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Discover if a day trip to Tsushima Island is truly possible! Join us as we share our 2026 experience on the Panstar Tsushima Link ferry from Busan for an action-packed Japanese adventure.
When you're researching a trip to Tsushima,
there's one question that often comes up!
Is a day trip to Tsushima by ferry
really possible?!
Last autumn, I went with my boyfriend,
and this May, I went with my dad.
Both times were day trips to Tsushima.
Even though it was a short, one-day itinerary,
we packed in everything from Miuda Beach to the Korea Observatory and even some supermarket shopping!
We made the most of our time before heading back :)
Lately, I've noticed a lot of people looking for ferry information for Tsushima,
so I'm sharing some helpful tips here.
1. Tsushima Link Ferry
For this recent trip, the schedule that worked best
was with the Panstar Tsushima Link ferry.
This was actually my third time visiting Tsushima!
I always feel excited before boarding a ship.
The sailing schedule at that time was:
Departure from Busan to Hitakatsu: 8:40 AM
Departure from Hitakatsu to Busan: 5:10 PM
I booked a schedule that allowed us a bit more leisure time
on Tsushima.
Keep in mind that ferry schedules for Tsushima
change slightly with each season,
so I recommend checking them beforehand :)
Since it was early May, a semi-peak season,
the total ferry fare for two (my dad and me) was ~$53.
Pretty affordable for May, right?!
(Port tax and fuel surcharge are separate.)
Naturally, ferry prices tend to be higher on weekends,
and more affordable on weekdays :)
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[Check Tsushima Link Ferry Schedule & Prices]
2. Departing for Tsushima
The journey to board a ferry gives you a different kind of thrill
than heading to an airport!
Matching our boarding time, my dad and I
headed straight for the Tsushima Link ferry ~
The Panstar Tsushima Link ferry
had a decent number of seats and wasn't a small vessel at all.
Both the seats and the interior were well-maintained and clean,
making for a comfortable journey.
The waves weren't too high that day either,
so we had a smooth ride without any seasickness!
3. Arriving in Tsushima
Upon arriving in Tsushima, we proceed with immigration!
When you travel to mainland Japan, you usually
fill out an electronic immigration form in advance, right?
But for Tsushima, there's no need for that.
You only need to manually fill out paper immigration and
customs declaration forms and submit them, haha.
4. First Stop: Miuda Beach
After clearing immigration in Tsushima,
the very first place we headed was Miuda Beach!
When I visited with my boyfriend, the weather was cloudy,
so we skipped Miuda Beach.
But this time, the sea was incredibly clean and clear,
and so, so beautiful, making it perfect for a short stroll~
Since it was just a one-day trip, we couldn't stay for too long,
but surprisingly, the bus intervals were quite generous.
As it was a place I'd always wanted to visit in Tsushima,
I made sure to snap some photos and create lasting memories at Miuda Beach!
A quick snap with Dad too~📸
Seriously, Miuda Beach's ocean color is just incredible...!!!
It's not that far from Geoje Island,
but the ocean color is completely different! ~
(From my boyfriend's house, you can even see Tsushima on a clear day!)
Anyway, we grabbed some simple snacks too!
When I visited, there were two food trucks open.
Draft beer, milk, mentaiko baguette, and
since we were in Japan, takoyaki too!!
Honestly, the taste... well, it's more about the vibe, haha.
5. Next, explore Korea Observatory
The next place we visited was the Korea Observatory!
Tsushima is an island close to Korea,
so the view from here was quite special~
You don't need to stay here for a long time;
about 10 minutes is enough :)
Since it was a day trip, timing our movements with the bus schedule
was crucial for our travel time.
Rather than lingering too long in one spot,
we stuck to our planned itinerary!
6. Shopping at Oura Value Mart
For the last stop on our Tsushima trip,
it was Oura Value Mart!
Instead of just visiting tourist spots and heading back,
since we came all the way to Japan, we had to do some shopping, right?~
The Oura branch of Value Mart is larger and offers more variety
than the Hitakatsu branch, plus it offers tax-free shopping,
which is why many people seem to go to Oura Value Mart for day-trip shopping.
7. Relaxing at a cafe before catching the ferry back home
Our ferry back to Busan was at 5:10 PM,
and when we returned to Hitakatsu Port,
we realized we had more free time than we expected~
So, if you purchase a ticket for the Tsushima Link ferry,
you can use their complimentary luggage storage service,
so we dropped off our bags and went to a nearby cafe :)
While there are luggage lockers inside the Hitakatsu Passenger Terminal,
if you board the Panstar Tsushima Link ferry,
they also give you a voucher for free luggage storage,
so you can use the money you would've spent on lockers
to buy a cup of coffee instead ^.^
8. Wrapping Up Our Tsushima Day Trip
So, a day trip to Tsushima is
totally doable!
However, since you'll be moving around quite a bit in one day,
you need to carefully check bus and ferry schedules.
But surprisingly, the bus schedule wasn't too tight,
and the route was efficiently planned,
making it a fulfilling day trip to Tsushima with my dad.
If it's hard to take a long vacation,
or if you're planning a short international trip with your parents,
I highly recommend a day trip to Tsushima!
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
[Check Tsushima Ferry & Tsushima Link Booking Information]
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
Helpful Reads
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[Tsushima Oura Value Mart Shopping]
[Day Trip Travel with the Miracle Link Pass]
According to the article, the schedule used was a departure from Busan to Hitakatsu at 8:40 AM and a departure from Hitakatsu to Busan at 5:10 PM. For two people, including my father, the total ferry fare during the early May shoulder season was approximately ~$53. (Port taxes and fuel surcharges are separate.)
Yes, according to the article, there's no need to pre-fill an electronic immigration declaration form for Tsushima, unlike mainland Japan. Instead, you must fill out and submit paper immigration and customs declaration forms in the traditional analog manner.
If you purchase a PanStar Tsushima Link ferry ticket, you can use the free luggage storage service. This allows you to save on locker fees at the Hitakatsu Passenger Terminal and use the remaining time to visit nearby cafes or other establishments.
According to the article, there was no need to stay long at the Korea Observatory; about 10 minutes was sufficient. For a day trip itinerary, it's important to move according to the bus schedule, so they didn't stay too long in one place and followed the set itinerary.
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Includes Instant Confirmation: Busan Tsushima Ferry Booking Panstar Tsushima Link Hitakatsu Izuhara Bus Tour
Tsushima Shopping List: A Roundup of My Oura Value Mart Haul
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