Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry

What Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry does

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry Co., Ltd. (津軽海峡フェリー株式会社) is a Japanese ferry operator headquartered in Hakodate, Hokkaido, providing passenger and vehicle transportation services across the Tsugaru Strait between Hokkaido and Honshu. The company operates three routes with a fleet of five vessels: Hakodate-Aomori (3h40min, up to six daily round trips), Hakodate-Oma (approximately 90 minutes, two daily round trips), and Muroran-Aomori (seven hours, one daily round trip). These services connect four regional ports and form a key transport link complementary to rail crossings of the strait.

The company generates revenue through four primary streams: passenger tickets (approximately ¥5,590 to ¥15,900 per passenger), vehicle transport fares (¥17,000 to ¥26,450), onboard retail sales, and collaboration merchandise. Its customer base spans individual travelers, vehicle-transport customers (cars, motorcycles, RVs), packaged-tour operators (JTB, Hankyu Travel, Yomiuri, Club Tourism, JTB Golf Tour), and group bookings. Ancillary services include the Ferrypon loyalty/coupon program, pet-friendly cabin options, multilingual customer support (English, Chinese, Korean), and a regional tourism magazine, Tug, with circulation of approximately 36,000.

Recent strategic activity has centered on fleet modernization and ecosystem expansion: the company launched a new vessel, Blue Grace, in August 2025, opened the Muroran-Aomori route in October 2023, deepened partnerships with Premier Hotel and ORIX car rental, executed multiple anime collaborations, and restructured its Aomori office for April 2026. The company also holds disaster-response vessel designation, conferring implicit governmental standing in regional transport planning. No AI/ML technology layer is in evidence; the operating model remains a traditional multi-vessel ferry business with digital booking automation.

Name

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry

Legal name

津軽海峡フェリー株式会社

Website

https://tsugarukaikyo.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry Co., Ltd. operates passenger and vehicle ferry services across three routes connecting Hokkaido and Honshu through the Tsugaru Strait, serving individual travelers, vehicle transport customers, and tour groups with a five-vessel fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ferry Passenger Transportation

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Passenger Ferry Operators (Interisland/Intercity) (TLAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Island & Remote Community Ferry Services (THAIAJAG)

Keywords

• Ferry transportation services
• Passenger and vehicle ferry
• Maritime passenger transport
• Inter-island ferry operator
• Pet-friendly ferry travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Hakodate

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 旅客運送収入: Ticket sales for passenger transportation across three routes: Muroran-Aomori, Hakodate-Aomori, and Hakodate-Oma. Revenue varies by cabin class (Suite, First Class, Comfort Single, View Seat, Standard) and season (A, B, C periods).
2. 車両輸送収入: Vehicle transportation fees for passenger vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles. Separate driver fares apply. Fuel price adjustment surcharges may apply based on oil price fluctuations.
3. 船舶・ターミナル売店: Onboard and terminal retail shops (SEAちゃん) selling food, beverages, souvenirs, and specialty products including collaboration items and regional specialties.
4. 船内サービス・-Merchandise: Revenue from promotional goods such as御船印 (ship stamps/gospel), collaboration merchandise, towels, and other passenger amenities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry operates passenger and vehicle ferry transportation across three routes connecting Hokkaido and Honshu via the Tsugaru Strait: Muroran-Aomori (7 hours, 1 daily round trip), Hakodate-Aomori (3h40min, 6 daily round trips), and Hakodate-Oma (90 minutes, 2 daily round trips). The service includes multiple cabin classes (Suite, First Class, Comfort Single, View Seat, Standard), pet-friendly accommodations, an online booking platform, and integrated tourism packages with regional attractions across Hokkaido and the Tohoku region.

Product overview

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry operates a multi-route ferry network connecting Hokkaido and Honshu through three main routes: Muroran-Aomori (7 hours, 1 daily round trip), Hakodate-Aomori (3h40min, 6 daily round trips), and Hakodate-Oma (90min, 2 daily round trips). The fleet includes the new Blue Grace vessel plus Blue Mermaid, Blue Happiness, Blue Dolphin, and Daikanmaru. Core ferry services are supplemented by pet-friendly facilities (dog rooms across all vessels), online/smart check-in systems, and the Ferrypon discount coupon service. The company offers various discount plans (Umiwari series with up to 72% off), combined transportation tickets (Tokyo-Hakodate ticket, Morioka-Hakodate ticket,海峡ゆったどきっぷ), and highway free pass integrations. Ancillary offerings include the Tug free magazine, commemorative gosen-in stamps, and seasonal tour packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tug（タグ）: Quarterly free magazine published by Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry, covering tourism information for the Tsugaru Strait area. Published 3 times a year (summer, spring/autumn, winter) with a circulation of 36,000 copies per issue. The name 'Tug' combines the English meaning of 'strong pull' with the first three characters of 津軽 (Tugaru).
• フェリポン
• プロジェクトTug

Products and services

• Muroran-Aomori Ferry Route (室蘭〜青森航路) Ferry service connecting Muroran (Hokkaido) and Aomori (Honshu) in approximately 7 hours. Currently operates one round trip daily using the Blue Grace vessel, with capacity for 422 passengers and vehicle transport.
• Hakodate-Aomori Ferry Route (函館〜青森航路) Ferry service connecting Hakodate and Aomori in approximately 3 hours 40 minutes. Operates 6 round trips daily — the most frequent of the three routes — with passenger and vehicle transport.
• Hakodate-Oma Ferry Route (函館〜大間航路) Short ferry route connecting Hakodate and Oma in 90 minutes. Operates 2 round trips daily. Also known as the 'Nostalgic Route' (ノスタルジック航路) with over 50 years of history connecting Hokkaido and the Shimokita Peninsula.
• Pet-Friendly Ferry Service (わんこ対応フェリー) Pet-friendly ferry service allowing dogs to accompany passengers. All vessels are equipped with dog rooms (ドッグルーム), private dog rooms, and dog balconies. Blue Grace also offers pet-friendly first-class rooms.
• Ferrypon (フェリポン) Coupon Service Discount coupon service for ferry passengers providing special offers and discounts at partner stores and attractions across the Tsugaru Strait area. Includes Ferrypon SS (gas station discounts) and Ferrypon car rental discounts.
• Blue Grace Vessel (ブルーグレイス) New ferry vessel operating on the Muroran-Aomori route, launched August 8, 2025. Features suite rooms, first-class rooms, comfort single rooms, view seats, standard rooms, pet-friendly rooms, promenade deck, and ocean-view observation bath. Length 144m, gross tonnage 8,897 tons, capacity 422 passengers. Built by Naikai Shipyard.
• Umiwari Discount Series (海割シリーズ) Advance booking discount plans offering up to 72% off standard fares, including Super Umiwari, Umiwari Drive Plus (for vehicles including driver and up to 8 passengers), and Umiwari Walk (for pedestrian passengers).
• Tokyo-Hakodate Ticket (東京・函館きっぷ) Combined ticket package featuring highway bus and ferry transportation between Tokyo and Hakodate. Includes round-trip ferry fare and highway bus transportation.
• Kaikyo Yuttado Ticket (海峡ゆったどきっぷ) Set plan combining highway bus and ferry transportation, providing a discounted travel package for the Hakodate route.
• Tug Free Paper Magazine (タグフリーペーパー) Quarterly free paper magazine published by Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry covering tourism information for the Tsugaru Strait area. Published 3 times a year with a circulation of 36,000 copies per issue (Summer 2026), A4 size, full color, 22 pages. Distributed in Hakodate area and throughout Aomori prefecture.
• Kitamae Historical Cruise Tour (北前船ヒストリカル・クルーズツアー) Tourism campaign tour package promoting the Kitamae ship heritage connecting Aomori and Hakodate. Includes northern trade route theme stamps and hydrogen bath additive merchandise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maximum 72% discount available through advance booking (海割 series)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• プレミアホテル-CABIN PRESIDENT-函館coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Collaboration room campaign offering ferry-themed rooms at Premier Hotel with original goods and 30% ferry discount coupons. Limited to 1 room per day, includes dolphin cushions and navigational charts. Bar Estelado offers collaboration menu items (parfait 1,800 yen, cocktail 1,500 yen) with 500 yen discount for ferry passengers.
• JTB 函館五稜郭店coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 October 2024Golf tour packages combining ferry tickets with Hakodate Ohnuma Prince Hotel stays and golf at Hokkaido Country Golf Club. 2-day tours priced 29,800-43,800 yen including ferry, hotel (1 night with meals), and golf fees.
• カネショウ株式会社minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2024Collaboration dressing product 'りんご酢とオリーブオイルドレッシング' (apple vinegar and olive oil dressing, 150ml, 950 yen) manufactured by Kanesho using their apple vinegar and Yamamoto Club's olive oil.
• 山本俱楽部株式会社minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2024Collaboration partner for olive oil products. Group company producing '安芸の島の実 オリーブオイル' featured in joint dressing product. Products sold at ferry terminals and online.
• 斡ryn交通社 (Hankyu Koutsusha)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel agency partner for tour packages featuring Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry routes.
• 讀賣旅行 (Yomiuri Travel)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel agency partner offering tour packages utilizing ferry services.
• クラブツーリズム (Club Tourism)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor travel agency offering group tours incorporating ferry routes.
• センティール・ラ・セゾン函館山 / リラノートチャーチ ベイ函館minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWedding venue partnerships offering collaboration packages. Benefits include complimentary ferry passage for couple and 15% discount for family members.
• ORIXレンタカー (ORIX Rent-a-car)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOma store exclusive plan offering 3-hour rental from 4,000 yen including gasoline. Promoted as '汽油代込み' (gasoline included) deal.
• 北海道大学鯨類研究会minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch cooperation providing whale observation surveys aboard vessels. Students conduct visual observation training sessions for local children.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tsugarukaikyo_f
• Facebookfacebook.com/tsugarukaikyo.f
• Instagraminstagram.com/tsugarukaikyo_f

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry