Sakaiminato Japan Cruise Port Guide- Our Wildest Rental Car Adventure in Japan!

Was renting a car at the Sakaiminato, Japan cruise port a huge mistake? My wife was convinced it would be. In this video, we face one of the biggest fears for any independent cruiser: driving in Japan for the first time. If you're on a cruise ship docking in Sakaiminato and want to explore beyond the walking-distance attractions, a rental car can unlock incredible sights like Matsue Castle. But is it worth the stress of navigating foreign roads, driving on the left, and understanding Japanese parking? We put it to the test with our entire family—including our young son and two seniors—to see if a DIY car rental shore excursion is truly doable. Follow our journey from picking up the car from Orix to our amazing soba lunch and a relaxing riverboat ride. We'll show you the reality of the experience and answer the question: Would we do it again? (If you want to see what you can do WITHOUT a car in Sakaiminato, check out our first port guide here: https://youtu.be/_j3UFDefBgw TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Intro 1:01 Orix Car Rental Process (ride from port terminal, tips) 2:51 Car setup - was it confusing? 3:44 Driving back to the port - a piece of advice 4:55 Drive experience - rules of the road, road conditions 6:25 Matue Castle (parking, visiting castle) 9:22 Lake Sightseeing Boat 11:35 Soba lunch 12:57 Drive back and parking at Sakaiminato 14:11 Verdict: Was car rental a good experience? Helpful Links: Orix Car Rental Japan: https://car.orix.co.jp/eng/?wh=lis_g_eng_us_pc&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=bland&utm_content=top_eng&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22713712473&gbraid=0AAAAAqB4x29lBnkSexEUhoxqJemtsmFJl&gclid=CjwKCAjwi4PHBhA-EiwAnjTHuZfAvlXp_0iuoZH8_Ronksnm84Cz8pWs6RuHHj_dzOJBBvgYgHMX1hoCxK0QAvD_BwE Rules of the Road (quiz and study format): https://english.jaf.or.jp/safe-driving/quiz Matsue Castle Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7aY5LFDiujNSrQbG8 Website: https://www.matsue-castle.jp/ #sakaiminato #japancruise #cruisetips #carrental #matsuecastle #diyexcursion #portofcall #drivinginjapan #theportlowdown ***************** Finding value and getting some tips from our videos?  Support us: Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdrgdmwIf5Z1qhRf5HIq-g?sub_confirmation=1 and share with your shipmates. 🎹Theme music by Rafael Deo  🫶 Connect with us  Web: http://www.portlowdown.com  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557696962794