40 hours from Tokyo to Tanegashima. Moving costs, route, and luggage revealed [vol. 5: The story of mountain village study abroad]
When we approached Nishinoomote Port and felt the warm sea breeze, "Oh, we really made it," I felt it sink in.
About 40 hours had passed since we left Tokyo.
This time, I'm sharing the story of our family of five moving from Tokyo to Tanegashima with our car.
I will reveal all the information, including the entire route, costs, and luggage!
There was no information about moving on the official study abroad guide or on social media...
Our family was also worried.
This is a rather niche and long article.
However, I am proud to say that this is very valuable information on the topic of 'moving from Tokyo to Tanegashima' lol. (It might be too late, but) I hope this will be
at least a little helpful for those planning to study abroad in Tanegashima from April!
This is also for those who are considering island study abroad, not just in Tanegashima.
First, the big picture: A list of routes, times, and costs
First, I will summarize the overall picture of our travel.
Arranging air tickets for five people while shipping luggage separately is expensive...
So, we decided to take the car with us on the ferry.
It was cost-effective, and I think it was the right choice in the end!
▼ Travel route (Total approx. 40 hours) Section / Method / Time
Tokyo 20:30 departure → Yokosuka 22:00 / Private car / 1.5 hours
Yokosuka 23:45 departure → Shinmoji Port 21:00 arrival / Ferry "Hamayu" / 21 hours
Shinmoji Port 21:00 departure → Kagoshima Port area 3:00 arrival / Private car / 6 hours
Kagoshima Port 8:40 departure → Nishinoomote Port 12:10 arrival / Ferry "Wakasa" / 3.5 hours
Nishinoomote Port 12:50 departure → Minamitane Town (new home) 13:40 arrival / Private car / 50 minutes
▼ Cost breakdown (Family of 5 + 1 car) Item / Amount
Ferry "Hamayu" (Car + 5 people + Stateroom) / 102,000 yen
Ferry "Wakasa" (Car + 5 people) / 37,800 yen
Expressway tolls + Gasoline / Approx. 14,000 yen
Total / Approx. 153,800 yen
1. Departure at night: Friends seeing us off and a car packed with luggage
We left Tokyo at 20:30.
Despite the late departure, our children's friends came all the way to see us off.
A quick chat in front of the car packed full of luggage.
Saying "Well, we're off!" and the moment of parting was a bit emotional.
I packed all the bedding together into the roof carrier.
Two children's bicycles were secured to the back of the car with a cycle carrier.
The inside of the car was packed tight, and I felt a sense of accomplishment thinking, "We really fit it all in...!" Haha
2. Boarding the ferry "Hamayu": Family heads to the room first
Arrived at Yokosuka Port and proceeded to boarding procedures.
The "Hamayu" we used is a large ship of the Tokyo Kyushu Ferry.
It is a ship often used by people moving or visiting home between Tokyo and Kyushu.
When loading the car onto the ferry, only I, the driver, am allowed in the car.
I woke the children who were sleeping in the car, and the family went into the ship first through the boarding gate.
I had them wait in the room we reserved.
I parked the car in the garage by myself, went up to the deck, and reunited with my family waiting in the room.
The feeling of departing from the port at night, mixed with sleepiness and the thought that "it's finally starting," gave me an indescribable sense of excitement!
3. 21 hours on the Hamayu: Open-air bath under the starry sky and movies
This time, we reserved a State private room (a private cabin).
For a 21-hour long journey with a family of five, the private room was truly a lifesaver!
There was also a movie screening for children on board (it was the Mario movie!).
They were also doing a juggling show in the stage area.
On this ship, the children's favorite thing was the large public bath.
The observation bath, where the horizon stretches as far as the eye can see, has a view like an infinity pool.
The kids loved it so much they went in three times, haha.
At night, we were even able to bathe while gazing at the starry sky from the pitch-black open-air bath.
On the ship heading to the Space Study Abroad program, it was a strange feeling, as if we were already sensing space.
Even though the ferry ride is a long journey, it was fun enough with kids, so I recommend it!
▼ Booking tips
Book a state room early! They fill up quickly during spring break season.
Check in advance, as the price varies depending on the size of the car.
If you are worried about seasickness, it is a good idea to bring motion sickness medicine.
4. Late-night crossing of Kyushu: The kids were fast asleep until morning
Arrived at Shinmoji Port at 21:00. From here, the second chapter of our journey begins!
Since the Wakasa Ferry we plan to board from Kagoshima departs at 8:40 the next morning, we decided on a strategy to drive straight to Kagoshima Port during the night.
Staying overnight along the way would cost more, and long-distance travel with kids during the day is difficult because they get restless, so we wanted to avoid that... So, my wife and I took turns driving and did our best.
The strategy was a success, and the kids slept the whole time we were crossing Kyushu, haha.
Just past 3:00 AM, we arrived safely near Kagoshima Port, parked the car, and took a nap.
And then, we had a seafood bowl for breakfast near the Kagoshima Port market at 5:30 AM.
The flavor of the seafood soaked into our tired bodies, and our energy returned.
▼ Tips for late-night driving
Just taking a 10-minute break or a short nap at every service area makes a huge difference in sleepiness
It makes a world of difference just having the passenger stay awake and talk to the driver!
Don't forget to check your fuel along the way.
5. Ferry "Wakasa": Finally arriving at Tanegashima in 3 and a half hours!
At 8:40 AM, we boarded the "Princess Wakasa" from Kagoshima Port.
It is a more compact ship compared to the Hamayu, but the travel time is about 3 and a half hours.
The feeling that "we're almost there!" suddenly intensified.
As we head out into the open ocean, the color of the sea begins to change.
From the grayish color of the inner bay to a deep blue.
As we got closer to Tanegashima, I felt the water color getting deeper and deeper, and my excitement grew!
However, due to the rocking of the waves and lack of sleep, I got terribly seasick.I managed to endure it, but I regretted having eaten a hearty seafood bowl for breakfast...
I somehow managed to survive it, but I cursed myself for having eaten a hearty seafood bowl for breakfast...
12:10 PM, arrived at Nishinoomote Port.
Despite it being a weekday during the day, PTA members were there to welcome us at the port.
A welcoming atmosphere with many banners and flags from each elementary school on the island lined up!!
The fatigue from the long journey began to melt away.
(However, I was feeling so seasick that I didn't have the energy to take photos...)
▼ Booking tips
Book by phone starting one month before boarding. Make sure to book early for this as well.
It is often bumpy. Make sure to be well-prepared for seasickness.
It may also be cancelled due to bad weather. It is also reassuring to know the option of loading only the car onto a different ferry↓ and traveling by other means (such as the high-speed Toppy boat or airplane).
6. Arrival, moving in, and greetings with the space study abroad families
After finishing greetings and taking photos with the PTA members at Nishinoomote Port, we dispersed.
Finally, it is time to move to our new home.
Driving through the beautiful coastline, sugarcane fields, and sweet potato fields is truly comfortable!
The feeling of having arrived in Tanegashima started to sink in.
It takes about 50 minutes by car from the port to "Settle," the apartment for space study abroad students in Minamitane.
* This page↓ is a good reference for information on "Settle."
It includes detailed floor plans and photos of the interior and exterior!
We picked up the keys at the new elementary school and arrived at our new home around 2:00 PM.
By evening, we had also completed the moving-in procedures at the town office.
Finally, the 40-hour journey was truly over.
At "Settle," there was already a space study abroad family who had arrived, and the children hit it off and were playing together in no time.
Luggage: Pack as much as possible into the car, and send the rest
Our method for transporting luggage was to"pack what we could into the car and send the rest via Yu-Pack." method.
* Yu-Pack has no remote island surcharge and is treated as shipping to Kagoshima Prefecture, making it more economical than other courier services.
▼ Items packed in the car
Bedding, children's chairs (on the roof carrier)
Two children's bicycles (secured to the rear with a bike carrier)
Clothing, daily necessities, small home appliances like rice cookers (in the car)
▼ Items sent later or procured locally
Books and toys
Out-of-season clothing
Small consumable items
Amazon and similar services deliver to Tanegashima just fine! (With Amazon Prime, it often arrived the next day or the day after)
You can keep costs down and get what you need by doing things like purchasing items on Mercari to be delivered to your local address.
▼ These are things you absolutely should bring!
Life jackets and water shoes are essential items.
You can get them on Tanegashima, but there is no doubt that even in April, you will feel like playing in the ocean as soon as you arrive.
I recommend preparing them in advance. lol
Conversely, something I brought but didn't need was a 'bicycle'.
I usually travel almost everywhere by car, and there is nothing within cycling distance lol
However, the children have fun riding their bikes around with friends in front of the house, so it was worth bringing them.
About cars
There are mainly four options for cars.
Take your own car by ferry
Purchase one from the previous year's space study abroad family (sometimes at a bargain!)
Purchase a used car locally or in Kagoshima
Rent a car long-term locally
If you are unsure, consulting with the previous year's space study abroad families or the town/elementary school is the fastest way I think.
Conclusion
We left Tokyo in the middle of the night, seen off by friends, and after taking two ferries and traveling across Kyushu overnight, we finally arrived in Tanegashima at noon the day after next.
It was a long journey, but it became an unforgettable experience for our family.
I hope this serves as a helpful reference for the travel plans of those starting their space study abroad program next year!
If you have any questions or want to know more details, please feel free to leave a comment.
I will answer as much as I can!
To those moving in early April, please take care (and watch out for seasickness)!
Next time, I plan to write about expenses during the space study abroad program and working locally.
Click here for the series articles