Huis Ten Bos, Sasebo, Japan

I drove by it last year (May of 2024) but ultimately decided it wasn't worth my time and instead spent time on other things.

We absolutely loved Kyushu (the large southern island) and spent 18 days there. This part of Kyushu has so many great things to see and do.

The eternal question of "is it worth it" is impossible for anyone else to answer, only you can decide that (we all have our own tastes and preferences), but when considering this or that, I do think it's worthwhile to consider one's alternatives. On a cruise, you will of course have a limited menu of options from which to choose (and in this case I'd probably choose something else, but it all depends on your options....we did things that plenty of folks would scoff at). We skipped Huis Ten Bosch, but it might be just your thing.

Where exactly is your ship in port - Nagasaki? Fukuoka? (Neither are very close to this theme park, maybe there's a closer port?). What are the other options offered by your cruise for this corner of Japan? Lots of cool things nearby.

Hello David

Thank you for your response

We will be porting in Sasebo

The only other excursion option would be

Kujukushima Islands Panoramic Tour

Explore the Kujukushima Islands by land and sea, an enlightening experience that will highlight their extraordinary natural beauty. As you will see, the best view of Kujukushima’s islands is from the Tenkaiho Observatory Tower, which offers a 180-degree perspective of dozens of the more than 200 islands that make up the archipelago.

For a closer look at the islands, you will board a boat at the Kujukushsima Pearl Sea Resort and cruise through the archipelago, which is a national park. Only four of the islands are inhabited, which has kept the area pristine and environmentally sound. The islands are so undeveloped and photogenic that they were shown in the opening scenes of the movie “The Last Samurai,” which was set in 1876.

Back on land, you will stop to observe the sea from Saikai Bridge, which connects Sasebo to Nagasaki. It is a magnificent setting as more than 1,000 cherry trees surround the bridge.

I think that I was also considering just walking around port and taking shuttle buses if offered to center

I have age, mobility and budget limitations.

In case no one responds that they have been there, you might watch some YouTube videos to get an idea of what you might want to do there depending on how much time you actually have there. Do they just bus you there and let you loose to wander around? Or is it more like a guide leading you through there?

OK, there's probably not much I can share that would be helpful. The region has many great things, but you have limited options.

I did not go into city of Sasebo (may have driven past it, didn't notice a large port/city there - Sasebo is also the region name, I believe). The landscapes and seacoasts around there (northwest Kyushu) are pretty, often quite dramatic. Lots of islands, too. I'm sure all of it would be scenic. What month are you going to be there? I would expect no cherry blossoms there after April (it's in the south, so any cherry blossoms would bloom early, like maybe March). It's not tropical, but more semi-tropical (warm) but they do get snow in the mountains during winter time. We were there in May, and found lots of flowers (wildflowers and formal, planted gardens) Don't know much about those islands nearby. If there's an observation tower, I'd expect a lovely view.

I'll only add this: Japan went through a period (1960s-70s, I think) where they went crazy for theme parks. There are (or were) lots of theme parks all over the place, many for oddball things (eg, a Hello Kitty theme park - we gave that one a pass, too). Many of them failed financially, some are still going but have seen better days, some have been abandoned altogether or nearly so.

We went to a "Porcelain theme park" in Arita (just a short drive from where you will be). Arita has been famous for fine porcelain pottery for ages, this place was intended to be like a Disneyland for porcelain, with replica/knock-offs of full-scale, ornate European palaces, a Euro town and all sorts of porcelain-related attractions. That park is now essentially abandoned (there's still a restaurant and porcelain gift shop), it was huge, atmospheric and (to me) absolutely fascinating. It's probably not an option without your own car, and I'm sure not everyone's cup of tea. We loved the place and spent a few hours there, pretty much by ourselves. There were just us and a few young Japanese teens shooting some kind of cosplay video with incredible costumes (a perfect setting for that!), occasionally a lost-looking Chinese tourist would wander through and then leave...It was eerie, empty, and surreal.

My point being that at Huis Ten Bosch, you may find a little "faded glory" and a big, once-popular place that now feels a bit past its prime...or it might be sparkling and busy, but with some surprises. Lots of both around Japan.

Have fun.

Hi Nancy and David also

I have watched two or three YouTube videos on Huis Ten Bos. They are recent and they were long.

The videos made Huis Ten Bos look really nice and someplace I might like to go to.

All the videos were made from travelers who were not taking a cruise and even stayed. at a hotel in the area.

There no videos from guests on. a cruise who were taking an excursion.

What I can do is call the Shore Excursion number next week and see if they have more information. They might know how long it takes from the port to the park and how much time we will actually have inside the park.

Hello David,

I will be in Sasebo sometime in October. I can not remember exactly what day.

I think Sasebo is not always used as a port. It is in Nagasaki and I wish that we were porting in Nagasaki.

As said in the previous post, I have been watching long YouTube videos of visitors exploring Huis Ten Bos and it made me want to visit. It looked great.

And the link that you sent to a porcelain theme park was beautiful. It looked like a palace.