Ferry Service Linking Russia and Japan Resumes

The ferry service linking Korsakov on the Russian island of Sakhalin with Wakkanai on Japan’s island of Hokkaido has resumed operations.

From Russia to Japan by ferry

Since the pandemic, ferry services between Russia and Japan have been suspended, but one service has now resumed.

From the port town of Korsakov on Russia’s Sakhalin Island, you can once again take a ferry to Wakkanai on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

This ferry, called Hayate, is a 12-seater speedboat that operates weekly between Korsakov and Wakkanai, taking three hours to make the crossing.

However, some sailings will only operate if a minimum number of passengers is reached.

View over the ocean from Wakkanai, Japan. ©AndyBTravels

Ticket prices

The fast ferry service from Russia to Japan doesn’t come cheap, costing 60,000 Russian rubles (£531, €618, or $725) per person for a one-way trip.

Round-trip tickets cost 90,000 Russian rubles, exactly 1.5 times the price of a one-way fare.

Overland to Japan

The restart of the ferry service between Russia and Japan once again opens up an exciting overland route to the Land of the Rising Sun.

To travel from Moscow to Tokyo by train and ferry, you first have to reach Vanino, a port at the far end of the Baikal–Amur Mainline (BAM).

From Vanino, a ferry service connects with Kholmsk on Sakhalin Island.

Both Kholmsk and Korsakov are located on the Sakhalin Railway, meaning this stretch can also be covered by train.

After taking the ferry from Korsakov to Wakkanai, you can take the Sōya Limited Express to Sapporo, the main city on Hokkaido, from where you can continue to Tokyo by Shinkansen high-speed train.

Sōya Limited Express. ©AndyBTravels

The Sōya Limited Express runs between Sapporo and Wakkanai. ©AndyBTravels

Other ferries

There used to be a ferry link between Russia’s main Pacific port of Vladivostok and Sakaiminato in Japan as well.

However, this service is reportedly still suspended.

Conclusion

A fast passenger ferry has resumed operations between Korsakov on Sakhalin Island, Russia, and Wakkanai on Japan’s Hokkaido Island.

Although the ticket price is steep, it’s an exciting option for intrepid travelers, though Westerners should of course still be aware of the current security situation in Russia.