Issues/delays with immigration at first Japanese port mid-cruise?

[the mice]

We are on the Riviera next February-March.   We will arrive in Ishigaki, Japan on March 1 for the day coming from Hualien, Taiwan.   We will then sail to Shanghai, China before arriving at our next Japanese port, Kagoshima, on March 6.

 

I'm trying to plan shore excursions so I checked the Ports of Call forum.  There's very little information on Ishigaki, but there are reports of Japanese immigration officials coming on board (HAL ship) and taking hours to clear passengers (HAL did it by deck starting with uppermost), so that the last cruisers processed had less than 2 hours in the port.    

 

Is anyone familiar with how this has been handled on an Oceania ship?  Since we leave Japan and then return a second time, would this process be done all over again?  Realize that no one may have current info since Japan has only recently reopened to cruisers.   

[Cape Hernlopen]

Dear TM:

We visited seven Japanese ports on our June tour from Bangkok to Tokyo (on Insignia) and never had any problems with Japanese immigration authorities. We stopped in Ishigaki on a Viking cruise in 2018 without any problems.  There is not much to do or see in Ishigaki. 

Joel Barry

[the mice]

4 hours ago, Cape Hernlopen said:

Dear TM:

We visited seven Japanese ports on our June tour from Bangkok to Tokyo (on Insignia) and never had any problems with Japanese immigration authorities. We stopped in Ishigaki on a Viking cruise in 2018 without any problems.  There is not much to do or see in Ishigaki. 

Joel Barry

Thank you for this.

Hard to find anything much to do on Ishigaki. Saw some videos and it does look scenic if you get away from the town close to the port, which does not look that interesting.  Ship's excursions are very expensive here.  The only interesting one is an OS to Iriomote and it is $289pp (or $216.75 with the 25% discount).On Viator, not much aside from stand up paddle boarding (not for us).  What did you do on Ishigaki?  Any suggestions appreciated. 

[Cape Hernlopen]

Dear TM:

There is not much to do on Ishigaki.  We walked around the town and took a cab (hard to find one) to a small Shinto Shrine and walked along a beach.  We were back on the ship for lunch!

Joel Barry

[Tranquility Base]

On 10/5/2023 at 11:13 AM, the mice said:

Is anyone familiar with how this has been handled on an Oceania ship? 

Perhaps not applicable to your situation, however for info:

Note they are 1st entry and Westbound from Alaska to Japan.

Regent forum, Live from Explorer, post # 134.

[the mice]

2 hours ago, Tranquility Base said:

Perhaps not applicable to your situation, however for info:

Note they are 1st entry and Westbound from Alaska to Japan.

Regent forum, Live from Explorer, post # 134.

Thank you for pointing this out.   This is exactly what the poster on HAL described.