Nankai Ferry from Wakayama to Tokushima: Timetable, Fares, Booking and the 2028 End Date

Quick answer: The Nankai Ferry crosses between Wakayama Port and Tokushima Port in about 2 hours. Since 1 August 2026 there are only 6 sailings each way a day (down from 8). A foot passenger pays ¥2,500; an ordinary car, including the driver, is ¥13,400. From Tokushima, the “Sukippu” ticket covers the ferry plus a Nankai train to Namba or Kansai Airport for ¥2,500 — the same as the ferry alone. Important: the route is scheduled to end around the end of March 2028, and the company says it may end earlier. Check before you travel.

I’ve taken this ferry with my car. I haven’t used it as a foot passenger, with a bike or motorbike, or with the rail-and-ferry ticket, so those parts are what I’ve researched.

The route is ending: what’s known

Nankai Electric Railway, which owns the ferry, announced in March 2026 that it plans to withdraw from the route around the end of March 2028. In July 2026 the ferry company said that plan hasn’t changed. It also says the route could close sooner if the ageing ships or a shortage of crew make safe operation difficult.

Sailings were already cut from 8 to 6 round trips a day from 1 August 2026, “until further notice”, because of a crew shortage. More cuts are possible, so check the operating status page on the official site (nankai-ferry.co.jp, Japanese) before you travel.

Timetable (from 1 August 2026)

There are two ships: Ferry Ai (built 2019) and the older Ferry Katsuragi (1999). The crossing is about 2 hours (2 h 05 min to 2 h 20 min depending on the sailing).

Sailings are cancelled in bad weather or for maintenance.

Fares

Current fares are valid from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2027.

Foot passengers

Vehicles — the fare includes one adult driver; everyone else in the car pays the passenger fare. Fuel surcharge is included.

Ordinary passenger cars are one flat price whatever their length — the length bands apply only to buses, goods vehicles and other “other” vehicles.

Bikes — the rider pays the passenger fare on top.

A bicycle folded or packed in a bike bag rides free as hand luggage.

Extras and discounts: a Green seat costs ¥500 per person booked online or ¥1,000 bought on board (¥1,000 either way in the peak period). Booking online up to 3 hours before saves ¥500 per car and ¥100 per passenger. Cars booked online 14 or more days ahead get a bigger early-booking discount, which varies by sailing — see the fares page.

Booking

• Foot passengers don’t need to book. Ticket machines are at both terminals. You can also book online.
• Cars under 6 m can be booked online (closes 3 hours before departure) or by phone (from 2 months before). Phone lines are in Japanese only.
• Motorbikes and bicycles can’t be reserved — it’s first come, first served. There’s space for about 20 bikes, so you may have to wait for the next sailing.
• Cars booked online still check in at the ticket window. Be there at least 30 minutes before departure; a booking becomes void 15 minutes before.
• Online cancellation is free until 3 hours before departure.

The official site has a machine-translated English version.

Terminals and connections

Wakayama Port

• By train: the terminal is connected to Nankai’s Wakayamako Station — about 70 minutes from Namba and about 60 minutes from Kansai Airport.
• By car: about 15 minutes from Wakayama IC.
• Parking: ¥1,000 per use (¥2,000 in peak periods: 29 April–7 May, 10–17 August, 29 December–5 January). Only 40 spaces.

Tokushima Port (Okinosu)

• By bus: Tokushima City Bus, Okinosu–Nankai Ferry line, from JR Tokushima Station to “Nankai Ferry-mae”, about 20–25 minutes. Flat fare ¥250; IC cards such as ICOCA work. A new timetable started in April 2026. On weekdays, buses from the station run from about 6:55 to 21:20. There’s no bus for the 02:45 departure or the 24:05 arrival.
• By taxi: about 15 minutes from Tokushima Station.
• By car: about 5 minutes from Tokushima-Okinosu IC. Parking is free (100 spaces).

The “Sukippu” rail-and-ferry ticket

• Tokushima → Kansai: ¥2,500 (child ¥1,250) for the ferry to Wakayama Port plus a Nankai train to any Nankai station, including Namba and Kansai Airport. One way, valid on the day only, no stopovers. Reserved-seat trains and the Green seat cost extra.
• Sold only at the Tokushima Port window and Tokushima Bus Kanko Service offices (including at Tokushima Station), from a month before. Not sold online.
• Kansai → Tokushima: a version called “Tokushima Sukippu” is sold at Nankai stations. Check the price at the station.

Add the ¥250 bus and Namba to Tokushima Station costs about ¥2,750 by train and ferry.

On board

These facilities are on Ferry Ai: carpeted areas (including a women-only area), reclining seats, sofas, a business corner with power sockets, a Green seat lounge, free Wi-Fi, a baby room and wheelchair space.

• The shop is open only while the ship is docked at Tokushima; otherwise there are vending machines.
• The smoking room is currently closed.
• Small pets are allowed in the cabin only in a carrier.
• Some sailings have no lift on board — tell staff in advance if you need one.

Ferry, bridge or bus?

The main alternative from Osaka is the highway bus over the Akashi-Kaikyo and Onaruto bridges: about 2 h 40 min to 3 h 10 min and about ¥4,100, with dozens of buses a day. See How to Get to Tokushima.

The ferry makes sense if:

• You’re coming from Wakayama, southern Osaka or along the Nankai line.
• You want the cheapest way, and the timetable fits.
• You’re bringing a car or bike from the Wakayama side and want to skip the drive round through Kobe and over the bridges — compare the bridge tolls with the car fare above.

The bus or bridge makes more sense if you need flexible times, you’re starting from Umeda, Kobe or Kyoto, or you’re travelling after March 2028.

Arriving on foot and need a car for Naruto or the Iya Valley? You can pick one up in Tokushima city. See Renting a Car in Shikoku.

See also: Tokushima City in One Day and Where to Stay in Tokushima.

FAQ

Is the Nankai Ferry closing?
It’s scheduled to end around the end of March 2028, and could end earlier. Since 1 August 2026 there have been 6 sailings each way a day.

Do I need to book as a foot passenger?
No. Buy a ticket from the machine at the terminal. Cars can book online or by phone; bikes and motorbikes can’t be booked.

How much is a car?
¥13,400 for an ordinary car including the driver (¥14,400 from 29 December 2026 to 5 January 2027). Other passengers pay ¥2,500 each.

How do I get from Tokushima Port to the station?
Take the city bus (about 20–25 minutes, ¥250) or a taxi (about 15 minutes).

Timetable, fares, parking and bus details checked on the official Nankai Ferry, Nankai Electric Railway and Tokushima City websites on 1 November 2026; highway bus times and fare from Ekitan on the same day.

Kaz

Tokushima local with family roots in Hiroshima

I live in Tokushima and my family is from Hiroshima, where I also used to live. I still go back several times a year. The guides here come from places I have actually been. Where I haven't tried something myself, I say so.