Well, this is pretty much the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen. An awesome map/infographic combo from Japan showing overnight ferry routes in that country. The map uses a grid of dots to define the shape of the Japanese islands, and the routes are beautifully stylised, but clear and easy to follow. The minimalist colour scheme is quite lovely and is used sensibly to enhance understanding of the information presented. Note how the blue and purple alternate in the list of routes below the map, logically breaking the information up into chunks.

The list of routes seems to be very informative, showing fares and stops along the route, all of which are shown in a straight line along some sort of a scale (which seems to indicate hours) to allow for easy comparison. The fantastic technical illustrations of some the ships are just an added bonus.

How good is this infographic? Well, the fact that I can interpret much of the information shown, despite not being able to read one single character of Japanese says it all.

Our rating: Looks great while being packed with information. Five stars!

Source: Tripadvisor Japan/Tripgraphics