Japan (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto) itinerary advice

[Simon-t]

We are booked on Spectrum of the Seas departing Shanghai on 2 November  2024 with this itinerary:

 

 

We appreciate this is a tight schedule for Japan and it would not have been our first choice, but it was offered by our TA as part of an extension to a 7 day land tour of China at a very competitive rate,

 

My question is about days 3 and 4. The planner describes Kobe as "overnight" but departing at 4.00am on day 4. We then arrive at "Osaka for Kyoto" at 7.00 am on day 4. Google suggests Kobe/Osaka and Osaka are separate ports, albeit very close, but I am far from clear which port we dock at on which day. Any advice please?

 

In any event, we are thinking of taking a train to Kyoto on day 3, stay in Kyoto overnight, and then get a train back to the port on day 4. Is that realistic in terms of timescale and itinerary? Is there any issue with staying ashore overnight?

 

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated!

 

 

[BruceMuzz]

When you plan to do something like this, you really need to tell the cruise line.

They, in turn, will inform the Ship's agent and local Immigration to ensure that it is allowed and legal.

[monkey@cruise]

2 hours ago, Simon-t said:

We are booked on Spectrum of the Seas departing Shanghai on 2 November  2024 with this itinerary:

 

 

We appreciate this is a tight schedule for Japan and it would not have been our first choice, but it was offered by our TA as part of an extension to a 7 day land tour of China at a very competitive rate,

 

My question is about days 3 and 4. The planner describes Kobe as "overnight" but departing at 4.00am on day 4. We then arrive at "Osaka for Kyoto" at 7.00 am on day 4. Google suggests Kobe/Osaka and Osaka are separate ports, albeit very close, but I am far from clear which port we dock at on which day. Any advice please?

 

In any event, we are thinking of taking a train to Kyoto on day 3, stay in Kyoto overnight, and then get a train back to the port on day 4. Is that realistic in terms of timescale and itinerary? Is there any issue with staying ashore overnight?

 

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated!

 

 

Kobe - KOBE PORT TERMINAL
Osaka - Tempozan - Osaka Cruise Terminal

You have to make a request to Royal Caribbean on your Kyoto overnight stay, it is very common on Celebrity Millennium Japan itinerary.. Logistically, it's easier travel from Kobe to Kyoto than from Osaka to Kyoto. Kobe and Osaka is merely 10 miles apart, 30 min by train from Kobe cruise terminal to Osaka cruise terminal. Give yourself 75-90 min travel time from Kyoto to Osaka cruise terminal, you must be onboard before 3pm Osaka departure.

[Simon-t]

1 hour ago, monkey@cruise said:

Kobe - KOBE PORT TERMINAL
Osaka - Tempozan - Osaka Cruise Terminal

You have to make a request to Royal Caribbean on your Kyoto overnight stay, it is very common on Celebrity Millennium Japan itinerary.. Logistically, it's easier travel from Kobe to Kyoto than from Osaka to Kyoto. Kobe and Osaka is merely 10 miles apart, 30 min by train from Kobe cruise terminal to Osaka cruise terminal. Give yourself 75-90 min travel time from Kyoto to Osaka cruise terminal, you must be onboard before 3pm Osaka departure.

That’s really useful - thanks 

[monkey@cruise]

1 minute ago, Simon-t said:

That’s really useful - thanks 

You're welcome. I always pre-cruise stay in Kyoto, then Shinkansen to Yokohama to embark. 😜.