Is A Cruise A Good Way To See Japan?

A Japan cruise offers a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of Japan, including bustling cities, natural wonders like volcanoes and national parks, historic sites, and delectable food. Cruises often bundle together with ports in other countries, making it an affordable way to visit multiple countries on one trip. Accommodation, transport, meals, and Japan’s unique blend of beaches, mountains, and temples, served with lashings of sushi and shopping, have made it a popular holiday destination.

Cruising Japan is one of the best ways to experience Japanese culture and take in Japan’s island landscape. With five cruises listed above and tips for choosing the right cruise for you, finding the perfect fit will be easy. On a cruise around Japan, you can explore Kyoto and may even glimpse a geisha. However, cruises would be awful to take in Japan, as you will miss everything that makes traveling around the world worth it.

To see the best of Japan, ensure your cruise is long enough and jam packed with Japanese ports. Cruising is a great way to see Baltic cities, as they are coastal powers. However, cruises can be a bad way to see Japan because major tourist sites are often bundled together with other ports.

While cruising around Japan is a great way to take in as many different places as possible, it is not the best option for those seeking convenience, cultural enrichment, and diverse itineraries. The choice between a pre- or post-cruise stay in Japan is crucial for a comfortable and stylish experience.

Is it better to go on a cruise or land in Japan?

1. EXPERIENCE JAPAN MORE IN-DEPTH.. By far the best thing about a land tour is a more in-depth kind of tour. While on a cruise, you’re hopping from one port to the next. You just landed in Kobe with barely a day to explore the city before you’re whisked away to Yokohama or Tokushima. It’s like that for the entire cruise, and although the port cities are a lot of fun, you might reach the last day feeling like you never quite got to experience the REAL Japan. Instead, imagine that same scenario, where your land tour of Kobe started off on a hike around the trails of Mount Rokko, followed by a meal of marbled Kobe beef. Proceeding to a local ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), you enjoyed your own onsen hot spring bath! Then, if you wanted to continue to Tokushima, you could travel across the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (the longest suspension bridge in the world) to Awaji Island, which sits right between the two cities. You could take some time while there to behold Tadao Ando’s gorgeous Hundred Steps Flower Garden at Yumebutai and see the famed whirlpools of Naruto churning beneath you as you pass over the bridge to Tokushima. This is just one of countless ways you can explore Japan in-depth on a land tour.

2. REGIONAL TRAVEL TO SMALLER COMMUNITIES, WITH MORE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET LOCAL PEOPLE.. Even if you take a land tour by private coach bus, you’ll have plenty of time included to stop and take in the sights from one destination to the next. The best itineraries will stop in smaller, local communities to give their guests a more authentic Japan experience. This not only gives you a native vision of Japan that cruises can’t match, but it also offers you the chance to contribute to the smaller communities as you shop for souvenirs and dine in their restaurants. And while I’m sure any reputable Japan cruise line could find you a cup of delicious matcha tea, how can that possibly compare to a cup of locally sourced matcha that a smiling, talkative shopkeeper whisked by hand in front of you as you sat in her little tea shop that her family has owned for generations? You’ll have a greater opportunity to chat with the local people while on your land tour itinerary.

3. A BETTER-DESIGNED, MORE FLEXIBLE TOUR ITINERARY, CUSTOM-FIT TO YOUR DESIRES. While on a land tour, an itinerary can be tailored precisely to fit your vision, so you can spend as long as you want in a given destination. Most often cruise stops are for a single day, two at most, per port city. Even if you are given time to explore by yourself, your timing is limited to whenever your cruise ship departs for the next destination. Private land tour itineraries can be planned with your preferences in mind for how long you want to stay in a given destination. Also, a land tour can give you perfect control over where you go on your itinerary. As a cruise hops from port to port, its only natural you encounter destinations that you have no interest in. On a land tour itinerary, you can avoid wasting your travel time visiting destinations that don’t fascinate you.

What is the prettiest month in Japan?

If you are head over heels for the Sakura blossoms, then you are better off visiting Japan in the months of April and May. This is when the Cherry Blossoms are in their fullest bloom, the flowers their best pink. However, keep in mind though, be prepared for large crowds and too many tourists in the spring months in Japan.

The Cherry Blossom months are not that beautiful when it comes to tourist accommodation. While everybody wants to revel in the beauty that is the Sakura, the crowds can make it difficult to get accommodation in hotels. If you are not a fan of huge crowds, mid-March and mid-April are the months you should avoid visiting Japan.

Apart from the Cherry Blossom months, the Golden Week (it is the amalgamation of the New Year’s holiday and the holiday of Obon in the month of August – back-to-back) is a busy season as well.

Is it easy to tour Japan on your own?

Is Japan good for solo travel?. Solo travel in Japan is safe and it’s easy to get around thanks to the country’s excellent transport links. It’s also a place where being alone is celebrated. In some countries, you may feel out of place if you go out to eat or drink solo, but not in Japan. It’s so normalized that it’s incorporated into the language: the term ohitorisama (which roughly translates as “party for one”) refers to people living and doing things alone, often reverently so.

Meanwhile, the Japan National Tourism Organisation operates a 24-hour English-speaking helpline that is particularly helpful for solo travelers, providing a great resource of tourism information and help. Want to ease yourself into the experience? Take a look at Flash Pack’s Japan trip for solo travelers, offering 12 days of adventure in the company of a small group of like-minded people.

Best places to visit in Japan. Head to one of Japan’s tachinomi (standing bars) to try out kushikatsu (bamboo skewers of deep-fried meat and vegetables), along with delicious edamame and draft beer or sake. Other great street food to try includes okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes filled with grilled squid or pork) and takoyaki (fried octopus-stuffed dumplings). You’re likely to eat your body weight in kitsune udon (Japan’s beloved noodle broth), but for something a little different, try a kappo restaurant – for high-end, multi-course dining, without the formality of its kaiseki cousin.

How many days is ideal for Japan trip?

Ideally, how long for a trip to Japan ? We recommend a minimum of 2 weeks to discover the Japanese archipelago. This is the minimum travel time in Japan to have time to visit Tokyo, Kyoto and their surroundings. For this, we advise you to spend a minimum of 6 nights in Tokyo and 6 nights in the Kyoto region .

Japan Experience is 35 years of experience in organizing tours in Japan. Each year we help thousands of curious people to discover the land of the rising sun thanks to our various offers.

Do you know exactly what you want to see and where you want to go? Or you are not sure but you want to discover Japan?

We’re here for you ! For a stress-free trip, take advantage of the tours created by our Japan specialists. We organize for you all the logistics of the stay : accommodation, flights, airport transfers, Japan Rail Pass, transport card, accompanied activities, etc.

Can you go to Japan on a cruise ship?

EXPERIENCE THE VERY BEST OF JAPAN. Take a historic route through the islands to experience the very best of Japan with your cruise. Stop off in Kobe for a taste of its famous wagyu beef, and continue to the old capital of Kyoto, where you’ll see centuries-old shrines mingle with skyscrapers. Don’t forget to stop in the cosmopolitan metropolis of Tokyo for world-class sushi and sashimi.

Is the sea rough around Japan?

The Sea of Japan becomes extremely stormy and dangerous during winter, as such, it is not safe for fishing boats to go out to sea. This scenery can only be seen during winter. One can feel the power of nature that nurtures a bountiful fish population and delicious ingredients.

• Title: Rough sea of Sea of Japan
• Date Created: 2019
• Location: Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more.

Is a cruise to Japan a good idea?

Japan is a destination that calls out to visitors around the world. Its fascinating history, renowned culture, beautiful scenery, delectable food and bustling cities lure you in and promise a life-changing experience. Japan cruises in particular give travelers the opportunity to explore the island country in a different and convenient way.

Whether on small luxury vessels or large, mainstream ships, Japan cruises visit the biggest and most-historic cities the country has to offer as well as some smaller, culturally fascinating towns.

With a country that is in such high demand, you have so many options for crafting the perfect visit, which might have you wondering whether a cruise to Japan is the best way for you to see it. Here are the pros and cons of taking a Japan cruise.

Guests onboard Star Breeze watch from the ship as teens perform a farewell concert in Karatsu, Japan. (Photo: John Roberts)

What are disadvantages of cruise ships?

10 Negatives of CruisesHidden Costs.Lack of Time Ashore.Tourist Traps.Sea Sickness.Zero Flexibility.Weight Gains.Slow Internet.Too Crowded.

What is the best mode of travel in Japan?

The most efficient way to travel around most of Japan is by train. Whether you’re being whisked through the countryside aboard the famous Shinkansen bullet train or are winding your way up a wooded mountainside in an electric streetcar, trains in Japan are punctual, comfortable, safe, and clean. All trains except local commuters have washrooms, toilets, and drinking water. Bullet trains even have telephones and carts selling food and drinks. And because train stations are usually located in the heart of the city next to the city bus terminal or a subway station, arriving in a city by train is usually the most convenient method. Furthermore, most train stations in Japan’s major cities and resort areas have tourist offices. The staff may not speak English, but they usually have maps or brochures in English and can point you in the direction of your hotel. Train stations also may have a counter where hotel reservations can be made free of charge. Most of Japan’s passenger trains are run by six companies (such as JR East and JR Kyushu) that make up the Japan Railways (JR) Group. There are also private regional companies, like Kintetsu (Kinki Nippon Railway) operating around Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Ise and Odakyu Electric Railway operating from Tokyo to Hakone.

Shinkansen (Bullet Train) The Shinkansen is probably Japan’s best-known train. With a front car that resembles a space rocket, the Shinkansen hurtles along at a maximum speed of 300kmph (187 mph) through the countryside on its own special tracks.

There are five basic Shinkansen routes in Japan, plus some offshoots. The most widely used line for tourists is the Tokaido Shinkansen, which runs from Tokyo and Shinagawa stations west to such cities as Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen extends westward from Osaka through Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, and Hiroshima before reaching its final destination in Hakata/Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu. Only Nozomi Super Express Shinkansen, the fastest and most frequent trains, cover the entire 1,179km (730 miles) between Tokyo and Hakata. The Hikari makes more stops than the Nozomi; the Kodama stops at every station. Frustratingly, the Nozomi is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, so rail-pass travelers wishing to go the entire distance must take the Hikari or Kodama and transfer in Osaka or Okayama. Trains run so frequently as often as four times an hour during peak times not including the Nozomi that it’s almost like catching the local subway.

Can I go to Japan by ship?

By Boat. It is also possible to reach Japan by sea. The southern area of South Korea is surprisingly close to the Japanese archipelago, and ferries travel between cities such as Busan in South Korea and cities such as Kyushu and Osaka.

Nombreux sont ceux qui rêvent de découvrir le Japon et ses quartiers éclatants de néons fluorescents, ses robots à la pointe de la technologie, ses mythiques geishas et ses villages samouraïs. Mais pour beaucoup, cette destination semble encore inaccessible.

Il n’a pourtant jamais été aussi facile de se rendre au pays du soleil levant. De nombreux vols internationaux atterrissent désormais dans des aéroports dispersés dans tout le pays comme Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, ou encore Naha (sur l’île d’Okinawa). Et pour les plus intrépides, il est même possible de se rendre au Japon en bateau.

Parce que les différentes compagnies aériennes se livrent une concurrence féroce, le prix des billets pour le Japon ne cesse de baisser, permettant ainsi à un nombre croissant de touristes de réaliser leur rêve.