Kyushu {#8 Kokura Ferry } ～ On the way to Shikoku ～

This post is only about taking the ferry from Kokura to Shikoku, if you would like to know about hanging around the city of Kokura, please read this post instead >> (But still there's nothing much in Kokura...)

In the past, Hong Kong did not have any direct flight to Shikoku, hence this is the easiest way to get there from Fukuoka... Despite the ease of getting to Shikoku nowadays, I still appreciate my great-old-way of hetting there by a night cruise ship, as the experience is exceptionally interesting.

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As an important transportation hub,
around Kokura station has a lot of night food stalls for the busy travellers.

There is even a food street down the stairs to the right of the station exit.
Unfortunately most of the resetaurants are closed late at night...

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The Ferry dock is to the north of the Kokura JR Station.
You simply have to pass through the park via these series of 'flyers'.

As a landscape architect I found the park pretty well designed in a contemporary way.

Picking furniture and elements is one of the most important part of a lanscape design.
In most of the projects, architects simply picks lamp post design from a catalogue provided by a lighting company, or designing them especially for the place. Yes, if the client is willing to pay more LOL

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To the end of the park here comes the dock finally.

No matter it is Kokura or Matsuyama, the ferry leaves at 21:55 and arrives at 05:00 in the nest morning.
It is not a ust to buy the ticket in advance as it is very rare for the ferry to be full.

This is the most amazing part of the ferry -
the mixed-gender Japanese Futon resting room.

This is the cheapest room type on the ship and it cost 5860yen per way.
This experience also reminds me of riding on the  Sleeper train in Japan>>

Other room types>>

It is absolutely unfortunate that the photos taken on the ferry  are corrupted  and I found not share them with you guys here...
Anyhow, there are a lot of activities to do around the ship, say the arcade game room, sovenir shops. little hot spring bath, resting room with cup noodles, massage chair, smoking room, etc. 

The upper deck is closed at night but it is opened for the view and breeze in the morning.

The famous Seto Naikai in Japan - the ocean between Sanyo Sannin and Shikoku islands

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The first JR station upon arrival @ Matsuyama ~

Yes, an old traditional train station and here I arrived my best favourable region in Japan - 

Shikoku

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Access to Kokura Ferry Dock
15 minutes from Kokura JR Station

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