Sunflower Kurenai ferry

Sunflower Kurenai ferry is a Ro-Pax/Ro-Ro passenger vessel operated by the Japan-based company MOL FERRIES (a subsidiary of Mitsui OSK Passenger Line). The ship has a maximum capacity of 716 passengers and a cargo capacity of 100 cars plus 137 lorries (semi-trailers/13-meter-long trucks). The vessel was inaugurated in January 2023 and currently operates on the Honshu–Kyushu ferry route Osaka-Beppu (route distance 260 mi / 418 km) with a crossing time of approximately 12 hours.

Ferry Sunflower Co Ltd has operated the Osaka–Beppu route since 1997. Since 2023, the sistership Sunflower Murasaki has also been deployed on the same route.

The vessel (IMO number 9900112) is currently Japan-flagged (MMSI 431019888) and registered in Osaka.

“Sunflower Kurenai” in Japanese is written as さんふらわあ くれない.

The ferry’s name honors SS Kurenai Maru (built in 1900 as “Mei Shun” for Norddeutscher Lloyd, acquired in 1912 by Osaka Shosen—now Mitsui OSK Lines—and renamed “Naruto Maru” in 1924). The passenger liner was originally coal-fueled but was retrofitted in 1924 with a diesel engine.

Decks and Cabins

The cruise ferry Sunflower Kurenai has a total of 268 staterooms.

All passenger cabins are air-conditioned and feature en-suite bathrooms (WC-toilet, washbasin, shower, hairdryer, hangers, trash can, cups). MOL Ferries provides bed linens, service towels, and basic toiletries (toothbrushes, hand soap).

Passenger accommodations include 13 wheelchair-accessible cabins (adapted for passengers with disabilities), 7 pet cabins (with linoleum flooring), and 89 truck driver cabins.

The vessel has 8 decks, of which 3 house public areas and staterooms, while 4 are garage decks (for wheeled cargo, passenger vehicles, and trucks).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Onboard facilities include a large public bathhouse, a restaurant (buffet-style dining venue), a cafe lounge (exclusive to passengers in top-tier suites on Deck 8), an indoor playground (Kids’ Corner), Baby Care Room, public restrooms, and dedicated truck driver facilities (bar lounge and bathhouse).

Below is a deck-by-deck overview of Sunflower Kurenai’s staterooms, venues, and facilities.

On Deck 8 (階) are located all Suites (each with a private step-out balcony) in categories Western-style, Japanese-Western Style Connect, Barrier-Free Suite, Semi-Suite, and Semi-Suite Connect. Deck 8 also features the exclusive Sweet Cafe Lounge (スイートラウンジ), offering complimentary coffee, tea, ice cream, newspapers, and magazines, as well as booking services for Suite guests only. Forward (bow-facing) is the Navigation Bridge, along with the Captain’s Suite and officers’ quarters.

On Deck 7 (階) are located passenger cabins (Deluxe, Deluxe Connect, Pet Deluxe, Deluxe Japanese-style, Semi-Deluxe Japanese-style Connect, Superior Twin, Superior Single, Private Single, Private Bed Group), along with two Grand Baths (large public bathhouses—separate for men 紳士展望浴場 and women 婦人展望浴場—each featuring a sauna, three spa pools/hot tubs, five large oceanview windows, and changing cubicles), 24-hour shower rooms, multifunctional toilets (for disabled passengers), Dog Run (ドッグラン—outdoor dog exercise area), and Pet Cage Room (ペットケージルーム with cages and waste bins).

Pet Cage Rooms are chargeable and require advance reservations. Pet cages are medium-sized (55x53x72 cm).

The Grand Bath facilities are complimentary; however, passengers with tattoos/tattoo covers, body art paintings, or those who are intoxicated are not permitted to use the wellness areas.

On Deck 6 (階) are located Private Bed cabins (15 shared rooms, each accommodating up to 16 passengers, also known as “Fish Sleeping Rooms”), Private Single Twin cabins, Private Twin cabins, Japanese-style Group cabins, and Standard Single cabins (truck driver cabins for one person). Deck 6 also forms the top level of the 3-deck-high Atrium (アトリウム), where walls and ceiling display UHD projection mapping using an Epson EB-L30000U (3LCD laser projector).

Deck 6 also houses the Lobby Hall (Reception Desk レセプション and boarding area), Restaurant (レストラン with buffet section ビュッフェ, serving fixed-price breakfast and dinner, with alcoholic beverages available at an additional charge), Shop (ショップ, selling original merchandise, souvenirs, drinks, ice cream, sweets, snacks, and convenience items), Kids’ Corner (キッズコーナー—indoor playground with books, toys, and a large TV for animated films), Baby Care Room (ベビーケアルーム with diaper-changing facilities and a water heater), Ladies’ Powder Room (化粧室, featuring a large mirror and a powerful hairdryer), as well as exclusive Truck Driver facilities—the Bathhouse (トラック運転手浴場) and Salon (トラックドライバーサロン, bar lounge).

The Promenade (midship on Deck 6) is an indoor observation space with comfortable seating, including leather sofas and pouf chairs arranged along large round windows offering ocean views. A fan-shaped grand staircase is centrally located. Adjacent to the staircase is the Photo Corner, featuring a large hull panel for Sunflower-themed selfies. Captain uniforms and hats are available free of charge for both adults and children.

Deck 6 provides direct access via stairs and elevators to the vehicle decks below.

The restaurant pricing (updated in 2023) is as follows: Breakfast (JPY 750 per adult / 500 per school-age child / 300 per toddler), Dinner (JPY 2300 per adult / 1000 per school-age child / 500 per toddler). Beverage prices include draft beer (JPY 500), sake (JPY 250), shochu (JPY 250), and Sunflower Kobe wine (JPY 1570 per bottle / 940 per half bottle).

Vending machines selling soft drinks, alcohol, cup noodles, and packaged snacks are located on Deck 6 (portside midship) and Deck 7 (starboard).

Observation decks (展望デッキ—outdoor areas with scenic ocean views) are located on Deck 7 (portside and starboard) and Deck 8 (aft).

The ship provides numerous coin lockers, PIN lockers (for valuables), and refrigerated lockers (for food and beverages), including 108 lockers on Deck 6 and 28 lockers on Deck 7.

The passenger boarding gate is located on Deck 4, from where an elevator connects to the Lobby/Reception on Deck 6.

Boarding begins approximately 2 hours prior to departure. Priority boarding is offered to all car drivers. For online reservations, check-in is automated via machines.

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on TV screens, and at the ship’s assembly stations (muster stations) located aft on Deck 7 (portside and starboard).

Life jackets are issued at the Emergency Assembly Stations (非常集合場所).

In the event of an emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is prohibited.

The ship’s top deck serves as a helipad for emergency helicopter landings.

Car decks

The Sunflower Kurenai has four garage decks for wheeled cargo: Deck 5 (capacity 59 trucks / 13 m semi-trailers), Deck 4 (78 trucks / 13 m semi-trailers), Deck 3 (44 passenger vehicles/cars and vans), and Deck 2 (56 passenger vehicles/cars and vans).

Passengers requiring special assistance should contact the ship’s Reception on Deck 6 (open 24 hours).

After parking on the garage deck, apply the handbrake, place the vehicle in park or first gear, then switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, and headlights. Lock the vehicle.

Take only valuables and essential hand luggage with you.

Make note of your vehicle’s location and the garage deck/stairway number before leaving.

Access to cargo decks during the voyage is prohibited.

Smoking is prohibited throughout the ship (including observation decks), except in three designated smoking rooms located near the passenger cabins close to the Atrium on Decks 6, 7, and 8 midship.

When disembarking, to reduce air pollution, do not start the engine until instructed.

The shipowner MOL Ferries (founded in 2023 and headquartered in Oita City Japan) is a cargo and passenger company operating a fleet of six large vessels (three pairs of sisterships) on the Japanese island routes Osaka–Beppu, Osaka–Shibushi, and Kobe–Oita. MOL Ferries (operational since October 1, 2023) consolidates the fleets of MOL Group subsidiaries Ferry Sunflower Ltd (founded in 2009) and MOL Ferry Co Ltd (founded in 1969).