Japan - semi live trip report

Hi Andrea

I will be coming along with you.

I really liked Yokohama. Stayed at a very nice APA Hotel but the hotel is geared towards the Japan speaking business community and when there were glitches, I could not get the assistance that I might have gotten had I stayed at a hotel geared towards the leisure community.

The breakfast buffet at my hotel was a very large one, many items both Eastern and Western. I do not remember why I said that the breakfast was different but it was a great breakfast. There were maybe 75 items every morning.

We had a wonderful Onsen at my hotel which stayed open until about midnight. Many guests walked around in robes and slippers. The restaurant had a sign posted informing guests that bathrobes and slippers were not allowed,.

What port are you leaving from? Originally we were supposed to leave from one of the two that were close to the hotels, both very nice.

Then Norwegian changed it on us and we left from Daikoku Cruise Terminal which was an industrial cruise terminal and not very nice. . We had to take.a cab. My hotel did not call cabs for guests. I needed help requesting a.cab from staff but did not get the help that I needed and when it was all said and done, my cab did not show up. I grabbed a cab off of the street which was a big mistake. The driver tried to cheat me and the guys at the port made him go away.

I did not mention the above in my TR. In fact, I never really wrote about Yokohama in my TR.

I really liked Yokohama. It is very pretty with a lot to do. I took the Tourist Bus which is a hoho bus. I rode the full route twice, not getting off.

There was one stop very high on a hill and I think there may have been a nice museum. I believe this may be the area where foreigners once had to stay and lived. If you have not yet gone to this park and museum, very recommended. I am mad at me because I did not get off.

From what persons have told me, Yokohama is much quieter and less chaotic than Tokyo.

Wonderful travels to you. I will be following.

Thanks, Andrea! I look forward to reading your report, especially since I have a trip planned to Japan in May.

As I have been to Tokyo before, I will be spending part of the trip based in Yokohama. On my first trip (in 2002), I stayed in Asakusa in Tokyo.

Have a great time!

BostonPhil, we are departing from Osanbashi Pier as expected, but just got an email stating the disembarkation port is Daikoku. We hadn't yet arranged the post cruise transfer to Tokyo. Just as well. Our hotel is walking distance to the embarkation point. I think Yokohama may be a "softer landing" for a first time in Japan. Not very chaotic or noisy, though today was the marathon so there were lots of runners around the waterfront

Sherry, our six nights in Tokyo post cruise are in Asakusa. It was hard to pinpoint the best location but really we need to use transit no matter where we stay.

Yokohama, Day One
After our relaxing morning we headed out past the Red Brick Warehouse. This was the starting area for the marathon so it was bustling with very fit people of all ages. The Warehouse wasn't yet open so we kept walking and found a Cafe with spectacular water views and had cappuccino. Then we went to Cosmo 21, the big Observation Wheel. Well recommended and we even had our first view of Mt Fuji from it!

Red Brick Warehouse is a shopping complex with a mix of higher and leather goods, fashion, jewelry and other items, but no souvenir shops of the kind you see elsewhere in the world. The only thing I wanted was a beautifully Yokohama themed decorated phone case but they were only available for iPhone and I have Android. Oh well, I'm sure I'll see a million more before this trip is over.

We made our way back to the hotel for a rest before our "drinks and bites" tour with Sheleina (With Locals). We went to a place for various chicken parts on a skewer. All tasty except gizzard. This place was interesting because it was one place, but you could sit near the open kitchen for the kind of food you wanted. We watched our chef grill our meat. We were adjacent to the Okinawa food grill and people had big orchids in their cocktails.

We then went on to a sushi place. I've always been afraid of sushi because I don't like seafood. It was a whole plate of various raw fish. All good to very good. I was surprised how nice it was. I think I would have said delicious if I could get out of my own head. We finished with a BBQ oyster. That I hated. Ugh. I'm in the room with a Coke Zero trying to get the taste out of my mouth.

I'd recommend this tour. Both are places we would have felt somewhat intimidated to enter and clueless on ordering, so it was a great option for us.

Tomorrow we are going to Kamakura.

You need 3 days in Kyoto.
Also, check out Nikko, north of Tokyo.

Andrea

i think we were supposed to sail from Osanbashi Pier but then Norwegian changed it to Daikoku which is far out and an industrial port. Probably your cruise line will offer transportation to Tokyo which will be fine. A cab is going to be very expensive. I think there is also a ride service from Daikoku to Tokyo when cruise ships arrive. .

Your report is already making me feel nostalgic.

Octoberfest was happening around the Red Brick Warehouse when I was there.

Looking forward to following your trip.

Enjoy your trip!
If you have the energy tomorrow, Kamakura is a short side trip from Yokohama (just half an hour away!) and it is really, really worthwhile. All you need to know is here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2166.html

I've personally really enjoyed the walk/hike from Kita Kamakura station (with a few worthwhile temples around) to the Giant Buddha and Hasedera. It's the Daibutsu (Giant Buddha) hiking trail.

Then, you could hop on the Enoden tram back to the centre of Kamakura to check out the Hachiman shrine and the shops all along and around the approach.

I'm not sure I set the atmosphere at the restaurants. Both were small, people jammed in at counters or tables on teeny tiny stools. The chicken place was smoky and steamy and very Japan of the imagination. The fish place was also small. We had fish for two, it came on a bed of salad and there was a bite size slice of each fish for us. Salmon, tuna, cod, prawn, anchovies, and more that I forget just now.

There was a drunk guy at the fish place who was very interested in Chris.

Geo, unfortunately we only have one day in Kyoto. Alas a reason to return to Japan.

Allan, glad you are tuning in. You will be pleased to know we are going to a baseball game in Tokyo.

Balso, we are off to Kamakura later this morning. We will follow your plan; it sounds perfect.

BostonPhil, I think we will book the Celebrity transfer yo Tokyo. It doesn't go anywhere near our hotel, but once in the City we can either taxi or take the metro. I feel comfortable taking the metro but with luggage a taxi might be better.

Holy crap Balso that hike darn near killed me!!!

We took the train to Kita Kamakura to start the hike of the Shrines to Big Buddha. Holy heck! I read this is rated a moderate hike; I'd hate to see challenging. The path was up and down, covered with exposed roots, very steep in places. Hard to describe. At one point I had to sit on a rock and jump down from that position. Its very treacherous and twice I half twisted my right ankle. It's not too bad tonight, a bit sore when I walk but totally bearable.

We had a look around a few shrines along the way until we finally arrived at Big Buddha, Daibutsu. We arrived at the busiest time but it was still impressive. I liked the giant woven sandals that were hanging nearby, just in case Buddha took to the trail I guess.

At Buddha I bought a charm "to protect you from your own calamities". Send good wishes to keep it activated for me until the end of the trip!

We had lunch at a pannini place before the long walk to the station to head back to Yokohame.

Tonight we dragged ourselves up and went to Chinatown for dinner. It i so beautiful there after dark. Really glad we went.

Tomorrow we embark our ship! I'm ready for a rest and we have a sea day right out of the gate. I think every cruise should start and end with a sea day. This one is in port last day but we booked a short excursion.

Luckily our hotel has a launderette so in the morning we can get all our clothes washed before setting out to ship. Nice to get on-board with a bag full of clean clothes only. We saw there's a beer vending machine in the launderette!

I don't remember the path being as rough as you describe, but upon further research I see that the path suffered some typhoon damage last year, which might very well explain the washed-out sections! I hope that it was still enjoyable.

Yokahama has one of the largest Chinatowns outside of China. Maybe the largest.

I walked to the gate but decided not to enter because it was so crowded and I think hot.

Have a relaxing sea day. Look forward to continuing reports.

We are using an eSim for the first time. Totally easy and reliable. Unfortunately my phone now thinks I want to "date" young Asian women.

We've made it onboard! We walked from the hotel and it was just about 30 minutes from our hotel room to our cabin. Very, very convenient. I'd recommend this hotel for anyone embarking a cruise in Yokohama. It even had a launderette so we were able to do a wash this morning and get on the ship with and entire case of clean clothes.

Our luggage has not been delivered yet, but we've settled in with what was in our carryon bags.

For the first time since our first ever cruise we don't have a balcony. What we do have is a room converted from a conference centre and there's a huge almost floor to ceiling round window. I like it! It offered terrific value: we paid $3900CAD for our 12-night cruise (total, not each). We did not get a beverage package because we do the math after every cruise and find we always come out ahead buying as we go. Plus Chris seldom drinks alcohol anymore. We paid $27CAD per day for internet (2 devices).

Tomorrow we are at sea, then day after we arrive in Osaka for an overnight. We are going to Kyoto with two couples we "met" on Cruise Critic, who were looking for an additional couple to fill their private tour. We met them for real earlier and they are lovely people, easy to get to know.

Still debating on booking another cruise while onboard!

You got a great price Andrea.

I can not remember what I paid but I think that it was over $3,000 for just me and that was in a studio cabin. . That is what happens when you travel solo.

But the price went down after final payment and I do have a $600 FCC that has to be used before late 2027.

We had no TV service on the Spirit. I asked why and was told that the TV connection is very bad in the Japanese seas. We were never told in advance that there would be no TV service. One older man was extremely unhappy about this as he was a big MSNBC fan.

You could pay extra to stream TV service on your tablet or phone. I had not interest in doing this.

Do you have TV service on your ship?

I'm curious how well your wifi connection is working?

Phil, I'll test the tv after dinner.

Allan, wifi is great so far!

Phil, TV is perfectly fine, channels work.

We’ll also be following along. We were in Japan last March and loved it. I’ll especially follow along on the cruise part since we are looking at a celebrity cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong in February 2028.

Barbara, that's the cruise we did last year. Definitely book!

Andrea

Thank you for the info about the TV service

As I told you NCL Spirit had none and I was told that it was because the seas in Japan was so choppy that it interfered with the TV or internet signal.

Maybe NCL just wanted us to have to pay extra to stream TV to our tablet or phone. We had Starlink which was very good.

I had looked at your hotel before I booked APA. I loved your hotel and do not know why I stayed with APA. Mybe APA was a much better deal for October. You are sailing off season so I believe and I was sailing shoulder season.

Or maybe my APA was a closer walk to the port that we were supposed to be sailing from which turned out to be. a mute point.when it was all said and done.

Eventually your hotel was sold out beause I kept shopping as I always do.

Phil, last night TV reception was spotty but watchable.

We had a weird incident last night. Around midnight we were woken up by a ear splitting never-ending noise. Upon stepping out of the room I saw a worker had removed the wall panel that is between our bathroom and the hall and was having a right go at something with a power tool. I called Guest Services, they said they had to fix the mainline plumbing because someone shoved clothes down the drain. The night manager arrived to apologize profusely. It went for about half an hour during which time we couldn't flush the toilet.

Chris deadpanned "great, we're on the Poop Cruise and we're on deck three ". If you haven't seen Poop Cruise its a Netflix show about the notorious Carnival Cruise that had a fire and lost power and toilets. Its the kind of thing that makes anti-Cruise people firmly anti- Cruise. We just howled with laughter when we watched it and I said we were going to bring bad Cruise Karma onto ourselves.

After the noise stopped Guest Relations called to say all was well, and indeed the toilet is fine too.

We were both getting the best sleep we've had since Canada too.

We have visited the Future Cruise Desk! Placed a hold on a cruise while we decide. Its a very pricey 14-night Patagonia from Buenos Aires itinerary. We've never spent near that amount on a cruise, but its a good itinerary and a special occasion (retirement). To finalize we pay $100CAD each and will get $250USD of onboard credit. We also have two months to change the cruise without penalty. After that we have til final payment date to change it but would pay $100CAD per person to do so. We can also avail ourselves of any price drops we see (haha, not likely these days).

Just saw this on kottke.org. Beautiful.

KYOTO in Heavy Snow ❄️ Winter Train Trip to Rural Kyoto (Kurama, Yase & Ohara) | Japan Travel Vlog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd-Fy3LHJF8

Robert, that is beautiful, but I'm looking forward to 15 Celsius tomorrow!

Thanks for sharing Andrea! I am missing Japan!

Keep on cruising. And keep on posting.

I look so forward to your updates.

I am traveling with you.

Good afternoon everyone. I haven't touched base in a few days. I'll catch you up on Kyoto and Osaka later.

We are currently waiting for our lunch on an outdoor patio in Hiroshima. I see back home is still in the depths of winter.

Yesterday when we got back to the ship we saw them taking two bodies off. They were definitely dead - faces covered and loaded into a vehicle that wasn't an ambulance. It was very upsetting to everyone who saw it. I can only think of their families.

Spoke to a couple on their 37th cruise and they said they were once on a cruise and SIX people died!

I have heard of this happening but never been aware of such a thing on any of the sailings we've been on.

We booked a private three-hour tour of Hiroshima based around the monuments in and around the Peace Memorial Park. I was very glad we booked something because originally we were going to DIY but we learned far more with a guide. Everything is far more thought provoking with someone explaining the details of the design, etc.

We saw a Sadako monument (of the 1000 paper cranes) and our guide brought us origami cranes to lay with all the others. He explained they gather up all these thousands of origami cranes and recycle them into the certificates used earn students graduate school, etc - anything that they would get a certificate from Hiroshima Prefecture for completing.

There's a small box near the crane area where you can help yourself to a bookmark made from the cranes.

The museum was hard to look at. Lots of photos of burnt people including children. I dont know how I feel about this. On one hand its a powerful pro peace statement, but on the other hand I don't know if I'd feel victimized over and over by millions looking at my burnt body. On the whole I think its important to go there.

Now we are having late lunch then heading to ship. We are going to try the GO Taxi app, which is their UBER.

Hello Andrea

When I went to Hiroshima in October, It was so crowded that it was very unpleasant but I can not stand crowds.

I walked into the Peace Museum and walked out because of the crowds. I took a couple of pictures and that was it

Someone else might not have the problems with crowds like I do.

And then it was unbearably and unseasonably hot for October. it was somewhere in the 80's and may have even been close to 90.

But I am glad that I went. It is an important story that needs to be told and be seen.

One reason that it was so crowded is that busloads of school kids make field trips which I was glad to see.

Was Hiroshima very crowded in March? It probably was not hot.

During a Q&A on one of my cruises, I asked about what was done when a person died naturally on the ship and I was told that they have freezers to keep the body until whenever it is released.

I asked only about natural deaths. I did not bring up others.

Six deaths on a one cruise ship are a lot of deaths.

And it is uncomfortable to be coming back from shore to see a body being wheeled off of the cruise ship.

.

I'm enjoying your report, and looking forward to the rest of your trip. I've only been to Tokyo (twice) and Nikko, and would love to see more.

I am loving our cabin. The big window fills the room with light. We actually have a better view of the sea from the inside than if we were looking out through a balcony. Occasionally I've thought it would be nice to hear the ocean, but I'm not missing it. I wouldn't hesitate to book this cabin class again. I think they are just on Celebrity's M-series of ships that they've converted conference areas so do your homework before booking expecting similar. And M-series is their smallest (except Flora which goes to Galapagos)

Our cabin, 3112, has extra square footage too!

Today we are at sea! Ready for a rest!

Phil, the weather was perfect for walking. By noon it was about 15 Celsius and full sun. I was comfortable in Capri pants, sleeveless top and light sweater.

Hiroshima didn't feel crowded except in the Museum, but it was far from the busiest Museum we've waded through. It was busy enough that we didn't bother to take time to see everything; we continued to shuffle through the exhibits with everyone. Very busy, but doable.

I'd say this is a good time for Japan, but maybe the next sailing would have more reliable weather. Of course the next sailing cost a lot more, which was why we decided to take our chances with very early spring. We have seen some Sakura blooms already and the Sakura forecast has them at peak when we get to Tokyo.