Gunkanjima landing tour: tickets, fees and weather cancellation rules

Understand Gunkanjima landing conditions using one official operator's prices, embarkation times, island access restrictions, cancellation fees and alternative cruises.

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  • Nagasaki
  • Day trips
  • Transport

Gunkanjima (, formally Hashima ) is a small island off Nagasaki, reached by boat. The key point is that buying a ticket does not guarantee you can land; landing decisions depend on weather and sea conditions each day. This article uses the official website of one operator, Gunkanjima Concierge (), to explain how a landing tour works. Other operators have different prices and conditions; check their own websites. For city transport, see Fukuoka to Nagasaki.

Key points

  • Landing depends on the weather and sea conditions. The operator explicitly states that calm water in the harbor does not guarantee landing
  • If landing is impossible, the tour becomes an approximately 2-hour cruise around the island, and the operator refunds the price difference
  • Prices have two components: boat fare and island landing fee, which must be calculated separately
  • Time on the island is about 40 to 50 minutes, over a route of approximately 220 m with 3 interpretation viewpoints
  • Children aged 3 and under cannot board

Calculating the price

Official prices for the operator’s standard plan ():

Passenger Weekday boat fare Weekend, holiday and long-holiday boat fare Landing fee (extra)
Adult 5,500 yen 6,000 yen 650 yen
Junior and senior high school students 4,500 yen 5,000 yen 320 yen
Primary school students 3,000 yen 3,500 yen 320 yen
Preschool children 2,000 yen 2,500 yen Free
  • For example, an adult on a weekday pays 5,500 yen boat fare plus 650 yen landing fee, totaling 6,150 yen. The operator’s refund example states that when landing is impossible and the trip becomes a cruise, the cruise costs 4,500 yen and the difference of 1,650 yen is refunded
  • These are this operator’s prices; other operators charge differently

Meeting place and times

  • Departure pier: Tokiwa Pier () in Nagasaki
  • Morning and afternoon trips shown officially: Check in at the Gunkanjima Digital Museum. Morning check-in 9:00 to 10:05, afternoon check-in 10:30 to 13:10; boats depart at about 10:30 and 13:40
  • Official departure times are estimates; follow the details provided after booking
  • Book through the operator’s website, where available places can be checked

What happens in bad weather?

Situation Official information
Landing impossible Switch to an approximately 2-hour cruise and refund the difference between landing-tour and cruise charges; return times approximately 12:15 for the morning service and 15:30 for the afternoon
Completely canceled (bad weather) Full refund by canceling the credit-card payment
You cancel (through member page) Free 8 days or more before departure; 30% charge 7 to 2 days before; 100% the day before, on the day or for a no-show

Before landing

  • Age: Children aged 3 and under cannot board. Preschool children cannot reserve premium plans. Guardians of primary school and preschool children must sign a declaration
  • Footwear: Wear trainers or flat shoes because the pier surface has metal grating
  • Clothing: Wear loose, light clothing that makes boarding and disembarking easier
  • Rain: Umbrellas cannot be used on the island; simple raincoats are provided free aboard, or you may bring your own
  • Summer: There is little shade, so bring a broad-brimmed hat and water; parasols cannot be used
  • Passengers with medical conditions or disabilities should inform the operator in advance; the operator decides if boarding is appropriate

Checks before departure

  1. Confirm the operator before booking and check boat fare and landing fee separately
  2. Check the operator’s official announcement on the morning of departure
  3. Allow flexibility: The tour may become a cruise instead

More Nagasaki content will be added. For an overview, see the Kyushu travel guide.

Sources