Odo Marina
22 April 2009 | Fukuoka, Northern Kyushu
Mauro
Port Harbour or Marina: Fukuoka, Odo Marina, Northern Kyushu
Latitude: 33 35.66N
Longitude: 130 18.50E
Major Attractions: Endless sightseeing, beaches, restaurants and a festival for practically every week of the year.
Nearest Port of Entry: Fukuoka
Formalities Arrival: Domestic arrival - call "Moji Cost Guard" on VHF16. Foreign Arrival - This is an open entry port. Japan Coast Guard must be advised by fax a minimum of 24 hours before arrival otherwise you may have to wait at anchor before being processed. Fax: 092-281-5889.
Formalities Departure: For foreign ports, you must clear out with Customs, Immigration and Coast Guard. On departure for domestic ports call "Moji Cost Guard" on VHF16.
Immigration: Tel. 092- 262-2373 or through marina office.
Customs: Tel. 092-263-3282 or through marina office
Coast Guard: COAST GUARD - 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, 1-3-10 Nishikaigan, Moji-ku, Kitakyusyu-shi, Fukuoka. (801-8507), Tel: 093-321-2931 Fax: 092-281-5889 or contact via VHF 16 or through marina office
Quarantine: Through marina office or on 092-291-4092
Harbour master: Not required.
Berthing Mooring Options: FUKUOKA YACHT HARBOUR
NPO FUKUOKA SAILING ASSOCIATION
3-58-1, ODO, NISHI-KU, FUKUOKA CITY, 819-0001, JAPAN
TE 092-882-2151 FAX 092-881-2344
E-mail: suga-harbor@piano.ocn.ne.jp
URL: http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~odo-yh/
Two weeks free for visiting foreign yachts.
Anchorage Options: There is no anchorage option near this location.
Yacht Club Facilities: There is no yacht club that welcomes cruisers but a Cruising Station has now been established here. Contact Ms Mena Satoh on 909-804-0371or menasuger@hotmail.com
Haulout Facilities: here is a lift haulout with a capacity of 10 tons. A 30 ton straddle lift is available at Marinoa Marina some 20 minutes motoring away.
Trades: Some at Marinoa Marina.
Websites: www6.ocn.ne.jp/~odo-yh/
Japanese Small Ships Guide: JHA 808
Charts: BA 3115, 3514 and Japan Charts W127, W190, H-192w
Sailing Directions: Japan Pilot Vol. II
Water: Water is available at a cost of US$4 per usage.
Fuel: DIESEL- Diesel may be obtained at Marinoa Marina at quayside bowser, but it is generally more expensive than elsewhere. A service is also provided at Fukuoka Yacht Harbour via a mini tanker through Jomo Petrol on 092-881-0709. Unfortunately the fuel will need to be jerry jugged from the quay as the tanker's hoses are too short. Another service is available through Kotobuki Sekyu through a barge located in Hakata bay. It is best to try and make arrangements through Ms Mena Sato (909-804-0371). PETROL - The areas around both Marinoa and Odo are well served with service stations within walking distance of the marinas
LPG: Available, however, non Japanese tanks are difficult to refill due to Government safety regulations. Ocassionally, some gas resellers will fill your tank, especially if it is a small family owned establishment. Fujiwara Shokai. Contact Ms Mena Sato to make arrangements.
Marine Vendors: A small chandlery, TOK, (contact Kurose Toshio 092-881-9722) is located in the street opposite the entrance to the Conan Home Centre near Fukuoka Yacht Harbour. Another small chandlery operates within the premises of Fukuoka Yacht Harbour.
SHIPBUILDING - General fibreglassing, welding and carpentry services are available through MarinTech (092-882-2618) at Fukuoka Yacht Harbour or Winds Corporation (092-883-4060) at Marinoa Marina.
MECHANICAL - There are several services available at both marinas. The managers will assist.
RIGGING - Contact Toshi at Pre MIYAZAKI on 092-883-1206 at Fukuoka Yacht Harbour.
Minor sail repairs can be done through TOK Chandlery. The nearest known full service loft is North sails Japan's Kansai loft. Tel: 798-26-7771, Fax: 798-26-7773. Contact is Takumi Nakamura, email: takumi@jp.northsails
ATMs: As always the most efficient way to get money from your overseas account in Japan is through the Post Office system of ATMs. Also there are post offices located some 5 minutes from Odo on Marina Dori and at both the Meinohama and Nishijin Station complexes. A Japan post ATM is available within the Marinoa Shopping Complex.
Shops & Markets: SUPERMARKETS - The area the marina is well serviced with a variety of supermarkets offering good ranges of provisions at varying prices.
Opposite Fukuoka Yacht Harbour there is a supermarket directly above the Conan Home Centre called Rocco. Another is about 150 metres away down the side street that borders the garden store, called Pro's.
On the way to Meinohama Station there is the Daiei supermarket, whilst a Deitos branch is located in the station proper. Just a little beyond the station you'll find Sunny, a well priced supermarket.
FOREIGN GROCERIES - Also above the Conan Home Centre opposite Fukuoka Yacht Harbour inside the Sakoda store, you'll find a small section of the store devoted to an assortment of imported groceries.
Additionally opposite and across from Sunny in Meinohama (just under the freeway bridge) you'll find a supermarket/imported grocery outlet with a good range of products.
Lastly, on Marina Dori, next to the Fukuoka City Museum (a bus ride away - the 303) you'll find Bon Repas, an up market super with a large range of hard to find foreign groceries and a large range of cheese.
Postal Services: A post office is located on Mehinohama-chome just down from the coin laundry
Hotels & Restaurants: There are many budget priced hotels in the marina precinct.
Internet/Phones: See "All about the Internet in Japan" on this Blog. INTERNET - Internet cafes are spread throughout Fukuoka. Most allow the plugging in of a laptop for downloading. Of particular use are the following:-
1.At the Evergreen Hotel, on the second floor, is a coin-in-the-slot internet terminal (no laptop).
2.The management at Fukuoka Yacht Harbour may allow access to their internet terminal for weather predictions etc. On occasion you may connect to a wifi network on the second floor of the office complex.
3.At Nishijin Station (directly opposite the main entrance) is the T-Smile café. Modern and fast. Laptops OK.
4.Still in Nishijin, go down the narrow market street two blocks from the subway station, turn left and some 100 metres you'll find Cybak (associated to Cybex) in the basement of the building that houses the DVD Rental store. Older and fast. Laptops OK.
5.On the 8th floor of the bus depot building, besides Hakata Station, you'll find Media Popeye a crowded but modern and fast internet café. Laptops OK.
6.At Rainbow Plaza, Watanabe Dori, (next to Tenjin Core) on the 8th floor there is a service for foreigners where limited internet service is made available. Registration is required
WIFI - The internet may be accessed through most full service MacDonald's outlets throughout the city including one on Mehinohama-chome some 10 minutes walk from Fukuoka Yacht Harbour. Need to pay.
In addition look out for the blue Freespot decal that is sometimes applied to the front of drink vending machines. Access is available here.
Freespots are also available on all floors of Terminals 1, 2 and International of the Fukuoka Airport, as well as Seattle's Best Coffee in Tenjin. Most hotel lobbies have free wifi but rules vary as to times of usage and whether the service is restricted to guests..
Laundry Services: A coin operated laundry is located on Mehinohama-chome near the corner of Marina Dori. Cost about US$8 per large machine
Air/Sea/Road Transport: SUBWAY - The nearest station to both Odo and Marinoa is Meinohama which is the other terminal for the Kuko or Fukuoka Airport Line. Tienjin and Hakata are about 15 and 20 minutes away respectively.
AIRPORT - Fukuoka International airport is well connected to international services to most parts of the world and is a 35 minute subway ride from Meinohama.
TRAIN - Train services connect to most other parts of Japan including the Sony Shinkansen at Hakata. A service to Karatsu operates from Meinohama Station.
BUS - A Showa bus operates from just outside the Conan Home Centre which goes to Marinoa or to Meinohama Station. Fee ¥100. A Nishitsu bus service, the 303, operates from Marinoa to Hakata Station via Tienjin. Buses leave approximately every 30 minutes. The return journey commences from Bus Station "A" opposite Hakata Station or from the "To Marinoa Station" opposite Tienjin Station.
Within the Hakata - Fukuoka CBD there is a "¥100" bus loop service available at a frequency of every few minutes. The area is generally marked as the yellow area on tourist maps.
RENT A CAR - Orix, Budget and Nippon rental car companies are located behind Meinohama station on the same street as the Sunny supermarket.
A hydrofoil ferry operates daily to Busan, South Korea.
Special Notes: An extensive range of medical and hospital services are available in Fukuoka. One of the local yachtsmen, Arita Masahide (092-831-6660) is a general practitioner who speaks English.
Another English speaking medical service is available at the international clinic in Tojinmachi (092-717-1000). Located on Mejin Dori next to the Takara International Pharmacy. Exit 1 at Tojinmachi Station. There is a hospital (Marine Hospital) 10 minutes walk from the marina.
Other Information: CINEMAS - On the 8th floor of the Hakata Station Bus Terminal building, (besides Hakata Station, Sumiyoshi Dori side) you'll find the "Cine Libre" a movie theatre that shows recent release English and foreign language films.
MINISTRY OF LANDS - Tel 092-472-3255 Fax 092-472-3301 or through marina office. (For cruising permits)
BOOKSTORES - Fukuoka is well served with bookstores that have foreign language book, magazine and newspaper sections.
In particular the following are worth a visit:-
1.On the 5th and 6th floors of the Hakata Station Bus Terminal building, (besides Hakata Station, Sumiyoshi Dori side) you'll find an excellent bookstore.
2.Opposite Exit 6 of Tienjin Subway Station, Watanabe Dori, in the Fuku Building, you'll find Maruzen, five floors of books, stationery and magazines. Some French and German publications are also regularly available.
3.In the Intermedia Centre (IMS) also in Tienjin you'll find another good range of reading material.
4.... and finally, several kiosks in the Hakata Station complex sell English language local newspapers (Eigo shimbun).
Disclaimer: The information made available herein is intended as purely a broad guideline for the intending cruising yachtsman. It is not intended as, nor should it be used for navigation. The authors accept no responsibility for its accuracy and therefore cannot be held liable for any consequences of its use.