Companies

Ferry Service Linking Wakayama, Tokushima Ports to Cease Operations by March 2028

Courtesy of Nankai Ferry Co.
A Nankai Ferry vessel

The Yomiuri Shimbun

19:56 JST, March 30, 2026

The ferry service operated by Nankai Ferry Co., linking Wakayama Port and Tokushima Port, is set to cease operation by the end of March 2028, its parent company, Nankai Electric Railway Co., announced on Monday.

According to the Osaka-based parent company, several factors, including the opening of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, have led to car travel becoming the dominant mode of transit between the islands Honshu and Shikoku. The COVID-19 pandemic compounded the decline in passenger numbers, which has continued unabated since then.

The company therefore concluded that it would be difficult to secure the funds required for the anticipated future renewal of its vessels.

Nankai Ferry, headquartered in Wakayama, was established in 1975. It currently operates a fleet of two vessels, running 16 round trips a day between Wakayama Port and Tokushima Port.