Japan Shore Excursions | Private Tours from Cruise Ports
We have been running shore excursions in Japan for cruise groups from the USA since 2024. We work with licensed English-speaking local guides in each port, and every tour is private: only your group on the bus.
March, April and May are the busiest cruise months in Japan. Two honest things from our own groups: late March is too early for cherry blossoms in some years, and in late April to early May (Golden Week) the roads near Tokyo and Mt Fuji are very slow. We plan for both.
Pick your port below. If your port is not listed, ask us anyway.
One of our 2026 groups next to their ship.
KANAZAWA SHORE EXCURSIONS: KENROKU-EN, GEISHA DISTRICT OR GOKAYAMA VILLAGE
Tour code: JP-KNZ - 6 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Kenroku-en, one of the three great gardens of Japan
● Higashi Chaya geisha district and Nagamachi samurai lanes
● Omicho fish market
● Or Gokayama: the thatched gassho-zukuri houses of Ainokura
SAKATA SHORE EXCURSION: MERCHANT HOUSES, RICE WAREHOUSES & SAKE BREWERY
Tour code: JP-SKT - 6 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Sankyo rice warehouses with their row of zelkova trees
● The Homma family house, once the richest merchants in Japan
● Kaikoji temple
● Sake tasting at Hatsumago brewery
AOMORI SHORE EXCURSIONS: SANNAI MARUYAMA, NEBUTA MUSEUM & TSUGARU SHAMISEN
Tour code: JP-AOJ - 6 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse: the giant lit-up festival floats
● Sannai Maruyama, a 5,000-year-old village site
● Showa Daibutsu, a big bronze Buddha
● Or Goshogawara floats and a live Tsugaru shamisen show
HAKODATE SHORE EXCURSIONS: GORYOKAKU, MORNING MARKET & MT HAKODATE NIGHT VIEW
Tour code: JP-HKD - 6 or 10 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Goryokaku, the star-shaped fort, from its tower
● Hakodate morning market
● Kanemori red brick warehouses by the harbour
● Mt Hakodate ropeway; night view on the long route
NAGASAKI SHORE EXCURSION: PEACE PARK, ATOMIC BOMB MUSEUM, DEJIMA & GLOVER GARDEN
Tour code: JP-NGS - 6 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Peace Park and the Peace Statue
● Atomic Bomb Museum and the hypocenter
● Dejima, the old Dutch trading island
● Glover Garden on the hill above the port
TOKYO SHORE EXCURSION FROM YOKOHAMA PORT: TOKYO HIGHLIGHTS
Tour code: JP-YOK - 7 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Meiji Shrine in its forest
● Drive through the Shibuya crossing
● Imperial Palace East Gardens
● Asakusa: Senso-ji temple and Nakamise street
KAGOSHIMA SHORE EXCURSIONS: CHIRAN, SENGAN-EN OR SAKURAJIMA VOLCANO
Tour code: JP-KOJ - 5 to 6 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Chiran samurai gardens and the Chiran Peace Museum
● Sengan-en garden with the volcano behind it
● Ferry to Sakurajima: lava fields, footbath, the buried shrine gate
● Tested by our own group in March 2024
KUMAMOTO SHORE EXCURSION FROM YATSUSHIRO PORT: KUMAMOTO CASTLE & SUIZENJI
Tour code: JP-KMJ - 6 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Kumamoto Castle, rebuilt after the 2016 earthquake
● Sakuranobaba Josaien food and shop street at the foot of the castle
● Suizenji Jojuen garden with its small Mt Fuji
● Tested by our own group in March 2024
NAHA SHORE EXCURSIONS: OKINAWA HIGHLIGHTS OR RYUKYU KINGDOM HISTORY
Tour code: JP-OKA - 5 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Two routes, each about 5 hours
● Peace Memorial Park and the Battle of Okinawa
● Gyokusendo, a long limestone cave at Okinawa World
● Or Shuri Castle, the royal tombs and a Ryukyu garden
KOCHI SHORE EXCURSION: KOCHI CASTLE, HIROME MARKET & KATSURAHAMA
Tour code: JP-KCZ - 6 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Chikurinji, one of the 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage
● Kochi Castle, one of the few original castle towers left in Japan
● Lunch your way at Hirome Market
● Katsurahama beach and the Ryuzu-misaki lookout
OSAKA & KOBE SHORE EXCURSIONS: OSAKA CASTLE, KYOTO OR ARASHIYAMA
Tour code: JP-OSA - 4 to 7 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Osaka Castle and Dotonbori, about 4 hours
● Kyoto highlights: Nijo Castle, Golden Pavilion, Kiyomizu-dera
● Arashiyama bamboo forest and Tenryuji temple
● Works from Osaka or Kobe cruise port
SHIMIZU SHORE EXCURSIONS: MT FUJI SHRINE, SHIRAITO FALLS OR HAKONE
Tour code: JP-SHZ - 5 hours
Tour type: Shore Excursion, Private Tour
Wheelchair availability: Ask us
Experience Highlights:
● Two routes, both about 5 hours port to port
● Mt Fuji views if the clouds allow
● Shiraito Falls and the pine beach of Miho no Matsubara
● Or the Hakone ropeway over the steaming Owakudani valley
