I Booked A Cruise Around Japan.

Phil! I've never cruised nor been to Asia, so I'm not any help there, but I am most definitely here as a cheerleader! Excited and nervous makes a lot of sense. I'm thrilled for you and inspired by you!

So excited for you! I've been to Tokyo and Kamakura over twenty years ago and loved it. I think you will have a fantastic adventure.

There are some great port selections on your cruise.

First suggestion: look for flights that land at Haneda airport. Much closer toYokohama.

Remember you can book multi city tickets vs round trip.

Hello Carol

I have been watching youtube videos and doing other research since I posted my discussion.

I will be able to go to Haneda airport and have found how to get to Yokohama station. I have even discovered the line that I will be taking to some hotels that I am interested in.

there are a lot of very nice hotels at very good rates. There is an extremely nice APA hotel and resort in Yokohama.

I am not used to being so late in my planning. I usually have everything booked 6 monts before my cruise.

I have just begun to look at the excursions being offered through NCL. They are offering a lot of very good excursions but slightly pricey. And of course, I have to be careful of which ones I book.

Hannah and Sherry

Thank you so much for the uplifting words.

I am leaving in.less than 6 months and have. a lot of work to do,

when will it be?

Good for you, Phil!

I've seen a few recent Japan trip reports that you might be interested in.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/konnichiwa-and-arigato-japan

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/2025-3-1-2-weeks-in-japan

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-japan-tokyo

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-japan-nagasaki-and-the-goto-islands-dec-2024

Hi Nigel

I am sailing October and I assure you that I will be asking a lot of questions before I go. But I will also post. a lot of information hopefully as I travel.

I have been spending hours watching YouTube videos and really getting familiar with Yokohama . I know how to get to Yokohama Station from Haneda Airport and I now know the Minatomirai line that I need to take to reach my hotel.

Yokohama is amazing.

Hi Mary

Thanks for the links. I believe that you are the impetus for my interest in cruising Japan. And now I have done it. I have booked Japan.

I am so behind in my planning. I am leaving in 5 months. and usually I am all through with everything by this stage of the game.,

I must book air ASAP.

Boston Phil- A taxi from the station in Yokohama to your hotel will be quite inexpensive (approx $10). I would go ahead and treat yourself well on arrival day and grab a cab for the last part of the journey. Luggage won't be an issue from Haneda to Yokohama, but it will become one on the next train.

And now I have done it. I have booked Japan.

Making a decision and booking is half the battle.

Since this is truly a once in a lifetime trip, I hope you'll let some of the experienced Japan travelers guide you into making the most of your time. e.g. Carol's suggestion about a taxi is a good example of something that can make a big difference.

Hi, Phil! I know you're behind your usual schedule with planning but it seems like you're doing a great job of catching up! I echo Mary's encouragement of Carol's suggestion for a taxi. I'm only 44, but I know if I'd just traveled allllll those hours to Japan, I'd be quite exhausted and likely disoriented trying to immediately navigate public transit. I know you also sleep at the airport the night before leaving, and so that's another factor in your level of restedness upon arriving. I hope you'll treat yourself to the taxi!

Hello Carol

I think that I am going to take your advice and book a taxi from Yokohama Station. Is it easy to find a taxi stand? Is there a meter? Do you have to negotiate in advance?

I am going to be exhausted.

I just booked my air and got a good deal. I did it differently than I normally do. I was going to fly out of Austin early morning to Dallas and then non-stop to Haneda arriving about 3 pm at Haneda. But then i realized, I need to get my bags and go through immigration and security. Then to Yokohama Station and then to the other line that will take me to my hotel. And then I have to find my hotel.

I would probably not get to my hotel until 8 pm or later the frst day.

So I decided to leave Austin in the evening flying to L.A and arriving at Haneda about 4 a.m.

I just booked the trip and it is costing me about $1,200 plus and I think that includes my taxes and insurance, etc.

When I was doing research, it was coming up $1,400 to $1,500.

It is Tuesday and I booked it about 8 pm. I have heard that you can sometimes get better deals booking certain days and times.

Hello Mary

I welcome other Japan travelers guiding me and giving me advice. I need it.

It is a huge trip. I want advice about Yokohama but also my shore excursions.

I have now booked my cruise, my air and my hotel in Yokohama.

Read my post to Carol about the air. I got a really good deal. And I will be taking her advice and take a cab to my hotel. Maybe even take a cab to the port on cruise day.

Hello Hannah

I am going to take a cab from the Yokohama Station to my hotel. I am going to be exhausted.

Interestingly enough though I have changed how I normally fly. I am leaving Austin in the evening to Los Angeles and very late at night flying to Haneda. I will be arriving Haneda about 4 a.m.

See my post to Carol.

I have always flown out of Austin early to mid morning. Never any other time.

But I will be leaving for the airport early morning even though my flight does not leave until evening. We have very limited mass transit. No rail of any kind. And you would not believe the accidents. The other day, there was such a bad wreck that traffic did not move for. a full five hours, And yes, people missed their flights. People could not get to work etc etc, And this happens at least once a week, sometimes twice a week.

So glad you are thinking of ways to take care of yourself! Yes, taxis are metered and you can pay with a credit card. It is Japan so you do not tip. There is clear signage to the taxi area at Yokohama station. It is a fairly large station, but just follow the signs and you will do great. I took the same train line you will take so I know it works well.

Here on the west coast we are very used to flying all night whether it be Europe or Asia. You will do fine. Your hotel won’t be ready to check you in quite that early, but will cheerfully hold your luggage so you can either explore or rest in the lobby until your room is ready.

Carol

I envy all of you who live on the coast and or. port.

In Austn, we almost always have to change planes for international travel . There are some exceptions going south of the border. We were going to have non stop service going from Austin to Vncouver beginning early May but it was just cancelled because of low interest

I have booked at APA Hotel and Resort in Yokohama for now. However they only offer self check in and some are reporting difficulty using self check in. I might change this hotel. There are many others very nice at a very good price. I book with booking and part of the fun is shopping around.

Since you are arriving at 4:00 a.m., you will be arriving at your hotel early in the morning and well before check in time. In some YouTube videos, I've heard that in Japan that they seldom let you check in prior to the official check in time, which is usually in the mid-afternoon. Perhaps you can book the hotel room for one night prior and let them know that you will be arriving in the morning, so that you can go straight to your room upon arrival. Just something to think about.

Hi Sherry

Although I am supposedly arriving at Haneda airport at 4 a.m., the plane could be late. I would still have to go through security and immigration which can take hours from what I have read. The Japanese are very thorough. And lets' not forget my luggage as well s checking out a famous Japanese toilet.

then I have to find the train to Yokohama station and get to Yokohama.

I am going to eat somewhere.

And then I have to get to my hotel, probably by taxi.

There s a good chance that I will not get to my hotel until noon or later.

And I have read that Japanese hotels are very strict about not allowing early check in without payment.

I may just want to sit in the lobby or outside the hotel and people watch as well as relax.

then I have to find the train to Yokohama station and get to Yokohama.

Don't forget, you're going to take a taxi, remember?

I will not forget, Mary. I am taking. taxi.

I have booked excursions to Mt Fuji and Hiroshima. Two down and ten more to go.

However from watching you tube videos and reading facebook reports, every voyage seems to have some cruise ports cancelled because of weather and other issues. It is unlikely that I will be able to visit all 12 ports