寄港便こそ！イチオシの船旅｜新日本海フェリーらいらっく｜苫小牧～秋田～新潟～敦賀まで乗船

寄港便こそ！イチオシの船旅｜新日本海フェリーらいらっく｜苫小牧～秋田～新潟～敦賀まで乗船

Good morning, everyone. Last night, I arrived in Otaru on the New Japan Sea Ferry “Hamanasu” and stayed at the Authent Hotel. As a SHK Group hotel, I received a discount on my room rate by presenting my ferry ticket. It was a great deal. Speaking of Otaru, the Otaru Canal is a famous maritime town that flourished alongside the development of Hokkaido during the Meiji period. It’s a wonderful, nostalgic town. I had thick, simmered yakisoba and miso ramen at the Chinese restaurant “Keien” near my hotel. The prices were about this much. Both the thick, simmered yakisoba and miso ramen were delicious. If I ever come to Otaru again , I’d love to visit. I, Chifuyu Hanakuma, who usually does the narration, was there, and apparently I was participating in the Otaru Town Tour event. I’m heading to Tomakomai, so I came to Otaru Station. The glass lamps hanging in front of the windows on the station floor added to the nostalgic atmosphere. I really liked the cute stamps at Otaru Station. There were even lamps lit on the platform pillars. I took a rapid train to Minami-Chitose and then changed to a train bound for Tomakomai. I arrived at Tomakomai Station. I boarded a JNR-type diesel railcar, Kiha 40, on the Hidaka Main Line from Tomakomai to Hama-Atsuma. I had assumed it would be a Kiha 40 in Hokkaido colors, but I was surprised to see the rare Soya Line express color scheme. Twenty-four stations on the Hidaka Main Line have been closed, leaving only four: Tomakomai, Yufutsu, Hama-Atsuma, and Mukawa. The train departed Tomakomai Station at 3:20 PM. From Tomakomai Station, the train traveled along a straight section that stretched for several kilometers. I passed Tomakomai Freight Station on my right. Here, I bid farewell to the Muroran Main Line, which I had traveled with from Tomakomai Station. This area is filled with wilderness, home to wild animals such as deer and red foxes. After crossing the Azumagawa River, I soon arrived at Hama-Atsuma Station. Hama-Atsuma Station is unmanned, and the station building is a remodeled freight caboose from the Japan National Railways era. We arrived at Hama-Atsuma Station. A few days ago, I had received permission from a taxi company to call 20 minutes before arriving at Hama-Atsuma Station, but when I called, they said it was impossible, which made me quite anxious. There was no point in rushing at this point, so I decided to look around the station. There were timetables, fare tables, and even a map to the ferry terminal. After all, Hama-Atsuma Station is the closest station to the Shin Nihonkai Ferry. Hoping not to encounter any deer or bears, I decided to walk to Higashi Port. Along the way, I spotted a black-tailed gull perched on a streetlight on a bridge. We were almost at Higashi Port. We arrived safely at Tomakomai Higashi Port. The Lairac will be arriving soon, so I’d like to watch it. The Lairac, a designated stop, is in sight. I’m happy to have been able to see it enter the port. After boarding the Yukari last year, it feels like a dream to now be aboard its sister ship, the Lilac. This ferry was built by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, not Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It’s an older ferry, launched in April 2002, but it offers a wide variety of cabins. It was renovated once in 2017, so I wonder what the interior is like . The daylight scene of the Lilac entering port is impressive. At 199.9 meters, it’s shorter than the Hamanasu, which I boarded last time, but it can carry more passengers. The ferry workers, twirling and casting ropes, looked like cowboys stalking their prey. The docking scene is long, so I’ll fast-forward. The docking is complete. The cleaning crew will board now, and I imagine it will be a daunting task to complete the cleanup in about two hours. It’s thanks to these people that the ship is always so clean. Let’s take a look at the Lilac from up close. It really is huge, isn’t it? Wanting to board quickly , I enter the Tomakomai East Port Ferry Terminal. It seems it’s still early, so there’s no one at the reception counter. I take the escalator to the waiting area on the second floor. There are already quite a few people there, even at this early hour. Atsuma Town’s mascot, “Atsumaru-kun,” welcomes me. Let’s take a look at the route map for the Shin Nihonkai Ferry “Lilac.” The route departs from Tomakomai East Port, stopping at Akita Port, Niigata Port, and Tsuruga Port, taking 34 hours. The voyage distance is 1,074 kilometers. By comparison, a direct flight from Tomakomai East Port to Tsuruga Port takes 20 hours. It’s 6:55 PM, the time for boarding, so let’s get on board. I’ve boarded ships from East Port several times, but this is my first time boarding the “Lilac,” a southbound stopover. I’m feeling incredibly excited and nervous. We’re on board. First, we show our boarding ticket at the information desk and receive our room key. There were three sculptures in the three-story atrium entrance. It’s quite a nice touch. Let’s head to our room. We take the stairs from the third to the fifth floor. The chrome-plated handrails are beautifully polished, making it hard to believe this is an old ferry. Many modern ferries have public spaces near the entrance, making it easy to hear conversations. However, this ferry has almost no public spaces near the entrance, so you can barely hear anyone, which is nice. Our room this time is a Deluxe B Western-style room with a barrier-free access. This is the same room I stayed in on the previous ship, the Yukari, and I’m really looking forward to it. Because it’s a barrier-free room, the door is a sliding door. Wow, what a spacious room! I’m happy to be able to enjoy the next 34 hours of my voyage. There’s a large bedside table and lamp, as well as a direct line to the information desk. There’s an outlet, a room light switch, and an alarm clock. There’s a switch to switch between the ship’s announcements and background music, and you can adjust the volume. There was a chair on the desk, along with a TV remote control, a room description, a tissue box, teacups and glasses, and tea bags. A blue bag contained a hair dryer and a kettle. There was a small TV, and a refrigerator in the sliding door below. I brought my own mineral water. The provided slippers were placed in front of the closet. Inside the closet were a shoehorn, deodorizing spray, and hangers. Being a barrier-free room, it was very spacious, with a toilet, sink, and bathtub. There was actually another door in this room. Let’s open it. Oh, there’s a toilet, sink, and bathtub here, too. That’s amazing! It was almost time to depart, so I went to the side deck on the third floor. It looked like the pedestrian bridge was being separated from the ferry. I always find myself wanting to watch this kind of work. The pedestrian bridge was shrinking like a spider’s tail. We departed Tomakomai East Port at 7:30 PM. I’m looking forward to enjoying my 34-hour voyage with port calls. Off we go. It wouldn’t feel like the voyage has begun without hearing the steam whistle as we depart. The black-tailed gulls flew around, seemingly sending us off. The “Lilac” departed from the stern, turned 180 degrees in Tomakomai East Port, and headed southward before departing. A sign at the information desk stated that all private rooms were fully booked. It’s truly the first day of summer vacation. Having seen the departure, I decided to head to the restaurant for dinner, one of the pleasures of a ferry ride. While the Shin Nihonkai Ferry offers touch-screen menus, the “Lilac” is more like a food court, where you order and wait in your seat with a notification bell. The food on the Shin Nihonkai Ferry is delicious but expensive, so the restaurant was surprisingly empty. The notification bell system is an old-fashioned system, but I actually prefer it over other ferries. It looks like the food is ready. This is where you receive your food. I wondered why it was written “noodle outlet.” I had pork cutlet, white grilled curry, and panna cotta with mango sauce for dessert. Everything was delicious on the Shin Nihonkai Ferry. Thank you for the meal. After the meal, I returned to my room, prepared a bath, and headed to the large public bath on the 4th floor. The food on the ferry is great, but the large public bath is also great. I decided to splash around and relieve my fatigue. Whew, it felt great ! There was a coin laundry at the back of the restroom on the 3rd floor, so I decided to try it out. I decided to wait at the entrance on the 3rd floor until my laundry finished drying. This sofa is really comfortable. Here’s the Lilac map. There was a monitor showing our current location. We were sailing right in the middle of the Tsugaru Strait. It was past lights-out time (10 p.m.), so some of the entrance lights were turned off, and the purple neon lights were dazzling. I’d been to so many places today, I’m exhausted. I think I’ll go to bed around here. I’m going to get up early and watch the sunrise! Good night. Good morning. It’s currently 4:14 a.m. I rub my sleepy eyes and head to the aft deck on the fourth floor. As I passed the quiet cafe area, I could see the clear sky outside the window. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of sunrise I’ll see. The usually crowded promenade was deserted at this time. There were so many people on board, I thought someone must be there to watch the sunrise. But when I got there, there was no one there. I wonder if there’s anyone out there who likes to come this early in the morning. Oh, there I am. How embarrassing. I wonder if the sun rises over the Shirakami-Sanchi Mountains? Shirakami-Sanchi is home to one of the world’s largest, almost untouched natural beech forests, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s one of those places you’d want to visit at least once in your life. It was worth getting up early to see this amazing view from the ferry. I’ll have to burn it into my memory. The sun is rising. Despite the clouds, the view is still spectacular. I’m so lucky to have this view all to myself . The low early morning sunlight is indescribably beautiful, a magical light that allows you to see the ferry’s wake in all its glory. I wish I could get a closer look at the funnel. The funnel lit by the morning sun is truly beautiful. It’s currently 5:00 AM. Let’s explore the ship a bit. There’s no one in the cafe area at this time. Most people would still be sleeping, right? This is a perfect time for photos, so let’s take some. This is the entrance on the third floor. We circled the Oga Peninsula and headed for the Akita Ferry Terminal. The information desk on the third floor was still off. I wonder if it was a place called the PC corner? There were outlets and lights. The public phone was a satellite connection, convenient for when your cell phone doesn’t work. There was a vending machine corner on the third floor, selling cigarettes, beer, soft drinks, cup noodles, and ice cream. Soon, we passed our sister ship, the Yukari, so we headed to the deck at the stern on the fourth floor. This was an event not to be missed. The northbound Yukari and the southbound Lilac passed each other offshore Akita Port. They blew their horns to check each other’s safety. At Akita Port, the large propellers of offshore wind turbines were spinning, creating a spectacular sight. We were greeted by black-tailed gulls. Offshore from the Akita Ferry Terminal, we made a 180-degree turn and backed into port from the stern. The tall tower, called Selion, is 143 meters tall. It’s a glass tower surrounded by a whopping 6,272 pieces of tempered glass. Whenever I see a seagull, I can’t help but want to take a photo. I’m a bird lover. After watching the ferry enter Akita Port, I headed to the restaurant for breakfast. It was an early morning, so I was starving. I ordered curry rice and a Japanese-style plate set. Let’s eat. There was no one else in the restaurant except us. Thank you for the meal. It was delicious. There was a game corner along the promenade, so we decided to check it out. It was quite spacious and had a variety of games. They even had air hockey, which I often saw in bowling alleys back in the day. There’s also a shop on the same fourth floor, so let’s take a look. They have souvenirs from Hokkaido, Akita, and Niigata, and if you forget to buy souvenirs, you can easily buy them on the ferry. I bought Sado Milk Caramel, Rokkatei’s Daiheigen, and HORI’s Yubari Melon Pure Jelly. Everything was delicious. The ferry has detached from the pedestrian bridge at the Akita Ferry Terminal, and it’s time to depart. We departed Akita Port at 8:35 AM. The Selion. See you later. It’s normal to disembark in the morning, but it’s refreshing to see a morning departure like this. Hearing this whistle makes me so happy. A worker at Akita Port waved goodbye. Thank you. Off we go. Leaving Akita Port, you can see the propellers of many wind turbines spinning. When entering or leaving Akita Port, please take a look from the deck. The sight of the Lilac turning in a large arc toward Niigata Port is truly breathtaking. Oh, I forgot about the melon bread. I hurried to the cafe on the fourth floor. There were two left, so I managed to buy one. Here’s the melon bread. It’s only available for a limited time, so if you want one, hurry up. After departing Akita, a quiz rally was held on board. Let’s give it a try! There are five quiz questions on board, so let’s find them. To complete the quiz, place your answer sheet in the collection box at the entrance. Since there was still some time before lunch, I decided to gaze out at the ocean from the side deck on the third floor. You can sometimes see dolphins swimming alongside the ferry. Unfortunately, they didn’t appear today. I went to the restaurant on the fourth floor for lunch. I had the “Japan Sea Route Special Squid Bowl” and “Niigata Chilled Funori Soba.” These were also very delicious. It didn’t seem too crowded, either in the morning or at lunchtime, so I was able to enjoy a leisurely meal. After lunch, I went to the entrance, where the results of the quiz rally and the winners were posted in front of the information desk. I won a pamphlet-shaped magnet! Yay! The entrance was brightly lit during the day, taking on a completely different appearance than at night. Awashima Island, floating in the Sea of Japan in northern Niigata Prefecture, came into view. It’s a small island with a circumference of approximately 23 kilometers. Incidentally, there’s also an Awashima Island in Kagawa Prefecture. This is a famous island where you can take photos of the sky reflected like a mirror, similar to the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia, South America. We were approaching Niigata Port. The sea was calm, with almost no waves or wind, and only the ferry’s wake seemed to float. Niigata Port is located at the mouth of the Shinano River, so the murky river water covers the surface of the water. The ferry’s propeller churns up heavy seawater, leaving only the wake clear. You probably learned in elementary school social studies that the Shinano River is Japan’s longest river. To dock at the Niigata Ferry Terminal, the ferry turned 180 degrees and entered the port stern first. We arrived at Niigata Port at 3:30 PM. I thought the observation room would be available when we arrived, so I headed there to take photos. The State B room door was opened for cleaning, and it seems that many people disembarked at Niigata. This is the forward salon on the fourth floor. The observation room at the bow is lovely. On the lower level of the forward salon, there’s an observation room called the Smoking Room, perfect for smokers. Unfortunately, the curtains were closed. I arrived at this time to take photos and also to see the Sado Kisen jetfoil entering Niigata Port. Jetfoils are really fast. If I ever visit Sado Island, this is a ship I’d like to board. The second onboard quiz rally was held from Niigata Port. I tried again. There are five quiz questions on board, so try to find them. Place your answer sheet in the collection box at the entrance to complete the quiz. I got it the first time, so I doubt I’ll get it again. We departed Niigata Port. One of the great things about port calls is being able to see three departures. I was happy to hear the steam whistle blow. A worker waved goodbye. Thank you. Off we go. We have 13 hours left on the voyage to Tsuruga Port. We make a sharp turn outside Niigata Port and sail past Niigata and Ishikawa prefectures. You can see Sado Island. Mining development on Sado Island began in earnest during the Edo period, and the island became known as an island of gold mines. It was also registered as a World Heritage Site in 2024. The side decks on the “Lairac” and “Yukari” are great because they allow access to the side deck. If you’re sailing southbound, this is the best place to watch the sunset. I’m more interested in the cirrocumulus clouds illuminated by the setting sun than the actual sunset itself. I’m looking forward to seeing how they’ll change color. The silhouette of Sado Island, the crimson sunset, and the cirrocumulus clouds were incredibly beautiful. Being able to see things like this is one of the joys of a cruise. Unfortunately, the clouds blocked the view of the sun sinking into the ocean. But it was nice to see the cirrocumulus clouds tinted by the setting sun. Let’s go to the stern deck as well. We’re currently sailing near Sawasakihana Lighthouse, the westernmost point of Sado Island. You can see the sunset like this from the stern deck at the back of the restaurant on the fourth floor. I was so engrossed in taking photos of the sunset that I missed dinner, so I had to have instant instant noodles in my room. When I got to the entrance, the results of the second quiz rally and the winners were posted in front of the information desk. Oh, I’d won a second pamphlet-style magnet! And it had the same design! Today was a fun day packed with events, including the sunrise, sunset, arrival and departure at Akita and Niigata ports, and an onboard quiz rally. Tomorrow, we’ll arrive at Tsuruga Port at 5:30 AM, so I’ll go to bed early. Good night. Good morning. It’s currently 4:20 AM. I decided to head to the aft deck to watch the sunrise. Since we’re arriving at Tsuruga Port at 5:30 AM, there were several people sitting on the promenade. I went out to the aft deck on the fourth floor. It was still a little dark, and the sunrise didn’t seem to be coming. There were mountains on the side where the sunrise would rise, so I was a little worried about whether I’d be able to see it while we were in port. The crescent moon was still shining in the sky. It was magic hour, and the gradation of the sky was beautiful. I usually see the funnel from the side, but it’s nice to see it from behind like this. Looking at the map, I could see we were approaching the entrance to Tsuruga Bay. As I watched our wake, a viewer called out to me, “Are you Akaguma-san?” As we chatted, I felt a lot of love for ferries. Ferry fans really do understand each other. I was happy because I rarely get the chance to talk to viewers. The Shin Nihonkai Ferry “Suisen” was anchored in Tsuruga Bay. Huh? I wonder what it was doing there. To get inside the breakwater extending to Tsuruga New Port, we arced into the Tsuruga Ferry Terminal. To dock, we turned our bow 180 degrees and entered the port stern-first. Here ‘s the “Suisen” anchored offshore, with the Tsuruga Ferry Terminal. I always think it’s amazing how such a large ferry can dock, especially stern-first. It would be disastrous if we overran. It was time to say goodbye to the Deluxe B Western-style room I’d stayed in. Thank you. We disembarked. Thank you for your hard work on this long voyage. Thank you, “Lailac.” See you next time. You can see the entire ferry while walking. I like the pedestrian bridge here. The second and third floors of the Tsuruga Ferry Terminal are made of glass, creating an incredible sense of openness. What did you think? What are the Shin Nihonkai Ferry Lailac’s stops? If you’re going to take a ferry, I recommend this one. That’s it. I highly recommend you take this stop and enjoy your boat trip. A shuttle bus is waiting in front of the ferry terminal entrance, so you can easily get to JR Tsuruga Station without getting lost. It takes about 12 minutes to arrive at JR Tsuruga Station. Tsuruga Station is very large, so be careful not to miss your train if you don’t plan accordingly. I took the Thunderbird 2 Limited Express from Tsuruga to Kyoto. The ride took about an hour. Kyoto Tower came into view as we crossed the Kamo River. Seeing Kyoto Tower made me feel like I was back in my daily life. This is the last video of the Shin Nihonkai Ferry “Lailac”. Thank you for watching for such a long time. If you enjoyed the video, please subscribe to our channel. See you in the next video.

新日本海フェリー「はまなす」を下船後、路線バスでJR小樽駅へ向かい、オーセントホテル小樽で一泊し、小樽を観光、小樽駅から苫小牧駅、そして日高本線の浜厚真駅で下車し、タクシーで向かうつもりが、徒歩で苫小牧東港へ行くハメになってしまいました。ヒグマに遭わず無事、苫小牧東港へ辿り着くことができました。

00:00 プロローグ
02:00 日高本線／キハ40宗谷線急行色
05:54 らいらっく／入港
11:37 お部屋紹介／デラックスB洋室
15:15 苫小牧東港／出港
20:32 秋田県／朝陽
23:58 姉妹船ゆうかり／すれ違い
29:37 秋田港／出港
38:37 新潟港／出港
40:16 佐渡島／夕陽
44:00 敦賀湾／すいせん
45:33 敦賀港／下船

★利用したフェリー
　新日本海フェリーらいらっく
★利用区間
　苫小牧東 19：30 → 秋田 7：35 → 新潟 15：30 → 敦賀 5：30
★運賃
　デラックスB洋室バリアフリー　33,400円（期間B）
★新日本海フェリー
　https://www.snf.jp/
★関連動画
　https://youtu.be/dqTxjwFJZCs
　https://youtu.be/oaV6_wKjw6A

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#新日本海フェリー #らいらっく #寄港便 #船旅 #花隈千冬