BillMcG

We will be cruising Diamond Princess in May with a day visit to Muroran / Sappora. Interested in information on local tours with a taxi / hire car rather than the organised bus tours or the train to Sappora.
Has anyone had a recent similar experience and details that may assist us.

KimJapan

I would stick around Muroran. It's about 2 hours by train each way to Sapporo, not counting the time from ship to station, about 20 minutes. A taxi charter to Sapporo I've seen priced at ¥50,000 ~.

BillMcG

Thanks Kim

mrwunrfl

FWIW, the JR fare would be just 4,880 yen with one connection.

Only 440 yen from Muroran to Noboribetsu - 37 minutes on JR Muroran Line - and then bus or taxi up the hill to Noboribetsu Onsen.

mrwunrfl

Just noticed that your stop is 1 day. I think that means that you are getting off the boat in the morning and returning to it that night.

I would take the train and bus to Noboribetsu Onsen and go to Daiichi Takimotokan and enjoy the hot springs baths and the view. Then stroll around the town. Then head back to Muroran with time to see whatever they have there to entertain the tourists from the boat (or maybe there is more to Muroran than what I am thinking - I have not visited there or researched the place).

mrwunrfl

Oh, forgot the link:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/r...oboribetu.html

mrwunrfl

Actually, I wouldn't be too surprised to find that there was a bus from Muroran port to Noboribetsu onsen scheduled specifically for arriving cruisers.