Orange Ferry from Osaka to Toyo Port: The Night Crossing to Imabari for Cyclists (2026)
There is a second way into the Shimanami Kaido from the Kansai region.
It’s the overnight ferry from Osaka Nanko to Toyo Port, on Orange Ferry’s Kansai route.
The ship leaves Osaka Nanko at 22:00 and reaches Toyo Port at 6:00 the next morning.
Your travel and your night’s accommodation happen at the same time, leaving a full day ahead of you.
Every cabin is private now
Orange Ferry used to sell an open, unreserved second-class section.
That’s gone.
The official FAQ confirms unreserved second-class seating is no longer sold, so every passenger now books a private cabin.
Two ships work the route, Orange Ehime and Orange Osaka, alternating day by day.
Choosing a cabin: Single or Deluxe Single
Most solo travellers choose between these two room types.
The photo above is a Deluxe Single, though a standard Single looks much the same.
A Single is compact, 3.45 square metres, and the bed feels a little tight.
It has no key you can lock from outside, only an inside latch, so take valuables when you leave the room.
It comes with slippers only, no towel or yukata; a towel can be bought on board.
A Deluxe Single has an outside key, a washbasin, a TV, storage space, a towel, and a yukata.
At 8.90 square metres it’s roughly double a Single’s floor area, with a slightly wider bed.
Next to the washbasin there’s a narrow shelf that works as a small desk, enough for some paperwork.
Mobile signal can be patchy at sea, and the on-board Wi-Fi isn’t always reliable either.
There’s also a Single+ room with bunk beds for two, barrier-free cabins, and the Suite and Royal grades above.
Life on board
The restaurant is spacious, serving hot food, beer, highballs, and a few snacks.
Dinner runs from 20:00 to 23:00, and breakfast on the Toyo Port-bound sailing runs from 5:30 to 7:00.
PayPay and Alipay are accepted at the counter.
Outside food and drink can’t be brought into the restaurant itself, but it’s fine in your cabin or the common areas.
The observation bath has a bubble-jet tub and a regular one, open anytime; there’s no sauna.
You can go out on deck, and the common area has a TV with tables and chairs.
There’s a small games corner, and there’s no shop anymore, only vending machines.
Getting your bicycle on board
There are three ways to bring a bicycle.
Pack it in a rinko bag, the standard soft bike bag, and there’s no bicycle fee.
The My Bike Stay service lets you bring the bike into your cabin unbagged; it’s Deluxe Single only, booked by phone, not online.
The kickstand can be no wider than 5.6 centimetres, and the light-vehicle fare still applies.
Clean the tyres before boarding, there’s a bucket and a cloth just before the entrance.
Or roll it straight onto the vehicle deck, unbagged, for the 2,000-yen light-vehicle fare.
A free air pump is available at the information counter, and day-trip passengers can store luggage.
Need to send a bag ahead on Shikoku instead? See this guide to same-day luggage delivery on the Shimanami Kaido.
Bicycles can’t be assembled or disassembled on board, only at a cycle station on shore.
Getting from Toyo Port to Imabari
This is the part that trips people up.
A free shuttle bus to Imabari, run by Setouchi Bus, needs a numbered ticket.
It leaves Toyo Port at 6:20 and reaches Imabari Station at 7:03, continuing to the bus centre, Imabari Pier, and the Imabari office by 7:13.
That bus does not take bicycles, bagged or not.
The only bus that takes a bagged bicycle is the 7:00 departure to Nyugawa Station, with limited seats and an extra bus if it fills up.
From Nyugawa Station, JR trains on the Yosan Line carry on to Imabari.
Pick up your numbered ticket at the Osaka Nanko counter, or the on-board information desk, before 23:00.
Riding unbagged, it’s 24.7 kilometres to JR Imabari Station, about ninety minutes at 16-18 km/h, so allow a margin.
Toyo Port to Nyugawa Station is 5.1 kilometres, and to Itoyama, where the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge begins, it’s 37.7 kilometres.
The road from Imabari Station to the bridge is covered in this guide from Imabari Station to the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge.
Once you’re off the ship
The ship reaches Toyo Port at 6:00, but you can stay on board until 7:00 during the rest period.
The restaurant opens for breakfast at 5:30, so there’s time for a meal before you go.
Riders taking the 7:00 bus to Nyugawa Station should be off the ship in good time for it.
Getting back to the ferry
The return bus leaves Imabari’s office at 19:50 and Imabari Station at 20:00, reaching Toyo Port at 20:54.
Boarding for the 22:00 departure opens at 20:00, so there’s time to check in after the bus arrives.
That schedule leaves a full day of riding, with the ferry carrying you back to Osaka overnight.
Fares
One-way adult fares vary across three seasonal bands, C, B, and A.
A Single or Single+ runs from 8,750 to 10,750 yen, and a Deluxe Single from 10,950 to 13,450 yen.
Suite fares run from 13,850 to 17,750 yen, and Royal from 19,350 to 24,850 yen.
A bicycle costs 2,000 yen as a light vehicle, unless it’s packed in a rinko bag.
Students get a 20% discount, which applies to Single and Single+ too, and a round-trip discount is available.
Boarding
Boarding opens at 20:00, two hours before the 22:00 departure; aim to be on board by 21:30.
The ticket counter gets busier after 21:00, so arrive earlier if you can.
Reservations open two months ahead of the sailing date, and online bookings close 24 hours before departure.
Questions people ask
Is there still an unreserved section? No, every cabin is private now.
Does a Single cabin lock from outside? No, only from inside; carry valuables when you step out.
Can I bring my own food and drink on board? Yes, in your cabin or common areas, not the restaurant.
Can I change cabin class after boarding? Yes, if a room is free, the desk can move you.
Can I take my bike on the free shuttle bus? No, it doesn’t carry bicycles at all.
Do I need to book My Bike Stay in advance? Yes, by phone only, Deluxe Single only.
Is there Wi-Fi on board? Yes, but the signal at sea can be patchy.
Before you book
Toyo Port is in Saijo City, not Imabari.
Some official cycling pages still list Sunrise Itoyama as a working terminal, but it’s closed; check current options in this guide to renting a bicycle in Imabari.
If you’re island-hopping by boat rather than by bridge, see this guide to the local ferry from Hashihama Port.
From October 20 to November 2, some Osaka-to-Toyo Port sailings are cancelled for scheduled maintenance.
Everything else for cyclists arriving in Imabari is gathered in this Imabari guide for Shimanami cyclists.
Information in this article is current as of August 2026.
Fares and schedules can change, so check Orange Ferry’s official website before you travel.
Original article in Japanese: オレンジフェリーの部屋はどれを選ぶ？｜シングルとデラックスシングルの違い・料金・東予港への行き方（2026年）
