How Fanstar’s Tsushima Bus Services Enhance Your Travel Experience: 3 Key Routes Explained

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[iNews24 Reporter Ye-jin Jeong] Panstar Group will begin running scheduled loop buses and charter buses on Tsushima Island starting next month on the 1st.

Tsushima draws more than 400,000 visitors each year, and with tourism on the rise, demand for safer, more convenient ways to get around has grown. Panstar Group is answering that call with upgraded transport options designed for comfort and ease.

The scheduled loop buses will link the whole island along three routes: the Hitakatsu loop, Hitakatsu → Izuhara, and Izuhara → Hitakatsu.

The Hitakatsu loop departs from Hitakatsu Port Terminal and runs three times a day, stopping at Miuda Beach, the Korea Observatory, and Oura Value Mart. It makes it easy for Korean visitors to hop between Hitakatsu’s top sights and shopping spots.

The Hitakatsu → Izuhara and Izuhara → Hitakatsu routes each operate three times daily and connect North and South Tsushima.

Stops include Izuhara’s Chosun Tongsinsa Street, Manzekibashi (Manzeki Bridge), the Eboshidake (Mount Eboshi) viewpoint, Oura Value Mart, the Korea Observatory, and Hitakatsu Port Terminal.

Panstar Group also launched a mobile boarding system called the Miracle Link Pass that uses QR codes, so travelers can board and get on or off mid-route using only their phones.

Ticket options let travelers pick what fits their plans: a one-day unlimited Hitakatsu loop pass (15,000 KRW, about $11.25), a one-way direct Hitakatsu → Izuhara or Izuhara → Hitakatsu single-ride ticket (15,000 KRW, about $11.25), or a pass that covers the Hitakatsu loop plus one direct ride (25,000 KRW, about $18.75).

Schedules are timed to ship arrivals to minimize transfer waits, and the routes are laid out efficiently so you can hit the island’s major northern and southern sights in a single day.

Panstar Group’s Japanese unit, Sanstar Line, will operate the Tsushima loop buses, while ticket sales in Korea will be handled by Miracle Tour and Lizzot.

Passengers select and pay for tickets on the reservation page, receive a QR code by SMS, and scan it on the reader installed on the bus to board. If you prefer a paper ticket, one can be issued at the Panstar counter inside the Busan International Passenger Terminal.

Paying in Korean won ahead of time and getting Korean-language support throughout the purchase process reduces the stress of language barriers and payment issues visitors sometimes face on Tsushima.

Panstar Group will also offer charter buses for group tours booked through travel agencies.

Sanstar Line currently operates a fleet of 30 charter buses in Japan and has earned positive local reviews.

A Panstar Group representative said, “By encouraging Korean visitors to use public transport instead of private cars and by connecting a variety of attractions across the island, we hope to help boost the local economy.”

Meanwhile, Panstar Group has acquired the Kamiso (KAMISO) ryokan in Hitakatsu and plans to reopen it this summer after a full remodel.

Kamiso is one of the government-built “national guesthouses” established across Japan to promote domestic leisure—renowned for stunning scenery and traditional charm.

A Panstar spokesperson said, “After remodeling, Kamiso will reopen as a luxury ryokan with premium features—hinoki (cypress) baths, a Japanese-style restaurant, and ocean-view rooms—offering true relaxation amid beautiful nature.”

When Kamiso reopens, Panstar Group will pair its high-speed ferry service, the Tsushima Link, with scheduled loop buses and a hotel to create a seamless, in-house travel experience that lets them offer a wider range of services.