Overview
- Service resumed July 26 after a 16-year suspension, reinstating the only regular passenger hovercraft link in Japan.
- The sea route slashes transit time from about one hour by land to approximately 35 minutes each way.
- Operated by Oita Daiichi Hover Drive under a vertical separation model, the 80-seat craft runs four round trips daily at prepaid fares of ¥2,000 for adults and ¥1,000 for children.
- The operator targets 350,000 annual riders and aims to break even within three years by increasing service frequency and adding Beppu Bay sightseeing trips.
- Challenges include providing seamless secondary transport, prompting free shuttle buses from Oita Station until October and expanded parking, share-car and share-cycle options.