Hi everyone! Me and my mother have had a cruise for Japan booked since 2019 and it will finally be happening in early March 2024 on the Norwegian Jewel. This will be my mother’s first trip to Japan while I have been a couple of times. Our itinerary is based on both our interests. I am an anime and gaming fan so many of my interested activities relate to this such as anime shopping and game centers. My mother is interested in fun, unique, cultural, and strange activities instead of sightseeing and as such isn’t too keen on temples for example as she would rather do activities instead of seeing things.
Public transport to activities shouldn’t be an issue as we will both get Pasmo Passports but will still be taking travel time into account. Any feedback or advice would be extremely helpful especially as I am worried about time available at ports and any advice from experience with cruises would be greatly appreciated! I have stuck to one activity a day for port days with shopping and lunch between as I am worried about planning too much and missing the boat. Here are the ports and what I’ve planned so far:
**Tokyo Day 0 (8 March):** We arrive at Haneda airport at 8 PM. We will likely sort out cash and Pasmo Passport then head straight to our hotel, Shinagawa Prince Hotel. We will both likely be tired and do nothing else tonight
**Tokyo Day 1 (9 March):** For our first day in Tokyo we will be spending the whole day at Yomiuriland as they have a Miku collaboration and I am a Vocaloid fan. This will likely take all day as we have tickets to Yomiuriland, Hana Biyori and there is Jewellumination at night. If we have time afterward at night we will head to Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku.
**Tokyo Day 2 (10 March):** Our second day will be spent at Furusato Festival which is open from 10 AM to 5 PM. Our only other activity planned is the Harry Potter Cafe at night and depending on how long we spend at each we will visit Shibuya, Ikebukuro, and/or Akihabara before or after.
**Tokyo Day 3 (11 March):** Today we board our cruise so we will check out of our hotel and head to Yokohama. We will first go to Yokohama Cup Noodle Museum and then Anitouch. We will board at 4:30 so if we have more time before this we will spend time at the mall opposite the noodle museum, Yamashita Park, and the Gundam Factory.
**Shimizu (7 AM – 6 PM, 12 March):** The plan is to visit Sumpu Castle Park and then Shizuoka Hobby Square. We will then head to S-Pulse Dream Plaza near the port and go to some Mt Fuji sightseeing spots nearby if we have time.
**Nagoya (8 AM – 5 PM, 13 March):** We will visit Tokugawa Art Musuem and Tokugawa Garden. If we have time we will visit Nagoya Castle, otherwise spend time at Osu Shopping District until we need to board.
**Kobe (8 AM – …, 14 March):** We stay overnight in Kobe so we will be heading into Osaka to go to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. We will head to Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho for lunch and then head near Namba for the rest of the afternoon. We have booked Zaou fishing for dinner so before we will be in Nipponbashi and afterward Dotonbori before I assume returning to the ship.
**Kobe( … – 5 PM, 15 March):** Visiting Kobe Animal Kingdom and if we have more time spend it near Kobe-Sannomiya station.
**Naha(Okinawa) ( 7 AM – 5:30 PM, 17 March):** After a day at sea arrive in Okinawa. We will spend the day at Okinawa Karate Kaikan as my mother is interested in karate and then spend the rest of our time until boarding at Naha Kokusai Dori.
**Naze (Amami Oshima) (7 AM – 5:30 PM, 18 March):** There seems to be absolutely nothing here of interest so going to walk around and explore.
**Nagasaki (8:30 AM – 5 PM, 19 March):** Planning on the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and if we have time afterward Glover Garden or central Nagasaki shopping.
**Jeju & Incheon (Seoul):** Not Japan but would appreciate any recommendations for our last two ports! We spend a day at each and return home from Incheon International Airport.
by TasteLikeNom