Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry

The Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry (津軽海峡フェリー, Tsugaru Strait Ferry) is a privately owned ferry service crossing the Tsugaru Strait, which separates Hokkaido from Honshu. The ferries run three routes: Hakodate to Aomori and Hakodate to Ōma, Muroran to Aomori.

Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry
津軽海峡フェリー

The Blue Dolphin at Aomori
Locale	Japan
Waterway	Tsugaru Strait
Transit type	Ferry
Began operation	February 23, 1972 (1972-02-23)
No. of lines	3
No. of vessels	5
No. of terminals	4
Website	www.tsugarukaikyo.co.jp

Routes

Automated car entrance at Port of Hakodate

During summer, the biggest touring season, a large number of motorcycles are tied up on board.

Hakodate—Aomori

This route links the Port of Hakodate in Hakodate, Hokkaido with the Port of Aomori in Aomori. 6 round trips are made per day, with each trip taking three hours and forty minutes one way. The route is operated by four ships: the Blue Dolphin, Blue Happiness, and Blue Luminous. Each ship makes two round trips a day.^[1] With the conversion of the Seikan Tunnel from conventional trains into the Hokkaido Shinkansen, this route has seen a resurgence in ridership as the cheaper alternative.^[2] It connects Japan National Route 4 in Aomori with Japan National Route 5 in Hakodate.

Hakodate—Ōma

This route links Hakodate with the Port of Ōma in Ōma, Aomori. National Routes 279 and 338 run along this route as well. A trip takes ninety minutes one way, and is operated by the Daikanmaru (大函丸) with two round trips a day.^[3]

Muroran—Aomori

This route links the Port of Muroran in Muroran with the Aomori. 6 round trips are made per week, with each trip taking seven hours one way. The route is operated by Blue Mermaid.^[4]

History

Since 1965, the Higashi Nihon Ferry (東日本フェリー, East Japan Ferry) was the primary operator of passenger ferries across the Tsugaru Strait. Aside from the current routes, the Higashi Nihon Ferry also operated a wide network connecting Muroran, Tomakomai, and Iwanai to the north; Sendai, Hachinohe, Ōarai, and Jōetsu to the south; and Busan, South Korea. However, these lines proved to be less and less profitable and closed one after another.^[5][6][7]

Meanwhile, the Dōnan Jidōsha Ferry (道南自動車フェリー, South Hokkaido Car Ferry) was founded in 1972 as a part of Higashi Nihon Ferry, ro-ro cargo service between Hakodate and Aomori. In October 2000, Dōnan Jidōsha Ferry began operating passenger services with a newly built ship, the Esan 2000.^[8] In November 2008, Higashi Nihon Ferry suspended its Hakodate—Aomori, Hakodate—Ōma, and Muroran—Aomori services and sold three ships (Venus, Virgo, and Vayu) to Dōnan Jidōsha Ferry.^[9] Dōnan Jidōsha Ferry, however, chose not to operate the Muroran—Aomori route. On November 1, 2009, Higashi Nihon Ferry was merged into Dōnan Jidōsha Ferry, and the resulting company was renamed as Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry.^[10]

Fleet

Ship	Built	Route	Gross tonnage	Length	Width	Passengers	Cars	Speed
Daikan Maru	2013	Hakodate-Ōma	1,912	90.7 m	15.7 m	478	21 Trucks or 60 Cars	18
Blue Mermaid	2014	Muroran-Aomori	8,860	144 m	23.0 m	583	71 Trucks or 230 Cars	20
Blue Dolphin(2nd Genaration)	2016	Hakodate-Aomori	8,850	144 m	23.0 m	583	71 Trucks or 230 Cars	20
Blue Happiness	2017	Hakodate-Aomori	8,851	144 m	23.0 m	583	71 Trucks or 230 Cars	20
Blue Luminous	2020	Hakodate-Aomori	8,828	144 m	23.0 m	583	71 Trucks or 230 Cars	20

References

1. 航路・時刻表 函館〜青森航路 [Route and Timetable Hakodate-Aomori route]. Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
2. ｢新幹線は高い｣青函間にフェリー復権の兆し ["Shinkansen is expensive" Sign of ferry restoration in Aomori-Hakodate route] (in Japanese). Toyo Keizai. March 12, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
3. 航路・時刻表 函館〜大間航路 [Route and Timetable Hakodate-Ōma route]. Tsugari Kaikyō Ferry (in Japanese). Retrieved October 24, 2019.
4. 時刻表 「室蘭〜青森」 [Timetable Muroran-Aomori route]. Tsugari Kaikyō Ferry (in Japanese). Retrieved February 23, 2024.
5. 室蘭港の歴史 [Muroran port history]. City of Muroran (in Japanese). Retrieved October 24, 2019.
6. 苫小牧～大洗航路運営の集約化 [Notice of Tomakomai-Oarai route operating integration]. Higashi Nihon Ferry (in Japanese). October 17, 2006. Archived from the original on January 16, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
7. 東日本フェリー、苫小牧－仙台航路休止へ [Higashi Nihon ferry suspend Tomakomai-Sendai route service] (in Japanese). The Tomakomai Minpo. December 12, 1999. Archived from the original on January 2, 2005. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
8. "三菱重工業（株）下関造船所で2300総トン型カーフェリー「えさん2000」の命名進水式 - はこだて財界2000年8月号" [2300 GT class car ferry "Esan 2000" christening & launching ceremony at Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Shimonoseki Shipyard] (in Japanese). Hakodate Zaikai. August 1, 2000.
9. 国際フェリー航路の休止及び国内フェリー事業撤退について [Notice of international ferry route suspend and domestic ferry business withdraw]. Higashi Nihon Ferry (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
10. 津軽海峡フェリー株式会社誕生 [Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry establish]. Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry (in Japanese). September 28, 2009. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2019.