25 nights · Japan · Departs Tokyo (Japan) · Visiting Kagoshima City, Keelung, Ishigakijima Island, Miyakojima Island, Naha, Nagasaki City, Hiroshima City, Kochi City, Shimizu, Busan, Aburatsu-Nichinan, Kobe-Osaka · Aboard Princess Cruises on the Diamond Princess
Image courtesy of Princess Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Diamond Princess |
| Duration | 25 nights |
| Port calls | 13 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $4,468 per person |
| Year built | 2004 |
| Guests | 3247 |
| Cabins | 1353 |
| Crew | 1100 |
| Length | 290 m |
| Beam | 48 m |
| Cruising speed | 23.0 kn |
Tokyo is a city of contrasts best explored one neighborhood at a time. In Asakusa, Senso-ji’s lantern gates lead to a centuries-old Buddhist temple; nearby, the Sumida River frames the skyline. Ride the efficient rail network to sleek Ginza, quiet Meiji Shrine, or the high-rise streets of Shinjuku. Come hungry: sushi counters, ramen shops, and department-store food halls make eating well remarkably easy. Tokyo’s scale is immense, but its details reward curiosity.
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.
Keelung is Taiwan’s northern gateway, a busy harbor city with an easy rail connection to Taipei. Taipei’s museums, temples and shopping districts make a rewarding day ashore; Keelung offers local life closer to port. At Miaokou Night Market, sample seafood and Taiwanese snacks beneath the lantern signs. Heping Island Geopark offers wave-shaped rocks and broad coastal views.
Ishigaki is the southern gateway to Japan’s Yaeyama Islands, where subtropical forests, coral reefs and clear seas set the pace. From the port, head to Kabira Bay for its jade-green water and glass-bottom boat rides; swimming is prohibited there. Explore Ishigaki Yaima Village for traditional Yaeyama houses, or seek out the island’s limestone cave. Return for grilled Ishigaki beef and Yaeyama soba, two local specialties worth making room for.
Miyakojima, in Okinawa’s southern island chain, offers a quieter Japan of sugarcane fields, coral shores and turquoise water. Hirara Port puts the island’s main town, beaches and coastal viewpoints within reach. Cross the 3.5-kilometre Irabu Bridge for sweeping sea views. Yonaha Maehama’s pale sand and clear shallows reward an unhurried stop. Try Miyako soba, then take in the limestone landscape that gives this reef-fringed island its distinctive character.
Naha is the gateway to Okinawa, where Japan’s subtropical south feels distinct from the mainland. Begin at Shuri Castle, former seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom, now being rebuilt after the 2019 fire. Along Kokusai Street, browse local crafts and taste Okinawan specialties, including bitter melon and sweet-potato treats. For a quieter glimpse of island life, explore Shikinaen, a royal garden with ponds and traditional architecture. Naha rewards curiosity beyond the waterfront.
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.
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.
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.
Tokyo is a city of contrasts best explored one neighborhood at a time. In Asakusa, Senso-ji’s lantern gates lead to a centuries-old Buddhist temple; nearby, the Sumida River frames the skyline. Ride the efficient rail network to sleek Ginza, quiet Meiji Shrine, or the high-rise streets of Shinjuku. Come hungry: sushi counters, ramen shops, and department-store food halls make eating well remarkably easy. Tokyo’s scale is immense, but its details reward curiosity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Aburatsu opens onto southern Miyazaki, where Kyushu meets the Pacific among cliffs, beaches and fishing harbours. Nichinan’s preserved castle town of Obi rewards a walk among samurai homes, stone lanes and its former domain school. Farther along the coast, Udo Shrine occupies a sea cave beneath dramatic cliffs. This is a port for history, coastal scenery and unhurried exploration.
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.
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.
Tokyo is a city of contrasts best explored one neighborhood at a time. In Asakusa, Senso-ji’s lantern gates lead to a centuries-old Buddhist temple; nearby, the Sumida River frames the skyline. Ride the efficient rail network to sleek Ginza, quiet Meiji Shrine, or the high-rise streets of Shinjuku. Come hungry: sushi counters, ramen shops, and department-store food halls make eating well remarkably easy. Tokyo’s scale is immense, but its details reward curiosity.
Published August 9, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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