Here are answers to questions we often get about Sakurajima Ferry Now.
Q. Is Sakurajima Ferry Now free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. No app installation or account registration is required — it works right away in your browser.
Q. Does it track the ferry's live position via GPS?
No. Sakurajima Ferry Now does not track vessels via GPS. It calculates "time until the next departure" from the published timetable.
Q. Where does the timetable data come from?
The operator checks and transcribes the Sakurajima Ferry timetable (PDF) published by the City of Kagoshima. Checks can detect revisions and new service announcements, but timetable entries are not imported automatically or fetched live. The operator information page lists the regular timetable revision and the date when all departures were checked against the source.
Q. How long is the crossing?
The crossing between Kagoshima Port and Sakurajima Port takes about 15 minutes (per the official site's guidance; an approximate figure).
Q. Does it run late at night?
In the regular timetable included here, Kagoshima Port departures run from 04:30 to 23:30, and Sakurajima Port departures from 04:00 to 23:00. There are no regular departures in the 00:00–03:59 period. After the last departure minute, the app shows tomorrow’s first sailing; after midnight it counts down to the new day’s first sailing. Check the official site for special schedules and the latest operating hours.
Q. How do weekday and weekend/holiday sailings differ?
In the regular timetable included here (revised October 1, 2025), there are 94 sailings on weekdays (47 from Kagoshima Port and 47 from Sakurajima Port) and 104 on weekends and holidays (52 from each port). The difference is in the 14:00–18:59 period at both ports: 3 sailings an hour on weekdays and 4 on weekends and holidays. Departure times in all other hours are the same on both schedules.
Q. How often does the ferry run during the day?
On weekdays, departures are every 20 minutes from 07:00 to 19:00 at Kagoshima Port and from 06:05 to 19:05 at Sakurajima Port. On weekends and holidays, Kagoshima Port departures are every 20 minutes from 07:00 to 14:00 and every 15 minutes from 14:00 to 19:00; Sakurajima Port departures are every 20 minutes from 06:05 to 14:05, then 10 minutes later at 14:15, and every 15 minutes from 14:15 to 18:45. Intervals are longer early in the morning and at night, with hourly departures from 20:30 at Kagoshima Port and from 20:00 at Sakurajima Port (all in the regular timetable included here).
Q. Since when has the current timetable been in use?
The regular timetable included here has been in use since 00:00 on October 1, 2025, according to Kagoshima City’s timetable page. Sailings in the 00:00–03:59 period were also stopped from that date. The operator last checked every departure against the official PDF timetable on 2026-07-31.
Q. What does "May have departed" mean?
The scheduled departure time has been reached. That sailing stays on screen for the rest of that minute, then the next refresh moves on to the following sailing. This does not confirm an actual departure or guarantee that you can still board.
Q. Can I use the app with my device set to another time zone?
Yes. Displayed times, weekday and Japanese public holiday selection, and special schedule and notice dates all use Japan Standard Time (JST). The countdown still relies on your device’s clock, so make sure its date and time are accurate.
Q. Does it work offline, and will the timetable update?
Yes, in a supported browser after you open the home page online and the offline data finishes downloading. The countdown uses the saved timetable; new timetables and notices cannot be downloaded offline. The app checks for updates when you open it online again. Real-time delays and cancellations are not reflected even when online.
Q. Does it support dark mode?
Yes. It automatically follows your device/browser's dark mode setting. There is no separate toggle inside the app.
Q. Can I bring a car on board?
Yes — cars, buses, and motorcycles can all board. The passenger fare is ¥250 one-way for adults and ¥130 for children, paid at Sakurajima Port. Car and bus fares vary by vehicle length and include one driver’s passenger fare; motorcycles use separate categories based on engine size and vehicle type. Check the official site for vehicle eligibility, boarding queues, exact fares, and discounts.
Q. Is this the official Sakurajima Ferry app?
No. Sakurajima Ferry Now is an unofficial service run by an individual and is not affiliated with the City of Kagoshima or Sakurajima Ferry. It is built from publicly available timetable information.
Q. What if the displayed time doesn't match the actual sailing, or it's cancelled?
Special schedules checked and registered by the operator are reflected here (on those days the schedule badge reads "Special schedule"). Announcements are not all reflected immediately. Cancellations due to bad weather, same-day suspensions and real-time delays are not reflected. Use "Check official service info" on the home screen to visit the official site, and allow extra time when traveling.
For any other questions, please use the contact form on the operator information page.