20 nights · Tokyo, Japan Kanagawa · Departs Yokohama (Japan) · Visiting Toba-Mie, Kobe-Osaka, Kochi City, Hiroshima City, Jeju Island, Nagasaki City, Omaezaki, Hakodate, Niigata City, Busan, Kagoshima City, Shimizu · Aboard Princess Cruises on the Diamond Princess
Image courtesy of Princess Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Diamond Princess |
| Duration | 20 nights |
| Port calls | 13 |
| Departures | 4 sailings |
| From fare | $3,192 per person |
| Year built | 2004 |
| Guests | 3247 |
| Cabins | 1353 |
| Crew | 1100 |
| Length | 290 m |
| Beam | 48 m |
| Cruising speed | 23.0 kn |
Yokohama is Japan’s most cosmopolitan port city, with Tokyo less than an hour away by train. Stay here, though, and you’ll find a city with its own strong character. Explore waterfront promenades, the historic Red Brick Warehouse, and one of Japan’s largest Chinatowns. Yokohama opened to foreign trade in 1859. Its international past still shapes the food, architecture, and relaxed pace of the city today.
Toba brings Japan’s maritime traditions into focus on the coast of Mie Prefecture’s Shima Peninsula. At Mikimoto Pearl Island, learn how Kokichi Mikimoto pioneered cultured pearls, then watch ama divers demonstrate their centuries-old free-diving craft. Nearby, Toba Aquarium ranks among Japan’s largest, with dugongs among its notable residents. Ise Grand Shrine makes a rewarding inland excursion. Choose among pearl heritage, fresh seafood and sacred history, all close to the harbor.
Osaka rewards travellers who look beyond its famous appetite. Japan’s third-largest city blends merchant heritage, bold architecture and everyday energy. At Osaka Castle, stone walls and broad moats frame a defining chapter of the city’s past. Follow locals to Dotonbori, where neon reflects on the canal and takoyaki comes hot from the grill. Excellent rail links make Osaka a practical gateway to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
Kochi rewards curious visitors with Shikoku’s history and easygoing, open-air pleasures. At its heart, Kochi Castle is one of Japan’s twelve castles to retain its original keep. Nearby, the Sunday market and Hirome Market reveal local life through seasonal produce and katsuo no tataki, seared bonito. Follow the coast to Katsurahama, where a statue of samurai reformer Sakamoto Ryoma faces the sea.
Hiroshima is a modern city with a history that reaches far beyond the events of 1945. At Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and museum offer a moving, carefully documented account of the bombing. Across the city, local trams make it easy to reach Shukkeien Garden, lively Hondori and the riverside. A short train and ferry journey reaches Miyajima, famed for Itsukushima Shrine and its great torii gate.
Seogwipo sits on Jeju Island’s southern coast, framed by volcanic cliffs and the Korea Strait. Jeongbang Falls plunges directly into the sea, while Cheonjiyeon Falls rewards a short walk through a wooded gorge. Follow a section of the Jeju Olle Trail for coastal views. At Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market, browse seafood and island-grown produce. In clear weather, Hallasan rises inland above the island’s lava-stone landscape.
Few Japanese cities combine harbor scenery and layered history as compellingly as Nagasaki. Its steep streets rise above a sheltered harbor that once linked Japan with Dutch and Chinese traders. At Dejima, the former Dutch trading post, exhibits trace the city’s unusual role during centuries of restricted foreign contact. The Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum offer a moving, carefully documented account of 1945. Come for the history; stay to see how a resilient port city lives beside its past.
Omaezaki faces the open Pacific at Shizuoka Prefecture’s southern tip, where surf, wind and broad horizons define the coast. Climb to Omaezaki Lighthouse, first lit in 1874, for sweeping sea views and a closer look at this rugged headland. Nearby tea fields reflect Shizuoka’s celebrated tea culture, while local seafood brings the Pacific to the table. Come ashore for a quieter side of Japan, shaped by coastal scenery rather than city spectacle.
Yokohama is Japan’s most cosmopolitan port city, with Tokyo less than an hour away by train. Stay here, though, and you’ll find a city with its own strong character. Explore waterfront promenades, the historic Red Brick Warehouse, and one of Japan’s largest Chinatowns. Yokohama opened to foreign trade in 1859. Its international past still shapes the food, architecture, and relaxed pace of the city today.
Hakodate rewards travellers who look beyond the waterfront. At the morning market, vendors serve Hokkaido crab, sea urchin and squid caught in local waters. The star-shaped ramparts of Goryokaku tell a sharper story: Japan’s final years of samurai rule. Ride the ropeway up Mount Hakodate for a celebrated view of the city and its twin bays. Below, Motomachi’s churches and former consulates reflect the port’s opening to foreign trade in 1859.
Niigata faces the Sea of Japan, where waterways and a fertile rice plain have shaped the city’s character. One of Japan’s leading rice-producing regions, it is celebrated for fine sake brewed with local grains and pristine water. Walk the waterfront, cross graceful Bandai Bridge, then explore Furumachi’s old merchant quarter. Nearby, the Northern Culture Museum reveals the elegance of a prosperous rural estate. At table, local rice, Sea of Japan seafood and sake make a persuasive case for staying awhile.
Busan pairs the scale of a modern port city with easy access to temples, markets and broad beaches. Visit Gamcheon Culture Village, browse Jagalchi Fish Market or ride Songdo’s cable car over the sea. The city’s best-known sights are spread across several districts, so plan your day around one area. For a quieter pause, visit Beomeosa Temple on the forested slopes of Geumjeongsan.
Few Japanese cities combine harbor scenery and layered history as compellingly as Nagasaki. Its steep streets rise above a sheltered harbor that once linked Japan with Dutch and Chinese traders. At Dejima, the former Dutch trading post, exhibits trace the city’s unusual role during centuries of restricted foreign contact. The Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum offer a moving, carefully documented account of 1945. Come for the history; stay to see how a resilient port city lives beside its past.
Kagoshima sits at the southern end of Kyushu, with Sakurajima rising across its sheltered bay. Ferries cross to the active volcano, where lava fields and walking trails reveal a landscape still shaped by fire. Sengan-en, a former Shimazu estate, combines traditional gardens with striking views of Sakurajima. Kagoshima’s food is equally distinctive: tender kurobuta pork and local sweet-potato shochu give the region its own character.
Kochi rewards curious visitors with Shikoku’s history and easygoing, open-air pleasures. At its heart, Kochi Castle is one of Japan’s twelve castles to retain its original keep. Nearby, the Sunday market and Hirome Market reveal local life through seasonal produce and katsuo no tataki, seared bonito. Follow the coast to Katsurahama, where a statue of samurai reformer Sakamoto Ryoma faces the sea.
Shimizu offers a memorable arrival: on clear days, Mount Fuji rises beyond the blue waters of Suruga Bay. Shimizu is a working harbor famed for tuna. Across the bay, Miho-no-Matsubara’s pines frame a celebrated view of Fuji. At Nihondaira, take in the panorama, then ride the ropeway to Kunozan Toshogu, a richly decorated shrine honoring Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Yokohama is Japan’s most cosmopolitan port city, with Tokyo less than an hour away by train. Stay here, though, and you’ll find a city with its own strong character. Explore waterfront promenades, the historic Red Brick Warehouse, and one of Japan’s largest Chinatowns. Yokohama opened to foreign trade in 1859. Its international past still shapes the food, architecture, and relaxed pace of the city today.
Published September 3, 2026
Last updated October 11, 2026
Author: J. Richard
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!
