monkey@cruise

The nearest shinkansen station is shin-yokohama station about 10 km from your hotel, 30 min train ride from Kannai station or Sakuragichō Station. You can ride the shinkansen to Nagoya in 75 min; Kyoto in 110 min, Osaka in 130 min, Kobe in 180 min, Hiroshima in 220 min,.....

More likely a system update got kaboom. Wait for a Walmart rollback !

ありがとう DaKahuna. Thank you for your patience allow me hijacking your thread. Safe Travel. I didn't know your Osaka Dotonbori tour is on your own, otherwise will tell you the hidden gems location. You must re-visit Japan to pick up the missing pieces.

For PC, you use the Chrome Browse to connect Celebrity website, where tablet/smart phone use Celebrity own app (you download the app from App store) to connect. I can see Celebrity try to moving users using app interface than through PC browser.

This is my Hakodate tram experience, I was not in kimono outfit ! You can take the tram to Goryōkaku Park and Tower.

Thanks, This will be quick, can clear the whole ship in 2 hours. Hakodate is not a wealthy but conservative city, very few shopping malls and department stores. If the city want to earn tourist $$$, act fast! They can tell I am a tourist because I am not in kimono outfit.

Hakodate built a new cruise terminal and pier - Wakamatsu Wharf Quay in 2021-22 and operate since 2023 fall. The wharf is designated for small and medium size cruise ships. Minatocho wharf (7 km away) is for overflow (2nd cruise ship) or cruise ship over 110,000 tonnage (Royal Princess docked there in April). Westerdam will dock at Wakamatsu Wharf, if no other ship took the spot. Diamond Princess and Celebrity also docking at Wakamatsu Wharf Why walk to the Hakodate Ropeway? Ride a tram only cost ¥210 per trip, or you purchase a tram day pass (unlimited ride) for ¥600 from JR Hakodate station tourist center. No more concern on pedestrian and location safety . Picture of Wakamatsu Wharf and cruise terminal 3 min walk to the Fish market back entrance, 5 min to JR Hakodate train station.

The Hakodate cruise terminal and Wakamatsu Wharf Quay were built during COVID, the building wasn't ready last year, that's why we have to process onboard. From the gangway, you through the enclosed walkway into the building for the immigration and customs? Can you recall how many counters they have? In Kagoshima, there are 5 counters and was able to clear the ship in a reasonable time.

Does the problem happening on any platform? PC, tablet or smartphone? If not, try update the operating system platform and the Chrome app. For PC: Settings -> Update & Security. Launch Chrome browser, clcik on the 3 dots at top right corner, Select Help -> About Chrome. For iOS or Android tablet/smart phone, settings -> about for operating system. Launch App Store or Google Play, verify the chrome app is the latest release

Tamiya Headquarters is in Shizuoka, 8 miles from Shimizu cruise terminal. When I was teen, mostly bought Tamiya model kits, not Revell. I like the strawberry fruit sandwich from Japan convenience stores.

April Sun Set Time is around 6:30pm Kaesong time: From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (gate closes at 4:00 p.m.) https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/castle/index.htm Note: Daitenshu (Main donjon) and in the building in Nishinomaru (Square)Hyakken roka are prohibited of wearing shoes. Be environmental friendly, bring your own plastic bag / shoe bag for your shoes. Wear non-slip socks because wood floorings are polished. Kobe Cruise Terminal to Himeji castle: Cruise ship will dock at Kobe Port terminal, Metro Line Portliner Port Terminal is next to the cruise terminal, 7 min ride to Sannomiya Station, fare ¥210. From JR Sannomiya Station, take Tokaido Sanyo Line to Himeji Station. fare ¥990, 40 min travel, runs every 15 min Turn right after exit the metro station: Turn right down to JR station lobby Platform 3-4 train to Himeji direction Timetable between noon and 2pm: Limited Express to Himeji, Blue color minute time, leave :07, :22, :37, :52. 5 stops only Himeji transport Guide: https://www.himeji-kanko.jp/files_foreign/pdf/transportation_guide.pdf Either walk 20 min or pay 100 yen bus fare for 1 stop to Himeji Castle Timetable between 4-7pm depart from Himeji station to Sannomiya Station Any limited express with blue color minutes, also 5 stops I can read some Japanese, so I can ride public transport without problem. Have Fun !

If you know how to use google map, why not do the "Browse street view" and see if the walk is pedestrian friendly? Is this area safe to walk? If you don't jaywalking, follow the traffic regulations like the Japanese, then is very safe to walk anywhere and anytime. Street signs in English? Yes, but need good eyesight to see.

After COVID, many services are no longer available. If you pay 10,000 yen from Osanbashi to Haneda, then to Shinjuku will near 20,000 yen.

Himeji Castle, an hour train from Kobe.

It depends how many ships in port. If a mega cruise also dock at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal, will be a constraint on transport resources. Also your disembark timing, later is less crowd. If travel solo, sometimes is cheaper to use the ship transfer. For two person, taxi fare to YCAT + Airport Bus to Haneda Airport is 3,500 yen (bus runs every 20 min, 30 min bus time), an hour travel time.

Big improvement on Hakodate terminal 👍. Shinjuku-sanchome Station is off from Shinjuku major drag, not as super crowded inside Shinjuku station. Ride in the last carriage on a train, won't obstruct anyone. If you prefer not hauling luggage too far, then taxi to Yokohama station and ride Shonan-Shinjuku Line to Shinjuku Station, 37 min, ¥580, every 15 min. Here is the metro timetable from Nihon-odori station https://www.mm21railway.co.jp/station/timestable/nihonodori/pdf/nihonodori_timeschedule.pdf Red is the limit express train (16 stops), orange is commuter express (11 stops), black is regular (27 stops).

- Self disembarking begins after port authority gave the green light. - No immigration, only customs. - Porters are available in terminal to assist luggage (no tipping, it's an insult in Japan culture) - Was on Mille last fall and March, selected 8:30am disembark, 15-20 min from gangway to taxi queue. - Many taxis available, but small size. If you are travelling in a large group or carrying many luggage, prefer arrange private transfer. - To Haneda Airport: taxi to YCAT (Yokohama City Air Terminal), 10 min, 2200 yen fare. Haneda Airport Bus from YCAT to Haneda, 30 min, 650 yen, or private transfer/taxi from cruise terminal to Haneda Airport.

Did you notice the Hirosaki Castle is 3 level just the renovated Ninomaru tasumi yagura watchtower? Normal castle is 5 level. Google the reason.😜

Just a quick question Is Hakodate immigration and customs clearance now process inside the pier terminal? Before was onboard and very very slow. Does all passengers redo face photo and both index fingers scan, and new visitor sticker on passport page? Thanks

1. Taxi - 50 min, ¥18000 2. Taxi to Yokohama City Air Terminal - 10 min, ¥2200, airport bus to Haneda Airport ¥650 a) flat-rate taxi to Shinjuku Area : ¥8,300 https://www.haneda-tokyo-access.com/en/haneda-airport/taxi.html b) Haneda Airport bus to Shinjuku Station West Exit, 35 minutes ¥1,400, runs every 25 min https://webservice.limousinebus.co.jp/web/en/Top.aspx 3. Metro from Nihon-Odori Station -> Shinjuku-sanchome Station, 50 min ¥720, requires 1500 feet of walk from cruise terminal, and appr. 2000 feet of walking from Shinjuku-sanchome Station to your hotel. Note: not all metro stations have ground elevator access and taxi stand. The metro starts from Yokohama Chinatown station, stay at the end of the train car to avoid the crowd. Take the metro to Hoya, Wakoshi, or Kawagoeshi, stay on the metro and exit at Shinjuku-sanchome Station The elevator to Nihon-Odori Station is on Citadines Harbour Front Yokohama Hotel ground floor (Honmachi Dori), behind the city bus stop. Shinjuku-sanchome Station exit directory: Take the elevator near Exit E8 from Fukutoshin Line platform. Elevator on right side and left is EXIT 8 escalator. If your hotel is on the west side of Shinjuku Station, here is the walk through the bridge. Metro station elevator ground location. Elevator to the bridge to across Shinjuku Station Shinjuku area map: http://www.kanko-shinjuku.jp/pdf/map_001_2.pdf Have Fun !

From cruise terminal to Cup Noodles Museum is one mile walk, not pleasant under hot or rainy day. I suggest just dropping off your luggage (collection is near the terminal entrance) and store your carryon and anything not required for the museum in a coin locker (400-600 yen) on east side location.. Do you museum tour and check-in before 4;30-5:00pm, because cruise ship must submit the passenger manifest 90 min before sailing. and you must complete the safety procedure prior to sailing. https://osanbashi.jp/en/floor/

I purchased a Hello Kitty ICOCA card, a cute collection IC card. Handy to use the card to lock and unlock the luggage compartments on Shinkansen. Seems not working for mobile app, may be need a registered card number??

Suica is a JR EAST smartcard used to pay for travel on public transport in Japan. It's similar to Opal card in Australia. The Suica app is the digital copy on a smart phone. Suica app isn't perfect yet, does not work with some foreign VISA credit cards, OK with Mastercard and AMEX. In additional to SUICA, there are 9 more IC cards available, like PASMO, ICOCA.... If your purchase the "Welcome Suica" or "PASMO Passport" tourist IC card, they are non refundable and expires in 28 days. If you top up too much and leave unused, then on Day 29, your money will donate to Japan rail. You can purchase transport day pass at each port city, is fixed cost and unlimited ride. You just need to plan for Tokyo transport.

I was in Hiroshima for 3 days this March. Yes, some restaurants and bars do stay open late beyond 9pm. Japan is now over tourism, and yen is devalued.

The FREE shuttle buses are run by Port Authority because Itsukaichi Wharf is an industrial area. From cruise terminal to JR Itsukaichi station is 1.5 mi distance (10 min ride). The ship will post the last return shuttle time. Check your cruise itinerary, exit immigration at last port before South Korea and entrance immigration and customs at first port after South Korea. For example, if your cruise itinerary is Hiroshima -> South Korea -> Hakodate, then your exit immigration is at Hiroshima and entrance immigration at Hakodate. In general, aboard time for non tender port is 30 minutes before sailing; 60 minutes for tender port. Most Hiroshima stores close at 8:00pm, and public transport (tram and train) from city center to Itsukaichi Station takes an hour. If you miss the ship and your next port is Hakodate, will be an expensive 12 hours Shinkansen ride to catch your ship.🙂