monkey@cruise

Don't count on the hi speed ferry as a reliable transport service. When I was in Hiroshima, the service was shutdown for a day because of bridge work.

You overnight in Kobe, any plan having a Kobe wagyu beef lunch? Any tour in Kochi? Seared bonito is the soul food in Kochi, plus Yuzu Ice Cream. Last time had an oyster Okonomiyaki lunch in Miyajima, this time will try the oyster set meal. Near the Miyajima ferry terminal, is a bread shop (BIGSET) sells oyster curry bread and wagyu beef curry bread.

https://www.tidetime.org/asia/japan/miyajima-calendar-mar.htm High tide at 12:33pm on 20-March-2025.

https://www.tidetime.org/asia/japan/miyajima-calendar-apr.htm Low tide at 2:11 pm on 25th April 2025.

Ship will dock at Kobe Port terminal, exit the cruise terminal and turn right to the Port Terminal metro station. Fare is ¥220, 7 min ride to Sannomiya metro station, turn right after exit the metro station gate, down one level to the JR station hallway. If you have IC card, just tap and go, otherwise purchase the train ticket to Kyoto station from a ticket office or a vending machine (support English language), cash payment only. Fare ¥1100, travel time 55 min Timetable from Sannomiya to Kyoto The above train schedules stop at Kyoto station (6 stops) Return from Kyoto to Sannomiya, you must leave Kyoto before 5pm for 7pm Kobe departure. You will take the train bound to Himeji and get off at Sannomiya. Even though it's the same Sannomiya, the station name is written in a slightly different way for each railway line. I think JR line uses Sannomiya (Hyogo). You need to take the New Rapid train, local ones will be 95 min travel. You will travel in Japan during Sakura season, also weekdays morning rush hours in Sannomiya stations. Most Kyoto attractions will be crowded

Hiroshima Peace Park <-> Miyajima Hi Speed Ferry web site https://www.aqua-net-h.co.jp/en/heritage/ Under timetable, select the boarding date, system only posting operation schedule 3 months in advance. For March schedule, check in late December or early January. https://www.aqua-net-h.co.jp/en/heritage/schedule.html Pier location: https://www.aqua-net-h.co.jp/en/heritage/terminal.html

I will revisit Hiroshima again on 5th September, will verify some information and will post the how-to in details when return home in late September. You will have Japan exit immigration before sailing to South Korea. Kochi and Hakodate can be DIY.

My August Japan cruise will visit Hiroshima on 5th September, Will post the how-to details when return home in late September. Your port time is 9am-6pm and Japan exit immigration when reboard the ship to South Korea, so you plan to have lunch in Hiroshima city or in Miyajima?

If you stay in Japan's Hawaii - Okinawa.

The hi speed ferry suspend service during high and low tide. The fare is 2200/pp, 48 min travel time. Plan B is ferry back to the mainland and ride the train (not tram) and taxi/tram to peace park.

I post cruise stay in Hiroshima for 3 days, bought a 3 days pass to explore the whole city. You like the info post here or under your roll call?

Glover Garden Map, the red arrow is Glover Garden Gate #2

Do you have your date and arrival time in Hiroshima? So I can look up if the hi speed ferry will operate (pending on tide level)

@villauk @Pushka @StopTheWorld Ship will dock at Kobe Port terminal, exit the cruise terminal and turn right to the Port Terminal metro station. Fare is ¥220, 7 min ride to Sannomiya metro station, turn right after exit the metro station gate, down one level to the JR station hallway. If you have IC card, just tap and go, otherwise purchase the train ticket to Himeji station from a ticket office or vending machine (support English language), cash payment only. Fare ¥990, travel time 40 min, runs every 15 min. Typical station timetable: White on red is the SUPER HAKUTO express (expensive fare), blue color is limited express and black is the local (snail train). If you want to see the time table in English: https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/timetable/ or google search “navitime japan sannomiya to himeji timetable” will return the timetable in English, though only display timetable for 3 months, the schedule is very static. On Filter Trains line: select “New Rapid” Do NOT ride the SUPER HAKUTO express (RAPID), very expensive ! Sannomiya to Himeji timetable Himeji to Sannomiya timetable If you click on any schedule run will display the train stops detail I leverage Japan Travel by NAVITIME web and app on my Japan public transport planning. Ride Bus from Stop #6-#10, will stop at Himeji castle Entrance, ride 3 min, fare ¥100 https://www.himeji-kanko.jp/files_foreign/pdf/transportation_guide.pdf https://visit-himeji.com/en/travel-info/how-to-ride-buses-around-himeji/ Himeji Castle: Kaesong time: From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (gate closes at 4:00 p.m.) https://www-city-himeji-lg-jp.j-server.com/LUCHIMEJIC/ns/tl.cgi/https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/castle/index.html?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XCHARSET=utf-8&XJSID=0 Note: Daitenshu (Main donjon) and in the building in Nishinomaru (Square)Hyakken roka are prohibited of wearing shoes. Be environmental friendly, bring your own plastic bag / shoe bag for your shoes. Wear non-slip socks because wood floorings are polished.

If you purchased a tram day pass, after you done other sightseeing, make Glover Garden as your last pit stop, you don't get off at O-Urakaigandori Station for the cruise terminal, but continue on to Ishibashi Station. You exit through Glover Garden front gate and walk 5-10 min back to cruise terminal. You will see some shops on your way back, try the Castella (カステラ, kasutera) is a type of Japanese sponge cake, introduced to Japan by Portuguese merchants in the 16th century

Visit Miyajima and Hiroshima Peace Garden is doable DIY. The hi speed ferry from Miyajima to Hiroshima Peace Park run is subject to tide level. All Hiroshima tram stations have network map and timetable posted, so I don't need to use google map.

To ride the free Glover Sky escalator: Take the tram #5 to end station - Ishibashi Station and walk 3 min to the escalator entrance. After exit escalator, walk another 80 feet to the elevator, up to Glover Garden Gate #2, Only in Nagasaki ! You can watch other tourists walking their way up to Glover Garden.

Yes, you can take a taxi up and drop off at Ringer Street Glover Garden #2 gate entrance, or ride the FREE Glover Sky Road Escalator and Elevator to the hill top near the Glover Garden #2 gate entrance.

I will post a thread how to DIY from Kobe to Himeji Castle in details under ASIA - Port of Call topic. Also volunteer guide service may available for Himeji castle, no exhibit inside the castle building; shoes must be removed and the wooden floor varnish seems slippery, I wore non-slip socks because my bad ankle footing,

Port Liner is a metro (above ground) running between Kobe Airport and Sannomiya Station. The JR Limited Express to Himeji Station runs every 15 min, 40 min travel time, fare ¥990. From Himeji station, either walk 20 min or pay ¥100 bus fare to Himeji castle. Himeji castle opens from 9:00am to 5:00pm (gate close at 4pm) Not all JR express trains go to Himeji, here is the timetable.

DIY Nagasaki. Ship will dock at Matsugae International Terminal. From Cruise Terminal Tourist Info Booth, purchase a Nagasaki Tramway ONE-DAY Pass, a one-day unlimited ride pass for streetcars in Nagasaki City. Walk 5 min to O-Urakaigandori tram station to start your adventure. Shinchi Chinatown (get off at Shinchi Chinatown), one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan; Dejima Island (get off at Dejima), Site of the Former Dutch Trading Post. The oldest Christian church in Japan, Oura Tenshudo (get off at Oura Cathedral) To visit the exotic Glover Garden which is on Minami Yamate Hill, the normal access is walking uphill, but if through a special passage, will be downhill.walking.

walk 8 min to Hiroshima Hondori Shopping street, a shopping arcade is closed to car traffic. Lots of restaurants, many with english menu.

Miyajama Island tourist area is small, the major highlight is Itsukushima Jinja, 15 min walk from the ferry terminal. Most tours will stay there 1 - 1 1/4 hr. Hiroshima Peace Park is also small, from Atomic Bomb Dome to Memorial Museum is 8 min walk, most excursion just cover the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Memorial Museum (1-2 hr inside seeing the exhibits)

Minor cities, like Hiroshima, not all taxis accept credit card as payment, always a good idea to have some cash. There are other exhibitions in the park, like Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall, Children's Peace Monument, Atomic Bomb Memorial Burial Mound, Bell of Peace, Clock Tower of Peace, etc. You can take your time to see.

From Itsukaichi Station to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, taxi fare is ¥3500 (tipping not expected in Japan). If you are using taxi to/from Hiroshima Peace Park (US $60), the cost is still cheaper than the excursion, well, the extra US $100, you don't need to queue the shuttle buses and come with a tour guide. 😜 Most of Japan ports can be DIY, I can afford another Japan cruise from shore excursion saving.