Japan Cruise Port Guide: How to Find a Private Guide in Every Port

I am Hiroshi, a licensed local guide in Kochi. Almost every week I meet cruise ship passengers at the Kochi cruise terminal, show them my home town for the day, and bring them back to the ship before all aboard time. And almost every week, someone asks me the same question near the end of the tour: “We stop in Nagasaki in two days. Do you know anyone there?”

For a long time I had no good answer. So I made this page.

Kochi is usually one stop on a longer Japan cruise. The same ship often calls at Kobe, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kagoshima and other ports in the same week. I can only guide you in Kochi. But I guide on a platform called GoWithGuide, and there are licensed local guides on it in almost every Japanese port city. This page is a simple port by port list so you can find them.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to GoWithGuide, the platform I guide on myself. I am not paid to recommend any individual guide.

Why a Private Guide Is Better Than a Ship Excursion

Ship excursions are easy to book, but they have some downsides. You travel with 40 or 50 other people. You stop where the bus stops. You wait for the slowest person in the group at every stop. And the price per person adds up quickly for a family.

A private guide works differently. The day is only for your group. You can change the plan in the morning if the weather turns bad. You can stay longer at the place you like and skip the place you do not care about. If someone in your group cannot walk far, the guide plans around that.

A small tip: when you message a guide, tell them your ship name and your port times right away. Guides who work with cruise ship passengers know that the all aboard time is not flexible, and they will plan the day backwards from it.

Look for a Guide Who Grew Up There

If you can, choose a guide who was born and raised in that city. This makes a bigger difference than people expect.

Any licensed guide can study the history and tell you what is already written on the internet. That part is easy. But a guide who grew up in the town knows things you cannot look up anywhere.

They know which small restaurant the local people actually eat at, and what to order when you get there. They know which road is quiet at that time of day and which one fills up with tour buses. They know which viewpoint looks better in the morning and which one is better in the afternoon. They know where the clean toilets are, which sounds like a small thing until you need one.

These little things are what make a day feel relaxed instead of rushed. So when you read a guide profile, look for someone who says they are from that city, not only that they work there.

Kochi: My Home Port

Let me start with my own port, because this is the one I actually know.

Kochi is on the south coast of Shikoku island. It is not a famous name like Kyoto, so many passengers step off the ship with no plan at all. That is a shame, because Kochi has Kochi Castle, one of only twelve original castle towers left in Japan, and Katsurahama beach, and the Makino Botanical Garden, and katsuo tataki, which is seared bonito that tastes completely different here than anywhere else in the country.

I was born here. I pick you up at the Kochi cruise terminal and I take you to each location throughout the day in a comfortable Toyota Alphard. I always plan the day around your ship schedule and bring you back with time to spare.

Ships usually dock at the Kochi cruise port on the west side of the city, about twenty minutes from the castle. A private tour from cruise port means you are moving while the bus groups are still lining up, so you see more in the same number of hours.

If Kochi is on your itinerary, book with me directly. It is cheaper for you than going through any platform.

See the Kochi Highlights Tour →

If Kochi is on your itinerary, I have written a full guide to the port itself, including what is around the terminal and how long everything takes: Kochi cruise port complete guide.

Other Ports on Your Japan Cruise

I looked at the 2026 ship schedule for Kochi port and checked where those same ships go on the rest of their route. The ports below are listed in that order, starting with the ones that appear most often together with Kochi. If you are on the Celebrity Millennium, the Diamond Princess, the Westerdam or the Norwegian Jade, the first five will almost certainly be on your itinerary.

Each link opens that city page on GoWithGuide, where you can see both the licensed local guides and their tours. You can read reviews, check prices, and message any guide for free before you book anything. Most guides will also build a custom plan around your ship times if you ask.

Kobe and Osaka, for Kyoto

This is the port almost every Kochi cruise also visits. Some ships dock in Kobe, some in Osaka, and both are the gateway to Kyoto and Nara. It is the busiest shore excursion day of the whole cruise, so book earlier than you think you need to.

Kyoto is about one hour away from either port. It is possible in a day, but a good guide will tell you honestly whether your port time is really long enough, or whether you will enjoy the day more staying closer to the ship. Kobe has the old western houses in Kitano, Kobe beef, and Arima Onsen. Osaka has the castle, Dotonbori, and the best street food in Japan.

See private guides and tours in Kobe →

See private guides and tours in Osaka →

See private guides and tours in Kyoto →

Hiroshima

Most passengers want to see both the Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima with its floating shrine gate. Both in one day is possible but tight, because Miyajima needs a ferry. Ask your guide to check the tide times. The famous gate looks completely different at high tide and low tide, and a local guide will know which one you will get.

See private guides and tours in Hiroshima →

Nagasaki

Nagasaki has a history you cannot get from a guidebook. The Peace Park, Glover Garden, and the old foreign settlement all sit close together, and the city is small enough to see properly in one port call. Several guides here have built tours specifically for cruise ship passengers, planned around ship times.

See private guides and tours in Nagasaki →

Kagoshima

Kagoshima sits across the bay from Sakurajima, an active volcano that still smokes every day. The city has hot sand baths, a strong samurai history, and food that is different from the rest of Japan. If ash is falling that day, a local guide will know where to go instead.

See private guides and tours in Kagoshima →

Shimizu, for Mount Fuji

Shimizu is the Mount Fuji port, and it is usually the last stop before the ship returns to Tokyo. On a clear day the view is unforgettable. On a cloudy day you may not see the mountain at all, so it is smart to have a backup plan. Ask your guide about the tea fields and the Miho no Matsubara pine grove, which are good in any weather.

See private guides and tours in Shimizu →

South Korea: Busan, Seoul and Jeju

This is the one stop on most Kochi cruises that is not in Japan, and many passengers forget to plan for it. Busan has the huge Jagalchi fish market, the colorful Gamcheon Culture Village on the hillside, and Haeundae beach. The food is completely different from Japan, and one day is enough to feel it.

A small tip: Korea uses won, not yen, and your Japanese IC card will not work there. A guide who meets you at the port makes this day much easier.

Some longer itineraries, like the Westerdam and Silver Moon, also call at Seoul and Jeju Island. GoWithGuide has licensed local guides in those cities too.

See private guides and tours in Busan →

See private guides and tours in Seoul →

See private guides and tours in Jeju →

Tokyo and Yokohama

For most of these cruises Tokyo or Yokohama is where you start or finish. A guide for your first or last day is very useful. Tokyo is huge and the train system takes some getting used to. Many passengers spend an extra night in the city, and a half day with a guide at the start makes the rest of the stay much easier.

See private guides and tours in Tokyo →

See private guides and tours in Yokohama →

Okinawa

Okinawa appears on some of the longer itineraries. It does not feel like mainland Japan. It has its own history as the Ryukyu Kingdom, its own food, and its own music. Shuri Castle is being rebuilt after the 2019 fire. The beaches in the north are beautiful but far from the port, so check the driving time with your guide before you plan around them.

See private guides and tours in Okinawa →

Aomori, Hakodate and Kanazawa

These northern ports appear on the longer round Japan sailings, like the Westerdam and some Diamond Princess routes. Aomori has Hirosaki Castle and apple orchards. Hakodate has the night view from the mountain and a famous morning market. Kanazawa was not bombed in the war, so the old samurai and geisha districts are real, not rebuilt, and Kenrokuen is one of the three great gardens of Japan.

See private guides and tours in Aomori →

See private guides and tours in Hakodate →

See private guides and tours in Kanazawa →

Fukuoka and Kumamoto

These two come up less often on Kochi itineraries, but they do appear on some Costa and other Asian route sailings. Fukuoka is a modern, easy city with excellent food and the Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine just outside town. Kumamoto has its castle, which was badly damaged in the 2016 earthquake and is still being repaired, which is interesting to see in itself.

See private guides and tours in Fukuoka →

See private guides and tours in Kumamoto →

How to Book Before You Sail

A few things I have learned from my own guests.

Book about two months out. Good guides in the popular ports fill up early, especially Kobe and Hiroshima. Two to three months before your cruise is a comfortable window.
Message before you pay. On GoWithGuide you can message a guide for free first. Send your ship name, your port date, and your arrival and all aboard times. A good guide will reply with a realistic plan, and sometimes will tell you honestly that what you want is not possible in the time you have. That honesty is worth a lot.
Check the meeting point. Some Japanese cruise terminals are industrial ports where private cars cannot drive right up to the ship. Confirm exactly where you will meet.
Bring cash. Japan is much better than it used to be, but small restaurants, small shrines, and small shops are still cash only. Have some yen with you.
Wear shoes you can take off. You will remove them at temples, at old houses, and at some restaurants. Slip on shoes make the day easier.

Perfect for Cruise Ship Passengers

Arriving in Kochi by cruise ship? This tour is designed with cruise passengers in mind. We’ll pick you up directly from the Kochi cruise terminal and ensure you’re back to your ship with plenty of time to spare.

Flexible timing options:

⏰ 4-hour express tour (perfect for short port calls)
⏰ 6-hour highlights tour (our most popular option)
⏰ 8-hour comprehensive experience

All tours include comfortable private transportation and a guarantee to return you to the port on time.

Experience Kochi on Our Kochi Highlights Tour

This is my most popular tour, and it is the one I would book if I were you. We visit Kochi Castle, Katsurahama beach, and a local lunch spot for katsuo tataki, and we adjust everything around your ship times.

Private tour for your group only, never shared with strangers
I pick you up at the Kochi cruise terminal and take you to each location throughout the day
Licensed local guide who was born and raised in Kochi
Photos taken during the day, shared with you afterwards as a gift
Flexible plan, so we can change the route if the weather changes

If you are staying overnight in Kochi before or after your cruise, my family also runs VILLA URARA THE COAST, a private villa with a pool and a sunset view over the ocean.

Book the Kochi Highlights Tour →

If your ship stops in Kochi, I hope to meet you at the terminal. And if it stops somewhere else in Japan too, I hope this page helps you find someone as happy to show you their home town as I am to show you mine.