How to get to Tanegashima
Nishinoomote City / Nakatane Town / Minamitane Town, Kagoshima · 鉄砲伝来 · 宇宙センター
You reach Tanegashima by boat from Kagoshima Main Port South Pier (High-Speed Ship Passenger Terminal), Miyanoura Port / Anbo Port (Yakushima), Kagoshima Main Port South Pier or Taniyama Port. The fastest is the high-speed boat from Miyanoura Port / Anbo Port (Yakushima) (45 min). The cheapest adult one-way fare is ¥3,800 from Taniyama Port. You can also fly from Kagoshima Airport.
An island of about 445 km² with a coastline of about 165 km, some 115 km south of Kagoshima City and about 40 km southeast of Cape Sata. It is known as the place where firearms first reached Japan in 1543, and as "the island closest to space", home to the Tanegashima Space Center.
Every way to get there
- Travel time
- 1 h 35 min
- Adult one-way
- ¥12,000
- Sailings
- 6 sailings a day (7 on Thu, Fri and Sun)
- First boat
- 07:30
- Last boat there
- 15:45 (Thu/Fri/Sun)
- Last boat back
- 16:40
- Cars
- —
Jetfoil. Figures are for the winter timetable (Oct 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027; pending approval). From Kagoshima: 7:30, 8:00 (via Miyanoura), 10:00, 13:00, 13:30 (via Miyanoura), 14:45, plus 15:45 on Thu, Fri and Sun. From Nishinoomote: 8:00, 9:30 (via Miyanoura), 11:10, 14:00, 14:40 (via Miyanoura), 16:40, plus 7:00 on Fri, Sat and Mon. 95 min direct, about 3 hours via Miyanoura. Extra sailings: 15:45 from Kagoshima on Oct 19 (Mon) and 7:00 from Nishinoomote on Oct 20 (Tue). Adult one-way fare from May 11, 2026 (including the fuel surcharge). Reservations open 2 months before sailing; check in by 20 min before departure. The official site says nothing about carrying vehicles.
Sources (6 pages): www.tykousoku.jp
- Travel time
- 45 min
- Adult one-way
- ¥6,200
- Sailings
- 4 sailings a day
- First boat
- 07:00
- Last boat there
- 15:45
- Last boat back
- 16:25
- Cars
- —
A leg of the Kagoshima-Yakushima jetfoil. Figures are for the winter timetable (Oct 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027; pending approval). Departures: Anbo 7:00, Miyanoura 10:05, Anbo 12:55, Miyanoura 15:45 (45-55 min). To Yakushima: Nishinoomote 9:30 (to Miyanoura), 11:45 (to Anbo), 14:40 (to Miyanoura), 16:25 (to Anbo). Adult one-way fare from May 11, 2026 (including the fuel surcharge).
Sources (6 pages): www.tykousoku.jp
- Travel time
- 3 h 30 min
- Adult one-way
- ¥5,900
- Sailings
- 1 sailing a day (no service on some days)
- First boat
- 08:40
- Last boat there
- 08:40
- Last boat back
- 13:45
- Cars
- Allowed
Kagoshima 8:40 to Nishinoomote 12:10; Nishinoomote 13:45 to Kagoshima 17:25. No service on Sundays in Oct-Dec 2026 (Oct 18, Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8, Nov 15, Nov 22, Nov 29, Dec 6, Dec 13, Dec 20). Fare is the standard (2nd-class) adult one-way fare for the regular season Aug 17 to Oct 31, 2026, including a 400-yen fuel surcharge. Car shipping requires a reservation (TEL 099-222-8271, 9:00-17:00, closed Sundays and holidays).
Sources (5 pages): cosmoline.jp
- Travel time
- 3 h 40 min
- Adult one-way
- ¥3,800
- Sailings
- 1 sailing a day (no Sunday departure from Kagoshima). All sailings suspended Oct 5 to Nov 15, 2026 for dry dock
- First boat
- 18:00
- Last boat there
- 18:00
- Last boat back
- 11:00
- Cars
- Allowed
Suspended for dry dock from Oct 5 to Nov 15, 2026, so not operating as of Oct 15. Normally Taniyama 18:00 to Nishinoomote 21:40 (then on to Yakushima). To Kagoshima: Nishinoomote 11:00 to Taniyama 14:40. No Monday departures from Tanegashima. 2nd-class adult one-way fare (including the fuel surcharge). Cars must book by phone (from 1 month before); passengers and motorcycles need no reservation (motorcycles limited to the first 10).
Sources (5 pages): www.yakushimaferry.com
- Travel time
- 40 min
- Adult one-way
- —
- Sailings
- —
- First boat
- —
- Last boat there
- —
- Last boat back
- —
JAC-operated flights listed as ANA codeshares in ANA's domestic timetable (Jul 1 to Oct 24, 2026, as of Mar 30) depart Kagoshima at 8:10 and 16:50 (until Oct 20), plus 15:25 on Oct 21-24, and Tanegashima at 12:10 and 18:00 (until Oct 20), plus 16:35 on Oct 21-24 (35-40 min). Some flights carry only JAL flight numbers, so this may not be every flight. The JAL Group timetable and fare pages (jal.co.jp) could not be retrieved for this check, so the number of flights, first/last departures and fares for all flights are left blank.
Sources (2 pages): www.jac.co.jp・www.ana.co.jp
Common questions
How do I get to Tanegashima?
You reach Tanegashima by boat from Kagoshima Main Port South Pier (High-Speed Ship Passenger Terminal), Miyanoura Port / Anbo Port (Yakushima), Kagoshima Main Port South Pier or Taniyama Port. The fastest is the high-speed boat from Miyanoura Port / Anbo Port (Yakushima) (45 min). The cheapest adult one-way fare is ¥3,800 from Taniyama Port. You can also fly from Kagoshima Airport.
Can I take my car to Tanegashima?
The ferry from Kagoshima Main Port South Pier or Taniyama Port carries cars. Whether you can drive on the island itself depends on local rules, so check the island’s guidance.
What time is the last boat to and from Tanegashima?
Kagoshima Main Port South Pier (High-Speed Ship Passenger Terminal): last boat to the island 15:45 (Thu/Fri/Sun), last boat back 16:40. Miyanoura Port / Anbo Port (Yakushima): last boat to the island 15:45, last boat back 16:25. Kagoshima Main Port South Pier: last boat to the island 08:40, last boat back 13:45. Taniyama Port: last boat to the island 18:00, last boat back 11:00. Times change by season, so check the official timetable.
Can I visit Tanegashima as a day trip?
On the timetable, yes. Take the 07:00 from Miyanoura Port / Anbo Port (Yakushima), arrive around 07:45, and the last boat back leaves at 16:25: up to about 8 hours on the island. Some days have fewer sailings.