osaka?
Passengers start leaving the ship 30 minutes to an hour after docking, according to PanStar’s Japanese FAQ, and the bus, immigration and customs follow, so expect to be out an hour and a half to two hours after the docking time. Everyone hands in a paper customs form, and Visit Japan Web is optional.
Q. How much luggage can I take?
Carry-on bags are free and unlimited in number if each is within 200 cm in total dimensions and 30 kg. Checked bags are charged by weight.
Q. What happens if the sailing is cancelled?
A weather cancellation gets you a full refund before departure. If the cause is a breakdown or accident PanStar is responsible for, you get a full refund plus 30% of the fare.

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Images: Wikimedia Commons: Raita Futo (CC BY 2.0), Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Gohachiyasu1214 (CC BY-SA 4.0), buzzhiro (CC BY 3.0), Maarten Heerlien (CC BY 2.0), Aspere (CC0). Busan Tourism Archive: 써머트리, 정민규 / Busan Metropolitan City Tourism Policy Division (KOGL Type 1).