BruceMuzz

Walk 2 blocks from Osanbashi to Nihon-Odori subway station. Take the Minato-Mirai Local (40 minutes) or the Express (29 minutes) to Shibuya. At Shibuya, remain on the train, even though the name changes. The last stop is Shinjuku San-chome, which is a short walk or taxi ride from your hotel OR Walk 2 blocks from Osanbashi to Nihon-Odori subway station. Take the Minato-Mirai Local to Yokohama Station. From Yokohama Station, take any JR Train to Shinjuku Station.

Your question is not an easy one to answer. Although the actual number is often debated, Metro Tokyo is generally regarded as the largest city on Earth, at around 42 million people. There are many Cities and Districts within Metro Tokyo - each with it's own culture and style. The number of train and subway lines - public and private - is in the 100's. The number of train and subway stations is in the 1,000's. Tokyo Sky Tree area is good for the Sky Tree and Sumo Stables, Sumo Matches Ginza area is good for high end shopping and dining, Department Stores, and Imperial Palace Asakusa area is good for temple visits and "Restaurant City" (Kappabashi) Shinjuku area is good for night life, robot bars and restaurants, shopping, and City Parks Shibuya area is good for discount shopping, college kids, and Hachiko ShitaMachi (literally "downtown") in Chiyoda-ku is good for prewar buildings and antique shops Ueno area is good for museums and the zoo Roppongi area is good for all the foreigner things and sex clubs Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station are the places to go for Bullet Trains Minato-ku area is good for Tokyo Disney, Tokyo Tower, River and Dinner cruises, and city parks Tsuki-shima is good for Okonomiyaki Akihabara (Electric City), in Minato-ku is great for computers and electronics Toyosu fish market in Tokyo Bay has replaced the nearby old fish market -Tsukiji- both fascinating Omotesando / Harajuku has high end shopping and the Goth Harajuku Girls Japanese baseball games occur nearly all year around in Tokyo. They are fascinating.

When I worked at Royal Cruise Line during the period in question, we also had all Greeks with limited English. But the Cruise Line was smart enough to always have at least one European - usually me - who was able to edit all printed materials to ensure we did not look like idiots.

The Welcome Suica Card is nearly as good as the regular Suica Card. The regular Suica Card requires a cash deposit; the Welcome Suica does not. You cannot have the outstanding balance refunded, but there are so many ways to use the card that it is doubtful you will have much left over anyway. Aside from Trains, Subways, Buses and Ferries, Suica can also be used in taxis, at convenience stores, and for vending machines. When you are at Narita or Haneda airport, ready to fly home, you can use any leftover credit to purchase a meal, a drink, or some souvenirs. Maybe some Wasabi Kit-Kats?

Bob, When I am not managing a cruise ship, I get paid a lot of money to advise and train cruise lines and their employees how not to fail a USPH or Health Canada surprise inspection. Every one of them manages to find and download the latest USPH and Health Canada Operations Manuals, which are very complex, but also very specific, on health standards and operations. If you are willing to pay me, I will provide the same services to you. Or you can do it yourself - for free.

Hank posted the easiest way to get there. Of course it depends on where in Yokohama you are starting. If you are at Osanbashi Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, you can walk 2 blocks to Nihon-Odori Subway Station. There you can catch the Minato-Mirai Subway Train to Shibuya. The regular train takes 40 minutes. The Express Train (runs several times every day) costs the same but takes only 29 minutes. At Shibuya Station, transfer to the Ginza Line, and get off at Ueno Station. You could also transfer to JR Yamanote Line in Shibuya. The JR Train to Ueno Station travels above ground, so you would get a better view of Tokyo, although the trip would take several more minutes. Hank's advice on Suica Card and a working mobile telephone were spot on. Using Rome2Rio, or a similar app will make your travels in Japan far easier.

You should start with www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/default.htm This will get you to the USPH pages and links to the various VSP Manuals. You can also google "Health Canada" to access their manuals that mirror most of the USPH Standards. In some cases, Health Canada has even more stringent standards. After managing Michelin Starred Hotels and Restaurants in Europe, Asia, and North America, along with 31 different cruise ships - all over the past 50 years - I have somehow learned that cruise ships are vastly different environments than any land-based restaurant. But I have also learned that the same unsanitary people and conditions on land and at sea will sicken and kill people. There are those who would argue that overly strict cleanliness standards are not fair or logical. I will counter that one can never be too careful when it comes to keeping humans healthy and alive.

The US Public Health service has documented many times that the best places to catch viruses like COVID, colds, flu, and Norovirus are ship's buffets and ship's public toilets. The buffets are magnets for people raised by wolves; they fail to wash hands after using the toilet, mis-handle serving utensils, use their hands to pick up food, taste food and then put it back on the buffet, drop things on to the floor and then put them back on the buffet. Their unsupervised children commit even worse transgressions - all aimed to get you ill. Public toilets are often used by people with stomach issues who either cannot make it back to their cabins to use the toilet, or do not want to make a big mess in their cabin toilets and choose to do it in a public toilet where it cannot be traced back to them.

Takkyubin is not a company - but rather a word that describes the procedure of shipping luggage and other items. There are many companies that do this. One is Kuro Neko (Black Cat) - mentioned in my post above. Another is Kangaru. As I mentioned above, the Kuro Neko Office is right near the Cruise Terminal in Yokohama. All of these companies offer the same services for about the same prices. There is no need nor advantage for arranging it in advance. Prices are generally charged by the size of the suitcase. A large suitcase will cost around US$20 - depending on the exchange rate for the currency you are using. If you give them your bags in the morning, they will guarantee to deliver them the next day - and often will actually deliver them the same day if the distance is not too far.

AQSC (American Queen) is a US Flag operation. They are not subject to United States Public Health Service Standards. They can do whatever they want with your food and get away with it. On RCI you were probably eating from a Time Control Buffet Line. With time control, any prepared food can be safely served at any temperature if it is either consumed or discarded within 4 hours.

Pocket talk devices cost about US$300-400. I believe you can rent them from most Japanese Airports for about US$75. Googlel is your friend.

In Japan, many of us use a translation device called Pocketalk. It is a bit pricey, but incredibly accurate and very easy to use. You can rent one when you visit Japan.

I would never sail on a mass market ship. The Premium and Luxury Lines are not cutting back like the Mass Market Lines are, making the smaller, more luxurious ships an even better deal.

Uhhh, not quite correct. Customs and Immigration procedures vary dramatically from port to port in Japan. I have worked on ships sailing in Japan for 3 decades. On some voyages, the procedures are as you explained above, but on a growing number of cruises in Japan, Immigration insists on processing everyone upon arrival at a port and once again before departure from the port. I speak Japanese and have many times tried to get an explanation from the local Immigration Officials as to why it varies so much. So far, they refuse to give an answer. Japanese Flag cruise ships, carrying mostly Japanese Citizens, are not subject to the Japanese Cabotage laws, and so are not required to call at a foreign port during a Japan Domestic Cruise. Even so, they are often required to undergo Customs and Immigration checks in some Japanese ports. All "other" flagged ships must leave Japan and visit at least one foreign port (usually Korea) during a Japan-Japan cruise. This procedure only complicates the legalities with Japanese Customs and Immigration.

Haneda Taxis are remarkably efficient. The taxi stand (takushi uriba) is right outside the arrivals hall. If you have to wait at all at that hour, it will be less than 5 minutes.

I work on a small, rather expensive ship today. Our menus are longer, with more choices, and more interesting choices. I also notice quite a few typos and missing accents on the menus you posted.

Odaiba is primarily a tourist area. Most of us never go there.

Sorry, my error. In that case, Google is your friend. There are a few hotels near Kai Tak, but it is not a very nice nor convenient area to stay.

Sorry. My bad. Most Tokyoites never ride the Yurikamome Line. At Odaiba, you can take the Yurikamome Line from Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station. This subway line passes the new Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, and crosses the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay, Get off at Shiodome Station. 320 yen and 11 minutes travel time. Then transfer to O-Edo Subway Line at Shiodome Station and get off at Shinjuku Station.

There are more than two dozen hotels within easy walking distance of the Ocean Terminal. Just google "Kowloon Hotels" and look at the map.

After living in Japan for over 35 years, frequently travelling into and out of the country, I have never experienced nor heard of anyone ever having any issues with personal medications at the Japan Border.

Most cruise passengers do not realize that the cruise lines are stuck in a legal limbo that causes them to raise the prices of tours to ridiculous numbers. The number of North Americans who travel without insurance is very high. When they do have problems on a ship-based tour (injuries, etc), they either pay huge medical bills out of pocket - or they sue the cruise line. A surprisingly high number go for the legal route. To protect themselves, the cruise lines buy a lot of liability insurance -or force the tour operators to buy that insurance. Most cruise lines require $1 Million liability insurance for every pax on every tour. I have worked for companies that require $2 Million per pax per tour. If you are going on a tour in Hawaii or Maine, that liability insurance is not very expensive. If you are on a tour on Komodo Island or going up the Amazon, the insurance rates are ridiculously high. Who is going to have to pay for that expensive insurance ? The people who take the tours. It is added into the price of the tour. The same tour operator can sell you an independent tour with no insurance for a much lower price. If you are healthy, willing to take calculated risks, have good travel insurance, and feel a bit lucky, why not take the cheaper tour instead of the one from the ship?

Shimbashi to Shinjuku on O-Edo line is about 15 minutes.

The FDA does not require the insect parts to be listed as ingredients. You get them free of charge.

At Odaiba, you can take the Yurikamome Line from Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station. This subway line passes the new Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, crosses the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay, passes Shiodome Baseball Stadium, and ends at Shimbashi Station. 320 yen and 13 minutes travel time. Then transfer to O-Edo Subway Line at Shimbashi Station and get off at Shinjuku Station.