What I Wished I’d Known BEFORE Doing My Japan Cruise!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 18 чер 2024
- We are only ever likely to go to Japan once in our lives and so it's important to get it right. While I didn't get everything 100% spot on, I now know what future cruisers to Japan need to know to avoid my mistakes, work around downsides, and ensure they have the best time.
For bonus & exclusive content (including videos, articles, eBooks and more) become a channel member or patron:
---------------------------------------------------
* Patreon Patron: / tipsfortravellers
* UA-cam Channel Member: / @tipsfortravellers
Check out my cruise-themed T-shirts and products:
---------------------------------------------------
* T-Shirts: bit.ly/TFTStore
* Mugs, notebooks, hoodies etc: www.teepublic.com/stores/tips...
My social media:
---------------------------------------------------
* Blog: www.tipsfortravellers.com
* Twitter: / garybembridge
* Facebook: / tipsfortravellers
* Instagram: www.instgram.com/garybembridge
* LinkedIn: / bembridge
ABOUT TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS: If you want to get cruising right, Tips For Travellers makes it easy to plan and have the incredible cruise experiences you dream of every time. All my Tips For Travellers advice, tips and tricks tips draw on everything that I have learnt on the 101 cruises I have done to date.
#Japancruisetips #JapanCruisingTips #cruisetipsandtricks
00:00 Start
00:42 Challenge 1: Seeing Right Sights
08:21 Challenge 2: Experiencing Japanese Culture
10:15 Challenge 3: Going It Alone
13:12 Challenge 4: Cultural Sensitivity
Interesting that Regent Seven Seas didn't have enrichment talks on a Japan cruise. That's a big miss from an ultra-luxury cruise line.
I spent a week or so in Japan in the Spring touring around on my own. It's a great place but over-tourism is an issue. I would suggest, though, that 7-11 and convenience stores in general are a huge part of Japanese and Asian culture. 7-11 is even Japanese owned these days
Lawsons was very convenient too!! And yummy😅
Yes. The big three konbini (convenience stores) in Japan (7-11, Lawson, FamilyMart) are all fully Japanese owned and headquartered, so although it may appear that they are Western (and technically 2 of the 3 have their origin in the West) they are a Japanese cultural institution since the 70’s
Hard to believe, The 7-11s in the US are horrible. I avoid them at all costs.
100%. Best thing to do is pick a couple of must do tours and the rest go into the city and wander round yourself. Food discovery is great. And Japanese are so friendly.
@@paulkoza8652 7-11 in Japan are much different from the USA. Trust me, I patronized them for 10 years. Fun fact: there are more 7-11's and Lawsons PER CAPITA in Japan than in the USA.
With regard to self touring, one of the great things about Japan is that you never need to worry about wandering into a "bad area" and being robbed or harassed, and if you get lost or lose something, somebody will help you out. If you lose your wallet, just go to a police box and they will make calls and help you track it down. Most likely, some kind person will have already turned it in at a nearby police box or train station and you'll get your wallet back pretty quickly -- with all the money and cards still inside.
The safe and friendly culture of Japan makes it so much more relaxing and enjoyable to wander around and explore places off the beaten track.
Yes there’s not many robberies in Japan compared to some other countries but please do Not put down your guard
. I was robbed back in the 1990s because I had just arrived from taking a long bullet train and I wisely took off my undergarment belt which had some of my money and my passport and put it down on the table of the youth hostel while only a meter away met To figure out how to buy green tea in the vending machine. I don’t think the man who stole it was Japanese at all, who stole it in a matter of a few seconds, but I’m not gonna say in this comment, who I think it was, I have no way of approving it back then or now. I was the only person in the room when this happened, although I saw two or three men down the hallway, but they seem so far away. It didn’t seem a problem to put something down on a table for a few seconds.
It was my fault for being a little bit stupid, but I was very young and extremely tired when it happened.
I just returned yesterday from my second cruise of Japan on Holland America and they had lectures on Japanese history and on culture as well as port talks for people who wanted to tour on their own. These included tips on what to see, how to get there and what it will cost. I’ve found Holland America always emphasizes the destination with history and culture a priority.
Great to hear. They did a great job when I did a South America cruise with HAL last year on this too.
I LOVE Japan. I love seeing people experience it for the first time, it’s like watching children in Disneyland as people usually love the experience. I’ve been to Japan 6 times and 3 times as a solo traveler. All the points you mentioned are spot on, especially regarding mobility and being respectful. Japan is a place where things will be easier if you are mobile and follow the rules. Also do research before you go to maximize your time there. Enjoy!
This is me EXACTLY - I am from Australia and have been six times, as well. If you go thinking Japan will bend for you, you will have a miserable time.
Japanese 7-11s are far superior to western ones... I dont seen the convenience stores as a sign of westernization at all (doesn't mean the other indicators arent accurate). If you skip 7-11, Lawson, and Family Mart when visiting Japan then I think you're missing out on a bit of local culture.
This is so dumb. Its literally a convenience store. Overpriced, packaged, bland pastas and sandwiches or onigiri.
Yes, and they are widely embraced in Asia….it’s part of the experience in Hong Kong and Japan.
This is a very fair explanation of Japanese culture. One thing you misunderstand is that 7-Eleven is vastly superior in Japan than in the US/Europe. There is fresh Japanese food that you can heat there or take to a park or office for a quick easy meal/snack. They also discourage eating while walking.
and I believe that 7-Eleven is Japanese-owned
I was there in Japan in the late 1990s and even then I remembered the 7-Eleven was a very good place to go for buying budget food. That was also delicious. And drinks !!
I thoroughly enjoyed an Osaka to Vancouver cruise on the Statendam in 2007. I booked four extra nights in Osaka which was my favorite part of the trip. Public transport was safe and easy. My full day side trip to Kyoto was perfect. I loved the restaurants with their plastic menu displays in the windows. And was amazed by the packaging and boxing when I bought a single slice of cake in a bakery. People were always friendly and helpful, and I was touched by high school kids offering an arm when I was ascending a long flight of stairs. I have no idea if things have changed dramatically since 2007, but I loved my cruise. My advice is to go while you are able. There was lots of walking and lots of stairs.
RE Food and cultural moires. When you buy food from a food vendor, you do not walk and eat it. Eating is done in front of the venue. And don't expect a trash can to be waiting for you when you are done. Despite the fact the country is virtually litter free, it is also trash bin free. Where the trash goes is hard to tell, so be prepared to carry it with you.
I wasn't getting food from a street vendor. I was eating it in a sit down restaurant. In the window in front of the restaurant they usually have a plastic model of the plates on the menu so you can at least see what the food looks like before you order it. It seems to be a very widespread convention throughout the entire country.@@davidh9844
We did a lot of homework for our two-week cruise, which really made the trip much better. You can't do enough study before you go. We fly in 3 days before to see some of the sites before the ship, which allowed us to see how the big cities are.
Totally agree on the homework part!! 🤣
I highly recommend walking tours in Tokyo and Kyoto. They helped to fill in the missing pieces and were very well done … guides were excellent.
I agree with you, ideally 4 nights in Tokyo and 3 in Kyoto before the cruise. That gives you 3 days of touring around each city and a day to get reset due to time difference. Japan is just one of those very well kept places, like Bermuda or Switzerland.
One tip for hotels pre and post cruise: if you go away from western branded hotels you will tend to save a lot of money. Japanese chains such as Dormy Inn in my experience can be half the price or less as compared to western brands (which tend to skew to luxury western brands). I saw the interior of the Hilton Tokyo on Gary's clips and while that's a nice hotel, it's definitely one of the more expensive properties in that area. The Citadines in Kabukicho about a 15 min walk away from it is less than 1/3 the price for a few nights next month. The Citadines isn't as luxurious of a hotel for sure but it's perfectly fine and I think better located for tourism.
I did the Regent Cruise of Japan last month. The excursions were included in the cost. It was absolutely fantastic. A good mix for all interests.
The guides were lovely, locals who were excited to be guiding us.
With any cruise it pays to research your excursions before booking.
I loved that most places we went we were the only cruise ship in the port.
A bit of research about the history of Japan before you go helps.
So many points covered, a very interesting video and one I'll be viewing again, thank you Gary.
Thanks for watching, and great to hear!
The blast museum in Nagasaki is one of the top museums I've ever done. It's an absolute must.
very inspiring and VERY helpful! Thank you so much, once more!
You have the best tips. I have followed you for many years. I have followed some of your suggestions during our travels. They were very helpful.
Thanks for the great tips for Japan. So looking forward to our visit in March/April. Also looking forward to enjoying the immersion into the culture of politeness there. I wish we could manage that level of courtesy in public in the US! 😃👍
Totally agree with you Garry. Something we won't fail to arrange next time we visit Japan. It was our biggest mistake on the 14 night Japan cruise; not organising excursions from many of the port cities which were very poor tourist destinations, however our 10 day pre cruise land content was fabulous. Two must see inclusions you didn't mention are Miyajima Island a short ferry hop from Hiroshima and walking through & dining in Pontocho Alley Kyoto, both offer life time memories other than the fabulous castles and shrines/temples.
@calumshaw next time, walk across the river eastbound on Hanamikoji street, then turn north and walk thru the Gion district, preferably after 10PM on a warm evening. If you are lucky you might see some REAL geisha going to/from work. Gion is where many of them live.
Had a superb dinner at a riverfront restaurant in Gion. And saw two maiko (red collars) and a geisha entering the restaurant across the lane.
Thanks for those tips!!!!! I am back inn 2025 and will try and do those
@@tipsfortravellers So enjoyable! I spent a semester teaching in Tokyo and would suggest fitting a few extra days there before or after as appropriate. Some the tips:
a.) In Tokyo, STRONGLY recommend traveling a bit north of downtown in the YANAKA neghborhood, which was spared the bombling in WWII or serious fires. Magical. I also stayed in a traditional inn with a tatami mat and roll out matress for a weekend and loved it.
b.) I loved checking out the sumo stadium and souvenir shops. Fascinated world,
Cheers!
SUPPLEMENT: Absolutely AGREE that independent touring is a great option!
Finally, one the most marvelous things I did was study up a bit in Tokyo on both Noh and Kabuki theater, then booked a ticket, one on my own, the other with a social media theater group, after which we went out to the bas after, talked theater and then had late night snacks. Wonderful.
Good info. Some of it clearly obvious, read about the sights and history of the place before booking, at home, that will allow you to understand what you are visiting. Also, timing of the year is important, skip the cherry blossoming and you will be rewarded with lower crowds.
Thanks Gary. I really enjoyed this video and your information (& tips) about Japan. I'm cruising Japan next year with Holland America Line, and your guidance on Japan will be very beneficial to my planning. All the best to you.
I actually lived in Yokosuka Japan for a couple of years while I was active duty US Navy. I loved the Japanese culture. The people there are so wonderfully considerate towards others. It was a nasty culture shock for me coming back to the US after two years in Japan. I absolutely loved traveling on the trains over there. The food at places like McDonalds, KFC, and even an A&W Root Beer stand in Tokyo had better food than in the US. The stores and malls over there were amazing. You can get just about anything via vending machines in Japan. I always enjoyed getting beer from the Japanese vending machines. So much fun and such a lovely culture. I highly recommend literally getting lost in one of the Japanese cities and experiencing the local food and culture. I had some of my best experiences getting lost in Japan. I would love to go back there and spend about a month reexpierencing things.
Thanks for putting this together. I found your presentation very clear and helpful.
Thank you. I am not a cruiser, but I love your videos. Japan is a country on my must visit list and your hints were very helpful.
We cruised Japan on Viking just before the pandemic hit, and found it to be the best cruise we'd ever taken. You are right that the Japanese people are most welcoming, and the welcome upon arrival and sendoff upon departure at every port, that you mentioned, were most impressive, something we had not experienced in any other country. I was moved that they held no animosity against the Americans for Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but emphasized that it was a learning experience for peace. Unlike your tour guides, ours were most knowledgeable and shared their personal lives and lifestyles, giving us more of a glimpse into their culture. We especially enjoyed the port town of Shimizumachi, a walking town with many historical sites, at each of which were native volunteer guides from the town to tell you about the site, involve you in any ceremonial ritual, take you on a tour. One old samurai house even had rooms where you could be taught various Japanese crafts. It was a wonderfully immersive cultural experience. Also, shopping/restaurants were within walking or easy shuttle distance in many places. The onboard experience was great also, with cultural enrichment lectures and stage performances from local Japanese entertainers. We would highly recommend this cruise.
My wife and I are planning a cruise in April- perfect timing.
I TOO LOVED Japan as I spent a week in Tokyo and people were so helpful as I navigated the city with no grasp of Japanese and want to return as you did on a cruise...I am completely intrigued with touring 'shrine after shrine' :) As always a very helpful review...well done Gary!!
Another quintessential temple worth seeing that's only about an hour east of Osaka by train is Todaiji Temple in Nara, not just for the temple itself (and it's 3 story tall brass Buddha) but also for the park it's contained within, as it is famous for it's "bowing deer". Feeding the deer with cheap cookies you can buy all over the park is a very fun, immersive, and unique experience. Highly recommended for a day trip in the Osaka port, especially if you have an extra day for it!
Great video as always, Gary!
@Tips for Travellers • Gary: Excellent follow-up to your days in port from Japan. Thanks!
Thank you, Gary,
Very good information, we had a big holiday and cruise organised when covid hit. Hopefully we can make it there someday.. We have more useful information now, thank you
Gary, I enjoyed your insights about cruising around Japan. I may be taking a Tokyo to Vancouver cruise in 2025, and I’m a bit nervous. You see, I lived in Japan for two years in the early 1980s, and I know it has changed in many ways. Seeing the country slowly while living there is a very different experience from popping in and out of ports. And I no longer speak the language!
BTW, there were 7-11s in Japan forty years ago, even outside Tokyo in the smaller cities.
My parents have been to Japan many times. It is certainly on our bucket list and having just got off our first ever cruise, I think a cruise would be the way to go!
Really useful information, thank you 🙏🏻
I can't thank you enough for this! A trip to Japan has been my dream since childhood (very long ago) and I always considered it just a dream until recently when I started to look at cruises. The fares are surprisingly low or a lot less than I expected, although of course you have to factor in the intimidating cost of the airfare. Even so, it seems to be a considerably more affordable way to see Japan than a land trip.
Another great video, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!!!
Good breakdown. I live in Japan, and I agree it's easy to self-tour, especially now with Google Maps and its transport guide functionality. It helps you immerse yourself in the confusing but navigable cities. It's Japanese government policy to try to get travellers out of the congested sites and into more far-flung places, but that's hard for tour ships.
Great video about Japan, highlighting all the great places to go. All those rules and regulations sound great in a boring way, I want to go there.
We had a wonderful family holiday in Japan in December (from New Zealand). We caught trains all over the place for three weeks and it was brilliant. Lots of gardens, temples and great food (including convenience stores!). Highlights were Miyajima, Kurashiki and Takayama as well as the big cities. Kurashiki in particular is so pretty 🤩.
Great tips. Been to Japan on a cruise and going back next year on a cruise from Australia then another cruise around the south. One of our favorite Countries.
Love the video. We're planning a Japan cruise for May, which will be our first visit to the country, and are a little intimidated by the " foreignness" of it all (different language, different food, different customs, even different bathroom fixtures at times). Thank you for the cruise passenger's perspective! For other first-timers to Japan, we can also recommend several non-cruise-related videos from Yellow Productions, with a lot of practical info from a Californian who obviously loves the place.
You missed the north island (Hokkaido)! We did a back to back cruise in Japan (8+8 days) years ago before covid. It's a total different experience. The first half (south islands) were consisted of mainly western passengers, while the second half have over 500 local Japanese passengers.
We have been twice to Japan. One was a two week land tour. Enjoyed it so much, we booked a Spring 2025 cruise on Princess.
We have just come back from a cruise of Japan and would totallyan agree with your comments. Another suggestion is to ask customer services staff about how they got around. Often they can be very informative, particularly about using buses and metros
I went to Japan (non cruise) earlier this year, and the hotels, even in Tokyo, were cheaper than expected! In particular, they have small rooms for solo travelers at good rates at business hotels. The prices for, say, April are much higher than I paid, though, as I went in the off-season, but still cheaper than hotels in a lot of large U.S. cities. And of course some of the other cities are cheaper than Tokyo. Restaurants and public transit were also very reasonable.
I went to Japan last June. Tokyo and Osaka. LOVED it!!! Beautiful country. People were respectful. Food was fresh. Went to Disney and universal. Went to the Temples, Castles and parks. Had fun going around different trains. Did food crawls in Osaka. Enjoyed cheap but quality food in Lawsons and 711. Had my picture taken with Godzilla, saw monkeys near the bamboo grove area and ate wagyu on my last day. Amazing!!! It is a walking country and taxi is expensive but worth it in some cases. In a 10 day period you will see more regions on a cruise but with the lack of time you will miss a few things i can imagine.
Great tips Gary. I’ve been on a land trip to Japan, but would love to cruise there too one day to see other places. ❤
Visiting Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima are definite musts, but spend some time if you can in some of the smaller cities… especially in the mountains! A full experience of Japan needs to include an overnight ryokan (inn) stay, along with an onsen (hot spring bath). Neither of these are easily done on a cruise, but a few days’ travel before or after a cruise can catch this.
Thank you for the video!
Very interesting Gaz, your post confirms my thoughts of doing a 1 month land based tour staying in Tokyo (10 nights), Kyoto (10 nights'ish) and Hiroshima. Doing day trips from one place of stay will make it more relaxing. Cruising Japan s very hectic and takes away the ability to enjoy the local scene.
We did a land based tour of Japan with Riviera and it avoided most of the problems Gary mentions. Also riding the bullet train is a must (we went on them three times) and I don't see how you can do that on a cruise. Our land based tour had good guides and lots of opportunity for cultural enrichment.
Thanks for the video Gary, was a pleasure to see you in the flesh as well! I can assure you, that if it’s my choice, we’ll be back soon enough!
Lucky for many of us in Asia Pacific Japan isn’t that far. Japan is a lovely place. And tbh you need to do some independent touring. Set aside a city to go on a food discovery on foot with just your wits. Strike out. Don’t rely on tours all the time.
Very enlightening! Thank you
7-11 is NOT a Western retail chain. It was imported FROM Japan TO the West. And the product range is so extensive . It is possible to buy a very high quality lunch or dinner there for a very reasonable price. It even has its own branded Seven Bank, with ATM’s that take Western cards at better than fair exchange rates. If 7-11’s were as good in New York as they are all over Japan, I would go there every day.
7-11 in the US sucks.
Hmm. Close, but not exactly. 7-11 was founded in Texas in the 1920's, but their Japanese stores became very popular by the 1960's.
By the 1990's, a Japanese entrepreneur bought the company outright, so yes, now it's a Japanese-owned retail chain.
The purchase by different Japanese business interests was actually a bit more colorful than can be explained easily.
Same in Taiwan, 7-11 is the place.
I have been to Japan twice, both land-based tours with specific focuses. I would highly recommend the Ino-cho Paper Museum if your cruise goes to Kochi; the prefecture is a major papermaking center. And anyone with an interest in ceramics should go to the Kawai Kanjiro's House in Kyoto.
Cruising with a Japanese woman we are visiting restaurants she finds online to try their regional specialties. We also visit museums of famous companies like Nissan and Yamaha. Kochi was purely a grocery store mission since she's from Shikoku.
We have acruise with Cunard starting in Tokyo in May. Unfortunately not a lit of tie there before we board but then we go to 2 ialnds - Aomori and Otaru before heading across the Pacific to Alaska. Hoping the islands will be a bit calmer than the big city - will be interesting to see the contrast.
The guides issue is only in english!!! In spanish it was amazing!! First because we are very open and talkative as hispan cultures!! So we mixed the hispanic vibes !! And that made good vibes!!!
Informative video - thank you! It’s interesting to note that 7-11s are owned by a Japanese company, even though they were founded in the USA, and are widely seen across Asia. I remember seeing many of them in Hong Kong in 2019.
Go during cherry blossom season. Crowded but well worth it. Just beautiful 🌸
Thank you! So helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
We recently returned from Japan, not on a cruise. Very easy to get around, even in Tokyo. Be mindful it is very very crowded at all times of the day. Great and unique country.
7/11 may be a "US corp" but my goodness it is far away from what you will find in the US> 7/11 can be a lifeline, particularly during off hours with good food , safe ATM and useful products you need. The ATM service , if needed, is a go to, hands down.
Absolutely fantastic Japan video! It’s on my bucket list, hopefully I don’t kick the bucket before I get there. 😂🚢🚢🚢🚢🚢
I wonder if other cruiselines that circle Japan such as Holland, princess or cunard would do a better job of enrichment. I was impressed with the enrichment speakers I saw on Holland and Princess
Quite useful information. If visiting Japanese gardens, I'm sure that standing on the carefully placed rocks and stones is a big no no.
I'll ever go anywhere like this, nor even on a small cruise,but I will watch your videos about it instead. 😊
Wow what great timing. We'll be doing a 14 day around Japan cruise next year. I was surprised to hear you say that you can use your cards everywhere (but happy to hear it) I thought Japan was largely cash based. So you had no problems using western credit or debit cards?
I used to live in japan, I think it would be a lot of fun to go there on a cruise with my old work buddies
Good effort here. To add, bring a small plastic bag to put your wrappers and other small trash into to take back to your hotel or ship to dispose of, especially if self touring. There are almost zero public trash cans. Google Maps on your smart phone is your best friend. People are helpful but remember that a lot of people are often on their way to or from work, school, appointments and I try not to interrupt them unless they seem to be not busy and your phone will provide you with endless details. Yes, there are lots of stairs and remember shrines are active spiritual places for the Japanese and not a theme park. Lastly, in some large cities be mindful of people on bicycles as they are trying to get to places and are not expecting you to suddenly take a big step into their path.
I'm a huge fan of your channel. Have always had in mind to cruise around Japan, but in light of what you said about the talks regarding Japan on your cruise and knowing you have travelled elsewhere on Viking and referred to it as an immersive experience, do you think Viking would be the best line to visit Japan?
Even though I have never been to Japan, I have interacted with a few through some of the jobs that I have had and absolutely admire their culture because of those reasons, being polite, respectful and rules-based is extremely important to me.
Gary I’m curious, you say at @08:20 how a cruise experience to Japan can be like visiting in a “bubble”. Are there other cruise destinations worldwide where one doesn’t get this feeling? I’ve only been on one cruise so far - 7 night Seattle - Alaska this summer. I got the bubble vibe even from this cruise, and I live relatively nearby in Washington state. I’ve been a land* explorer my whole life so I got the impression the bubble feeling was just a drawback of all cruises. Maybe I’m wrong?
Such a great video as always, great overview, you packed so much in! 👏
Azamara has a 14 day with 10 stops + Tokyo and Busan
I have connections in Japan sort of, I study history and I do research before I go. Not every place is American. I did rather do my own land tour with the cruiseship. I did use the cruiseship as a floating hotel and at ports I did make my own vacation and tour guide translator if I need one.
7-11 is a Japanese company and they have the BEST cheap food! In 2019 a bottle of Australian wine from Barefoot cost $3.99 for a whole bottle!! It was heaven. I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner there on the cheap - you have to try their egg salad sandwiches...the BEST!!
7-11 in Japan is nothing like those in the west. It’s actually well worth a visit for good, cheap food, Japanese snacks, and even a dress shirt and tie if you need one!
I couldn’t imagine going to Japan to cruise. You miss so much just going from port to port.
Very nice video. Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
I'll be heading there in a few weeks, I hope my cruise line has an enrichment talk between Jeju and Nagasaki.
Me and my wife are planning a regent cruise right now for tokyo
Kentucky Fried Chicken is now a traditional Christmas dinner !
Nicely reviewed.
Glad you enjoyed it
7-11 in Japan is nothing like North America. The food is very fresh and there is a wide variety of both western and Japanese meals as well as snacks. Also, and important if you are self touring, all of the big name kombini have spotlessly clean washrooms.
Planning to go alaska cruise inside passage in early may. Is it worth going in early may ?? This is the only time i could travel to canada and it will be my once a lifetime cruise
Which ports/attractions would you recommend for someone unable to walk far. Is it possible to use a wheelchair?
You mention the western chains, and go on to list 7-eleven as one of them. It’s worth noting that 7-eleven is a Japanese owned company, hence its prevalence in Japan :)
The 7-Elevens have been in Japan since at least the 1990s. And I found them quite differently than the 7-Elevens in the United States, thankfully, very inexpensive Japanese budget food.
The Starbucks, Burger King and McDonald’s. I don’t remember how long they’ve been there.
I agree with you. I hope they don’t get entirely westernized and keep their traditions. I happily took off my shoes when required and enjoyed the Hot Springs washing myself properly before getting in the hot Springs like is required.
Japan is bloody awesome, cruised there a few times 👍🏻🇦🇺
agree!!!
The Novel “Shogun” is an easy and enjoyable method of learning a little history, a lot of customs and a verygood insight into Japanese way of thinking. The movie is a bit superficial.
We're going on a taste of Japan cruise with celebrity next august and just wanted to do our own thing wandering around ports and checking out local sights, you think this is doable?
What selfie stick do you use? It always looks invisible except for the handle. Do you edit it out in post?
Can you recommend a reliable cruise line for Japan we are in our 70s and enjoy our comforts.
The foreign port rule affects non japanese flag ships which affects all cruise lines. One benefit is much like an australian law. Aussie domestic cruises(barrier reef etc) cant use casino or sell duty free. To work around it they drop anchor offshore at willis island which is outside ocean limits (200km) and pull anchor and continue. Its now a overseas cruise.
This was informative however it missed a big point. i.e. how you actually arranged these excursions as you don't appear to have been on the ship's excursions
This has convinced us NOT to cruise round Japan but to cruise to it, most likely transpacific. A cruise round looks like it simply doesn't do it justice, especially when we're from Scotland and therefore a fair way to travel. As always, appreciate the info.
My wife grew up in Japan and she says cruising is the most cost effective and comfortable way to access all those cities.
@@reestyfarts Totally get it, and don't disagree. But on this occasion we'll blow the budget and spend a month travelling around. JR passes seem to be the way to go.
Isn't it a shame that most people have to wait 60 years before they can financially afford to travel like this instead of doing this with youthful energy? And those are the lucky ones! The experience of living in Japan is so much more enriching. My friends who majored in Southeast Asian Studies loved every second of this country.
Well, visiting almost any foreign country is expensive. So first you have to have $. Then you have to have time. Finally, you have to have motivation. All 3 of these are lacking on the part of 90% of the American population.
10 days is not enough time to see Tokyo let alone do a cruise in Japan
Agreed - next time I go back (trip no. SEVEN), I'll be spending two weeks in Shinjuku itself!
Gary, what other cruise lines are offering cruises to Japan? I've been on Regant with my family in the past, but those are out of my price range. For the past two years, I've been looking for cruises to Japan, but I can't find any. I'm assuming it was due to Covid shutdowns. I've been wanting to go on a cruise to Japan/SK for a few years now. What are your recommendations??
Princess, Celebrity and Holland America all run Japan seasons. On higher cost then Viking and Oceania
I booked a 12-Day cruise to Japan for May 2024, on Celebrity Millennium on Friday, taking advantage of Black Friday Sale. Very reasonably priced. I also booked my flights, non-stop on United from IAH - NRT.
I know your all about cruising but in this instance do you think it would have been more immersive and culturally enriching if you’d just booked on one of the luxurious organised tours across the entire country? That’s what I’m considering.