My Top 5 Cruise Ports in Japan (Part 1)
Of course, circumnavigating Japan by ship is one thing but exploring the interior is where the mystery lies, and a combination of the two is the perfect combo for a big tick in the bucket list box. Not all cruises are equal and the incredibly high number of ports in Japan make choosing the right stops tricky unless you’ve really done your homework on Japan.
In this article I’m exploring some of the top cruise ports which shine out, for history, geology, culture, botany and cuisine.
Most cruises will start and end in Yokohama. If you just book a cruise only it’s unlikely you will get enough time to see Tokyo in any depth which is just over thirty minutes from Yokohama. So, I’d always plan in a few extra days pre or post cruise for Tokyo. It’s also worth noting that Hakone and Mount Fuji, and Fuji 5 lakes which are absolute musts can easily be reached from Tokyo by Bullet Train, (another must do), and that not all cruise ships make a port of call especially for this. You could also spend a night in a traditional Japanese Inn, a Ryokan either in Tokyo or overnight in Hakone and experience an Onsen bath, and a Kaiseki Ryori, the multi-course Japanese haute cuisine.
Akita
Not on all cruise ship itineraries, Akita is the Capital of the Akita Prefecture, located in the north of the Tohoku Region of Japan. Its Jizoden ruins are a major archaeological site, with artefacts dating back 40,000 years. I don’t know anyone that old!
Akita is known in Japan for its Kanto Matsuri festival in August, where performers balance 12 metre bamboo with 50 paper lanterns attached, lit by real candles but I wouldn’t try this at home! Shrines and temples, crater lakes and impressive waterfalls are all within reach of Akita. Locations such as the Dakigaeri Gorge are not to be missed. If you choose to spend time in Akita itself, the Museum of Art will teach you all you need to know about this area. The cherry blossoms of Senshu Park blooming in springtime are as always, the utopian vision of Japan, but somehow Senshu manages to escape the cherry blossom tourist hauls otherwise found in Tokyo and Kyoto.
I like this port because: Akita gives you a sense of the ancient history of Japan and has an incredibly diverse geological make up.
Kanazawa
I know you’ve heard that name somewhere before. Monty Don was here not so long ago exploring the Kenrokuen gardens! It’s that cruise port slightly off the beaten cruise tourist trail which only a handful of cruise lines explore. It’s usually only the intrepid overland explorers on the new Golden route who get here!
Kanazawa is the shining example of the hugely important Japanese Edo era (1603 to 1868), where you can live and breathe Japan’s history and sample fresh delicacies from one of its oldest food markets. Street food in Japan is a teaser for the senses so take all opportunities to ditch the cruise ship buffet for a sensual taste bud extravaganza.
I like this port because: Kanazawa offers you one of the best examples of Japanese botany; and you get to eat out in one of Japans’ oldest markets!
Kyoto (Maizuru)
The astute amongst you will know that Kyoto isn’t actually a cruise port. There are several ports ships will use for access to this wonderful city; laden with sacred temples, geisha tea ceremonies, samurai kembu sword dances, Shinto shrines, Zen gardens and pure charm. Kyoto is home to an astonishing 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine - one of the city’s most spectacular sites, with its sloping walkway encased by hundreds of bright red Tori gates, and the Fushimi district, Kyoto’s sake and brewery area as well as a network of enchanting tree-lined canals add to the story.
The list of places to visit in Kyoto is endless – my advice is that you cannot do this in a day. Usually it’s around a 90 minute each way transfer to the cruise port so you will only really be dipping your toes into the eternal pond of Kyoto’s Green Tea Ceremony heritage. So do try to incorporate this with an overnight stay or two, stay in a traditional Japanese Inn and immerse yourself in pure Japan.
The cruise port of Maizuru though will grab your attention with its own temples and castles, albeit on a smaller scale than Kyoto. Maizuru grew out of its legacy as a naval base and played an important role in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, when Japan headed off Russian naval forces on several occasions. The city holds a fascinating naval history. And from a geology standpoint, the nearby Amanohashidate Sandbar which stretches for two miles across Miyaza Bay is covered with thousands of pine trees with fine ribbons of beach visible on either side, it’s considered one of the Three Scenic Views of Old Japan with its verdant green islands and deep blue seas. Or head to the Goro Sky Tower for the best view over Maizuru Bay.
And further to the north, Ine provides a sense of tradition with the ‘funaya’ fisherman’s houses, with moorings for their boats underneath.
I like this port because: Maizuru demonstrates how Japan’s coastline is so diverse and beautiful and it brings 20th century naval history to life.
In Part 2 we will continue our circumnavigation and discover the final two hidden secrets!