FEATURE
JAPAN CRUISE SEMINAR
Adachi Museum of Art is famous for its gardens which has been ranked as the best Japanese garden for ten consecutive years out of over eight-hundred gardens in Japan, and a collection of approximately 1,300 of the country’s most highly regarded Japanese paintings, centering on the works of Yokoyama Taikan.
Unique to ships calling are planned visits to local schools by passengers and crew. The children often also go to the berth to either greet passengers or wish them farewell.
Hiroshima
The Port of Hiroshima provides two cruise berths: Itsukaichi with a 430mtr long berthing line of which 240mtr has a 12mtr water depth and 190mtr has an 11mtr depth alongside and Ujina Foreign Trade Wharf which is a straight quay of 740mtr long plus another 280mtr with a 10mtr depth alongside.
Both provide easy access to two UNESCO World Heritage sites – the A-bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine.
The A-Bomb Dome commemorates August 6, 1945 when the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city. The Dome was located almost directly underneath the explosion and the remains of the building still stand today. Close by is the Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
The name Itsukushima means ‘island of worship’ and from ancient times the island itself was worshipped as a god. The mystical Itsukushima Shrine built on the water is a place where people have long carried out ancient rites, attracting visitors from all over Japan and the rest of the world.
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Hiroshima welcomes about 50 plus cruise ships a fiscal year. In 2019, 54 foreign cruise ships brought 46,000 passengers to the city. Quantum of the Seas is the largest ship to have berthed at Itsukaichi.
Kobe
Kobe Port is located in the centre of Japan 2h 45min by bullet train from Tokyo.
It offers two cruise terminals close to downtown. Kobe Port Terminal has a 649mtr long berth with 12mtr depth alongside whilst Naka Pier Cruise Terminal has a 305mtr long berth and water depth up to 9mtr.
Kobe is growing as a turnaround port. Of the 134 ship calls last year, three quarters were turnarounds.
Kobe is famous for its beef restaurants and Sake breweries and Geishas. 30 minutes away by car is 931mtr high Mt Rokko which offers spectacular views of the sea and mountains overlooking the city.
The area is well known for its rugged landscape and hiking trails and fall foliage in the autumn. Arima Onsen hot springs are popular also.
Takenaka Carpentry Museum is 15 minutes away and is the country’s only museum dedicated to carpentry tools.
A thrilling shorex is half an hour away by car from the cruise terminal and opportunity of groups between five and 40 people to walk to the top of one of the towers (298.3mtr high) of the world’s longest suspension bridge Akashi Kaikyo Bridage which spans 3,911mtr and links the Japan mainland with Awaji Island.
Thrilling shorex to Akashi Bridge
Kitakyushu
Kitakyushu City is close to both South Korea and China and offers two ports – Hibiki CT and Moji – with a third coming on stream next year.
Moji Wharf has a 420mtr long berth for ships up to 50,000gt. It is within walking distance of the Kanmon Strait Museum, shopping malls and nearby Mekari Shrine. Moji welcomed nine calls in 2019 and four this year – Le Soleal, Insignia and Pacific Venue (twice).
Hibiki Port has a 350.5mtr long berth and 15mtr water depth.
Kokura Port (Asano Wharf) new cruise port will open in May 2021 offering a 170mtr long quay with 7.5mtr water depth alongside. It is located 900mtr from Kokura Station.
One of CNN Travel’s 19 places to visit last year was Kokura Castle & Garden and Yasaka Shrine. Nearby is the Hiraodai Limestone plateau and caverns.
Interactive Japanese culture experiences include Kimono show, traditional gift wrapping, sword dance show and mochi pounding.
seatrade-cruise.com
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