Pre-cruise "Imperial Japan" on April 2025 Tokyo to Vancouver- considering it

[A Tucson Guy]

We are on the Nova in April 2025 from Tokyo to Vancouver. We are considering doing the 4 night pre-cruse extension "Imperial Japan". This tour is on almost all of the Japan cruises. The cost is a little pricey at $5200 per person. Can anybody who has done this tour comment about it and is it worth the money. I know everything in Japan is more expensive- thanks!!

[Gourmet Gal]

I haven’t done this extension but have utilized Kensington for a multi week tour of the country.  They are fantastic, especially in Japan.  They will greet you at the airport, transfer you to hotel, guide you on private tours, take you to the train door for transfer to the next city.  If there is a train change someone will meet your train and escort you to the next train.  Luggage is shipped ahead to your next hotel and in the next city all the service is repeated.  All this, including hotels, trains for probably less than SS.  They will take you directly to the ship at the end.  All this is a private tour and you can decide exactly what you want included.  Highly recommend them.  Their guides are excellent.

[drron29]

Do a little research. Almost everywhere it is cheaper to book a private tour than the SS tours.

[southerngoose]

I have not taken this tour with Silversea, however, I have been to most of those sights in Japan, taken the Shinkansen.    I have done it on my own with just my Japanese illustrated translation book and very limited Japanese.   If you feel that you need a guide, the last time I checked, a private, English speaking guide is $800-$1000/day.   If you are a couple (or more folks), I think it'd be cheaper to hire a private tour guide.   I think you'd also want to ask yourself if you want to stay at those hotels or if you might want a nice, but not fancy hotel.   You could get a Japanese travel agency to help you for less than $1000/day per person because if you followed the exact itinerary the pre-excursion goes to, some days, you're just getting dropped off /picked up from the train station (not even a full day tour guide).   The luggage moving service described is also something common in Japan and could be easily arranged for pickup from one hotel and delivery to the next (or from train station to hotel).

 

Japan is very safe.   The worst risk is that you get lost.   But each time I've gotten lost, every Japanese person has been willing to help - even the telephone utility worker who pulled out his map to help me.   I was in Kyoto checking out the temples and just couldn't walk any further.   I found a taxi - it was an interesting experience with the driver in white gloves and the automatic door opener.   I was a bit concerned about the tight areas he was driving in, but other than that, it was safe too (I just told him which train station I wanted to go to and pointed on the map and he was cool).

[drron29]

Though today I have google translate on my iPhone which makes life a little easier so I can read the signs.

But also handy in that you can have a conversation with a local even if they have no English. just type in your question and the phone will say it in Japanese.

[southerngoose]

I got so lost looking for an activity of "cracker making".  I had passed it by because I didn't have the name of the store in Japanese characters and I guess I had assumed it would be in roman characters.   I had gotten the info from a website that only had things written in roman characters.   The hotel concierge had called for my appointment so they were waiting for me.   But I couldn't find it.   When I showed people the address and asked for the place in Japanese, they misunderstood and thought I was looking for a store to buy these crackers.   I ended up in a department store where they asked me which type of cracker I wanted to buy and I explained that I wanted to MAKE them.   They got one of the English speaking ladies who help tourists and she finally understood from reading the web page printout I showed her.   I asked her to write the name of the store in Japanese characters.   I had to go to each shop in a "shopping corridor" and go to each shop and compare each character until I finally found the place.    The lady looked at me and asked me in Japanese if I was "lastname-san" and I was like "Yeah...that's me!".   She then acted like she was saying "We've been waiting for you!" (that's my imaginary translation...I have no idea what she said).   Unfortunately, her English was as bad as my Japanese, but I got to make the crackers... (they were similar to a fortune cookie, but rolled into a cylinder).   You made some of your own and she packaged them for you to take and then she included some that they had made at the factory.    It was the most interesting experience.   Nevertheless, I'm thankful for Google Translate and the ability to use the camera and have it "translate" signs etc.

 

Kyoto was so much fun.   I had found a website in English that had all sorts of "craft" opportunities.    I made a beaded bracelet that was supposed to have some sort of religious significance.   It was just an adventure to get there and have them show me how to do it etc.   I went to the Nishijin Textile Center where they were doing a Kimono fashion show and had a display of a Japanese silk weaving loom.   They had a little gift shop of bags, wallets and clothes made from scrap kimono fabric.   They also had the opportunity to wear the kimono and they had two ladies dress you up and they took my photo with my camera (there was a charge for wearing the kimono and getting you dressed...no additional charge for them taking your photo in their backdrop).   The security guard invited me outside and took my photo in front of the sign.   Then the tourists came in a bus to watch the fashion show and I stayed for that, then bugged out during their "shopping time".    Then I ran off to make some crackers.    I think I then was able to go to a few craft stores.   There are so many things to see and do, beyond the standard tourist things.  Yes, everyone who goes needs to see Kinkaku-ji, but there are other nice things.   Then, there's Nara with the deer (a nice place to go!)

[GrumpySushiBear]

We go to Japan often and I actually think everything is way cheaper in Japan (even without the favorable exchange rate). But I understand that you have to know where to look. We often to things on our own but i hire guides whenever i want to really pack in a more off the beaten path - I never worry about getting lost with google translate and my basic Japanese. Worse case scenario you can call your hotel and they will help you (my mom fell and hurt herself and we had to get a taxi to an English speaking hospital - she’s fine )
 

I recommend hiring local guides through https://www.toursbylocals.com they can customize to what you want to do and you can choose fully private tours for very little. They will even pick you up at your hotel if you are worried about navigating on your own. You can additionally request to have the guide hire a taxi for the day (I recommend this for Kyoto) so you can maximize your time (and leave all your souvenirs and jackets in the taxi!) Happy to post names of the specific guides here if anyone is interested (I hired for Koyasan, Kasama, and Naoshima day trips). 

[MsCrystalina]

Looked at this and the shorter one for post-cruise in Jan- too expensive and TA agreed. Will set up independent tours for 2 days in Tokyo.

[A Tucson Guy]

Thank you so far for the input. I am still hoping to hear from somebody who has done the SS 4-day extension.