Hi Reader,

One of my favorite memories from the Japan portion of our October cruise was a samurai experience in Kyoto. Another was in Fukuoka, where Gary and I colored a salamander and a butterfly at teamLab. If you’d asked me before the trip what I’d be telling people about when we got home, I doubt either would’ve been on my list.

We boarded Carnival Luminosa in Tokyo and sailed to Singapore, with several stops along the way. What surprised me most about cruising around Japan was how different our days could feel depending on how we planned them. In Kyoto, we were glad to have a private guide. In Fukuoka, we were happy to do our own thing.

What Surprised Us About Cruising Around Japan

A private guide was worth it for our day in Kyoto

We booked a private tour with Miyu through GoWithGuide, and the samurai experience ended up being a highlight. With just a day to explore, I liked having someone help us fit in the things we cared about. If there’s an experience you’re especially excited about, build your day around it before filling in the rest.

One timed ticket gave us enough structure in Fukuoka

We had an 11 a.m. ticket for teamLab and planned the rest of the day around it. We stopped at Don Quijote, had lunch at MARK IS and went up Fukuoka Tower. I’d bought our tower tickets through Klook, and there was no line when we arrived. We used the GO taxi app in Japan, including to get back to the ship that afternoon.

I’d plan Fukuoka the same way again. Having just one timed reservation gave us room to linger over lunch and do the stamp rally at the tower.

Our time in Tokyo felt like part of the trip

We flew in before embarkation and had time for a chopstick-making class, a walking tour and a day trip to Mount Fuji and Hakone. Gary chose a darker wood for his chopsticks, and I chose cherry. I’m glad we gave ourselves a few days in Tokyo. That class was exactly the kind of thing I would’ve skipped if we’d been squeezing in sightseeing before boarding.

What First-Time Japan Cruise Passengers Should Expect

• Check where your ship actually docks. If your itinerary lists Kyoto, find the pier on a map before you book anything. The city you want to visit may be a separate trip from the terminal. Price out the ride or check train times in both directions. Japan’s official cruise port guide​
• Plan around all-aboard time. Check the time and clock instructions your ship gives you for each stop. When Gary and I explore on our own, we aim to be back at least an hour before all aboard. If we’re going farther from port, I leave more room for traffic or a missed train.
• Save your return details before you leave the ship. Screenshot the cruise terminal’s name and address in Japanese, and save its official English name in your phone so you can copy and paste it into your taxi or map app. Some listings appear in Japanese, which can make it tricky to tell if you’ve picked the right terminal. Having the English name handy makes it easier to search, and you can show the Japanese address to your driver if needed.
• Read the ship’s instructions for each country. Our itinerary continued beyond Japan, and the ship collected our passports for immigration processing for Taiwan and Hong Kong. If your cruise visits multiple countries, check what the ship needs from you and what it asks you to carry ashore at each stop.

The Little Light I’d Pack Again

If you get up in the middle of the night, a motion-sensor night-light is great for the cruise cabin bathroom. It gives you enough light to see without flipping on the bright overhead light and waking up whoever’s still asleep. It runs on batteries, so you can put it where you need it without looking for an outlet.

​See the motion-sensor night-light on Amazon​

The Wrap-Up

If you’re planning your first cruise that stops in Japan, pick one thing you’d be disappointed to miss in each port. Figure out how you’ll get there and back, then give yourself some room in between. In Fukuoka, that meant we had time for a stamp rally I hadn’t put on the itinerary.

If you could pick one experience for your first port day in Japan, what would it be? Hit reply and tell me. I’d love to hear what’s on your list.

Until next time,

Melodie
​Travel Must Do's​

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