[Oita] Worth the trip! ✨ Experience accessing the airport on an amphibious hovercraft ⛴️

I rode an amphibious hovercraft! ✨
Regular service begins on July 26, 2025🎊
This is the only scheduled route in Japan⭐️
It was less turbulent than I expected, and it was comfortable👍

The terminal is shiny and new, and there's even an observation deck on the roof of the Nishi-Oita Terminal with a panoramic ocean view🌊

The seating arrangement on board is 2-4-2, with drink holders. It feels a bit like an airplane.
The recommended seat for departures from Nishi-Oita is the "left window."
You can see the expansive views of Beppu Bay and the cityscape, and even the moment when the water spray turns into a rainbow🌈!
If you sit on the right side, you can see the planes at the airport when we land, which is also fun✈️

The engine noise inside the ship is slightly quieter than that of an airplane.
It's impressive, but still quiet enough to have a conversation.

The hovercraft floats on an air cushion, pumping air into a rubber skirt under the hull.
It can travel on both water and land, and its low friction makes it incredibly fast! It truly felt like riding a vehicle from the future! ♪

The moment it emerges straight from the water onto land is like a miniature attraction, and it's incredibly exciting!
It's definitely worth the trip! 👍

It's about 35 minutes to Oita Airport.
It takes about an hour by bus, so it's definitely faster!

A free Hoverdrive shuttle bus runs from Oita Station to the hovercraft terminal at Nishi-Oita Port.
There are four departures per day from Bus Stop No. 2 in front of Oita Station, based on departure times (as of September 2025).
It's also easily accessible! 🚌
Parking is free. 🚗

The Oita Airport terminal is just a short walk from the terminal, heading left towards the sea.
It's a separate building from the Oita Airport building.

It's packed with excitement you can't get on a regular boat or plane, and is truly a "vehicle that's the purpose of your trip."
If you're visiting Oita or Beppu, be sure to try a hovercraft!

*There are no restrooms on board, so please use them before boarding. 💡

Nishi-Oita Terminal ⇄ Oita Airport
(Prepaid)
Adults: ¥2,000
Children: ¥1,000
(Payment on-site)
Adults: ¥2,500
Children: ¥1,250
Reservations and payments can be made on the Oita Hoverdrive website.

Four round trips per day (eight total), with plans to increase the number of trips in the future.

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