Saying Goodbye to Hokkaido on the Taiheiyo Ferry | Journey to Cape Soya with the Hokkaido & East Japan Pass #17 (December 2025)

Three hours before boarding, a notification arrived in the email I had registered.
It was the QR code for boarding the ferry.

I sent it to my child via LINE and told them to take a screenshot.
They seemed to have done this before on a school trip abroad, so the operation was surprisingly smooth. I felt relieved after checking the screen.

We took a bus from in front of Tomakomai Station and arrived at the ferry terminal two hours before departure.
Inside the building, other passengers who would be on the same ship were quietly passing the time.

🚢 Time until boarding the ship

Boarding begins at 17:30.
I spent the time browsing the shops and sitting in a chair, just zoning out.

Eventually, the announcement played, and we held our smartphone screens up to enter the ship.
Once we confirmed the location of our berths, it finally felt real that we had "boarded."

The first place we headed to was the coin laundry.
While the washer and dryer were running, we went to the public bath.

The steam spread over my chilled body.
I was grateful that we could use it even before departure.

🚢 The lights fading away

While we were bathing, it seemed the ship had started moving.
When we went outside, the land of Hokkaido was gradually moving further away.

Dinner was not the ship's buffet, but things we had bought at the convenience store at Tomakomai Station.
We used the hot water dispenser on the ship to pour water into the cup noodles we brought.
This was something I had wanted to try for a long time.

By the time we finished eating, the washing and drying were complete.
This should keep the laundry to a minimum after we get home.
I honestly think it was good that we acted early.

🚢 A night of finally sleeping

The inside of the ship was warmer than I expected, and I even saw people in short sleeves and shorts.
After putting my valuables in a locker and returning to my bunk, sleepiness came over me quickly.

Just after 9:00 PM, I closed my eyes naturally.
Since we had been arriving late at night and starting our days early, I think my body was reacting honestly.

My child said they kept looking outside even after the lights went out, and didn't fall asleep until after midnight.
I heard that story the next morning.

🚢 On the deck in the morning

I woke up at 7:30 AM.
There was a breakfast buffet, but I remembered what I wanted to eat in Sendai, so I decided to skip it this time.

When I went out to the deck, the wind was strong and the sunlight was dazzling.
And yet, it was clearly warm.

While we were in Hokkaido, we hardly felt the sunlight at all.
I remembered for the first time in a while the feeling that light has temperature.

However, the wind was stronger than expected, and it made me feel a bit unsteady on my feet.
Worries like 'Will I fall into the sea?' or 'Will I drop my smartphone?' crossed my mind.

My child also seemed a little scared.

🚢 Approaching land

From around the Oshika Peninsula, the land became clearly visible.
I knew we were getting close to Sendai Port.

To be honest, I wanted to stay on the ship a little longer.
Fun times always seem to pass by before you know it.

We disembarked a little earlier than planned, around 9:55 AM.
Perhaps because we had been in Hokkaido for so long, the air in Sendai felt surprisingly warm.

🚢 From the port to the station

From Sendai Port, I took the bus to the nearest station, Nakanosakae Station.
The bus was packed with people like us, carrying luggage and souvenirs.

From here, the train journey continues.
However, the night spent on the ferry was still lingering deep in my body.

Hokkaido is already far away.
But it was a time that allowed me to slowly feel that distance.

(To be continued)