Japan ports suggestions and advice please

[hillswood]

We are sailing on Norwegian Spirit in November this year to Japan. We wondered if any of the ports are easy to do yourself and which are recommended to do with a ship excursion. We often do our own thing in European ports but are unsure about public transport and finding our way in Japan We are visiting  JEJU, SASEBO, KAGOSHIMA, MIYAZAKI, OSAKA, HIROSHIMA, KOCHI, NAGOYA, SHIMIIZU (MT FUJI), TOKYO

Any tips, advice or recommendations are very welcome.

[Planning to cruise]

I would say do a tour in Hiroshima. Its spread out, there is much to see.  We saw much with a wonderful guide on a ships tour who also gave some emotional family background to the atomic bomb disaster.

 

We did Osaka on our own, first researching what to do, how to do it.  

Also Kagoshima alone.

 

We did not visit your other ports.  Ships tours in some ports did provide an added dimension when guides spoke about local culture and traditions.  

[Hlitner]

You ask if the ports are easy to DIY, and I would answer that the ports can be done DIY but it does take some pre-trip homework and some decent "travel common sense."  It is also very helpful to have a working smartphone (our T-Mobile service works fine in Japan) to help guide you with the map programs and give you the ability to use Google Translate.

 

18 months ago, DW and I spent 12 days (based out of Tokyo and Kyoto) exploring Japan, before we headed to Yokohama to join our cruise.  We have no problems, but we did have a basic itinerary (which we routinely changed).  Some ports, such as Osaka, can be used as gateway ports to go to other places (such as Kyoto from Osaka).   While some ports can easily be handled DIY, others such as Shimizu will likely require a tour.   At Shimizu, many will want to take a tour (we joined with a few others on a private tour) to get closer to Fujiyama.  This is one place I would not do DIY (unless you simply want to stay in town) as one needs to use some kind of vehicle to explore some of the places that give the best view of Mt Fuji and environs.

 

Hank

[WESTEAST]

Of the ports you mention, we visited six on our round trip cruise Tokyo-Tokyo this past spring.

In Tokyo would recommend going to see the Metropolitan Government building (Observatory Elevator from the 1st flr of Main Building No. 1) which has stunning views of Tokyo and as it was a clear day, we could also see Mount Fuji. Luckily for us, it was across the street from our Hilton Hotel Shinjuku so it was easy DIY.  We had complimentary escorted tour with the cruise: Imperial Palace (you could only see a partial view and no interior visit which was just ok tour) then, to Asakusa Senso-ji Temple which was nice and adjoining Nakamise-dori (shopping/food market area). 

 

Have identified tours below that we took for the six ports of call you list all were ship excursions with only one we did a DIY (Kochi) and perhaps may give you some ideas:

• KAGOSHIMA - Samurai homes + Museum to Kamanzi Pilots which we thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend.
• OSAKA - from the port of Kobe where we docked, drove to Osaka and toured Osaka Castle which was beautiful and would also recommend (steep stairs). Your cruise may also offer a tour to Kyoto which we also did from Kobe (had two days at Kobe port) and was beautiful to see the stunning Golden Pavillon and Nijo Castle.
• HIROSHIMA - Peace Memorial Park and Museum (as well as Atomic Bomb Dome, Cenotaph and Flame of Peace) - definitely a must see and also enjoyed city of Hiroshima. 
• KOCHI - our only DIY day - cruise provided a shuttle to Bus Terminal (tourist office nearby and we walked to Kochi Castle (very nice but be prepared to walk up steps) and then on return walk stopped at Hirome Market and saw the Harimaya Bridge then return to ship by provided shuttle. 
• NAGOYA - Nagoya Castle + Atsuta Shrine (Shinto Shrine - be prepared to walk and steep stairs) both recommended.
• SHIMIZU - Sunpu Castle grounds, nearby Shizuoka Sengen shrine, seaside pine grove Miho no Matsubara Mount Fuji - remember to walk by the beach, there is a stunning view of Mount Fuji. 

[thehowlingroad]

I would say a lot of ports in Japan are easy to DIY, but it takes research, Google Maps and Translate, and being used to navigating new cities on your own. The locals were all very helpful once the language barrier was overcome (I was able to buy cold medicine in a pharmacy in Nagasaki through pantomiming the symptoms with the employee), and we were able to see and experience things that the large group tours just weren't able to get to. I think what also helped is that we spent 4 days in Tokyo and Yokohama pre-cruise, and so by the time we got on the ship, we were a little more acclimated to the culture, the language barrier, and how to navigate around a Japanese city. I felt much more confident on Day 6 of our trip, in Nagasaki, than I did on Day 1 when we arrived at Narita Airport!

 

I recently wrote a brief post about our visit to Kochi:

 

In Hiroshima, we had an overnight stay, so we visited the peace park in the evening (there are lights!) and then we went to Miyajima Island the next day. It was an easy cab ride from the cruise port, and we were VERY lucky in that a Japanese couple visiting from Hawaii was heading in the same direction we were and they led us like little ducklings all the way to the ferry.

[qqq266]

We had a stop on Jeju Island last July when we cruised on the Diamond Princess. The ship docked at Seogwipo (southern part of the island). There was nothing around the cruise terminal. We pre-booked a driver to take us around. We worked with him to customize an itinerary. We ended up visiting Jeongbang Waterfall, a garden, and the Olle Market. He was knowledgeable, kind and spoke English well. I have his contact information if you are interested.

The only other port we have in common is Shimizu. We took the free shuttle to the Shimizu JR Station and walked to the Kashi-no-Ichi Market. After enjoying a nice sushi lunch there, we walked around the area by the station but there was not much to do/shop. We took the shuttle back to the port area and spent the rest of the time at S-Pulse Dream Plaza.

[eddieg07410]

On 10/10/2024 at 10:10 PM, Hlitner said:

You ask if the ports are easy to DIY, and I would answer that the ports can be done DIY but it does take some pre-trip homework and some decent "travel common sense."  It is also very helpful to have a working smartphone (our T-Mobile service works fine in Japan) to help guide you with the map programs and give you the ability to use Google Translate.

 

18 months ago, DW and I spent 12 days (based out of Tokyo and Kyoto) exploring Japan, before we headed to Yokohama to join our cruise.  We have no problems, but we did have a basic itinerary (which we routinely changed).  Some ports, such as Osaka, can be used as gateway ports to go to other places (such as Kyoto from Osaka).   While some ports can easily be handled DIY, others such as Shimizu will likely require a tour.   At Shimizu, many will want to take a tour (we joined with a few others on a private tour) to get closer to Fujiyama.  This is one place I would not do DIY (unless you simply want to stay in town) as one needs to use some kind of vehicle to explore some of the places that give the best view of Mt Fuji and environs.

 

Hank

We will be doing the same cruise you did, in May. What did you do in Tokyo and  where did you stay. All suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Ed

[monkey@cruise]

SHIMIZU Port - can take a bus to seaside Pine Grove Miho no Matsubara to view Mount Fuji  (bus fare:¥270, 10 min bus ride, 25 min walk)
Shimizu Harbor Bay Cruise - https://www.shimizu-cruise.co.jp/en/

Last August, our Celebrity cruise port time was 7am-7pm, so I led some cruisemates to Fujinomiya (55 min train ride), visited Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, Fujinomiya Yakisoba snack at Antenna shop, Viewed Mt. Fuji from Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, late lunch in Fujinomiya AEON food court, and back to Shimizu Station, there is a shopping mall near Shimizu Station where we bought packages of Shizuoka green tea. We also browsed in S-Pulse Dream Plaza (a sushi museum on 2nd floor). A hidden gem - Shimizu Marine Building, you can view Mt. Fuji on top floor, a British red telephone box at the entrance, a floor with toy models.
 

Edited Wednesday at 06:04 PM by monkey@cruise