Ships dock pier-side at Kyoto Maizuru Port International Wharf — no tendering required.
💡 Pro move: The pier area itself is industrial — head to West Maizuru or East Maizuru (Red Brick Park) for the real experience.
Maizuru is a full pier port — all cruise lines dock alongside Pier No. 2 at the Kyoto Maizuru International Wharf.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, HAL, Seabourn, MSC, Costa | Kyoto Maizuru Port International Wharf, Pier No. 2, East Port📍 | Docked |
| Most cruise lines | Same pier — tendering not required📍 | Docked |
Maizuru punches above its weight — a half-day of naval history in town, or a full day to Amanohashidate or Kyoto.
Twelve Meiji-era naval warehouses (8 are Important Cultural Properties) repurposed as museums, craft beer bars, and souvenir shops. Free to wander; the Akarenga History Museum is inside.
Book Maizuru city tours →One of Japan's Three Scenic Views: a 3.6 km pine-covered sandbar. Take the cable car up Kasamatsu Park and view it upside down through your legs (matanozoki) — the sandbar appears to fly like a dragon. Walk or rent a bike across it too.
Find Amanohashidate tours →UNESCO Memory of the World site documenting the return of 660,000 Japanese POWs and civilians from Siberian labor camps through Maizuru Port after WWII. Deeply moving and rarely crowded.
Book Maizuru history tours →The port's legendary seafood market — choose your crab, sea urchin, oysters, or squid live from the stalls and have them grilled or sliced into sashimi on the spot. Maizuru is especially famous for its snow crab (zuwaigani).
Find Maizuru food tours →Maizuru is the 'Kyoto port' — the ancient capital is ~90 min by express train or 1.5–2 hrs by coach. Temples, golden pavilions, bamboo groves. Book a ship excursion unless you're confident with Japan rail — the ship won't wait for late returnees.
Find Kyoto shore excursions →Mount Goro's observation tower overlooks the rias coastline and Maizuru Bay — one of the best panoramic views in the Kinki region. The park itself is free; the indoor tower is ¥200.
Book Maizuru sightseeing tours →Most walks start from the pier shuttle drop-off at either Nishi-Maizuru or the Red Brick Park.
From the Red Brick Park shuttle stop, explore the 12 Meiji warehouses, then walk along the harbour past views of active JMSDF destroyers to the Repatriation Memorial Museum.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →From Nishi-Maizuru Station, stroll through the Showa-era shotengai shopping arcades, past the Tanabe Castle ruins, to the old merchant canals — feels like stepping into mid-20th-century Japan.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F / 8°C | 35°F / 2°C | 17 | 7:07 AM | 5:08 PM |
| Feb | 48°F / 9°C | 35°F / 2°C | 14 | 6:45 AM | 5:40 PM |
| Mar | 56°F / 13°C | 40°F / 4°C | 14 | 6:09 AM | 6:05 PM |
| Apr | 64°F / 18°C | 47°F / 8°C | 12 | 5:26 AM | 6:31 PM |
| May | 74°F / 23°C | 56°F / 13°C | 12 | 4:54 AM | 6:55 PM |
| Jun | 79°F / 26°C | 65°F / 18°C | 15 | 4:43 AM | 7:15 PM |
| Jul | 86°F / 30°C | 74°F / 23°C | 18 | 4:54 AM | 7:14 PM |
| Aug | 88°F / 31°C | 76°F / 24°C | 16 | 5:18 AM | 6:47 PM |
| Sep | 80°F / 27°C | 69°F / 21°C | 16 | 5:41 AM | 6:05 PM |
| Oct | 70°F / 21°C | 58°F / 14°C | 13 | 6:04 AM | 5:23 PM |
| Nov | 61°F / 16°C | 49°F / 9°C | 12 | 6:33 AM | 4:52 PM |
| Dec | 51°F / 11°C | 39°F / 4°C | 16 | 7:00 AM | 4:46 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.