I'm a full-time travel writer and I wish I'd known this before visiting Japan

Not everywhere in Japan is an enchanting wonderland where you're wistfully wandering beneath cherry blossoms or stumbling upon geishas in teahouses. In some ports of call, there's not much to see or do without a tour, a two-hour drive or lots of research.

And you can't rely on ChatGPT to provide accurate information, as I learned today, but that's another story.

On my first cruise around Japan, I didn't book any shore excursions, assuming I would easily find lots of cute Japanese places and do cute Japanese things. That was a mistake.

Our ship docked at industrial docks in unknown towns with no obvious appeal for travellers. A planned activity or local guide would have made all the difference.

Many attractions are located far from the port. Mount Fuji, for example, is a distant view from Tokyo, only visible on a clear day; the nearest port is Shimizu, which is an hour's drive away.

In Kagoshima, ships sail past the Sakurajima volcano at sunrise, before an easy excursion across the bay.

But I also should have done the afternoon tour to the Chiran Peace Museum, instead of baulking at the bus ride, because it's all about kamikaze pilots.

Would you know what to do in Hakata, Niigata or Aomori on Viking's Japan Discovery cruise? Or how to find a performance by Furumachi geigi with expert guidance about this centuries-old art form?

On my current cruise in Japan aboard Seabourn Encore, I won't make the same mistake twice. I've been reading about things to do at every stop. In Miyako, the main attraction is Jodogahama Beach and Sannoiwa Rocks, but the town itself has zero beachy vibes. For our day in Shimizu, I've booked an excursion to a mountaintop shrine. Other passengers have arranged a private van with a guide.