Nankai Ferry

Nankai Ferry is one of Japan's key ferry links, connecting Tokushima on the island of Shikoku with Wakayama on the main island of Honshu, near Osaka and its international airport. The company is headquartered in Wakayama.

The route runs between Wakayama Port in Wakayama City and Tokushima Port in Tokushima City, with a crossing time of around 2 hours 15 minutes. There are 8 daily departures in each direction, with the earliest sailing from Wakayama at 02:40. Operational reliability stands at over 99 percent - cancellations occur only in exceptional weather conditions such as typhoons.

The ferries are designed as car ferries and carry cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Wakayama Port is directly linked to Wakayama Port Station on the Nankai Electric Railway, allowing a seamless transfer between train and ship.

The adult one-way fare is 2,500 yen - competitive against long-distance buses and trains. From Osaka Namba Station, Wakayama Port is reached in around 60 minutes on the Nankai Electric Railway. Paying contactlessly for both train and ferry qualifies for the Smart Skip discount.