From seafood, green tea and sake tasting to visiting Unesco World Heritage villages, exploring samurai towns, traversing the picturesque Northern Alps, and learning about local art, folklore and handicrafts – there are a multitude of shore experiences on offer for guests as they sail their way along the Sea of Japan coast. Spanning the length of the Sea of Japan from north to south, four key ports of call include Otaru, Toyama, Akita and Kyoto.
Otaru: the heart of Hokkaido
Located in the Shuribeshi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, the city of Otaru is surrounded by mountains on three sides and was a key port of call on the Kitamaebune shipping route, which was established in the Meiji period (1868-1912) and was operational until the turn of the 20th century. Shaped by both Western and Japanese cultures, the city became a hub for wholesalers and transportation companies, as well as a key economic and financial centre in Hokkaido.
“Otaru developed as a gateway to Hokkaido and retains many buildings and townscapes from the old days, which gives the city a quaint and nostalgic feel,” says Masahiro Toita from the promotion section of the port office industry-port and harbour department at the City of Otaru. “Today, the port is directly connected to the expressway and has good access to New Chitose Airport, making it easy to reach by car or air. It is also within walking distance of the city centre and tourist attractions, so it’s easy for guests to explore Otaru’s past and present during a cruise call.”
Otaru features streets with both Japanese and Western-style architecture
To familiarise themselves with Otaru’s history and its once-thriving herring fishing industry, cruise guests can tour local museums or visit the nishin goten (herring mansions), which were built by wealthy fishermen to serve as both a place to process fish and as a residence for themselves and their employees. One notable nishin goten is the luxurious Former Aoyama Villa, which now functions as a museum and showcases the lives and work of those involved in the fishing industry.
“Visting the villa gives tourists the chance to better understand the fishing industry and see chic Japanese architecture and beautiful gardens,” says Toita. “They can also sit in an atmospheric room and gaze at the ever-changing scenery while tasting herring dishes. Alternatively, they can visit the Former Juhara-tei, a modern Japanese-style building constructed by a wealthy merchant named Naoji Takahashi.”
The Former Aoyama Villa was built by one of the richest herring fishing families in Otaru and now operates as a museum with exhibits about the industry
Cruise guests wanting to learn more about art and Otaru’s traditional handicrafts can take a trip to Otaru Art Base, which is located close to the port. The cultural complex comprises a cluster of early 20th-century buildings that formerly served as banks and warehouses but have now been designated as cultural properties and repurposed as museums.
“Visitors can walk around beautiful historical buildings while looking at both international and traditional Japanese art, like ukiyo-e woodblock printing, and discover how locals make oil lamps and floating ball fishing lamps,” says Toita. “They can also experience cultural practices, such as ikebana (flower arranging) and tea ceremonies, while in Otaru.”
Two other popular attraction are Otaru Canal, which is lined with shops, cafes and restaurants, and the famous Sushiya Dori (Sushi Street), which has around 20 sushi restaurants. Each one offers a signature sushi featuring rare local delicacies such as sea urchin and seasonal mantis shrimp.
“Otaru is one of Japan’s leading sushi towns and all the restaurants offer exquisite dishes,” says Toita. “Tourists can also try sake, wine and dashi made in Otaru, as well as ramen made with Kombu dashi (kelp) broth, which is speciality of Rishiri, a small island of the coast of Hokkaido.”
Akita Prefecture: the home of rice, onsens and samurai
Situated in the Tohoku region of Japan, Akita Prefecture is one of the country’s largest rice-producing regions – its name literally translates as ‘autumn rice fields’. Rivers from the forests of the Shirakami-Sanchi mountains – a Unesco World Heritage site – bring mineral-rich water to the firm ground, creating the ideal climate and soil conditions for growing rice.
“Lots of local dishes use rice and we recommend cruise guests try Kiritanpo hotpot,” says Yumi Sasaki from the harbour and airport division at Akita Prefectural Government. “It is best enjoyed in October and November when the new rice is harvested. In addition, the pure snowmelt water and abundant rice enable Akita to produce some of the highest quality sake Japan. Two-thirds of the breweries in the prefecture have been operating for more than 100 years and many offer tours and tasting sessions.”
Kiritanpo hotpot is one of popular local rice-based dishes travellers can try while in Akita Prefecture
Other noteworthy attractions in Akita Prefecture include the Shirakami-Sanchi mountains, onsens (hot springs) and Kakunodate, a former castle town and samurai stronghold with buildings from the Edo period that are open visitors. “The samurai developed the kabazaiku (birch craft) tradition, using the bark of the local mountain cherry trees to create wooden items like tea and tobacco boxes,” says Sasaki. “Local artisans continue this tradition today. The city now has almost 400 weeping cherry trees spanning around two kilometres – they are beautiful and capture people’s hearts.”
Akita Prefecture is also the home of the Oga namahage, a masked folkloric creature said to visit houses on New Year’s Eve to warn families against laziness and bring good health and a bountiful harvest for the following year.
“Akita has the largest number of nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties in Japan, and many folk traditions have been passed down to the present day,” says Sasaki. “Cruise visitors can explore the origins of the Oga namahage at the Namahage Museum, which has a collection of more than 150 masks from various districts in Oga City.”
The Namahage Museum showcase various masks and costumes, giving visitors an insight into the folklore of the Oga namahage
Toyama Prefecture: where the mountains meet the sea
Part of the historic Hokuriku region, Toyama Prefecture is nestled under the 3,000-metre-high Tateyama Mountains and is a member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World network. Nutrient-rich snowmelt from the mountains flow into Toyama Bay, which is more than 1,000 metres deep and has a underwater several valleys of varying temperatures. This unique topography has created a ‘natural fish tank’ that is home to over 500 of the approximately 800 species that live in the Sea of Japan, many of which can be caught within a short boat ride from the coast. Some of the best-known species include yellowtail, red snow crab, bioluminescent Hotaruika (firefly squid), and shiroebi (Japanese Glass shrimp), which is found almost exclusively in the region.
“The Japanese Glass shrimp is known as ‘the jewel of Toyama Bay’ because of its translucent shiny colour and is used for sashimi, tempura and Toyama’s traditional kelp wraps,” says Tomo Nakaya, cruise ship promotion sales representative for Port of Fushiki-Toyama at Toyama Prefectural Government.
“Toyama Bay sushi is also a popular delicacy – it’s fresh, luxurious and only available to those who come to Toyama. Visitors can join a tasting experience where they will be provided with 10 pieces of sushi made with seasonal local fish caught in Toyama Bay, local rice from Toyama Prefecture, and Toyama-like soup.”
Toyama Bay is renowned as one of the best places in Japan to try fresh seafood, all of which is caught every day just minutes from the shore
Fishing is not the only industry in Toyama Prefecture. Craftspeople in Takaoka City have been producing metal casts for more than 400 years and some offer workshops where tourists are able to watch the process and purchase products themselves. Meanwhile, artisans in the village of Inami are famed for their wooden sculptures and carvings.
“It is said the Inami woodcarving tradition originated when palace carpenters were sent from Kyoto to help rebuild the Inami Betsuin Zuisenji temple following a fire in the 18th century,” says Nakaya. “They taught local carpenters their techniques and around 200 wood carvers still practice in the city today, mostly living and working on Yokamachi Street, which is on the approach to the temple. The cobblestone street, which is lined with workshops, breweries, shops and townhouses with lattice doors, is very picturesque.”
The communities living in the Unesco World Heritage site of Gokayama also continue to keep long-standing industries alive.
“People living in the traditional gassho-zukuri houses in the villages of Ainokura and Suganuma maintain customs and traditions passed down through the generations,” says Nakaya. “They primarily focus on raising silkworms and manufacturing saltpeter and washi paper, and cruise guests can join a washi making experience while visiting. Some of the houses also now serve as museums, shops and restaurants, which enables visitors to taste local cuisine made with plenty of seasonal ingredients unique to Gokayama.”
Locals still live and work in the gassho-zukuri houses in the villages of Ainokura and Suganuma, which feature steep thatched roofs and have been designated a Unesco World Heritage site
Toyama is also the starting point for the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which runs through the Northern Japan Alps between the Toyama and Nagano prefectures. Some of the most famous sites on the route include Yuki no Otani (the Snow Wall), a high corridor of snow carved out along the mountain road, as well as the Kurobe Dam and volcanic ponds surrounded by rare wild alpine plants.
“You can traverse the majestic mountain landscape by using cable cars, ropeways and electric buses,” says Nakaya. “There are also multiple hiking trails of varying difficulties, so everyone from beginners to advanced climbers can find something they enjoy.”
Nature lovers can visit Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which has peaks reaching around 3,000 metres and can be traversed using hiking trails, buses, cable cars and ropeways
Kyoto Prefecture: the centre of Japanese culture
Luxury cruise lines calling into Kyoto Prefecture berth at Maizuru Port, which is located in a sheltered bay that is accessed via a narrow, eight-kilometre-long inlet. The waters have a tidal range that rarely exceeds 40 centimetres, so they are calm year-round.
From the port, cruise travellers can visit the city of Maizuru to see attractions such as the Goro Sky Tower, Fish Market (Toretore Center), Kongo-in Temple and the park. They can also try local specialities like Maizuru green tea and fresh seafood.
“The former castle town, located within walking distance of the port, is home to a temple district and the ruins of Tanabe Castle,” says Muruka Kabata from the economic exchange division at the Department of Commerce, Labor and Tourism at Kyoto Prefectural Government.
Here, visitors can learn about Japan’s tea culture by tasting Maizuru green tea, which has been grown by local farmers since it was first introduced by the lord of the city’s Tanabe castle during the samurai warrior era. “Maizuru is renowned as a key producer of the world-famous Uji tea – in fact, the high-quality leaves grown in the town are essential for creating the beautiful vibrant colour of Uji tea. Food lovers can also head to the town’s oyster huts to sample fresh oysters that are cultivated in the bay and harvested every day. Some of the most popular are the rock oysters, which take around three to four years to grow and are available between May and July. They’re known as the ‘cheese of the sea’ because of their creamy texture.”
Fresh, locally grown green tea is just one of several delicacies visitors can try in Maizuru
Alternatively, cruise guests can take a bus to the city of Kyoto, which was the imperial capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years between 794 and 1868.
“Kyoto has many culturally important properties, including over 2,000 shrines and temples, as well as 17 Unesco World Heritage sites,” says Kabata. “The city also has many seasonal highlights, including cherry blossoms in the spring, the Gion Festival in the summer, autumn foliage and plum blossoms in the winter.”
Other highlights in Kyoto Prefecture include the silk factories in Chirimen Kaido, Amanohashidate in Miyazu Bay and the boat houses in Ine Bay.
Literally translated as ‘bridge to the heavens’, Amanohashidate is located about 30 kilometres from the port and is a sandbar covered with around 8,000 pine trees that is widely regarded as one of the three most beautiful views of Japan. While at Amanohashidate, cruise guests can participate in the mata-nozoki custom, which involves standing at various vantage points overlooking the sandbar and bending forwards to view the scenery upside down through their legs. “There is also a lovely small area to stroll around with temples, shrines, cafes and shops,” says Kabata. “The water is shallow and calm, so it is possible to swim at the sandbar too.”
Located approximately 15 kilometres north of Amanohashidate is Ine, an active fishing town with around 230 traditional wooden funaya (boat houses) built during the Edo period (1603-1868).
“The funaya on the bay serve as boat garages, while the houses on the mountain side across the road are used as living spaces,” says Kabata. “Visitors can see the houses from various lookout points around Ine Bay or take a short sightseeing cruise via a large tourist boat or smaller sea taxis operated by local fishermen. While in Ine, they can also visit cafes and attractions such as the local sake brewery.”
The scenic fishing village in Ine is home to around 230 traditional boat houses, which tourists can see from the shore or during a sightseeing cruise in the bay
Read more: A journey through Japan – navigating the north