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HAL Westerdam Cruise Shore Excursion Itineraries in Japan

- Gentle journeys into culture and history, thoughtfully crafted for your comfort and curiosity. -

Why Choose Our HAL Westerdam Shared Shore Excursions from Ports?

When your day ashore is thoughtfully planned, it becomes more than a tour, it becomes a memory. Our shore excursions prioritize both substance and serenity, helping you engage with Japan’s cultural richness in a way that’s welcoming, informative, and never rushed.

Comfortable travel with Japan Shore Excursions
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Small Groups for a Personal Touch

With Japan Shore Excursions, you will travel with a small, respectful group (typically no more than 16 guests) for a more intimate experience and easier mobility.

cultural immersion on Japan cruise excursions

Meaningful Historical Insights

Visit temples, castles, shrines, and museums with expert local guides who offer cultural context, stories, and significance beyond the surface.

comfortable travel

Comfortable and Accessible

All tours are designed with senior guests in mind with minimal walking when possible, clean vehicles, seated rest opportunities, and flexible pacing. From booking to return, our local team is attentive, clear, and always available should you need extra support.

Seamless Planning

Great Value in Small Groups

Enjoy the intimacy of small-group travel without the private tour price tag. Make new friends, share stories, and create memories together.
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Aligned with Your Ship Schedule

We monitor HAL Westerdam's port times in real time and guarantee your timely return to the ship.

HAL Westerdam Cruise Itineraries with Shared Excursions Available

Each port of call presents a new chapter in Japan’s story from feudal history to spiritual tradition and artistic legacy. Below are carefully crafted shared shore excursions available for HAL Westerdam itineraries.

15 Days Circle Japan

Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 27, 2025

Itinerary: Yokohama, Japan → Yokohama, Japan
Ports with shared tour available: Kobe (Oct 14, 2025); Hakata (Oct 17, 2025); Kanazawa (Oct 20, 2025); Sakata (Oct 21, 2025); Hakodate (Oct 22, 2025); Miyako (Oct 25, 2025)
Shared Tour
Fushimiinari-Taisha Shrine on Kyoto shore excursionsTogetsukyo Bridge on Kyoto cruise excursions

The Best of Kyoto & Arashiyama

(3) $185 – $285 USD

  • Duration: 7.5 - 8 hours
  • Port: Kobe/Osaka, Japan
  • Highlights: Arashiyama Area, Bamboo Forest, Togetsu-Kyo Bridge, Kinkakuji Temple (the Golden Pavillion), Fushimiinari-Taisha Shrine
  • Activity Level: Easy
  • Cruise: Oceania Riviera, HAL Westerdam, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Sun
  • Tour Date: Sep 30 2025, Oct 10 2025, Oct 14 2025, Nov 06 2025
  • Group Size: 12 - 16 pax

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Shared Tour
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine on Fukuoka shore toursTochoji Temple on Hakata shore excursions

Dazaifu & Hakata Tour (Spiritual & Scenic Wonders of Fukuoka)

(3) $160 – $183 USD

  • Duration: 6 hours
  • Port: Hakata - Fukuoka, Japan
  • Highlights: Tochoji Temple & Buddha-Hell-Paradise, Ohori Park, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Fukuoka Tower
  • Activity Level: Moderate
  • Cruise: HAL Westerdam, Norwegian Spirit, Celebrity Millennium
  • Tour Date: Sep 20 2025, Sep 27 2025, Oct 17 2025
  • Group Size: 12 - 16 pax

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Shared Tour
Higashi Chaya-machi District on Kanazawa shore excursionsKenroku-en Garden on Kanazawa shore tours

Kanazawa Highlights Tour

(7) $182 USD

  • Duration: 6 hours
  • Port: Kanazawa, Japan
  • Highlights: Oyama Shrine, Kenroku-en Garden, Naga-Machi Buke Yashiki District, Omi-Cho Market, Higashi Chaya-machi District
  • Activity Level: Easy
  • Cruise: HAL Westerdam
  • Tour Date: Oct 20 2025
  • Group Size: 16 pax

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Hiyoriyama Park Sakata shore excursionsSankyo Warehouse Sakata shore excursions

Sakata Highlights Tour

(5) $192 USD

  • Duration: 6 hours
  • Port: Sakata, Japan
  • Highlights: Hiyoriyama Park, Kaikoji Temple, Sannou Club, Former Main Residence of Homma Family, Sankyo Warehouse, Hatsumago Sake Brewery
  • Activity Level: Easy
  • Cruise: HAL Westerdam
  • Tour Date: Oct 21 2025
  • Group Size: 16 pax

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Shared Tour
Mt. Hakodate ropeway shore toursMt. Hakodate ropeway shore tours

Hakodate City & Scenic Views Tour (Hakodate Highlights)

(3) $166 – $184 USD

  • Duration: 6 hours
  • Port: Hakodate, Japan
  • Highlights: Goryokaku Park & Tower, Hakodate-Asaichi Market, Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Mt. Hakodate (Ropeway)
  • Activity Level: Moderate
  • Cruise: Celebrity Millennium, HAL Westerdam
  • Tour Date: Sep 08 2025, Oct 22 2025, Oct 26 2025
  • Group Size: 14 - 16 pax

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Shared Tour
Ryujinzaki on Miyako shore excursionsTategasaki Observation Deck on Miyako shore tours

Miyako Highlights Tour

(8) $200 USD

  • Duration: 6 hours
  • Port: Miyako, Japan
  • Highlights: Ryujinzaki, Tategasaki Observation Deck, Jōdogahama-Aonodōkutsu: Akan National Park
  • Activity Level: Easy
  • Cruise: HAL Westerdam
  • Tour Date: Oct 25 2025
  • Group Size: 16 Pax

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Should our scheduled shared tours not align with your cruise itinerary, simply submit the form below. Our local team will gladly create a culturally enriching, relaxed-paced itinerary tailored to your interests

Plan with a Local Expert

Meet Lara - Your Cultural Travel Concierge for HAL Westerdam

Lara Nguyen - Travel Consultant

Lara Nguyen
Travel Expert

With years of experience in organizing curated land and port-day programs across East Asia, Lara is our dedicated Travel Expert for HAL Westerdam guests. She specializes in crafting accessible, well-paced heritage tours that focus on cultural depth and logistical ease.

“I believe every journey ashore should be as effortless as it is memorable, allowing you to connect, reflect, and truly enjoy.” - Lara Nguyen

Reach out to Lara below - She’ll respond within 24 working hours.

Contact Our Travel Expert

FAQs for HAL Westerdam Cruise Ship Guests

Here’s a quick rundown of the most common questions about Japan shore excursions we get from fellow HAL Westerdam guests just like you.

Booking your excursion with Japan Shore Excursions is easy and worry-free. Simply select your preferred tour, then you can choose either pay directly via Onepay or fill inquiry form to contact with our travel expert. After that, you’ll receive a confirmation email with everything clearly outlined. If you’d prefer more personal assistance, our Travel Expert, Lara, is always available to guide you in selecting the right tour based on your interests and comfort level.

Pro tip: Tours fill up fast, so booking early means you won’t miss out!

Absolutely. Every shared excursion we offer for HAL Westerdam is thoughtfully crafted to be accessible and comfortable, especially for senior travelers. We choose routes with gentle walking, provide ample seated breaks, and use clean, air-conditioned vehicles. If a tour includes more walking or uneven terrain, it will be clearly noted and we’re happy to suggest alternatives or make adjustments where possible.

Expect meaningful journeys into the heart of Japan’s culture and history. From ancient temples and feudal castles to tranquil gardens and world-class museums, our tours are guided by knowledgeable locals who share stories, not just facts. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply appreciate a well-paced day filled with beauty and insight, you’ll find every tour both stimulating and serene.

We keep our shared tours small and intimate typically no more than 16 guests. This ensures a peaceful, respectful environment, ideal for those who prefer calmer travel with personal attention from the guide. You'll be able to ask questions freely, hear every explanation clearly, and enjoy each moment without the overwhelm of a large group.

Your guide will be waiting for you just outside the cruise terminal with a clear welcome sign. We’ll provide detailed instructions and a map in your confirmation email to make things easy. Our team arrives early and wears a smile, you’ll be in caring, capable hands from the very first moment ashore.

Depends. We would deeply regret your decision to cancel your HAL Westerdam shore excursions; however we realize that there are many valid reasons that this can happen. In the event of cancellation we will refund any payment made to Japan Shore Excursions (less any cancellation fee that is applicable) within 14 days of our receipt of your written cancellation request.

The cancellation fee will be calculated as follows:

  • More than 40 days prior to trip departure: 10% of the deposit paid is non-refundable. This will be saved for your next trip with us. The rest of the deposit paid will be refunded (bank fee levied by your end)
  • 40 – 30 days prior to trip departure: 35% charged of the deposit paid
  • 29 – 15 days: 50% charged of the deposit paid
  • 14 – 10 day: 75% charged of total amount
  • Less than 10 days or No show: 100% charged of total amount

After the trip has commenced, we are unable to refund any amount for unused services due to your willingness, early departure, late arrival, or missed days on tours.

No need to worry. We’ve got it handled. Our team monitors HAL Westerdam’s real-time docking information and adjusts your tour departure accordingly. Plus, we always build in a buffer, so even if your ship docks slightly later than expected, you'll still enjoy a smooth, stress-free experience and get back to the ship on time, every time.

In case the HAL Westerdam cruise ship is unable to dock at ports or tender can’t discharge passengers, we will refund you Lunch (if any) and entrance fee. As for the guide and vehicle expenses, we will try our best to negotiate with our service providers to minimize the cancellation charge since we have arranged/sent them to the port to welcome you. We will advise you in specific details if this is case and get back to you with the refund amount at our soonest possible.

Trusted by HAL Westerdam Cruisers Who Value Quality

Excellent experience with Shore Excursions Asia

We used Shore Excursions Asia for 3 tours with our Holland America Circle Japan cruise. Lara was our contact and it all went so smoothly. Her communication was excellent and we were all so happy with our tours of Kyoto, Hiroshima and Gokoyama. Small groups with wonderful English speaking, kind guides and drivers. Waiting at the port for us all with signs and getting back to the ship in plenty of time was managed perfectly.

Lara added more people to our group of 4. Payment was easy. We saw so much that we would have missed as the ship tours were booked out and more expensive. I would not hesitate to use this company again. Thank you Lara

A perfect tour of Nagasaki

We used Japan Shore Excursions to book a tour of Nagasaki during a cruise stop in Sasebo. Lara from Shore Excursions was incredibly responsive and put together a tour that met all of our needs. She even found another four people from the cruise to create a group of six that brought down the costs for all of us. Throughout the months leading up to the tour she kept in contact and was extremely clear about the process to meet the guide and provided multiple contact details to ensure that there would be no problems on the tour day.

As she indicated, our wonderful guide Moe was standing outside the cruise terminal, sign in hand to meet us and quickly escorted us to a very clean van with a lovely driver who greeted us warmly. What a guide Moe was - her background as the granddaughter of a Nagasaki bombing survivor brought even more meaning to a very impactful place. She took the time to show us sites around the Peace memorial and grounds that we would have missed if merely walking ourselves.

Given the beautiful weather and cherry blossom season, she later wisely suggested a change to the itinerary which allowed us to see Glover Garden in perfect conditions. Moe and Lara ensured that we will use Shore Excursions Asia for all of our future tour needs.

Amazing Service and Flexibility

We recently toured Japan on a cruise but do not like to do excursions with busloads of people. Lara was our amazing agent and planned individual guides and drivers for us in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

The guides just could not have been nicer, spoke good English, and the drivers were extremely competent while driving impeccable and comfortable vans.
Lara went so far as to recommend a hotel in Kyoto instead of driving all the way back to the ship, for another trip to Osaka the next day. We were able to change the pickup/drop off places on the fly with Lara working closely with us on all changes.

Both of our outstanding guides took us to local restaurants that they recommended, and we gladly bought them lunch for the experience of enjoying real local food and not touristy places.

After every tour Lara checked in with me to make sure everything was going well. Having been in the service industry for 40 years, I cannot stress enough the level of superior service Lara and her company provide. If their prices seem high, just remember you get what you pay for.

Exceptional, reliable tours with Japan Shore Excursions

We toured Asia in Jan/Feb and did several tours with Shore Excursions Asia. They did not disappoint! Every tour was managed extremely well. We worked with Lara, who helped us plan and followed thru on all the details. This is our second year of doing tours with them, and we plan to do more next year.

Japan Shore Excursions -excellent arrangements and experience.

Lara was amazing. She paid close attention to what we were interested in and created great private shore excursions. Everthing went smoothly and efficiently. Each guide was terrific, entertaining and knowledgeable and we accomplished everything we expected and more.

Wonderful shore excursion in Kyoto with Lara's Group!

We were very delighted about the service provided by Lara Nguyen and our Kyoto Highlights Tour. Our guide Chiyomi was very charming, spoke a very good English and provided us with very much interesting information. The booking procedure was easy and reponse times from Lara always very short! We can only recommend Japan Shore Excursions.