Ariake Ferry Car Travel: A 45‑Minute Ride on the “Ariake Mirai” from Fukuoka to Nagasaki

Nagasu Port (長洲港)

Last summer, my husband and I traveled from Fukuoka to Nagasaki, but instead of driving the whole way, we decided to take the Ariake Ferry. Although the Ariake Ferry departs from Nagasu Port in Kumamoto, we started our trip in Fukuoka and drove to the port before boarding. We boarded at Nagasu Port (長洲港) with our car and arrived at Taira Port (多比良港) just 45 minutes later. 

The fare was surprisingly affordable — 3,400 yen total (2,900 yen for one car with one adult passenger, plus 500 yen for an additional adult). It came out to about $23, which felt incredibly cheap compared to transportation costs in the U.S.

Nagasu Port (長洲港)

My husband told me that he and his family used to take the Ariake Ferry with their car when he was a child, but it was my first time traveling this way. I was excited to board the ferry, especially since the vessel was Ariake Mirai (有明みらい). 

Ariake Mirai (有明みらい)

Parking

After driving onto the ferry and parking, we got out of the car and headed up to the upper deck. It was a very hot summer day with strong UV rays, but the sea breeze felt refreshing while we stood outside for a little while.

The Upper Deck

After that, we explored the passenger deck inside. It was much larger than I expected, with plenty of seating and even a small gift shop. The ferry wasn’t crowded at all, so we found a comfortable spot to sit and relax. I ended up watching TV for a bit — something I haven’t done in Japanese for decades since moving to the U.S., so it felt strangely nostalgic and fun.

The Passenger Deck

The 45‑minute ride passed more quickly than I imagined. Before we knew it, we were back in our car, driving off the ferry and heading out to look for a place to eat lunch.

Arriving at Taira Port (多比良港)

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