Cruise
Guntû
A 17-suite ship from Onomichi that sails the Seto Inland Sea on two- to four-night voyages, anchoring off islands at night and taking guests ashore by tender.
It is run like a ryokan, with timber interiors, terraces close to the water and meals cooked to order.
From
¥625,000 per person
Length
Two to four nights
The ship
17 suites, 36 guests at most
Age
Minimum age 15 at departure
Japan
We apply for you
Tell us the journey and the season. Our team in Japan watches the ballots and application dates, applies with the route and suite you want, settles your requests with the operator, and arranges the nights before and after at places we know. At the operator’s own fare.
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Have it reviewed for USD 85The routes (13)
2 nights
A three-day voyage to explore straits and antique Setouchi (westward)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Onomichi and Mihara straits, anchorage off Miyajima, Hiroshima Bay and the Ondo Strait, Kutsuna Islands, anchorage off Omishima
November 2026; December 2026 to May 2027
2 nights
A three-day voyage to explore old pirate sites and navigate their routes (central)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Okunoshima, anchorage off Omishima, Kurushima and Hakata straits among the Geiyo Islands, anchorage off Tomonoura
October 2026; February to May 2027
2 nights
A three-day voyage to follow threads of tradition through Setouchi (eastward)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Tomonoura, the Great Seto Bridge, anchorage off Tamano, Takamatsu, Ushimado and Teshima, anchorage in Takuma Bay, Manabeshima
December 2026, February and May 2027
2 nights
A three-day voyage to explore abundant nature and island culture (eastward)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Tomonoura, the Kasaoka Islands, the Great Seto Bridge, anchorage off Tamano, Teshima and Shodoshima, the Shiwaku Islands, anchorage in Takuma Bay
October to December 2026; March to May 2027
3 nights
A four-day voyage to enjoy Setouchi art island-hopping (eastward)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Anchorage off Tamano, Naoshima and Teshima, anchorage in Uchinomi Bay on Shodoshima, Takamatsu, Ogijima and Megijima, anchorage in Takuma Bay
November 2026; March and May 2027
Show the other 8 routes
3 nights
A four-day voyage to drift leisurely across western Setouchi (drifting)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Kutsuna Islands, anchorage off Suooshima, Iwaishima and the Kaminoseki Strait, anchorage off Miyajima, the Ondo and Kurushima straits, anchorage off Omishima
December 2026; February to May 2027
3 nights
A four-day voyage to drift leisurely across central Setouchi (drifting)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Anchorage off Tomonoura, the Geiyo Islands, anchorage off Omishima, Ibukijima, the Kasaoka and Shiwaku islands, the Great Seto Bridge, anchorage in Takuma Bay
December 2026; February and April 2027
3 nights
A four-day voyage to drift leisurely across eastern Setouchi (drifting)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Manabejima, anchorage in Takuma Bay, the Great Seto Bridge, Naoshima Strait, Ushimado and Hinase, anchorage in Uchinomi Bay on Shodoshima, Ogijima, anchorage off Kitagishima
January to May 2027
3 nights
A four-day voyage of smooth Setouchi sailing (drifting)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Tomonoura, anchorage off Kitagishima, Ibukijima, the Shiwaku Islands, the Great Seto Bridge, Naoshima, Ushimado and Teshima, anchorage in Uchinomi Bay on Shodoshima, Megijima, anchorage in Takuma Bay
October and November 2026 (summer and autumn route)
3 nights
A four-day voyage to relax amid historical landscapes and island vistas (westward)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Kutsuna Islands, anchorage off Suooshima, Iwaishima and the Kaminoseki Strait, anchorage off Miyajima, the Ondo Strait and Sekizen Islands, anchorage off Omishima
November 2026 (summer and autumn route)
3 nights
Setouchi New Year voyage (special route)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi
Departs 30 December 2026
4 nights
A five-day voyage to the source of Setouchi's blessings (2027 special spring route)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Visits ashore to producers with the head chef
Departs 14 April 2027
3 nights
A four-day voyage to encounter quietly enduring festival traditions (2027 special spring route)
From Bella Vista Marina, Onomichi · Rural kabuki on Shodoshima; the mikoshi festival on Manabeshima
Departs 2 May 2027
Suites and cabins
The guntû Suite
about 90 sq m · 1 on board
At the bow, the only suite with forward-facing windows; terrace with daybed and open-air cypress bath.
Grand Suite
about 80 sq m · 2 on board
The largest terrace on board, with daybed and open-air cypress bath.
Terrace Suite Prestige
about 90 sq m · 2 on board
Two bedrooms and the only suites for three guests; indoor bath, open-air cypress bath and a private dry sauna; added July 2025.
Terrace Suite with Open-Air Bath
about 50 sq m · 2 on board
Bed set closest to the window; open-air cypress bath on the terrace.
Terrace Suite
about 50 sq m · 10 on board
Seaside sitting area on the terrace and a glassed-in bathroom along it.
Before you go
Dining
All meals and most drinks are included and ordered as guests wish in the Dining Room: Japanese cooking after the teachings of Kenzo Sato of Shigeyoshi in Tokyo, yoshoku (Japanese-style Western dishes), and a six-seat sushi counter supervised by Nobuo Sakamoto of Nobu on Awajishima. Sweets in the Lounge are supervised by Joichiro Kita of Kashiya in Nara.
How it is booked
Guntû holds a ballot when a sailing or departure is oversubscribed. Tell us your dates and our team in Japan applies for you, for the route and suite you choose, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
Good to know
Tattoos must be covered in public areas and guests with tattoos may not use the communal baths and saunas; no smoking except on the Deck 3 smoking area; no strong perfume at meals; no barrier-free cabins and guests must walk unaided. Complimentary cars from Hiroshima Airport or JR Fukuyama station take guests straight to the ship (boarding from 13:00) since the Setouchi Lounge closed on 20 September 2026.
Every fare
From ¥625,000 per person, two sharing a Terrace Suite, for the 2-night westward and eastward voyages (December 2026); the highest published fare is ¥1,750,000 per person, two sharing the guntû Suite, for the 3-night eastern drifting voyage of 29 April 2027 (¥3,350,000 for one guest alone). Meals, drinks (bar rare wines), off-ship activities, tax and service included; special routes are priced separately.
About the ship
guntû: 3,013 gross tons, 81.2 m long and 13.75 m wide, cruising at 10 knots; built by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding (keel laid 28 October 2016, launched 16 January 2017, completed 15 September 2017) and in service since 17 October 2017, registered in Onomichi.
Architect Yasushi Horibe designed the ship and all 17 timber-lined suites, with a gabled roof over the open deck (2017); the two Terrace Suites Prestige were added in July 2025.
Run by Tsuneishi Land & Sea (Setouchi Cruise until April 2026), since 2017.
Stay before or after
Setoda, Onomichi
RyokanAzumi Setoda
Azumi Setoda is on Ikuchijima, across the water from Onomichi, where every guntû voyage starts and ends.
Miyahama Onsen, Hatsukaichi
RyokanSekitei
庭園の宿 石亭
Sekitei looks across to Miyajima, where the westward voyages anchor.
Naoshima
HotelBenesse House
ベネッセハウス
Benesse House is on Naoshima, which the art island-hopping voyage visits.
Yanaidani, Matsuyama
HotelSetouchi Retreat Aonagi by Onko Chishin
瀬戸内リトリート 青凪 by 温故知新
Setouchi Retreat Aonagi is in Matsuyama, the city that takes in the Kutsuna Islands, where the westward voyages pass and go ashore.
Q&A
Guntû holds a ballot when a sailing or departure is oversubscribed. Tell us your dates and our team in Japan applies for you, for the route and suite you choose, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
From ¥625,000 per person, two sharing a Terrace Suite, for the 2-night westward and eastward voyages (December 2026); the highest published fare is ¥1,750,000 per person, two sharing the guntû Suite, for the 3-night eastern drifting voyage of 29 April 2027 (¥3,350,000 for one guest alone). Meals, drinks (bar rare wines), off-ship activities, tax and service included; special routes are priced separately.
A three-day voyage to explore straits and antique Setouchi (westward): November 2026; December 2026 to May 2027. A three-day voyage to explore old pirate sites and navigate their routes (central): October 2026; February to May 2027. A three-day voyage to follow threads of tradition through Setouchi (eastward): December 2026, February and May 2027. A three-day voyage to explore abundant nature and island culture (eastward): October to December 2026; March to May 2027. A four-day voyage to enjoy Setouchi art island-hopping (eastward): November 2026; March and May 2027. A four-day voyage to drift leisurely across western Setouchi (drifting): December 2026; February to May 2027. A four-day voyage to drift leisurely across central Setouchi (drifting): December 2026; February and April 2027. A four-day voyage to drift leisurely across eastern Setouchi (drifting): January to May 2027. A four-day voyage of smooth Setouchi sailing (drifting): October and November 2026 (summer and autumn route). A four-day voyage to relax amid historical landscapes and island vistas (westward): November 2026 (summer and autumn route). Setouchi New Year voyage (special route): Departs 30 December 2026. A five-day voyage to the source of Setouchi's blessings (2027 special spring route): Departs 14 April 2027. A four-day voyage to encounter quietly enduring festival traditions (2027 special spring route): Departs 2 May 2027.
Minimum age 15 at departure; under-18s must travel with a guardian.