inspo & info

Docking in Kobe? Here’s everything you need to know — from the terminal and city transport to the best shore excursions and how to squeeze in a Kyoto day trip. Practical, specific, and written by someone who knows the city well.

Tokyo is a relatively new port on cruises stopping in Japan. Before we get into logistics, though, there is one important thing to flag: many Japan cruise itineraries list "Tokyo" as a port when the ship is actually docking in Yokohama, thirty kilometres to the south. Here's everything you need to know about Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, how to get to/from the city, where to stay and what shore excursions are worth your time.

For first-time visitors, having to navigate Japan's transport system can be daunting; the cruise provides a comfortable base from which to absorb the country gradually. Cruising from one destination to another overnight while you snooze is also a big time-saver, especially when it comes to Japan's "extremities" like Hokkaido, Kyushu and Okinawa. And cruising around could also save you money too: when we we were researching this post, we were amazed to see how relatively cheap

Yokohama is where most Japan cruises begin and end — and that alone makes it worth knowing well. Sitting just 30 minutes south of Tokyo by express train, it is Japan's second-largest city and one of its most liveable, with a relaxed, cosmopolitan energy quite different from the intensity of the capital. As cruisers ourselves, we understand the value of adding on a day or two before or after your cruise, but we also know most of you will be tempted to spend that time in Tokyo.

Here's our guide to every Japanese cruise port we could find on the cruise itineraries for this year and next. We'll focus on what you could realistically do & see in each port and whether you can easily hop off the ship and do your own thing or if Japan cruise excursions (offered by the cruise ship or locally organised) would be a better option.