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.

Well, as it turns out, I have been to Huis ten Bosch in February this year!

I spent maybe 3-4 hours there, after exploring the ancient pottery kilns and villages around Arita.

The 3-4 hours included dinner, lots of walking around to enjoy the buildings and illuminations (it was 17:00 when we entered), and maybe 2 mediocre attractions. There are no rides, it's all cheap VR and themed shows.
The main draw for me was to find this kitschy, almost trippy, and really giant Dutch-themed place, complete with a full-scale Dutch palace, belltower, tulips (in February), etc., in the middle of Kyushu. It is camp. I really enjoyed it, despite living ~3 hours away from the Netherlands, but it might not be everyone's cup of tea, and it does require a lot of walking.

Is there really no Nagasaki excursion? The cruise does not visit Nagasaki? That is a shame...

Hi balso

We do not visit Nagasaki and that is. a shame. I am very disappointed and wish that we were porting there rather than Sasebo

I called Shore Excursions. And this excursion only includes transportation to the park and back to the cruise ship along with tickets to the park. And nothing more!

The cost is about $270 and I would be paying about $220 with my discount.

That is vastly over priced and I will not consider it now.

I am porting at Hiroshima and have bought an excursion to Peace Park and Miyajima

There are 12 ports and the excursions are so expensive that I believe I will only be able to buy 6 or 7 and then have to do my own thing at the other ports.

Some ports have very interesting things to do right in port and most of them offer a shuttle service to the center.

I am doing. a lot of research on the ports.

Sasebo may be one of the ports where I choose to do my own thing.

That's too bad for Nagasaki. The train ride from Sasebo is too long to attempt going on your own, alas.

I don't think there are many attractions in Sasebo. It is mostly know for a large US Navy base.
It still has the attributes of a Japanese town, so I guess you can spend a few hours by the harbor (there are restaurants, a new mall, etc.) and perhaps explore the shotengai (covered arcade) which is especially long - it would be a longer walk, though.

No way I'd spend $270 or $220 to visit Huis ten Bosch.

Hi Balso

And we have a long port in Sasebo. We will be there arriving 11 am and leaving 8 pm but weather appears to be tricky.

I have been reading reports or previous journeys and almost everyone has had a minimum of one port cancelled due to weather. Some have had multiple ports cancelled.

If you book an excursion through NCL, your money is immediately refunded.

If I have ports cancelled and money refunded before Sasebo, I may be able to be more generous when purchasing excursions for the next port or the next port

Sasebo is at the end of my cruise. it is the 12th day of a 14 day cruise.

My next ports will be JeJu Island and Seoul Korea. I have excursions booked for both ports and the cost of excursions in Korea is more reasonable than Japan.

The biggest problem is the cost of the excursions.

Here is another excursion offered through NCL and with my discounts, this one will cost me just under $200 but close to $200. What do you think about this one.

A Taste of Sasebo
See how some of the most definitive products of Sasebo are made, starting with a behind-the-scenes tour of Umegae Sake Brewery. This traditional brewery has been producing high-quality sake since 1787, and you will observe the process firsthand. A tasting will showcase the attributes that make this brand of sake so desirable throughout Japan.

The town of Mikawachi is known for porcelain adorned with landscape paintings, which has been made there since the 16th century. While browsing the porcelain exhibits in a museum in town, be sure to notice the most distinguishing characteristics, which include fine-grained snow-white porcelain with a delicate underglaze of blue. Incense burners, plates and bowls are among the items that are produced using traditional techniques. Hasami-yaki produces a porcelain that is quite different but no less magnificent. In part, the porcelain tableware has remained extraordinarily popular through the centuries because the designs change with the times.

Here is another excursion offered through NCL and with my discounts, this one will cost me just under $200 but close to $200. What do you think about this one.
A Taste of Sasebo
See how some of the most definitive products of Sasebo are made, starting with a behind-the-scenes tour of Umegae Sake Brewery. This traditional brewery has been producing high-quality sake since 1787, and you will observe the process firsthand. A tasting will showcase the attributes that make this brand of sake so desirable throughout Japan.
The town of Mikawachi is known for porcelain adorned with landscape paintings, which has been made there since the 16th century. While browsing the porcelain exhibits in a museum in town, be sure to notice the most distinguishing characteristics, which include fine-grained snow-white porcelain with a delicate underglaze of blue. Incense burners, plates and bowls are among the items that are produced using traditional techniques. Hasami-yaki produces a porcelain that is quite different but no less magnificent. In part, the porcelain tableware has remained extraordinarily popular through the centuries because the designs change with the times.

That's not bad at all! Sake breweries are interesting to visit, and the region near Sasebo is indeed very famous for pottery (although Mikawachi ware is not the most famous - Arita would be more interesting).

But at the end of the cruise, it could be fine to just spend a couple of hours ashore, shop for some gifts, eat Japanese food, and for this you do not need to leave Sasebo.

Hello balso

yes, I believe that I will be tired by the time that I reach Sasebo and I will still have two ports ahead of me with very active shore excursions.

And then there is the very long flight home.

At minimum, I will get off at Sasebo. And if we have port cancellations due to weather before Sasebo, then I might go with. a paid excursion.