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Planning a trip to Tsushima Island in 2026? Discover if a day trip is enough for Hitakatsu or if you need an overnight stay in Izuhara. Get essential tips on transportation, attractions, and updated departure taxes.
Like many travelers, you might be considering a day trip to Tsushima Island. But here's the honest truth: whether a day trip is enough really depends on where you plan to go on the island.
1. Tsushima: Day Trip vs. 1 Night, 2 Days
Category | Hitakatsu (North) | Izuhara (South) |
Travel Time from Busan | About 1 hour 10 minutes | About 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes |
Recommended Itinerary | Day Trip | 1 Night, 2 Days |
Transportation | Walking, Bicycle Rental | Rental Car Recommended |
Key Attractions | Miuda Beach, Korea Observatory, Nagisa-no-yu Onsen | Izuhara Downtown, Tiara Mall, Cosmos Drugstore |
Shopping | Value Mart, Small Duty-Free Shops | Tiara Mall MaxValu, Dense Drugstore Area |
Your ideal trip duration to Tsushima truly depends on whether you're heading to Hitakatsu or Izuhara.
>> Find Tsushima Ferry Schedules Here <<
2. For a Day Trip, Choose Hitakatsu
If you're arriving at Hitakatsu Port, which is only about 1 hour and 10 minutes by ferry from Busan, a day trip is definitely doable.
However, if you want to explore more leisurely on your day trip, I highly recommend renting a bicycle.
Miuda Beach, a highlight of northern Tsushima, is renowned as one of Japan's top 100 beaches. But trying to explore it on foot during a day trip can feel a bit rushed.
>> Check Bicycle Rental Availability Here <<
3. Izuhara: Best for an Overnight Stay (1 Night, 2 Days)
The southern Izuhara Port is over 2 hours away by ferry from Busan.
Tsushima is quite elongated, and just traveling by land from Hitakatsu to Izuhara takes a good 2-hour drive. This means a round trip would be over 4 hours just for transit, making a day trip highly impractical.
However, if you can spare 1 night and 2 days, Izuhara is the island's main hub, offering much better options for shopping and sightseeing than Hitakatsu.
>> Check Tsushima Ferry Schedules Here <<
Keep in mind that most attractions in the Izuhara area require driving, so a rental car is highly recommended.
Don't forget to bring your International Driving Permit! Also, be aware that roads can be narrow, and traffic lights are scarce, so extra caution is needed while driving.
If you're looking for a quick day trip to Japan, Hitakatsu is your best bet for both arrival and departure.
For a more relaxed trip of 1 night or more, definitely include Izuhara and explore by rental car.
If you have 2 nights or more, a great option is to enter via Hitakatsu from Busan and depart from Izuhara.
>> Check Tsushima Ferry Schedules Here <<
When returning home, remember to account for Tsushima port tax and Japan's departure tax, which must be paid in cash locally.
As of bookings made after June 30, 2026, the departure tax increased to 3,000 JPY, making the total approximately 3,500 JPY (around ~$23 USD).
Since card payments aren't accepted, be sure to keep about 3,500 JPY (or ~$23 USD) in yen cash aside, even if you're planning to shop!
Have an amazing trip to Tsushima, and I'll catch you in the next post! ⭐️
Hitakatsu takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes by ferry from Busan, making it ideal for a day trip. Izuhara, however, takes over 2 hours by ferry from Busan and another 2 hours by land from Hitakatsu, so an itinerary of 2 days and 1 night or longer is recommended rather than a day trip.
Upon returning from Tsushima, you are required to pay the port tax and Japan departure tax in cash locally. For bookings made after June 30, 2026, the departure tax will increase to 3,000 JPY, bringing the total cash required to 3,500 JPY. Card payments are not accepted, so it's advisable to keep some Japanese Yen on hand beforehand.
The Hitakatsu area is well-suited for exploring on foot or by renting a bicycle; bicycle rental is particularly recommended for a day trip. For the Izuhara area, most attractions require car travel, so it is best to use a rental car, and remember to bring your international driving permit.
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