monkey@cruise

Show your passport will get 50% off. The bus pass also eligible free downtown area tram ride.

Very easy, compliment shuttle from cruise terminal to kochi downtown bus terminal. Purchase a MY-YU Godaisan bus pass 600 yen ( 50% off if show your passport.) the bus will take you to Makino Gardens https://visitkochijapan.com/en/usefuls/MY-YU Michael

I arrived Kyoto last night, hot 86F and humid, do a pre or post cruise stay in Kyoto

Declare at the customs, worst case scenario is confiscation and buy over the counter pain killer from Japan pharmacy.

See her post #1: Day 3 | Kobe, Japan Day 4 | Kyoto (Osaka), Japan Day 5 | Kyoto (Osaka), Japan Will overnight in Osaka for Kyoto.

You have the option either port shuttle or taxi from cruise terminal to city center. The tourist center isn't nearby: one at JR station (unless the drop off is JR station), the other is near Hirome Market. From Kochi Bus Terminal is one mile to Kochi Castle, https://welcome-kochi.jp/pamphlet/50981.pdf

Can travel to Kyoto either from Kobe or Osaka depend on the port time. If port itinerary specify Kyoto (Osaka), meaning extensive port time in Osaka for Kyoto. If using public transportation to Kyoto, is easier from Kobe than from Osaka, especially during morning rush hours.

My friend from Diamond Princess.

Here is the Tokyo International cruise terminal 2023 schedule: https://www.kouwan.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kanko/cruiseshipschedule2023_En.pdf No storage locker in the cruise terminal, Tokyo Teleport Station - coin lockers https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6275196,139.7786572,2a,54.2y,283.15h,83.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2NUjoqkuLCB2wp-9JC5msg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu Daiba Station and Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba - coin lockers https://www.google.com/maps/place/コインロッカー/@35.6255125,139.7715593,3a,75y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMObFuD6EprXYxhZKPlH6sMCRPc9MsXPsxhHwpg!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMObFuD6EprXYxhZKPlH6sMCRPc9MsXPsxhHwpg%3Dw203-h135-k-no!7i4032!8i2688!4m11!1m2!2m1!1scoin+locker!3m7!1s0x60188b0ad717b747:0x448b3ff4fbb3713a!8m2!3d35.6256892!4d139.7716582!10e5!15sCgtjb2luIGxvY2tlcpIBFGNvaW5fb3BlcmF0ZWRfbG9ja2Vy4AEA!16s%2Fg%2F11y1h2tjbv?entry=ttu both are one or two subway stops from Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station

Cruise ships dock at Osaka Tempozan cruise terminal, nearest subway station Osakako (Chuo Line) is 1300 feet away. Train to Kyoto: - bullet train (Shinkansen) (13 min) departure from Shin-Osaka station (16 km from cruise terminal); - express train (36 min) depart from Osaka station (11 km from cruise terminal)

The wharf is a container terminal, not a cruise terminal, port authority will arrange free shuttle taking passengers from the wharf to the train station. The ferry terminals are 300 feet from the Hiroden-Miyajimaguchi Station, 10 min crossing time and 10-15 walk to the Itsukushima Jinja Otorii. Note: For transportation method of payment (train, subway and bus) either cash or IC cards. Mostly accept 1000 yen bank note only.

@villauk Hiroshima Cruise ship dock location: Hiroshima International Large Cruises Ship Docks (container wharf) address: 3 Chome-8 Itsukaichiko, Saeki Ward, Hiroshima, 731-5161, Japan Port shuttle drop off at Itsukaichi JR train station / Hiroden-itsukaichi train station. To Itsukushima Jinja Otorii (Grand Torii Gate), Miyajima Island: https://www.itsukushimajinja.jp/en/ Train from Hiroden-Itsukaichi Station to Hiroden-Miyajimaguchi Station (20 min) Ferry across to Miyajima: https://jr-miyajimaferry.co.jp/en/ or https://miyajima-matsudai.co.jp/en/ To Peace Memorial Park: Train from Hiroden-Itsukaichi Station to Genbaku Dome-Mae Station (30 min) https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/775/ https://hpmmuseum.jp/?lang=eng https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3400.html

Since you are travelling in a large group with luggage, will be a logistical challenge for you. In Japan, most airllines advise at least two - three hours before international flight departure. It is to ensure that you may have sufficient time to check-in, check your baggage, pass security screening and immigration and arrive to the boarding gate. I suggest pre-arrange private transfer to Haneda airport to catch your flight, because be expect queuing for taxi. It takes 30 - 40 min travelling time from cruise terminal to Haneda airport. Also depend how fast you can disembark from the ship. In general, afternoon flight out is preferred.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4602.html https://www.senganen.jp/en/ Yes, Sengan-en is one of Kagoshima Highlights, it takes 30-40 min shuttle time from cruise terminal to city center drop off, so plan accordingly.

@villauk Kagoshima Port Tourist bus info: https://www.kagoshima-yokanavi.jp/en/feature/city-view2 https://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/storage/files/shares/feature_pdf/kagoshima_cityview.pdf Cruise Port info: https://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/for/cruise/marinport https://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/storage/files/shares/feature_pdf/marineport_kagoshima_en.pdf Ship paid shuttle drop off near the Shushi Yakukosokusenryokaku Ferry Terminal area (city center).

Yokohama Line is a JR line services link Shin-Yokohama Station and Yokohama Station in around 10 minutes

Nagasaki Walks is a volunteer guide organization that provides hospitality and English guidance for tourists. I also use volunteer guides in some Japanese ports to lower the tours cost. Their website hasn't been updated since 2021, if paying 4,000-5,000 yen /10 people hour, it is a steal ! Why not hire the guide for the day (6-7 hours), he/she will meet you at the cruise terminal (Meeting Point: Matsugae International Cruise Terminal), guided tour for Peace Park, Nagasaki Chinatown, Edomachi and Glover Garden, ...

@villauk KOBE: Ship will dock at Kobe cruise terminal, subway staion - Port Terminal (Portliner) is outside the cruise terminal. - take an hour tain to Himeji - Himeji castle. - City of Kobe may offer free shuttle to Kobe Damaru, a city loop bus stop (HOHO) is nearby, you can ride the city loop and harbour loop bus till 8:00pm, or take the subway to Sannomiya Station (5 min), there is a tourist center where the loop bus pass is also available. https://kobeloop.bus-japan.net/ Kobe Chinatown map: https://www.nankinmachi.or.jp/map/map_en.pdf

"Arrive Japan Web" must working with internet and for Japan airports arrival. When return from Korea, will use the paper forms.

- Two weeks in advance is fine. - Usually the hotel address where you first night stay. If fly in on embarkment day, will be the cruise terminal address. - Is easier using smartphone to complete the registration, because the app profile design for smartphone. I tried using a tablet, ran into many glitches. After completion, you can use any device to edit or retrieve the info. - In declaration of personal effects and unaccompanied articles part: "Point of Embarkation" - mean the last city that you went through customs before arriving in Japan. e.g. If your flight direct from Vancouver or Los Angeles to Japan, your Point of Embarkation is Vancouver or Los Angeles. If flight transit through Seoul, Korea, then is Seoul. You need good understanding on JAPANESE ENGLISH !😕

@villauk Nagasaki tour info: https://www.peace-nagasaki.go.jp/en/guide https://www.peace-nagasaki.go.jp/docs/himekuriwalk-en.pdf https://www.keirinkai.or.jp/nagasaki-walks/faq/

You can purchase the tram day pass from cruise terminal tourist center, if you are computer savvy, you can purchase as e-pass on your smartphone. https://ticket.jorudan.co.jp/naga-den/en/ I will post you Kobe port DIY option:

You login to Visit Japan Web on your smartphone. Open your Register planned entry/return, under immigration and customs declaration, press "Display QR code", will show the codes on your phone. https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/howto/

Inside the Cruise Terminal information staff will give you maps and tell you where to get the tram. From cruise terminal, about 800 feet is tram O-Urakaigandori Station (Nagasaki Denki #5 Green Line) (For Hotarujaya): off at Shinchi Chinatown Station transfer to (Nagasaki Denki #1 Blue Line) ( For Akasako, or Urakami Tram Depot): off at Off at Peace Park 平和公園停留場. Peach Park is 3 min walk from the tram stop. If you have the one-day pass, all you need to do is show the driver, jump off the tram and head for the next one. The park is quite large but not rambling, it is full of concrete walkways between exhibits by nations all over the world; most of the exhibits are statuary of varying sizes plus the very large city memorial that overshadows that end of the park. You need a guide if you want peace of mind on tram transport, interpreter on Peach park exhibits. https://nagasakipeace.jp/en/ If you feel comfortable navigate on Japan public transport, most of the ports can be DYI.

You will always get a stamp in your passport unless you are part of some very specific traveler programs (like TTP-Trustee Traveler Program). You still see an immigration official at a window regardless of whether you fill out Visit Japan Web or not. If forgot to stamp your passport, just ask.