Table of Contents for the Cruise Guide
Key points of this page
- This page summarizes whether it's possible to walk from the ship to the town at any of Japan's 110 cruise port cities.
- 27 ports are within a 15-minute walk of a train station or town center. 14 ports are "a little further away," about a 16-40 minute walk, 59 ports require transportation such as shuttle buses or taxis, and 10 ports require passengers to disembark by tender boat.
- Large ships may dock at a different pier, far from the city. Be sure to check the onboard information regarding the docking location and shuttle bus service.
Last updated: October 3, 2026 (Created based on information from each port's page)
If the port is within walking distance, you can go for a walk first thing in the morning. For ports that are far away, be sure to note down the time of the last shuttle bus!
way of seeing
| Walkable | Within approximately 15 minutes' walk of the train station and the city center. |
|---|---|
| A little far | It's about a 16-40 minute walk. You can walk, but shuttle buses and taxis are also convenient. |
| By vehicle | There are no train stations or the city center within walking distance. You will need to use shuttle buses, regular buses, or taxis. |
| Tender | Passengers go ashore by small boat (tender boat). |
The times shown are approximate and based on the main docking locations listed on each port's page. Clicking on a port's name will show you a map of the docking locations and points of interest around the port.
List by region
Hokkaido
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Hakodate Port | Walkable | It's about a 3-minute walk from Wakamatsu Pier to JR Hakodate Station. If a large ship arrives at Minatomachi Pier, you can take a vehicle to get there. |
| Otaru Port | Walkable | It's about a 15-minute walk to JR Otaru Station. |
| Kushiro Port | Walkable | Approximately 15 minutes on foot to JR Kushiro Station. |
| Muroran Port | Walkable | It's about a 15-minute walk from Chuo Wharf to JR Muroran Station. If you're at Shukutsu Wharf, take a taxi or the free shuttle bus. |
| Wakkanai Port | A little far | Approximately 15 minutes to JR Wakkanai Station |
| Tomakomai Port | By vehicle | It's about a 10-minute drive to JR Tomakomai Station. |
| Abashiri Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by car to JR Abashiri Station. |
| Rishiri Island, Kutsugata Port | By vehicle | Take the island bus from the bus stop near the port (Kutsugata Ferry Terminal) |
Tohoku
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Ofunato Port | Walkable | Approximately 12 minutes on foot to Ofunato Station (BRT). |
| Aomori Port | A little far | It's about a 20-minute walk to JR Aomori Station. If you're going to Okidate Wharf, take the shuttle bus. |
| Ōminato Port (Mutsu) | A little far | Approximately 20 minutes on foot to JR Ōminato Station. |
| Hachinohe Port | By vehicle | It takes about 20 minutes by car to JR Hon-Hachinohe Station. |
| Akita Port | By vehicle | It's about a 10-minute taxi ride to JR Tsuchizaki Station and about a 25-minute bus ride to JR Akita Station. |
| Oga Funakawa Port | By vehicle | It's about a 5-minute drive to JR Oga Station. |
| Noshiro Port | By vehicle | It's about a 15-minute drive to JR Noshiro Station. |
| Sakata Port | By vehicle | It's about a 10-15 minute drive to JR Sakata Station. A shuttle bus to the Nakamachi area may be available. |
| Miyako Port | By vehicle | It's about a 10-minute drive to Miyako Station. A shuttle bus may be available. |
| Ishinomaki Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by car to JR Ishinomaki Station. |
| Sendai Port | By vehicle | Since it's a cargo terminal, take a taxi or shuttle bus. |
Kanto
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Yokohama Port | Walkable | It's about a 7-minute walk from Osanbashi Pier to Nihon-Odori Station on the Minatomirai Line. If you're going to Daikoku Pier, take some transportation. |
| Tokyo Port | Walkable | It's about an 8-minute walk from the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal to the Yurikamome station. For Harumi, you can take a bus or shuttle bus. |
| Ibaraki Port (Oarai/Hitachi-Naka) | Walkable | It's about a 15-minute walk from Oarai Port to Oarai Station. If you're going to Hitachinaka Port, take a taxi or shuttle bus. |
| Tateyama Port | Walkable | It's about a 15-minute walk to JR Tateyama Station. |
| Ogasawara Islands, Futami Port | Walkable | Futami Port is located in the center of Chichijima Island, and the passenger waiting area is about a 1-minute walk away. |
| Okada Port, Izu Oshima Island | By vehicle | From the port bus stop, take the island bus. |
| Hachijojima Island, Kaminato Port | By vehicle | Take the island bus from the bus stop near the port (Sokodo) |
Chubu
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Nagoya Port | Walkable | It's about a 5-minute walk from Garden Pier to Nagoya Port Subway Station. If you're going to Kinjo Pier, you can take a vehicle. |
| Naoetsu Port | Walkable | Approximately 5 minutes on foot to Naoetsu Station |
| Ito Port | Walkable | It's about a 15-minute walk to JR Ito Station. |
| Ogi Port, Sado Island | Walkable | It's about a 1-minute walk to the Sado Kisen Ferry Terminal at Ogi Port. |
| Shimizu Port | A little far | It's about a 20-minute walk to Shin-Shimizu Station on the Shizuoka Railway, and about 30 minutes to JR Shimizu Station. A shuttle bus is sometimes available. |
| Shimoda Port | A little far | It's about a 16-minute walk to Izukyu Shimoda Station. |
| Numazu Port | A little far | It's about a 10-minute walk to the Numazu Port bus stop. It's about a 15-minute drive or bus ride to JR Numazu Station. |
| Atami Port | By vehicle | It's about a 15-minute bus ride to JR Atami Station (there's a bus stop at the port). |
| Tagonoura Port | By vehicle | It's about a 5-minute drive to JR Yoshiwara Station. |
| Omaezaki Port | By vehicle | It takes about 35-40 minutes by car to JR Kikugawa Station. |
| Mikawa Port, Gamagori | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by car to Gamagori Station. |
| Niigata Port | By vehicle | It takes about 15 minutes by car from Nishiko-ku to JR Niigata Station. From Higashiko-ku, it takes about 40 minutes by shuttle bus or taxi. |
| Kanazawa Port | By vehicle | Approximately 15 minutes by car or bus to Kanazawa Station. Shuttle buses may be available. |
| Nanao Port | By vehicle | It's about a 5-minute drive to JR Nanao Station. |
| Fushiki Toyama Port | By vehicle | It takes about 15-20 minutes by car to Takaoka Station. A shuttle bus may be available. |
| Tsuruga Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by car to JR Tsuruga Station. |
| Yokkaichi Port | By vehicle | It's about a 5-minute drive to JR Tomitahama Station. |
| Toba Port | Tender | Take a tender boat to Toba Marine Terminal. It's about a 5-10 minute walk to Toba Station. |
| Matsuzaki Port | Tender | We landed at Matsuzaki Old Port by tender boat. |
Kinki
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Osaka Port | Walkable | Approximately 5 minutes on foot to Osaka Metro "Osakako Station" |
| Kobe Port | Walkable | Approximately 1 minute walk to Port Liner "Port Terminal" station, and approximately 5 minutes to Sannomiya. |
| Wakayama Shimotsu Port | A little far | It's about a 15-20 minute walk to Nankai Wakayama Port Station. To get to JR Wakayama Station, take a shuttle bus or taxi. |
| Kyoto Maizuru Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by taxi to JR Nishi-Maizuru Station. |
| Shingu Port | By vehicle | It's about a 5-minute drive to JR Kiisano Station. |
| Himeji Port | By vehicle | Approximately 25 minutes by bus to JR Himeji Station. |
| Hidaka Port | By vehicle | It's about a 10-minute drive to JR Gobo Station (or about a 5-minute walk to the Ojigawa bus stop). |
China
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Uno Port | Walkable | It's about a 5-minute walk to JR Uno Station. |
| Kure Port | Walkable | It's about a 15-minute walk to JR Kawaraishi Station. |
| Hagi Port | Walkable | It's about a 10-minute walk to JR Koshigahama Station. |
| Tokuyama-Kudamatsu Port | A little far | It's about a 20-minute walk to JR Tokuyama Station. |
| Ube Port | A little far | It's about a 20-minute walk to JR Ube-Shinkawa Station. |
| Hiroshima Port | By vehicle | It takes about 30-40 minutes to JR Hiroshima Station by streetcar or bus. |
| Fukuyama Port / Tomonoura | By vehicle | It takes about 20 minutes by car to JR Fukuyama Station. |
| Iwakuni Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by train and bus to JR Iwakuni Station. |
| Shimonoseki Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10-15 minutes by car or bus to JR Shimonoseki Station. |
| Hamada Port | By vehicle | Approximately 15 minutes by car or bus to JR Hamada Station. |
| Tottori Port | By vehicle | It takes about 15 minutes by car to JR Tottori Station. |
| Sakaiminato | By vehicle | It's about a 15-minute drive to JR Sakaiminato Station (Mizuki Shigeru Road). A shuttle bus is sometimes available. |
| Oki Nishinoshima, Urago Port | Tender | Land at Urago by tender boat (boarding and disembarking takes 30-60 minutes) |
Shikoku
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Takamatsu Port | Walkable | Approximately 3 minutes on foot to JR Takamatsu Station. |
| Matsuyama Port | A little far | It's about a 30-minute walk to Mitsu Station. A shuttle bus may be available. |
| Uwajima Port | A little far | It's about a 35-minute walk to JR Uwajima Station. |
| Sakaide Port | By vehicle | It takes about 15 minutes by car to JR Sakaide Station. |
| Tokushima Komatsushima Port | By vehicle | It takes about 15-20 minutes by car to JR Minami-Komatsushima Station. |
| Kochi New Port | By vehicle | There are no bus or train lines in the surrounding area, so you'll need to take a shuttle bus or taxi. |
| Sukumo Bay Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by car to Sukumo Station. |
| Imabari Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by car to JR Imabari Station. |
| Niihama Port | By vehicle | It takes about 20 minutes by car to JR Niihama Station. |
| Shodoshima Island, Sakate Port | Tender | Take a tender boat to Sakate Port. You can get around the island by bus or taxi. |
| Yawatahama Port | By vehicle | It's about a 10-minute drive to JR Yawatahama Station (there's a roadside station called "Yawatahama Minatto" at the port). |
Kyushu
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Kitakyushu Port/Moji | Walkable | It's about a 7-minute walk to JR Mojiko Station. |
| Sasebo Port | Walkable | It's about a 6-minute walk from Miura Wharf to JR Sasebo Station. If you're going to Uragashira (Sasebo Cruise Center), take a shuttle bus or taxi. |
| Nagasaki Port | Walkable | It's about a 3-minute walk from Matsugae to the Oura Kaigan-dori tram stop. Large ships sometimes dock at a different pier. |
| Sankaku Port | Walkable | Approximately 1 minute walk to JR Misumi Station |
| Karatsu Port | Walkable | Approximately 6 minutes by car or on foot to JR Nishi-Karatsu Station. |
| Imari Port | Walkable | It's about a 5-minute drive or walk to Kuhara Station (Matsuura Railway). |
| Tanegashima Island, Nishinoomote Port | Walkable | The city center is right behind the harbor. |
| Yakushima, Miyanoura Port | A little far | It's about a 10-minute walk to the bus stop (in front of Miyaura Elementary School). |
| Hakata Port | By vehicle | Approximately 15 minutes by Nishitetsu bus to Tenjin and Hakata Station. |
| Kagoshima Port | By vehicle | It takes about 25 minutes by taxi to Kagoshima Chuo Station. Shuttle buses to Tenmonkan and other areas are often available. |
| Beppu Port | By vehicle | It's about a 15-minute taxi ride to JR Beppu Station. A shuttle bus may be available. |
| Yatsushiro Port | By vehicle | It takes about 20 minutes by car to JR Shin-Yatsushiro Station. |
| Kumamoto Port | By vehicle | It takes about 20 minutes by car to JR Kumamoto Station. |
| Nakatsu Port | By vehicle | It takes about 20 minutes by car to JR Nakatsu Station. |
| Saiki Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by car to JR Saiki Station. |
| Miyazaki Port | By vehicle | Approximately 15 minutes by car or bus to JR Miyazaki Station. |
| Hososhima Port | By vehicle | It takes about 10 minutes by car to JR Hyuga City Station. |
| Aburatsu Port | By vehicle | It's about a 5-10 minute drive to JR Aburatsu Station. A shuttle bus may be available. |
| Unzen-Obama Port | By vehicle | It takes about 20 minutes by car to Aino Station (Shimabara Railway). |
| Naze Port, Amami Oshima | By vehicle | Take a local bus from the bus stop near the port (Nagahama Entrance). |
| Goto Islands, Fukue Port | By vehicle | Take a local bus from the bus stop near the port (Fukue) |
| Tsushima, Izuhara Port | By vehicle | Take a local bus from the bus stop near the port (Izuhara Pier). |
| Iki Island, Gonoura Port | By vehicle | You can get around the island by bus or taxi. |
| Munakata/Konominato Port | Tender | The ship anchored offshore, and passengers disembarked at Konominato Port by small boat. |
| Ibusuki Port | Tender | The ship anchors offshore, and passengers disembark using tender boats (sometimes Yamakawa Fishing Port is used). |
| Kamigoto/Aokata Port | By vehicle | It's about a 10-minute walk from Aiko Wharf to the Saihi Bus "Aikawa Pier" bus stop. |
Okinawa
| Port of call | Can you walk? | Directions to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Naha Port | A little far | It's about a 20-minute walk to Kokusai Street (a shuttle bus may also be available). If you're using the 2nd cruise berth, you'll need to take some transportation. |
| Ishigaki Port | A little far | It's about a 40-minute walk to the town center (island terminal). Shuttle buses are sometimes available. |
| Motobu Port | By vehicle | Take a local bus from the port bus stop. |
| Miyako Island, Hirara Port | By vehicle | Approximately 15 minutes on foot to the bus stop (Hirara Port). Approximately 10 minutes by car to Miyako Airport. |
| Iriomote Island, Funauki | Tender | We landed at the Funauki settlement by tender boat (a settlement only accessible by boat). |
| Zamami Island | Tender | We disembarked by tender boat. It's about a 20-minute walk from Zamami Port to Furuzamami Beach. |
| Yonaguni Island | Tender | We landed by tender boat. We traveled to the cape and village by car. |
| Kumejima | Tender | Landing by tender boat. Hatenohama is reached on a boat tour. |
Even at ports where you're arriving by public transport, there are days when shuttle buses are available. Check the ship's information (daily program)!
Tips to avoid problems with port of call dates
- Check the onboard information to confirm the docking location: Even within the same port, the docking pier may vary depending on the size of the ship and the status of other ships calling at the port.
- Check the last shuttle bus departure time: If you're taking a shuttle bus to a town far from the port, be sure to check the time of the last return bus. If you miss the all-aboard time (All aboard), the ship will not wait for you.
- Taxis are often waiting at ports; however, the number of taxis is limited at some ports. Showing the driver a map or address on your screen will make the process smoother.
- Even in walkable ports: Access to many quays is restricted. Follow the terminal's instructions and signs when entering and exiting.
Also worth reading
- Port Day Guide: Landing permission, all-aboard time, transportation, communications, emergency contact information
- Practical information about cruises in Japan: Tips, power supply, cash, tax-free
- Cruise Ships in Japan This Week
FAQ
Q1 In Hakodate, Niigata, Kagoshima, Kochi, and Shimizu, is it possible to walk from the ferry to the city center?
Hakodate (Wakamatsu Wharf) is about a 3-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station, so you can easily get to the city on foot. Shimizu is about a 20-minute walk from Shin-Shimizu Station, which is walkable but a bit far. Niigata, Kagoshima, and Kochi are far from the city center, so you'll need to use a shuttle bus or taxi. Kochi New Port has no local bus or train lines nearby.
Q2 Is the shuttle bus free?
It varies depending on the port and the ship. Sometimes it's free, sometimes there's a fee. Check the onboard information (daily program) for availability, destinations, and fares.
Q3 Can the docking location change even within the same port?
Yes, it happens. Large ships, or ships calling at the same port on the same day as other vessels, may dock at a different pier away from the town. Pay particular attention to ports marked "by vehicle in the case of..." on this list.
Q4 What is a tender boat?
This method involves transporting passengers to port by small boat when the ship cannot dock at the pier. However, depending on weather and wave conditions, landing may not be possible.
Source/Reference Information
This list is from cruisefun. Cruise Port Guide This information is compiled based on the "Docking Locations and Access" section on each port's page. The sources for each port's page are official sources such as port authorities, local governments, and tourism associations.
Last updated: October 1, 2026. Docking locations and shuttle buses vary depending on the ship and port of call. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.