- Car Ferry Tokiwamaru: Complete Onboard Guide for Niigata to Sado Island Trip
- Explore the Tokiwamaru ferry from Niigata to Sado Island. Discover onboard facilities, scenic spots, local cuisine, and seagull interactions during your 2.5-hour journey.
Car Ferry “Okesamaru” Connecting Niigata and Sado Island
At Niigata Port and Ryotsu Port on Sado Island, you’ll find the massive white vessel known as the “Okesamaru,” one of the car ferries that takes passengers to Sado Island. Onboard Okesamaru, a world unfolds that feels like a small town.
There are spacious, carpeted rooms, a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal, open decks offering stunning ocean views or night scenery, and even game rooms to keep you entertained.
With a 2.5-hour journey, there’s no time to get bored. You can relax while gazing at the Sea of Japan, enjoy the night view of Niigata, get excited by onboard events, or plan your trip with a Sado travel guidebook in hand.
And what is most surprising is the size of this ship. Measuring a total length of 134.7 meters, it can carry up to 290 cars!
This article will guide you through the facilities onboard Okesamaru. Knowing what’s available beforehand will make it easier to plan your time during the voyage.
Car Ferry Okesamaru
The Okesamaru is a car ferry that travels between Niigata and Sado Island, connecting Niigata Port and Ryotsu Port. The one-way journey takes 2.5 hours, operated by Sado Kisen Co., Ltd.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Max Passenger Capacity | 1,587 people |
| Vehicle Capacity | 32 large buses or 48 cars, or up to 290 cars |
| Gross Tonnage | 5,855 tons |
| Max Speed | 23.4 knots |
| Total Length | 134.7 m |
| Max Width | 21.0 m |
| Engine Type | Diesel |
| Construction Date | April 1993 |
Onboard Map
Okesamaru has six decks. The first deck is reserved for vehicles, while passengers can stay on decks 3 to 6. The 5th deck houses the deluxe rooms, and the 6th deck is home to the suite rooms, so common areas are mostly on the 3rd and 4th decks.
Entrance Hall
Upon boarding the Okesamaru, you’ll be greeted by the entrance hall on the 3rd deck.
When you board from the Sado Kisen Terminal, this is the first area you will encounter. It’s useful to familiarize yourself with your surroundings as soon as you board to navigate the ship easily.
Second-Class Cabin
If you booked a ticket for the second-class cabin, you can stay in the second-class cabin on the 3rd or 4th deck.
The second-class cabin is a large room with carpeting. There are no partitions, so passengers share open spaces.
Dining Room
The dining room is located on the 3rd deck.
You can enjoy ramen, curry, light snacks like potatoes, drinks, and alcoholic beverages here. The system is ticket-based.
In addition to draft beer, canned beer, highballs, and chuhai (shochu highballs) are also available.
Snacks, ice cream, and Sado Island souvenirs, along with Sado Kisen original goods, are also sold here.
There is also a spacious eat-in area.
At certain times, the dining area can get crowded, but it’s not always full, so it’s best to check the crowd levels and plan accordingly.
Vending Machines
Several drink vending machines are installed on the Okesamaru. Prices are slightly higher than at convenience stores.
Game Room
The ship also offers a game room where you can enjoy crane games, slot machines, and pachinko.
Smoking Area
The smoking area is located on the 4th deck. You’ll find it right after ascending the stairs from the 3rd deck entrance hall.
Event Space
The aft sections of the 3rd and 4th decks are open event spaces, complete with tables and chairs.
When no events are held, the space is open for passengers to use, so many people spend time here rather than in the second-class cabins. The key difference is that the event space does not have air conditioning, as it is semi-outdoor.
Rear Deck and Side Decks
The aft sections of the 3rd and 4th decks feature an outdoor deck area. There are chairs here, and you can spend your time enjoying the fresh air during the voyage.
The ship’s side decks are also accessible, offering a place to feel the wind and take in the view. Many passengers choose to spend time on the deck rather than in their cabins.
Night Views from the Deck
If you’re on a night voyage, you can enjoy Niigata’s nightscape shortly after departure.
Whether from the rear deck or the side decks, you can take in the beautiful night views.
While the journey is mostly in darkness, you can still see faint lights from Niigata in the distance.
Vehicle Deck
The 1st deck serves as the vehicle deck, where cars bound for Sado Island are loaded.
If you’re traveling to Sado Island by car, you’ll drive directly onto the vehicle deck. Once you’ve parked your car under the staff’s guidance, you’ll use the stairs or escalator to head up to the 3rd deck.
How to Spend Time Onboard if You Can’t Secure a Spot in the Second-Class Cabin
If you’re unable to secure a comfortable spot in the second-class cabin, you can still spend time in other areas like the event space on the 3rd and 4th decks or the side decks on the 3rd deck.
There are four second-class cabins in total, so take your time to check for available space.
Traveling with Pets
If you’re traveling with pets, you have two options on the Okesamaru:
- Leave your pet in the pet cage area on the 3rd deck.
- Stay with your pet in the pet corner on the 4th deck.
In the pet cage area on the 3rd deck, pets are placed in cages and left in a designated room. In this case, you will not be able to spend time with your pet.
On the other hand, in the pet corner on the 4th deck, you can stay with your pet.
You must remain with your pet at all times, but in the 4th deck pet corner, you can let your pet out of the cage and spend time together onboard.
Start Your Journey to Sado Island on the Okesamaru
The Okesamaru is a vital means of transportation connecting Niigata and Sado Island. During the 2.5-hour voyage, you can enjoy a comfortable trip by making use of the many onboard facilities. Whether you’re looking to eat, rest, or be entertained, there are options to meet your needs.
As you plan your trip to Sado Island, the time spent on the Okesamaru can be just as valuable. You can use the time onboard to finalize your sightseeing plans for Sado Island or gather information from brochures. Time is money, and once you arrive, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.
The 2.5-hour journey between Niigata and Ryotsu ports is about the same length as a flight from Haneda Airport to Naha Airport in Okinawa. But unlike a flight, where you’re seated the entire time, on the Okesamaru, you can dine in the restaurant or enjoy the scenery from the deck, making the time fly by.
Whether you’re traveling from Niigata to Ryotsu or from Ryotsu to Niigata, we hope your time on the Okesamaru makes your trip to Sado Island even more enjoyable.
