monkey@cruise

You will sailing from Naha, Okinawa, Japan, so no immigration process but all passengers are subject to customs inspection (no meat, dairy products, fruit,.. carry on shore). I had Japan immigration clearance in Hakodate port when sailed from Busan, South Korea, it took 4-5 hours to clear, because the process was done onboard. Took me 1 hour in Kagoshima port when sailed from Jeju, South Korea, because we cleared in the cruise terminal with more kiosks. Not just in Japan, my transatlantic cruise did a zero US immigration clearance in San Juan, took us 4 hours, with further delay because there were 10 passengers stayed onboard without through the immigration. 😡 For me are not horror stories, you have to prepare the unforeseen circumstances.

Here is the shinkansen schedule on March 16th arrive Kyoto at 9am, train runs every 15 min on Saturday. I use Japan travel by Navitime for Japan public transport travel, fare is ¥2870 for non-reserved seat, pretty pricey

Shin-Kobe station is small and easier to navigate than Shin-Osaka: https://www.kobestation.com/shin-kobe-station-orientation-facilities/ Your ship will overnight at KOBE PORT TERMINAL, taxi stand is near the terminal entrance. Either metro ¥420, 25min or taxi 15min ¥1,600 to Shin-Kobe station. Any shinkansen head towards Tokyo stops at Kyoto station, travel time 28min fare: ¥2,870 (non-reserved seat) Most Japanese taxi drivers don't speak English, just show taxi driver the destination in Japanese. KOBE PORT TERMINAL 神戸ポートターミナル Shin-Kobe Station 新神戸駅

Kobe Port Authority link: https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/a14075/kanko/leisure/harbor/passenger/schedule/index2020.html Riviera will dock at Kobe S-4Q1/Q2 Pier (KOBE PORT TERMINAL) on 30th March

Visit Japan Web is not mandatory and only applicable for Japan airport entry. You will on Royal Princess and immigration and custom zero clearance at Kagoshima port, Japan. Will be paper form declaration, electronic portrait photo shoot, both index fingers print; then entry sticker on your passport page. Kochi city is small, free shuttle from cruise port to city center. https://welcome-kochi.jp/pamphlet/50981.pdf Osaka will dock at tempozan cruise terminal, Shimizu will be Shimizu cruise terminal, Yokohama will disembark at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal (a remote location)

keep the photo size in 2 MB.

I suggest stay in Osaka, go to Osaka Castle, Dotonbori and Namba. It takes 75 min travel time from Osaka cruise terminal to Nara rail station., either walk 20 min or 5 min bus ride to Tōdai-ji Buddhist temple (7:30am-5:30pm), 20 min walk to Kasuga Taisha (7am-5:30pm). If you are an early riser, then you can do your 1/2 day Nara but must left Nara before 1pm. or catch the night train to Kochi to rejoin the ship. I was in Nara for 6 hours with a guide, we only visiting several attractions because they all spread out in Nara Park,

I was on the Millennium last October and pre-cruise stay in Kyoto. The ship will overnight at Osaka Tempozan Cruise Terminal, 10 min walking time to metro Osakako Station. There are many ways travelling from Osaka to Kyoto, rapid/limited express train from Osaka station (40 min, ¥600), shinkansen from Shin-Osaka (25 min, ¥1670 non-reserved seat), the most time consuming is navigating inside Osaka station and Shin-Osaka Station especially during rush hours. You can taxi or metro to Osaka station or Shin-Osaka station. Traveling from Osaka to Kyoto https://www.osakastation.com/traveling-from-osaka-to-kyoto/ If you plan Kyoto just for a day, person suggestion: train from Kyoto station to Fushimi Inari Taisha Sembon Torii (Thousand Torii Gates); back Kyoto station for lunch, taxi (tourist taxi stand at station NE corner) to Kiyomizu-dera, then walk down to Gion via, Sannenzaka Path, Ninenzaka, a rest break in tatami Starbuck coffee!, Yasaka Pagoda Photograph Spot, Yasaka Jinja, Hanamikoji Street (Historic district with traditional buildings, kimono shops, restaurants & geisha), taxi back to Kyoto station for dinner, trip back to Osaka.

Alternative: purchase a MTR Tourist Day Pass for HK$65 - unlimited travel on MTR https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/tickets/day_pass_tourist.html

Was in 30th Sept 2023 sailing, and pre-cruise stay in Kyoto. For excursions, i did ship excursions, DIY, goodwill guides, and use "GowithGuides" tour guide, whatever is convenient to me.

You are very welcome, All Tokyo and Yokohama public transportation announcement and signage are in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean, some may in Japanese and English only.

Shimizu - Shimizu Marine terminal, free shuttle to Shin-Shimizu rail station. Kyoto - Osaka Tempozan Cruise Terminal Kochi - Port of Kochi Terminal, free shuttle to Harimayabashi bus terminal Okinawa - Naha Cruise Terminal or Naha International Container Terminal Fukuoka - Fukuoka Cruise Terminal Jeju Island - either Jeju Terminal in the north or Seogwipo Terminal Kagoshima - Marine Port Kagoshima, free shuttle to city Ferry terminal Use goole map to locate the terminal location. All docking locations are subject to change by local port authority.

Tokyo subway map https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/index.html Take JR Ueno Tokyo Line from Yokohama station to Tokyo Station, transfer to Yamanota Line which stops at Akihabara Station, Ueno Station and Nippori Station (Nippori Fabric town) I use Google map or Japan Travel by Navitime: https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/ for my Japan travel planning.

Royal Princess will dock at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal. Yokohama Port Authority will release April schedule next month.

Pay ¥500 for your talisman ticket, do your photo session and follow the one way trail, done in 30 min. This August when I will be in Kyoto again, will visit Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) and Philosopher's Path .

No online ticket, but no queue because multiple ticket counters and mostly purchase with exact change. Inexperienced tourists create queue 😜. It’s a one way out of the pavilion and can get crowded. Visiting really early in the day or during off-peak season! https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/access/ https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/guide/ Most attraction admission tickets are collective item: The Kinkakuji ticket is a paper replicates a talisman and is quite fragile. But it is probably the most unique ticket I’ve ever gotten!

Same itinerary as my last October sailing. Kobe's Nada district is sake producing region, 4 miles from Kobe cruise terminal. Travel to Nada district is very easy (30 min time): Metro Port Terminal Station is next to cruise terminal, 5 min ride to Sannomiya Station, then walk to Kobe-Sannomiya Station and take Hanshin Line to the region. Most Japan attractions close at 5pm, Some passengers opted overnight in Kyoto for a full day tour next day. Frankly, taking shinkansen from Shin-Kobe to Kyoto is much more convenient than from Shin-Osaka.

Kobe is 15 miles from Osaka, 25 min by train. Will Millennium dock Kobe at noon and move to Osaka at 5am? In Kobe, most shops and public transportation shut down at midnight. Travel from Osaka cruise terminal to Nara by public transportation is very easy. walk 10 min to Osakako station, metro to Ikoma station, transfer Kintetsu-Nara Line to Kintetsu-Nara Station in 60 min.

Which ship will you sail on? I check Kobe Port Authority schedule, no ship schedule overnight on March 16th. Azamara Journey will dock at Osaka Tempozan terminal from March 16th 8am till 17th 10pm. From Kobe cruise terminal to Shin-Kobe is much easier and quicker than from Osaka cruise terminal to Shin-Osaka. Taking Shinkansen from Kobe is 30 min (1 stop, shin-Osaka) and 15 min from Osaka (non stop). When you book a reserved seat, you'll get a specified train and seat. For non-reserved seats, you'll get better flexibility as you can take any train for the specified date/route. Purchase an unreserved seat ticket, you can board any shinkansen heading to Tokyo (every 5 - 10 min), only carriage #1-3) and get off at Kyoto station.

If you don't know which cruise terminal, then stay in Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers, across from Yokohama Station. The Yokohama station taxi stand locates at the West exit facing Sheraton, Yokohama station is a mini city with supermarket, restaurants, food court, a transportation hub.... The location is a convenient access to all Yokohama cruise terminals

To get there: take the free coach to APM shopping Mall (Kwun Tong MTR stn). a) Kwun Tong Line to Kowloon Tong Stn; change East Rail Line to Admiralty Station. b) Kwun Tong Line to Mong Kok Stn; change Tsuen Wan Line to Admiralty Station. c) Kwun Tong Line to Yau Tong Stn; change Tseung Kwan O Line to North Point, change to Island Line to Admiralty station. Travel time:35 min fare: HK $15.50 If no free coach available, take KMB bus 5R to Kwun Tong MTR station travel time: 15 min fare: HK $7.70

Howdy, I am also on the Millennium cruise over night in Hong Kong Kong from 9th - 10 March. HONG KONG PARK: https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/hkp/howtoaccess.html There are several Botanical Gardens in HK, is this the right one? Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens Green House https://www.hkzbg.gov.hk/en/plants/greenhouse.html MTR Admiralty station Exit B or C1. Now can use contactless credit card for MTR payment. https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/main/about_contactless.html

it's wise to add extra days, in case the captain change the cruise schedule. This threshold will cover any unforeseen early/late arrival. Vietnam immigration only cares if you have a valid eVisa to enter.

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We were in Kochi last October on Celebrity Millennium. Kochi city sponsored free shuttle from cruise terminal to Harimayabashi Bus Terminal (25 min bus ride). We had a Kochi City Center walking tour guided by Kochi SGG (a volunteer tour guide group), explored the Culture and History around the Harimaya Bridge area; local food culture and Kochi Castle. Kochi city center is small, Harimayabashi Bus Terminal to Kochi castle is one mile distance. One group went to Makino Botanical Garden, and one group did a tram tour.