Wondering if a cruise is a good way to see Japan? Discover the pros and cons of travelling around Japan on a cruise ship to help you decide if it is right for you.
I’ve recently returned from a land tour of Japan. In the weeks leading up to my departure, I began to see more and more adverts for cruises around Japan. Maybe I was just on high alert for anything Japan related but it did seem to be an itinerary getting more and more coverage.
Given we were coming into the cherry blossom season, one of the most popular times of the year to visit Japan, I guess this was no surprise.
I spent just over two weeks exploring Japan overland using public transport. Now that I’ve experienced travelling around this amazing country, it got me thinking, would a cruise be a good way to see Japan?
While I haven’t cruised Japan (yet), I’ve done enough cruises to know the pros and cons of this method of travel and be able to compare. So, thought I’d put together a post discussing the pro’s and cons of cruising around Japan to help you decide if it is a cruise for you.
How to travel around Japan
If you are thinking of visiting Japan, one of the first decisions you will have to make is how to get around the county.
Japan’s public transport system makes it very easy to travel all over the country. So land tours are very popular, both independently or as part of a group tour.
Alternatively, Japan has four main islands (and lots of smaller ones) so it has a variety of attractive ports to visit. So, a cruise is also an option to consider.
Should you cruise around Japan?
I’m aware that this will probably sound a bit of a cop-out but it depends. There isn’t really an easy answer as it very much comes down to your personal circumstances and the type of experience you would like.
A cruise has many advantages including…
- You can visit a lot of destinations in a short amount of time
- You don’t have to keep unpacking and repacking
- You will be able to enjoy scenic views of the Japanese coastline
Of course, there are also disadvantages to a cruise. These include..
- You don’t get to spend a lot of time at each destination
- You may find ports get crowded
- You won’t be able to immerse yourself in the local culture
So, keeping all that in mind here are some pros and cons of cruising around Japan.
Why you should consider a cruise around Japan
There are many advantages to cruising. It is a convenient way to travel and you can usually see a lot of places in a short amount of time.
Here are a few reasons why you should consider a cruise around Japan.
Your itinerary will cover a wide range of destinations
It’s easy to forget that Japan is an island. Actually, lots of islands. 7,000 of which have only recently been discovered thanks to digital mapping. Hard to believe eh?
So, there are plenty of ports to visit which provide a wider range of destinations than you would see on a land tour.
Most people’s overland trips, and group tours, stick to the golden triangle of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. These cities also offer easy side trips to places like Hakone, Nara, Himeji and Hiroshima.
They don’t usually go to many of the port cities so you may get to see a different side of Japan when on a cruise.
You’ll be able to enjoy scenic views of Japan’s coastline
While cruises around Japan are usually fairly port intensive, you’ll have the odd sea day to enjoy the facilities on the ship and hopefully catch some scenic views of the coastline.
The sail in and out of port will also give you an opportunity to see Japan from the sea. Just make sure you are on deck at the right moment!
You won’t have to deal with the hassle of moving around
A trip to Japan will usually involve visiting a couple of cities or regions.
On a land tour, this means you might be moving on every couple of days. Taking public transport like a train, bus or internal flight to your next destination.
A cruise is a much more convenient way to travel. You don’t have to worry about anything, it is all taken care of. You just board and the ship will take you to each destination.
No worrying about accommodation, transport or lugging your belongings around. All you need to do is sit back and relax.
You only have to unpack once
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of cruising is you can visit many destinations in one trip without having to keep unpacking and repacking.
As you will staying the same place – ie your cabin – you just need to unpack once regardless of how many destinations you visit.
If you are not very mobile you can still see the best of Japan
If you are not very mobile (or just don’t like walking far), a cruise could allow you to get a taste of Japan without the worry about getting around.
On my land tour, I was averaging between 15,000-20,000 steps a day. This equated to anything between seven and ten miles of walking a day. So, you will need a reasonable level of fitness and movement for this kind of trip.
A cruise, on the other hand, will take some of this away.
The ship will do a lot of the travelling for you, taking you from place to place. If you book excursions, you’ll likely be transported to the destination or attraction.
The amount of walking around and being on your feet will be very much reduced. So, if you are unable to walk far a cruise could be a good option to consider.
A cruise can be very good value
Japan has a reputation for being expensive to visit. However, a cruise comes with a lot included which can take some of the sting out of the cost. Accommodation, transport, meals and some onboard activities and entertainment will be included in your cruise fare.
You also have some flexibility in how much you spend as you can choose from a selection of cabins and tailor any extras to suit your budget.
What are the cons of cruising around Japan?
As always, there is another side. Here are some of the cons of cruising around Japan.
You probably won’t get enough time in some destinations
While you can see a lot of places on a cruise, the downside is that you don’t get to spend much time in them. You are usually limited to a day in port at most so there won’t be time to fully explore.
If there are more than a couple of things you would like to see, you may end up having to rush around to it fit them all in.
There is no flexibility with the itinerary
A cruise ship has an itinerary that they will try to stick to as much as possible. Of course, there are occasions when ports have to be cancelled. Usually due to weather conditions or operational issues.
That aside, the itinerary is fixed.
So, if you like somewhere you won’t be able to change your plans and spend longer there.
You may find the ports are crowded
Most cruise ships hold a couple of thousand people. So, when a ship is in port, places can feel crowded quite quickly. Particularly in the peak seasons like spring or autumn.
This may impact things you wish to see and do. There might be long lines at popular attractions and restaurants. Trust me on that, having visited during the two weeks the cherry blossom was blooming it was very very busy in lots of place.
Being too crowded may also make it a little difficult to fully enjoy the experience.
You may not able to immerse yourself in the Japanese culture
Your cruise line is likely to offer shore excursions so you can experience Japanese culture. However, these will probably not give you quite the same experience as if you were doing a land tour due to limited time.
As you are likely to be sailing in the evening you won’t have the opportunity to eat in local restaurants and enjoy some Japanese cuisine.
Staying on the cruise ship will also mean you’ll also miss out on experiencing Japanese accommodation such as Ryokans or a Capsule Hotel.
You may also find you end up spending more time with fellow passengers rather than interacting with locals.
You may have some hidden costs
While cruises can be good value, they often come with some hidden costs. Shore excursions are an obvious one.
Of course, if you are visiting a destination such as Japan you are going to want to make the most of it. You could find that costs swiftly add up if you book a few shore excursions.
Onboard expenses, such as drinks and speciality dining may not be included in your cruise fare. They can also quickly add up and before you know it, you’ve spent more than you thought.
The Last Word
Whether a cruise is the best way to see Japan will be different for each of us.
If you are someone that doesn’t like having to keep unpacking, repacking and moving around then you’ll probably enjoy a cruise around Japan. As long as you are prepared to only get a glimpse of each destination as your time will be limited.
However, if you are someone that likes to immerse yourself in the culture of the destination you are visiting and take your time exploring, then a cruise is probably not going to be the best option.
If you would like the best of both worlds, then perhaps a cruise and stay is worth considering. This is where you have a few nights on land at the beginning or end of your cruise. For example, many cruise lines offer a two or three night stay in Tokyo before the cruise.
Alternatively, you could add a few days on at the end and explore cities like Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka more in-depth.
That way you get the best of both worlds!
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