Tsushima Voyage Tips and guide

Tsushima (対馬) is an island and city in Nagasaki (prefecture).

Tsushima is an island off Kyushu in the middle of the Korean Strait between Japan and South Korea. Although a popular destination for Korean day trippers, it is still relatively unknown to western travelers. There are two main towns on the island: 34.65129.461 Hitakatsu in the north and 34.2129.282 Izuhara in the south.

This island is the setting of the video game Ghost of Tsushima.

Tsushima Local Promotion Association has a Japanese-only guide site with machine translation.

34°25′12″N 129°19′48″E

Map of Tsushima

Tsushima is closer to Korea than mainland Japan, and can easily be reached from both sides.

34.28129.331 Tsushima Yamaneko Airport (TSJ  ^IATA). ANA and their codeshare partner Oriental Air Bridge have several daily turboprop flights from Fukuoka and Nagasaki in Japan. One way fares from around ¥14,000. As of 2026, there are no longer any flights from Korea. There are roughly hourly buses from Izuhara to the airport (25 min, ¥710).  

There are two ports in Tsushima, 34.195129.292 Izuhara (厳原) to the south and 34.655167129.4735563 Hitakatsu (比田勝) to the north.

Kyushu Yusen operates both fast jetfoils (2:15) and slow ferries (up to 5 hours) several times a day from Fukuoka, with a stop at the Iki islands. As of 2026, jetfoils cost ¥6,930, while ferry tickets start from ¥3,410 second class. One of the ferries runs overnight, and second class includes access to a tatami mat sleeping space.

PanStar Cruise operates the Tsushima Link ferry from Busan to Hitakatsu daily (1:20), with a few services per week continuing on to Izuhara (3 hrs including stop in Hitakatsu). The ferry spends about 7 hours in port, allowing for day trips. A regular weekday one-day fare is ¥9,500, while weekends and peak seasons are ¥11,500. Star Line also has similar services at similar prices.

In Tsushima, it's a good choice to get around by bicycle.

Tsushima's most famous resident is the Tsushima leopard cat (ツシマヤマネコ Tsushima yamaneko), one of only two wild cats native to Japan. (The other is the closely related Iriomote leopard cat of Iriomote, Okinawa.) Nocturnal, shy, and excellent tree climbers, you're highly unlikely to see one in the wild, but there are some conservation centers and, inevitably, the cat is plastered on all local souvenirs.

• 34.64129.321 Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center (対馬野生生物保護センター・対馬自然保護官事務所), 2956-5 Kamiagatamachi Sago. 10:00-16:30. Conservation center for the Tsushima leopard cat.  (updated May 2021)

• 34.38129.32 Watatsumi Shrine (和多都美神社), 55 Toyotamamachi Nii. Famous shrine  (updated May 2021)
• 34.3129.273 Kaneda Fortress Ruins (美津島町黒瀬), Mitsushimamachi Kurose.  (updated May 2021)
• 34.666129.4424 Ohjinushi shrine (大地主神社), 国道-382号線 Kamitsushimamachi Oura.  (updated May 2021)
• 34.236129.2175 Komotahama Shinto Shrine (小茂田濱神社), 742 Izuharamachi Komoda, ☏ +81 920560274.  (updated May 2021)

• 34.171129.1776 Miuda Beach (三宇田浜海水浴場), Izuharamachi Kunehama.  (updated May 2021)

"Credit cards are not widely accepted on the island, especially in small restaurants and rural shops. It is essential to carry sufficient cash (Japanese Yen)."

• Toyocoin tsushima, 771-1 Izuharamachi Imayashiki. Check-in: 15:00. Hotel patronized by Japanese businessmen. (updated Oct 2024)

• Fukuoka is a major Japanese city reachable by ferry or air.
• Omura, Home to Nagasaki International Airport from which you can travel to anywhere in Nagasaki Prefecture or Saga Prefecture
• Iki island is on the way to Kyushu by ferry.
• Busan, the second city of South Korea reachable by ferry