Port guide: Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is a fast-paced, exhilarating encounter with ultra-urban Japan, and showcases its latest music, pop culture, fashions and technology.

Who goes there

Generally speaking, smaller vessels from premium and luxury lines use Tokyo, while bigger, more budget ships tend to dock at nearby Yokohama (sometimes listed as Tokyo on itineraries). Ships from Azamara, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea and Viking are among those that visit. Some exceptions to the smaller ship category include MSC and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Sail on in

Tokyo International Cruise Terminal.Credit: Getty Images

As cruise ships often conclude itineraries in Tokyo, they tend to sail in at the crack of dawn. You mightn’t want to get out of bed unless the sun is up and, even then, you can expect a mostly industrial landscape. You’ll sail past Yokohama (spot the giant Ferris wheel on the harbour front) and eventually into a narrow channel between artificial islands with warehouses and container facilities.

Berth rites

Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on artificial island Odaiba isn’t the most convenient location but is only a five-minute walk from the nearest metro station on Yurikamome Line. It has multiple floors and, as you’d expect in Japan, is organised and efficient. Odaiba is a newly developed entertainment district with plenty of restaurants and shops.

Before and after

Tokyo is an arrival and departure port, and you should certainly stay for at least two nights. The stylish ANA InterContinental Tokyo is well located beside a metro station and has excellent restaurants as well as one of the largest and most luxurious club lounges in the city for added indulgence.

Going ashore

Art Work by Yusuke Asai on Tennozu Isle.

Tokyo is huge, so best pick a neighbourhood or sight you particularly want to see instead of trying to cover everything. Shinjuku is renowned for its video billboards, shopping and alley-hidden bars, for example, while Yanesen is old-fashioned and tranquil with temples. Some of the top sights include the Imperial Palace gardens, Meiji Jingu shrine, Sensoji Temple, Toyosu Fish Market, Tokyo Skytree observation deck and any number of excellent museums, the best of which is Tokyo National Museum for Japanese art and antiquities.

Don’t miss

One of the latest newly redeveloped areas is Tennozu Isle. Its sleek renovated warehouses now host cafes and art spaces linked along harbour-side boardwalks. Buildings are decorated with giant murals, and Terrada Art Complex is Japan’s largest arts venue. Waterfront brewery TY Harbor provides a fine spot for a relaxed lunch. Just across the bridge from the island is pulsating Shinagawa district.

Get active

Shibuya Scramble Intersection.

Crowded, highly urbanised Tokyo isn’t the place for vigorous outdoor activity and a full day’s sightseeing will anyway challenge your energy. Better take in a spectator sport instead. There are big sumo competitions in May and September, and the baseball season (April to October) coincides with the whole cruise season.

Retail therapy

Nakamise-dori in Asakusa.

Shopping is everywhere. However, Shibuya district is worth exploring for youthful fashion and homeware stores; down side streets, tiny restaurants lure you with street snacks. More budget-conscious and very up-to-the-minute Harajuku district is a must-visit for shops haunted by teenagers in manga-inspired, Goth and Barbie-doll outfits. In Asakusa district, Nakamise-dori which leads to Sensoji Temple is lined by open booths selling souvenirs, knickknacks, handicrafts such as hairpins and fans, and traditional sweets and treats.

Further afield

With so much to do in sprawling Tokyo you’ve no need to take a shore excursion beyond, unless you’ve been many times before. There are however a few options, such as a visit to old feudal capital Kamakura, which has a giant Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple, or to Hakone National Park to view Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji. Expect the latter to be a long day.