On a Floating Bridge

I’m heading off again, so join me for another jaunt across the world without planes or a great deal of cash, exploring alternative travel with fewer environmental impacts.


I realise that in 2007 I didn’t go into a lot of detail about one of the trickier parts of complicated journeys involving several train and boat schedules across many countries…

The Planning

Hopefully this section will be useful to anyone trying to figure out how to choose the best route out of Japan via ferry and on through Asia by train. Unlike the UK, where taking the eurostar is the most obvious, regular and easy to plan option, there are many route options from Japan to continental Asia including: Kobe to Shanghai, Kobe to Tianjin, various places to Korea and then Korea to China, Matsue to Vladivostok via Korea, Wakkanai to Sakhalin to Kholmsk to Vanino. I still have no idea which route I will be taking. I’m planning to leave in the week June 6th – 12th, the final date will depend on which ferry. Stay tuned for more information in the coming days on this travel jigsaw puzzle.

Part 1 – Getting off the island: Planning the sea crossing and connecting long-distance train