The best bet for the Japanese was to strike the U.S. fleet and hit it hard.
At the time, the Japanese had a considerable fleet, and removing the bulk of the U.S. fleet was a far better option than running the risk of losing considerable assets (men, equipment) in a gamble of trying to steal a few capital ships of the American Navy.
The Japanese could have been far more effective in the 7 December attack had they also hit the fuel depots and drydocks in the initial attack waves, but they didn't and the rest was history...