PORT OF JAPAN
The Kanmon Strait and the Kanmon Bridge from Hinoyama, with Shimonoseki and Kyushu beyond

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Where does Le Jacques Cartier dock in Shimonoseki?

In port Fri, 19 Mar 2027, 11:30–21:30 (10 h in port). 2 calls listed in all, below.

Photo: そらみみ / CC BY-SA 4.0

Shimonoseki in one glance

Kaikyokan aquarium, Shimonoseki

Kaikyokan aquarium

about 2.5h · Next to ArcaportChofu castle town and Kozanji, Shimonoseki

Chofu castle town and Kozanji

The old castle town of the Chofu Mori lords, lanes of earthen walls between temples.about 4.5h · Sanden bus from JR Shimonoseki to Jokamachi Chofu, about 25 min, ¥430, then 10 min on footKaikyo Yume Tower, Shimonoseki

Kaikyo Yume Tower

A 153 m tower by the station, with a 360-degree observation floor at 143 m over the Inland Sea, the strait, Ganryujima and Kyushu.about 2.5h · About 1.4 km, about 20 min on foot from Arcaport (our estimate)
Cut to the 19 Mar call

What fits your 8 hours

On your own · the day that fits

Under the strait to Kyushu, back by ferry

about 4.5h · Arcaport calls of 6 hours or more, any day of the week. From Choshu Dejima take a taxi to Akama Jingu first, about ¥3,900 (our estimate)

  1. Sushi stalls at Karato Market, Shimonoseki0:00Walk from Arcaport to Karato Market (about 15 min, our estimate)
  2. Akama Jingu, Shimonoseki0:45Walk to Akama Jingu (7 min)
  3. Walk east along the strait to Mimosusogawa (1.1 km, about 15 min, our estimate), Shimonoseki1:15Walk east along the strait to Mimosusogawa (1.1 km, about 15 min, our estimate)
  4. Mojiko Retro by the Kanmon ferry, Shimonoseki2:25Mojiko Retro: JR Mojiko Station and the harbour

Follow this route9 stops, the clock and the map ↓

Also fits this call: Arcaport on foot: Karato Market and Akama Jingu (about 2.5h)

Off the ship and back

The berth, the way into town and back in Shimonoseki

On your own

More of Shimonoseki within 8 hours

Each one is a round trip from the gangway that fits the usable hours of this call.

All ten, ranked
Mojiko waterfront and the Kanmon Strait Museum, Shimonoseki

Mojiko waterfront and the Kanmon Strait Museum

The Mojiko side of the strait from above and at the water.about 4h · Kanmon ferry from Karato Pier (7 min on foot from Arcaport · needs a 6-hour call
Days that fit Le Jacques Cartier’s call

8 hours ashore: the days that fit

Cut to the 19 Mar call. The half hour to get off and the hour before all-aboard are already kept free.

Rainy-day plan

Swipe sideways for the other days →

Sushi stalls at Karato Market, Shimonoseki

Needs a 4.5-hour callabout 2.5h

Arcaport on foot: Karato Market and Akama Jingu

Short calls at Arcaport, best on a Friday, weekend or holiday when the sushi stalls run. From Choshu Dejima add a taxi each way, about 20 min

From Arcaport

  1. 0:00Walk from Arcaport past the Kaikyokan and Karato Pier to Karato Market (about 1 km, about 15 min, our estimate)
  2. 0:15Karato Market and the Iki-iki Bakangai sushi stalls
  3. 1:15Walk to Akama Jingu (0.5 km, about 7 min, our estimate)
  4. 1:25Akama Jingu, Hoichi’s hall and the Heike graves
  5. + 2 more stops on the full route

Costs about ¥0, all on foot

Open in Google Maps, in 2 parts

  1. 1Your ship → Karato Market → Akama Jinguon foot
  2. 2Akama Jingu → Back to the shipon foot
Follow this route
Under the strait to Kyushu, back by ferry, Shimonoseki

Needs a 6.5-hour callabout 4.5h

Under the strait to Kyushu, back by ferry

Arcaport calls of 6 hours or more, any day of the week. From Choshu Dejima take a taxi to Akama Jingu first, about ¥3,900 (our estimate)

From Arcaport

  1. 0:00Walk from Arcaport to Karato Market (about 15 min, our estimate)
  2. 0:45Walk to Akama Jingu (7 min)
  3. 1:15Walk east along the strait to Mimosusogawa (1.1 km, about 15 min, our estimate)
  4. 1:30Kanmon pedestrian tunnel: lift down, 780 m under the sea, about 15 min
  5. + 5 more stops on the full route

The tunnel is free; Kanmon ferry Mojiko → Karato ¥400

Open in Google Maps, in 3 parts

  1. 1Your ship → Karato Market → Akama Jingu → Kanmon tunnel pedestrian entrance, Mimosusogawaon foot
  2. 2Kanmon tunnel pedestrian entrance, Mimosusogawa → JR Mojiko Station, Mojiko Retrotrain or bus
  3. 3JR Mojiko Station, Mojiko Retro → Back to the shiptrain or bus
Follow this route
Your 19 Mar call on one page

Le Jacques Cartier in Shimonoseki: the day sheet

Fri, 19 Mar 2027, 11:30–21:30 (10 h in port), at Arcaport. Off the ship from 12:00, back at the gangway by 20:00. Print it or save it before you lose the ship's Wi-Fi.

First Japanese port: immigration on the day

Le Jacques Cartier arrives from Busan, so Shimonoseki is where you enter Japan

Japan checks every foreign passenger in person at the first Japanese port, before anyone goes ashore: a passport check and fingerprints. No official time is published for it, so plan the start of the day around the queue.

Before any tourLeave the first hours freeThe only official figure is from Hakata in 2015: ships of 1,000+ passengers took about 85 minutes once the cruise permit was in use. If you book a guide, say this is your ship’s first Japanese port and agree a start time with margin.
Landing permitCarry it ashore all dayForeign passengers on approved ships usually enter on a Cruise Landing Permission (船舶観光上陸許可) and receive a landing permit. The law requires holders to carry it at all times instead of the passport; passengers landed normally carry their passport.
CustomsLeave fruit and meat on boardMost fruit, vegetables and meat products may not be brought into Japan; the penalty can be up to three years’ imprisonment or a ¥3 million fine. Declaration forms are given out on board: follow your cruise line’s instructions.

Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Immigration Control Act, Art. 14-2 and 23), Japan Customs, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Checked 25 October 2026. Our guide to the first Japanese port

At the pier, before you set off

Cash and ATMsOur sources list no ATM or exchange at either berth. Carry yen for the market stalls and the ferry (¥400). Sanden buses take nimoca and the nationwide IC cards, Suica, PASMO and ICOCA among them, and you can top up on board.
Wi-Fi and dataNo port Wi-Fi is published. Buy an eSIM before sailing.
Steps and slopesArcaport to Karato Market is a flat 1 km along the waterfront. The Kanmon tunnel has lifts at both ends. Choshu Dejima needs a taxi for everything.
Weather ashore · a usual March day in Shimonoseki
14° / 7°C57° / 45°F

Rain on about 10 days in 30 — the rain-day plan if the day turns wet

A layer for the evening

The forecast for Fri 19 Mar appears here from Sat 13 Mar.

Normals 1991–2020: Japan Meteorological Agency, Shimonoseki station · The official figures →

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Every Le Jacques Cartier call at Shimonoseki

2 calls listed, Mar 2027–Apr 2027. The pattern, and the plan for each kind of day

Arrivals run 11:00–11:30 and departures 21:00–21:30: check your own date in the table before choosing a day.

Fri 19 Mar202711:30–21:30~8 hArcaportFull dayAlso in port: Eastern Venus, 08:00–18:00 at Choshu Dejima No.2.
Fri 2 Apr202711:00–21:00~8 hArcaportFull day
Sat 14 Mar2026 · past11:00–20:00~7 hArcaportHalf day

Add all 2 calls to your calendar

Usable hours follow the one rule: off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, all-aboard 30 minutes before departure, back at the gangway an hour before that. Overnight calls count the longest stretch ashore between 08:00 and 21:00 (the night is not touring time). Dates and times from Shimonoseki City Port and Harbor Bureau (下関市港湾局) cruise call lists, 2026 (30 Oct 2026 edition) and 2027 Jan–May (as of 2026-11-02); the daily programme has the final word.

The full day · 2 calls

Fri 19 Mar, Fri 2 Apr

11:00 or 11:30 to 21:00 or 21:30 · about 8 usable hours · gangway by 19:30 or 20:00

About 8 usable hours, back at the gangway by 19:30 or 20:00: the port's full timed day fits, and so does a guided day that returns in time.

No guided day on this site fits these calls and is open on them; the timed plans below are the day.

Quick answers

Le Jacques Cartier at Shimonoseki

Where does Le Jacques Cartier dock in Shimonoseki?

Le Jacques Cartier docks at Arcaport in Shimonoseki — Arcaport: Karato Market about 1 km (about 15 min), Akama Jingu 1.5 km, the Mojiko ferry 500 m, JR Shimonoseki 2 km — our estimates; the city calls Karato “in walking distance”. Berths can be reassigned on busy days; the daily programme has the final word.

How long is Le Jacques Cartier in Shimonoseki?

Fri, 19 Mar 2027: 11:30–21:30 (10 h in port); Fri, 2 Apr 2027: 11:00–21:00 (10 h in port). Off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, all-aboard 30 minutes before departure, back at the gangway an hour before that: plan for about 8 usable hours on the call of Fri, 19 Mar 2027, back at the gangway by 20:00.

What can you do in Shimonoseki with 8 hours from Le Jacques Cartier?

2 of the port's timed days fit the call of Fri, 19 Mar 2027: Arcaport on foot: Karato Market and Akama Jingu (about 2.5h), Under the strait to Kyushu, back by ferry (about 4.5h).

What is the weather like in Shimonoseki in March?

On a usual March day Shimonoseki reaches about 14 °C (57 °F), with a low of about 7 °C (45 °F); rain (1 mm or more) falls on about 10 days in 30. These are the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals for Shimonoseki. From 7 days before the call, this page shows the forecast for the day itself.

Checked · Researched, not yet visited · Takumi Yamada

Dates, times and berths from Shimonoseki City Port and Harbor Bureau (下関市港湾局) cruise call lists, 2026 (30 Oct 2026 edition) and 2027 Jan–May (as of 2026-11-02). Schedules change; your ship's daily programme has the final word.