Riding the Arimura Ferry from Okinawa, Japan to Taiwan

In 2008 I traveled from Naha, Okinawa to Kaohsiung, Taiwan by ferry just before the ferry company disappeared. Here are a few photos from the trip.

The ferry company was called Arimura, and if I remember correctly, the price of a ticket was about $150 USD each way.

The trip took two or three nights. Each passenger got a bunk bed to to sleep on during the trip:

Here is a photo of my bunk:

If the ferry starts running again, I recommend trying to stop over on Ishigaki Island or one of the other Ryukyu Islands. I was able to leave the ferry in Ishigaki for a few hours, and I regret not staying on Ishigaki for couple of days.

Orion Beer was sold in vending machines throughout the ship -- about $3 USD for a can:

We arrived in Kaohsiung, Taiwan before dawn and waited for the sun to come up and a boat that would ferry us to shore.

Here is a photo of the sun rising over Kaohsiung and the Tuntex Sky Tower (the 18th tallest building in the world).

After checking into my hostel, I took a walk along the Love River:

When I went to cancel my return trip back to Japan, the ferry office was closed and I wasn't able to get a refund. I later found out the Arimura Ferry went out of business.

Have you ridden the Okinawa-Taiwan Ferry? Are there any alternatives to the Arimura Ferry, or is it now impossible to travel by boat between Japan and Taiwan?