geoffN

On our Transpacific cruise last year Otaru was our first Japanese stop. We walked around the town,which was quite compact, looked in a couple of small museums and generally people watched and accustomed ourselves to being in Japan. It is a very non threatening fir(st step into Japanese life and we met several groups okf school children who were anxious to practise English and direct us around town.

 

After spending a few hours there we felt much more confident about out post cruise plans for ten days of independent travel in Kyoto, Hakone and Tokyo.

thanks

Kushiro is remote but Otaru is an easy port to do your own things and you can easily make it to the Nikka Whiskey Distillery for only a few dollars on the train opposed to the exorbitant price Princess charges for excursions. Otaru is a great small place to visit and the canal area is easy to get to and it is close to the main train station. To get to Nikka Whiskey Distillery you need to get from Otaru Station to Yoichi Station.

thanks heaps - this helps

thanks cruising cockroach - this helps - geoff

thanks this helps - geoff

Hi we are sailing on Diamond Princess which docks in Otaru as one of its calls. Anyone been to this port before? Can you recommend shore excursions - is the port / town itself interesting enough to just walk around rather than go on an organised tour? - thanks in advance

Sailing on cruise around north island Japan next month. Anyone been on similar cruise that stops at Kushiro and / or Otaru? Did you do self organised tours in these ports? Is there enough to do in these ports in the port towns themselves without going on an organised tour? thanks in advance

:)

Kushiro is a great port. They cater to cruisers. Look for a place near the dock called the egg. Inside is a market and also music and entertainment. When we were there, we were able to dress in kimono and take photos. Also origami of their Kushiro crane. As you walk through the town, look for cranes of manholes, light posts, etc. - very artistic! And listen to the traffic signals, it is either music or birds chirping - just beautiful. Enjoy!

thanks :)

What is "AIBP" and "PBP" - using jargon does not help, not everyone has been on endless cruises some of us are first timers

We are Diamond Princess cruise in August. Cruise stops in these 2 ports. Can anyone advise about spending day by ourselves walking around these ports or is it better to do organised tour at these ports. Thanks

WOW!! thank you so much - this is great and we now know what we will do.

Also on the same cruise ship stops at Kushiro and Otaru for a day each - have you had any experience at thes ports? thanks Geoff

My wife and I were there about 3 years ago--off a Silverseas cruise. The fish market in Hakodate was the highlight of our visit--it is large and very very interesting. You can walk from there along the waterfront area until you get to a very nice Starbucks--there is good shopping nearby.

thanks heaps

Also on the same cruise ship stops at Kushiro and Otaru for a day each - have you had any experience at these ports? thanks Geoff

Why not use the services of the Hakodate Goodwill Guide Association? It's almost free and you can go where you want with consultation with your volunteer guide. We did this last May and had a wonderful guide!

https://hakodategoodwill.wixsite.com/hakodatesgg

Great!! thanks for your help

Also on the same cruise ship stops at Kushiro and Otaru for a day each - have you had any experience at thes ports? thanks Geoff

My wife and I were there about 3 years ago--off a Silverseas cruise. The fish market in Hakodate was the highlight of our visit--it is large and very very interesting. You can walk from there along the waterfront area until you get to a very nice Starbucks--there is good shopping nearby.

cool!! thanks heaps

Also on the same cruise ship stops at Kushiro and Otaru for a day each - have you had any experience at thes ports? thanks Geoff

Our day in Hakodate here. That was in 2015 on Diamond Princess.

WOW!! thank you so much - this is great and we now know what we will do.

Will be in Hakodate for 1 day in August as part of Diamond Princess cruise. Rather than go on an organised tour while there we were thinking just walking around the city for the day. Anyone on a cruise done this is it worth doing?:):):)

The trouble with drinks calculators imo is that they don’t always reflect what you actually do. You don’t drink exactly the same each day, and normally people don’t get drunk for 14x days in a row. (Not usually anyway)

 

I have had a very quick go at what I have found useful for working out if a drinks package is for me.

 

You basically type in the yellow boxes how many drinks you have on boozy days, less boozy days and alcohol free days.

 

I have found it much more useful and easy to use than the calculators on here. See what you think?

WOW!! thanks for working this out - awesome