Did you know you can take a ferry from Busan to Fukuoka?

If you didn’t, or maybe if you did but want more information, you’ve come to the right place to learn about taking the ferry from Busan, Korea to Fukuoka, Japan. Fukuoka makes for a fantastic long weekend spot in Japan and getting there by ferry can make it feel quite adventurous. It’s budget friendly, fairly quick, and fun. Korea and Japan are closer than you might think and if you’re traveling through Korea but want to head on to Japan, it might be more convenient to hop onto a ferry from Busan and less expensive than a flight in low season. Get ready to learn all about traveling to Fukuoka from Busan.

JR Beetle Hydrofoil/Queen Beetle, how to take a ferry from Busan to Fukuoka

Travel to Fukuoka, Japan from Busan, Korea via ferry. Here’s what you need to know:

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What to prepare

You’re headed to Japan. If you’re a resident in Korea or traveler continuing on, there are a few things to prepare before you go.

eSIM, SIM card or Portable Wifi
Ferry tickets
Passport
Cash: There is a port tax assessed at Busan so don’t be surprised if you’re asked for an additional fee. It’s quite small, less than W5,000 last I checked, but have cash on hand. There may also be an oil surcharge which may or may not be apart of your pre-purchased ticket. This may also have to be paid at check in and is usually less than W15,000 but could be more based on various current factors.

Where to get a ferry to Fukuoka in Busan

In this article, we assume that you’re starting your adventure in Busan, Korea. If you’re traveling through Korea though, you’ve probably started your adventure by flying in Incheon International Airport, explored Seoul, and then took the train from Seoul to Busan and here we are.

Busan International Ferry Terminal (부산국제여객터미널), Busan, Korea

The Busan International Ferry Terminal (부산국제여객터미널) is quite close to the Busan KTX Station being just a 10 minute walk up the road. Most visitors exiting the KTX Station will head out the front into the city to find buses, taxis and more, but if you want to find the ferries, you can go out an exit on the back side. Just walk against the crowds much like salmon swim upstream and walk up the road.

That said, if you have large luggage, you’ll probably want to head out front to get a taxi or the shuttle bus that goes to the terminal.

Address: 206 Choongjang-daero, Dong-gu, Busan (부산 동구 충장대로 206)

Get there by taxi

If you’ve been traveling and are at a hotel or somewhere else, you can take a taxi straight to the ferry terminal, you’ll just want to direct the taxi driver to Busan Gukjae Yeogaek Terminal (부산국제여객터미널).

Get there by walking from Busan KTX Station

The last time we were at the station, they were just about to open a pedestrian bridge that could take visitors directly from Busan’s KTX Station to the Busan Gukjae Yeogaek Terminal. Check out the signs and see if it’s open when you go. Alternatively, take exit 9 from the Busan KTX Station and turn left once outside the station. You’ll walk for approximately 400 meters to reach the passenger terminal which is on the right hand side of the road. It’s not far but not ideal if you have larger luggage so keep that in mind. The walk is fairly easy if you just have a small weekend bag or something.

Get there by taking the shuttle bus

The shuttle bus runs throughout the day between the Busan KTX Station and the Busan Port Passenger Terminal. Head out the front of Busan Station to find the shuttle bus stops. Starting from 7:20am and running once an hour with the last bus departing at 7:30pm. The shuttle bus also picks passengers up at Jungang-dong Station, exit 14.

Get there by taking the subway in Busan

If you’re traveling by subway in Busan, head to Choryang Station and go out of exit 4. You’ll head under the KTX train tracks and find the passenger terminal on the other side.

How to buy ferry tickets from Busan to Fukuoka

There are a few different companies that operate ferries between Busan, Korea and Fukuoka, Japan with the main company being JR Beetle. On the JR Beetle, or the Queen Beetle, the trip takes just under 4 hours. To purchase tickets for the ferry, you can use their websites directly, however their main website may have limited English so you may want to utilize a 3rd party site for ease of use and payment with a foreign card.

JR Beetle Hydrofoil/Queen Beetle

The JR Beetle Hydrofoil, or Queen Beetle, is your best bet if you want to get to Fukuoka quickly and maximize your time there. The trip is just under 4 hours and it’s made to be quite the experience. There are Duty Free shops and kiosks on board as well as a room for children to play and a nursing room making it nice for family travelers. Have a coffee, sit back, relax, and you’ll be there before you know it.

The Queen Beetle is an upgrade from the previous Beetle experience and now has a capacity of 502 passengers also making it easier for groups to travel together. This ferry has been used by more than 6.5 million people since it was launched in 1991. It’s a popular and fun way for travelers to get back and forth comfortably. You can book directly through their site or purchase tickets upon arrival if you’re not quite a planner. However, generally if you book through a third party like Klook or Direct Ferries, you can get discounts on the price that aren’t available in person or on their site. Don’t ask me why, but I just know this to be true. While traveling in Asia, I book almost everything on Klook to get the discounts.

How to book the ferry: You can book a ticket via Klook.com
What time do ferries depart Busan? Currently, ferries depart twice a day bound for Fukuoka, Japan with the first departing at 9:00am and arriving in Fukuoka, Japan at 12:40pm and the second departing at 3:00pm and arriving in Fukuoka, Japan at 6:40pm.

What to expect at the International Busan Ferry Terminal (부산국제여객터미널)

After arriving at the International Busan Ferry Terminal, there are a few things to expect. First, you will have to go through customs and border control. This is the same process as what you go through at airports so there’s nothing to be nervous about. The lines are just a lot shorter than what you’ll experience at airports generally, so that’s a bonus.

Once on the ferry, you are able to move around if it is safe to do so though at times the water can be rough and you’ll be directed to stay seated with seatbelts fastened. You’ll be in charge of your own luggage though so keep that in mind. There are lockers/luggage areas so look out for those when you board. Once the trip is done, you’ll head through immigration and customs in Fukuoka and it’s as easy as that to start your trip in Fukuoka, Japan.

FAQ

Where can I stock up on food and drink before boarding the ferry?

There are good food and drink options from restaurants to cafes and convenience stores in both the Busan KTX Terminal and the Ferry Terminal so you can easily prepare some food and drink before you depart.

How early should I arrive to go through customs and immigration and board the ferry?

The check-in process opens one hour before departure and closes 30 minutes before departure so you have a window of time that you can be processed. To avoid a stressful situation, ensure that you’re there at least an hour prior to your ferry departure so you can have the full time to get through.

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