[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. #Oita #OitaAirport #OitaAirportAccess #OitaTrip #JapanTravelGuide