Should You Cruise Around Japan? All the Questions To Ask Yourself

While most visitors to Japan fly into the country and then take the train around to see the main sites, cruising around Japan is another very popular option – but is it the right option for you? Our guide to the pros and cons of taking a cruise around Japan can help you decide if ship life is right for you.

You might not think of Japan as an obvious cruise destination – after all, we tend to think of the cities – Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka as the key destinations when visiting Japan – and they don’t really say ‘cruise port’.

But don’t forget, that actually Japan is an island – well, in fact, it’s an archipelago of 6852 islands – and so, most of the main sights you want to see aren’t actually that far from a port – even Mount Fuji has one relatively nearby.

Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

This actually makes it perfect cruise territory – and, because distances between ports aren’t that big, you can cover a lot of ground in a short period on a Japan cruise – Princess Cruises, for example, visit at least 10 ports in Japan, Celebrity Cruises have 15 different ports of call!

This ability to easily hop around the country is probably the biggest selling point of taking a cruise to Japan – although, as you’ll see below, there are quite a few others as well.

How Long is a Japan Cruise?

Do you have a piece of string handy?

The fact is there are a few different lengths – and styles – of trips offered by the various cruise companies so the answer to how long is a Japan cruise is, how long do you want to make it?

Generally, though Japan cruises can be as short as 5 days – or as long as 28.

What Types of Japan Cruise Holidays Are There?

When booking a cruise around Japan, your time on the ship doesn’t have to be the whole part of your holiday. There are actually a few different types of cruise holidays that you can book…

A Total Cruise Vacation.

In this, you fly directly to Japan, with flights organized by the cruise company, (usually) spend a night in a hotel and board the ship the next day.

The cruise can last anything from 5-28 days – and, may include a port in a second country like South Korea – when it’s done, you go from the ship to the airport (maybe with one final excursion if you have a late flight) and head straight home.

A Cruise-Tour Package

If you have a couple of weeks to spend in Japan and don’t want to spend them all at sea, you might want to pick what’s known as a Cruise Tour package.

In these, you have 4-5 days taking a tour around some of the main sights like Tokyo and Kyoto that the cruise won’t visit and then head to the ship.

This is a good way to see a little bit more of Japan’s biggest and most vibrant cities as there’s simply no way you can cover them in a simple day’s visit.

A Cruise-Stay Option

If you like the idea of the cruise, but not an organized tour, then book a cruise-stay package.

These see you booking your flights, cruise, and hotel through the cruise line.

They’ll also often arrange logistics like your transfer from the airport to your hotel and your hotel to the cruise ship, but your time is your own for as many nights as you want to spend on land.

Some lines might also offer fly/cruise packages where they arrange your flights and, your cruise – but the rest of it is up to you.

Cruise-Only

It’s also possible to simply book the cruise with some lines – and make your own way to and from the ship spending as much time as you like, wherever you like, before or after the ship part.

You’re also responsible for your own flights.

Note: If you are booking your own flights, make sure you are in your departure city at least one night before your ship sails. It won’t wait for you if you’re late.

Which you choose depends on your line, your itinerary, and, how much responsibility you want for planning your trip and/or independence you prefer when not onboard ship.

What Parts of Japan Can You Cruise to?

A Lot! You can literally go from one end to the other on the right ship with the right itinerary.

Usual ports though might include Yokohama (for Tokyo), Kobe – for Osaka, Kagoshima with its amazing volcanoes, Nagasaki, Okinawa, Shimizu for Mount Fuji, Kanazawa with its giant Buddha or Hitachinaka, which lets you explore Nikko or Hakodate, in the Northern Island of Hokkaido – and more.

Because cruise lines list the ports, not the nearby city you might sometimes look at an itinerary and think it doesn’t go anywhere you recognize, but delve deeper and they will normally explain what the big attractions are for the port – Kobe and Osaka, for example, are used for Kyoto day trips while Shimizu is for Mount Fuji.

You can also usually see the excursions on offer in each port so you can see if the area offers the types of things you want to see and do – the best Japan cruise is the one that suits your interest.

What Time of Year Do Cruises to Japan Depart?

Most cruises take place in the two best seasons to visit Japan – spring and autumn.

If you’ve read our guides to the best time to visit Tokyo or, our other post on the best time to visit Kyoto, you’ll know that these are when the most moderate weather is found in Japan.

Some itineraries even factor in the seasonality and have special themed sailings.

Princess, for example, offers Fall Foliage and Spring Flowers sailings to make the most of Japan’s beautiful autumn colors.

Or, if money is no object, see this very luxurious itinerary from Abercrombie and Kent. which aims to make the most of the Cherry Blossom season.

Pros & Cons of Cruising Around Japan

I have to preface this with a confession – I love cruise ships!

Absolutely love them – however, I appreciate that cruising around Japan is different from, say, cruising around the Caribbean and so I am attempting to be neutral when listing the pros and cons of taking a cruise to Japan, and focus specifically on whether it’s a good idea for this destination.

Pros of a Japan Cruise

– Convenience

Traveling around Japan is amazing, but if you want to see more than two cities during your trip, the traveling can see you checking in and out of hotels, packing and unpacking, and getting on trains and off trains – it can be tiring (unless you use our Ma technique), and cut into your sightseeing time, especially if you only have a short trip.

Cruising takes away a lot of that hassle. You get on the ship, unpack in your cabin and you’re done for the week – you’re sailed from A-B, cocktail in hand.

If you choose the right ship, US travelers might not even need an adaptor as some come with US plugs.

– Distance Covered vs Time

This is the really brilliant thing about cruising versus trying to make your own way around Japan.

Trying to see everything on 12-night best of Japan itinerary from Celebrity Cruises – for example – on your own – and spend up to 12 hours a day in the cities as well, is going to be tricky in that amount of time, but a cinch via the ship.

Itineraries in areas like Kyushu, like the 7-Day Kyushu and Korea itinerary on Princess Cruises, where it’s a bit harder to get around by bullet trains meaning it takes a lot longer to get from A-B, are also a good option by cruise ship.

– Great for Nervous or Less Mobile travellers

If you’re a bit concerned about navigating the bullet trains, the language barrier or, a bit worried that all the walking you have to do to see Japan just be a bit too much for you physically, a cruise around Japan, takes away all the stress – especially if you also enjoy some of the ship’s own excursions.

Then all you need to do is find your way to your tour bus then sit back and enjoy the sights.

– Highlights Picked For You

Planning a Japan trip can take a lot of planning – and, the more you plan, the more you decide you need to see.

Next thing you know your itinerary is more packed than a bag full of ferrets – and you’re just as stressed as they’d be too.

On a cruise, they’ve picked the highlights for you. All you need to do is decide if you’re going to do your own thing in a port or take an excursion (and then pick one).

And, if like many of us, you fall in love with Japan, you know where you might want to go back to next time.

Cons of Cruising Around Japan

– You Just Scratch the Surface

There’s only really one big downside to choosing a cruise as your sole way of seeing Japan – and it totally contradicts one of the points I made above.

You simply can’t see any of Japan’s cities in a day; you can’t eat all of the food, drink all the drinks, try all the little fun things like buying hot tea from a vending machine. It’s just skating on the surface of Japan

But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not everyone wants to deep dive into every backstreet and if your dream Japan trip is ticking off the big sights in one go, then taking a cruise is an absolutely brilliant and relaxing way to do it.

But, if you are that more independent kind of traveler, a Japan cruise alone is probably not for you.

However, you might enjoy a fly cruise or a cruise tour which gives you time on land alongside the benefits of being able to cover larger distances or visit areas you might not want to spend as long in by sea.

– Cruises Aren’t Local

Because cruise lines are big international names, you’re not putting as much money back into the community on a cruise as you aren’t spending on lodging and, while you might have the odd meal out, it’s not as often as an independent traveler would.

Companies who run the excursions will be getting paid obviously, but also if your schedule allows make sure you explore a little on your own in each port – I know you’ve paid for the meals on board, but, maybe just have a coffee in a local cafe or a drink in a local bar before you go back to the ship.

– The C Word

This isn’t an issue solely related to cruising in Japan – but it does need to be mentioned that, we’re living in a new world now, and cruise ships contain a lot of people, in close quarters so, you just need to be super careful with your distancing and hygiene to reduce your risk of getting sick on your holiday. Although, all of the lines are putting in as many safety features as they can to make this a non-issue.

How the C*v*d situation is going to play out specifically on cruise ships in Japan is yet to be seen.

But, the good news about this is that the lines will have had a lot of practice of dealing with a world where it’s a thing by the time Japan cruises begin again and so will have systems in place to reduce risk and deal with any cases.

Whenever you book a cruise (or any holiday in fact) make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers all eventualities for the C-Word just in case.

Aussie readers might want to try Cover More for this – I’ve swapped to them for my own trips as they offer a lot of extra cover for the spicy cough. Don’t forget you’ll also need a specialist cruise policy.

Which Lines Offer Cruises Around Japan in 2024-25?

Most of the main lines normally have at least one ship in Japan, although obviously as they haven’t been sailing not everyone has decided which one, or where they will be going for 2025 just yet.

Princess Cruises

Princess have been voted the ‘Best Cruise line in Asia’ and their 2023 season (the 10th year they’ve sailed in Japan) sees them sailing Diamond Princess on a number of different itineraries leaving either Yokohama or Kobe.

Itineraries range from 5-day to 19-day cruises. They’re particularly good for cruises to the southern parts of Japan like Kyushu and Okinawa – see their Japan offerings here.

Also look for their themed cruises around special events like Golden Week, Spring Flowers, or Fall Foliage.

They also offer Tour Cruise packages.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity’s Japan cruises for 2023 and 2024 are on Celebrity Millennium (see her below), she’s one of their older ships – but was revamped with new-look cabins and public areas in 2019.

They specialize in longer trips of 12-14 days, with a fantastic mix of ports around Japan mixed with more relaxing days at sea. Many of their itineraries also offer overnight stops in cities like Kyoto.

Find the Celebrity Cruises Japan page here

Cunard

The Queen Elizabeth is going to be visiting Japan for Cunard in 2024.

She’s offering stand-alone Japan itineraries (like this one named The Grand Voyage) – or a number of intercontinental cruises from cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Vancouver and within Asia itineraries that depart from Singapore but take in Tokyo.

See more about all of Cunard’s Japan sailings here.

Holland America Line

The Westerdam is Holland America’s ship of choice for their 2024 Japan season and she’s offering 14 or 28-day itineraries around the islands meaning you can really take things at a leisurely pace..

To see all of their Japan cruises, visit their Asia itinerary page from their main website.

Azamara

Azamara prides itself on more immersive cruises which do let you get a proper feel for a country – that’s why they plan their itineraries with at least one late-night departure.

Their 15-night Japan Discovery, for example. has an overnight stop in Kobe and a 10pm departure from Hiroshima.

Does a Japan Cruise Cost More Than Doing It Yourself?

This was something we wondered about, as, when you see the prices of some of the cruises they can look rather spendy. So, we did the maths…

If you want to see the maths that allowed us to come to that conclusion though… here goes.

Let’s take a Best of Japan cruise traveling in September 2024 for 12 nights from Australia on a cruise-only package (just because that’s the price I can see – but, the premise is the same from the US and the UK) on the Celebrity Millennium.

If you book this early, it costs AU$2394 per person (full price is from AU$5870) in an entry-level inside cabin.

For this, you get 12 nights of accommodation, three meals a day, and stops at Mount Fuji, Kobe, two days in Kyoto, Kochi, Hakadote, Aomori, and then back to Yokohama (Tokyo).

You also have two days at sea and a stop in Busan, South Korea.

So, to do that alone, you would be looking at, conservatively, 10 days’ accommodation (as you’re traveling from one end of Japan to the other), but to make it fair, let’s give you the same 12 nights (which trust, me, you’d want).

A room in a basic business hotel, which is a bit smaller than the cabin, but comparable in facilities, is around AU$80 a night – so, that’s $480 per person for 12 nights.

You need a 14-day Japan Rail Pass to do the trip. That’s currently $1144 per person.

Three meals a day – okay, so you can do that on $20-30 per person a day – $360 – but, evening meals on a cruise ship are 3-course extravaganzas, so, to be fair let’s give another $150 to allow for splashing out in Japan a few nights. That’s $510.

Drinks with dinner: Celebrity includes basic drinks with your package. So, let’s assume you have two alcoholic drinks a night – that’s about $8-10 onshore – so, $94

Wifi – you get wifi included on the ship. A SIM card for 14 days is about AU$50

The cost for doing this yourself – $2278 – a little bit less than the cruise BUT I haven’t factored in three days of relaxing on the ship or a side trip to South Korea. Or, evening entertainment. If you add all of that, the price is pretty similar to the early bird price.

Plus, to actually do that itinerary and have as long in each port as you get on the ship is going to be pretty tiring. You can do it in 10 days, but you’d probably need at least 12-14 to not be exhausted.

Result: Yes, on paper a cruise looks a bit more expensive, but, book early and the difference isn’t quite as much as you might think.

So, that’s the main information you might need to help you decide if a cruise around Japan is the right choice for you. And if you have decided it’s a good plan – here are a few other questions you might have…

Should You Book an Outdoor Cabin on a Japan Cruise?

Outdoor cabins are more expensive than indoor ones so you might be wondering if it’s worth splashing out on one for your trip.

Outdoor cabins can just mean cabins with windows that face outside the ship, or they can be cabins with balconies, or swanky suites – and there are a couple of different things to consider when deciding whether it’s worth booking one.

These include…

What is there to see? How much you do like people? And how cold is it going to be?

Sights: In terms of things to see I think Japan is one of the places where it might be worth booking an outdoor cabin, or at least one with a window.

As we said, Japan is a country made up of islands so there could be some nice views out of the window.

People: I book balcony cabins because as much as I love cruise ships, I also like my own space and quiet – and a balcony cabin lets me sit, reading books (find some relaxing Japanese themed books here), watching the world float past without feeling like I’m missing out.

My mother, who before Covid was practically almost always on a cruise ship, however, only ever books inside cabins because she just sleeps there. The rest of the time she’s outside in the public areas of the ship, meeting people, joining in activities, sunbathing…

Knowing which of us sounds most like you can help you decide which is right for you.

Weather: If it’s cooler weather during your trip – and most of the time you’re in your cabin at night, are you really going to sit outside – or, would a window cabin satisfy your outside urges?

Generally, if you’re going south in Japan, temperatures will be warmer than if you’re traveling north on the ship.

Going through those questions can help you decide which is the right cabin for you.

What Do You Do at Night on a Cruise?

While some cruise lines like Azamara, plan their itineraries so you spend some time off the ship at night (see their 15-night Japan sailing here), some of the other lines offer the option of spending evenings in ports so check itineraries carefully.

If the ships do leave early evening though, there’s always plenty to do on a cruise ship. But depending on which ship you choose, you might find the Japanese touches continue on board.

Princess cruises, for example, theme a lot of their activities on their Japan cruises – so you might try karaoke or watch a Japanese dance performance, try your hand at origami, or watch Japanese films in their Movies Under the Stars.

You’ll probably also find Japanese cuisine on board.

Should You Let the Cruise Company Book Your Japan Flights?

There are a couple of reasons why this is a good idea.

They might be able to get a better deal.

If they book your flights, and the flight is canceled or late, then they have some responsibility with regards to getting you to the ship before sailing – although I’d always arrive at least the night before to reduce the stress of this happening.

If they book your flights and the whole cruise has to be canceled, you’re more likely to get money back or, credit, for that flight than if you do it alone where the airline will expect you to go anyway.

Admittedly, you should also have insurance that covers flight problems or cancellations just in case.

Where Do Cruises Leave From in Tokyo?

While there is a cruise ship terminal in Tokyo itself, most Japanese cruises depart from Osanbashi Cruise Terminal, the port of Yokohama, about a 45-minute drive or train ride from Tokyo.

Yokohama is a cool city with a lot to do, so, if you decide you want to stay the night there before you join the ship you won’t be bored.

The Hyatt Regency Hotel is just steps away from the pier. Check rates and rooms here.

Should You Stay in Tokyo Before or After Your Trip?

Given the choice, if you haven’t been to Tokyo before, I would always say to add a few days in Tokyo onto a cruise – it’s just too big to tick off even the main sights in a short period (we suggest four days as the minimum to see everything) but, should you book your extra days before or after your trip?

Well, there are arguments for both…

Staying in Tokyo Before Your Trip

The big advantage of this is that it gives you that safety net regarding the ship’s departure if your flight is delayed.

It also allows you to get over any jetlag while you’re working on your own schedule rather than jumping out of bed to catch a tour bus.

If you’re an independent traveler, you’ll probably also enjoy the cruise more if you have got some more free-form exploration off your chest before you join the ship.

Staying in Tokyo After Your Trip

Your jetlag will be well and truly gone and you’re likely to be more relaxed and ready to through yourself into exploring Tokyo with abandon.

You’ll already be a bit more used to Japan so things won’t be so unfamiliar to you which can make it easier once you enter the maze that is Tokyo.

You might have ticked a few things off your list already – like lots of shrines and temples, or trying certain local dishes – which can help make it easier to pick what you’re going to do in Tokyo.

See they both have their benefits, you just need to choose which works best for you. Or do both and bookend your trip with a couple of nights in Tokyo on either side.

Should You Fly into Narita or Haneda when Taking a Cruise?

Everyone always tells you to fly into Haneda when you’re traveling to Tokyo (see why in our guide to Narita vs Haneda), but what about if you’re taking a cruise – what then?

Well, if you’re not going straight from the airport to the ship (or vice versa) then Haneda is probably the easiest as it’s closest to Tokyo. But if you are going to or from Yokohama to the airport which is better?

Again, it’s Haneda.

Haneda is very close to Yokohama – just 17km away. And that means it’s a great choice if you’re heading to the port.

The easiest way to get to the port is the Limousine Bus which picks you up at the International Terminal and stops at the port itself.

You can also get the train, but you do have to change lines so, it’s possibly not the most convenient option.

If you’re flying into Narita, you can take the Limousine Bus or Ne’X into Yokohama, but you will have to change to other train lines to get you to the port so it’s not the most convenient if you’re carrying luggage.

See full details on exactly where you need to change here as it varies by transport type.

So, I think that’s everything you might want to know about deciding if a cruise around Japan is right for you. But if you do have any further questions about cruising in Japan, please head over to the Japlanease Facebook group and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Sharing is caring!