pacrimheather

Let me see what I can find out for you. Since arrangements sometimes vary, would you please tell me which cruise ship you will be on and the date you will be at that port?

The station is medium-sized but not that busy. Several lines run through the station including JR, so the Ainokaze Toyama can be a little hard to find.

If you follow the link to the map below (Japanese only, sorry) it says the platforms for the Ainokaze Toyama line bound for Kanazawa are #3 and #4.

https://www.jr-odekake.net/eki/img/premises/0540202.gifhttps://www.jr-odekake.net/eki/img/premises/0540202.gif

How about http://*****.com/cpnapp/privateguide/? It's a new private tour guide matchmaking service designed specifically for cruisers. They are several Yokohama tour options, or you can email them at info@*****.com to make a special request.

I've verified with a trusted source that Kochi will prepare a free shuttle between "Harimaya bashi" (iconic red bridge in the city center) and the pier when the Celebrity docks there in September.

Hi folks,

 

My partner and i will be finishing our cruise in Yokohama (on a Friday) and will be flying out of Haneda the following night around 10pm (Saturday).

My question is can anyone recommend a good reasonably priced hotel we could stay at that is easy to get to from the Cruise ship and close to transport so we can get to Tokyo to explore the city and surrounds.

 

Much appreciate any advise, experiences etc.

 

Cheers

 

Adrian

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

If your main concern is convenience in getting to Tokyo, I would stay at the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers: https://www.yokohamabay-sheraton.co.jp/language/english/ located adjacent to Yokohama station on the west side.

For embarkation, it's ~20 minutes, ~2,000 yen (~US$20) for the taxi ride from the hotel to Osanbashi terminal building.

If you don't mind changing trains to get to Tokyo and want to be picked up at your hotel by the airport limousine bus to go directly to the airport, I would take a taxi to one of the following hotels when you disembark:

Yokohama Royal Park Hotel

Intercontinental Hotel Yokohama Grand

Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu

Hotel New Grand (historic hotel, closest to Osanbashi)

If the four above are out of your budget range, choose a nearby hotel to one of the above such as the Daiwa Roynet Yama****a Park, Navios Yokoham, or Rose Hotel.

You can get more details on transport to/from Haneda here: http://hnd-bus.com/airport/index.html

Can anyone confirm that there is a luggage transfer desk at Yokohama Port??

 

I can find information on Google that seems to imply that there might be, but can't find any definite reference. I have seen the address of a depot close to the port, but that would probably involve taking a taxi, to and from the depot, and I'd rather not be wandering around Yokohama by myself! The website for Yamato states that there are desks at the various airports or that the hotels will make arrangements, but I cannot find any reference to a desk at the Port.

 

My idea is to send my large suitcase ahead of me overnight to an Osaka hotel so I don't have to wrangle it onto the bullet train. Anyone with any recent experience of luggage transfer services from the port?

 

Thanks!

Sagawa is the one that usually has a counter set up for disembarkation at Osanbashi in Yokohama, but it is up to the individual cruise lines to sign off on it.

Here is an article that gives a lot more detail about how it works and what you will need to prepare in advance:

If you are doing this after your cruise, you will probably be confident enough to do it on your own and save money using a luggage storage service while sightseeing and taking an airport limousine bus.

What are the must things to see in (Otaru 10 to 6pm' date=' Hakodate, 9 to 6pm Kushiro 7 to 4pm in April thanks[/quote']

 

OTARU

 

The thing to do in Otaru is to stroll along their iconic canals with all the warehouses renovated into shops and restaurants.

 

You can catch the nearest "Otaru Stroller's Bus" stop in about 5-10 minutes from where you dock at Katsunai Pier. Buy the day pass from the bus driver and hop on/hop off as you like.

 

http://www.chuo-bus.co.jp/main/feature/otaru/otaru_sansaku_3_6.pdf

 

http://www.chuo-bus.co.jp/main/feature/otaru/otaru_sansaku_7_8.pdf

 

At the canal tourist office, ask them to direct you to the nearby 7-variety soft serve ice cream store featuring unique Hokkaido flavors: grape, green tea, strawberry, melon, milk, lavender, and chocolate.

I emailed my Celebrity contact to get the info for you, but today is a national holiday in Japan (Marine Day). So, it may take a couple of days to get a response back.

On almost every block on almost every street in Tokyo, there is now at least one convenience store with an international ATM.

While that is certainly true, not all Japanese ports are big cities like Tokyo. It can be more challenging at some of the smaller ports. However, it is definitely getting better overall.

Citibank is no longer in Japan. It is true that only certain ATMs will accept overseas cards:

* Japan Post Bank ATMs: http://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/ias/en_ias_index.html

JP or "Yucho" ATMs are mostly located in post offices, but some are free-standing.

* Seven Bank ATMs: http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/english/personal/atm/

Seven Banks ATMs are mostly located in 7-11 convenience stores, but some are free-standing.

* Lawson convenience stores are the latest to accept overseas cards: https://oversea.lawson-atm.com/en/

For all of these, look for the English guidance button (typically in the top right corner of the initial ATM screen). Once you press it, all the instructions on each screen will be in English.

I have been to Nagasaki, Kagoshima and Busan many times. If you want to message me with your specific questions, I can direct you to some resources.

info [at] ***** [dot] com

Actually hurricanes, cyclones, monsoons and typhoons are all essentially the same weather phenomenon. They just go by different names based on geographic area. Typhoons affect not only Hong Kong and Vietnam but also China, Taiwan, Japan and The Philippines.

Thank you so much Pacrimheather for that information. I appreciate your help.

 

Twee

Glad I could help! You can find the location online with Google maps, etc. by copying the name of the pier in Japanese (広島港五日市埠頭) into the search field.

Hello everyone,

 

We'll be visiting Hiroshima on the Celebrity Millennium in October. I've read some where that there's a new port called Itsukachi in addition to the one at Ujina.

 

Does anyone know where the cruise ship dock in Hiroshima? Specifically the Millennium if you have sailed on it before.

 

Will there be a shuttle from the dock into town? If yes, where is that drop off point?

 

I want to visit Miyajima island and see the A dome & Peace Memorial Park and would like to figure how to go about it.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Twee

Ujina is mainly used for small to medium-sized cruise ships and ferries. Itsukaichi is the berth used for larger cruise ships like the CM. Typically, free shuttle bus service is available from the port to Itsukaichi station. From there you can take the tram or a JR train to get to the city center in about 20 minutes.

I assumed the OP wasn't talking about Japan :confused:

Sorry, I am often in Japan mode, so I went there by default. If you want to spend time in NE Asia at the end of the cruise the advice is still basically the same. The desirable times and concerns are similar. For China, you definitely want to avoid peak holiday seasons such as the Lunar New Year and the first week of October when basically everyone in China is on vacation and on the move resulting in huge crowds, delays, etc.

People typically like to go in the spring for the cherry blossoms and in the fall to see the autumn foliage. Weather can vary depending on what part of Japan you are visiting as well. So, research online for cherry blossom, rainy season, typhoon season and fall color forecast for the REGION(S) of Japan you plan to visit to determine the optimal time.

Geezercouple, if you are interested in purchasing a type of snack bar or anything for that matter in Japan if you have a Smart phone download an app called Google Translate. It accesses your camera on your phone and you can just hold it over the Japanese writing and or snap a picture of it and it will translate to English. I have been playing with this app for a few weeks now and found it to be quite easy and appears to be very accurate. I have even used it on my computer screen while research various tours and train schedules.

Just a word of caution. I haven't use the app for this specific purpose. However, as someone who has advanced proficiency in the language, I often find Google Translate wildly inaccurate.

Typically you drop anchor and take a tender ashore which actually takes you right to the beach. Wear clothes and shoes you won't mind getting sandy or wet.

I am in Tokyo now. Cc members gave me such good info on this forum. I've found it very easy to adjust. Narita airport and Tokyo station have signage in English. The only place I'm having a problem is figuring out the ingredients in the food. There are familiar places like :)

Starbucks.

Do you have specific dietary restrictions? If so, I can tell you how to ask in Japanese if that ingredient is in a dish or not.

Not finding anything of particular interest to us, my wife and I chose to stay on board the Millennium last October; it was great having the ship almost to ourselves.

Ship days are great, but there a PLENTY of things to do in Naha.

http://www.visitokinawa.jp/

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/pdf/viewer.html?file=regional/kyushu_okinawa/okinawa.pdf

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/pdf/viewer.html?file=/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-709.pdf

Vladivostok, if you are on a ship excursion they organise your visa. No delays getting on or off ship. The city is quite interesting, beautiful churches, eagles nest lookout, an inspiring bridge, square with lots of statues, lots of flowers, and the submarine you can walk through.

It is surprisingly hilly, traffic is chaotic, mix of Asian and Russian. When we returned from our tour there was a market at the port with traditional souvenirs and we could walk up to the trans Siberian railway station. Definitely worth a look beautiful building, our guides were lovely, very helpful and friendly, we enjoyed our time there.

I can tell you from personal experience visiting Vladivostok numerous time over the past 8 years that, unlike St. Petersburg, for example, you do not have to go on a ship tour or arrange your own visa privately to go ashore. You can walk right off the ship to explore on your own. Furthermore, it is easy to do on your own as the cruise terminal is quite centrally located. Many sights are within a 15-minute walk. Parts can be quite hilly, though.

It's always interesting to see how different ports handle such matters--even within the same country. I have been to Busan dozens of times--as the sole S. Korean port--, and we always just walked right off.

There are a couple of buses that go on 2 different routes.

Each ride being 100 yen.

We had a day after our cruise and just spent it on the bus driving around.

Possibly there is a one day bus but I havent looked into that.

No need for a cruise tour.

They have now revamped this bus offering a 1 day ¥500 hop-on, hop-off ticket and additional routes that include Sankeien. There is a "Osanbashi Kyakusen Terminal" bus stop to the left of the circular drop-off as you exit the terminal building. You can find details here.