Check Out Oita’s Hovercraft Exclusively with its Designers

*Subtitles are available in Japanese, English and Thai. Please enjoy the video with subtitles on.

In this video, we’ll introduce the high-speed hovercraft that travels between Oita Airport and west Oita City, offering a one-of-a-kind mode of transportation.

【Contents】
0:29 Introduction to Oita Prefecture's Hovercraft
2:38 Tour inside the Hovercraft
6:50 Hover Terminal Oita (Oita Airport)
7:54 Hover Terminal Oita (West Oita Port)

EXPLORE OITA JAPAN【The Official YouTube Channel of Oita Prefecture】
~ Ultimate Guide for Onsen Capital Prefecture Oita ~
We will showcase Oita’s unique tourism attractions for your next trip to Japan.
Please subscribe to our channel!
   / @exploreoitajapan  

This hovercraft can run at high speeds on both water and land and is the first fixed route hovercraft to appear in Japan in 14 years. In fact, the only passenger hovercrafts in the world now are in England and 2024’s Oita hovercraft.

Our host went to check out this hovercraft and the hovercraft terminal!

Hovercrafts use an aircushion to run over both water and land. A powerful fan blows air into the bottom to make it float, while a huge propeller at the rear pushes it across the water. It is much faster than a regular passenger boat, and if the conditions are right, it can continue onto shoals and land without losing speed.

First, our host received a lecture on how hovercrafts work by Mark Downer, the engineering director of Griffon Hoverwork Ltd. Griffon Hoverwork is a hovercraft manufacturing company established in southern England, and Downer is the designer of Oita’s hovercraft.

Oita Prefecture currently has three hovercrafts, which are colored a futuristic white, navy blue, and red. They were given the names Baien, Banri, and Tanso by the public, and our host was able to see Banri up close with the guidance of Downer.

Oita’s hovercraft can reach a maximum speed of 45 knots (51.8 miles). They can travel between west Oita and Oita Airport in around 30 minutes, which is a big cut from the 60-minute bus ride that was used up until now. It feels more like an airplane than a boat, cruising smoothly and comfortably, even when leaving port. The sound onboard is 74dB, which is around the same as a busy café, ensuring a pleasant journey while arriving exactly on time. This oversea route, which was once discontinued, is a big help for traveling locals, and it can hold up to 80 passengers and is wheelchair accessible.

Next, our host visited the hovercraft terminal, and interviewed Ms. Isayama from the Oita Prefecture Transportation Policy Division, along with Mr. Inada, who is the Terminal Architects Design Manager.

There are hovercraft passenger terminals at both Oita Airport and west Oita. These unique terminals were built with local cedar wood and feature a shimmering space-inspired design, and the hovercraft is able to ride up right next to the boarding gates. Along with saving time, passengers can enjoy fabulous views of the oceans and mountains, including Beppu Bay. Both the hovercrafts and terminal buildings are a delight for the eyes!

Oita Airport connects the sea, land, and even space, while Oita Prefecture offers hot springs, beautiful nature, and more. It’s now more convenient than ever to reach both, so we hope to see you in Oita soon!

-------
大分県観光情報公式サイト / Discover Oita▶︎https://bit.ly/37fTNKx
大分市観光協会公式サイト▶︎https://www.oishiimati-oita.jp
大分空港▶︎https://www.oita-airport.jp
テッパンおおいた / Teppan Oita▶︎https://bit.ly/2T4LtoU
Visit Oita：English▶https://oita-tourism.com/en
한국어▶https://oita-tourism.com/ko
简体中文▶https://oita-tourism.com/zh-CN
繁體中文▶https://oita-tourism.com/zh-TW
ภาษาไทย▶https://oita-tourism.com/th
Weibo 日本大分县旅游局▶https://bit.ly/34XtXJB
Tourismoita Instagram▶︎https://bit.ly/347b6vg
Tourism OITA Facebook▶︎https://bit.ly/37hEn8w

#Japan #Kyushu #Oita #ExploreOitaJapan #Tourism #Travel #Experience #Activities #Food #HistoryCulture #Accommodation #Hovercraft #OitaAirport