Japan Cruise from Tokyo — 29 Days

28 nights · Japan · Departs Tokyo (Japan) · Visiting Kobe-Osaka, Kochi City, Hiroshima City, Busan, Sakaiminato-Matsue, Tsuruga, Toyama City, Sakata, Aomori City, Hakodate, Omaezaki, Hakata-Fukuoka City, Sokcho, Kanazawa, Sapporo-Otaru · Aboard Holland America on the ms Westerdam

Holland America logo
ms Westerdam
Tokyo Cruise Port Guide: Terminal Logistics & Expert Secrets Osaka Cruise Port Guide: Shore Excursions & Expert Tips Kochi Cruise Port Hiroshima Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide
16 Photos

Image courtesy of Holland America ©

Cruise lineHolland America
Shipms Westerdam
Duration28 nights
Port calls16
Departures1 sailings
Year built2004
Guests2362
Cabins984
Crew817
Length285 m
Beam32 m
Cruising speed22.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    Tokyo, Japan

    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.

  2. Day 3

    Kobe-Osaka, Japan

    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.

  3. Day 4

    Kochi City, Japan

    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.

  4. Day 5

    Hiroshima City, Japan

    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.

  5. Day 7

    Busan, Korea

    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.

  6. Day 8

    Sakaiminato-Matsue, Japan

    Your arrival at Sakaiminato opens a quieter side of Japan, where fishing-town character meets samurai history. Follow Mizuki Shigeru Road past bronze figures from the manga artist’s supernatural world, then sample fresh crab and seafood. Matsue lies about 40 kilometres away, its original castle among Japan’s National Treasures, with canals and Lake Shinji nearby. A day ashore can move from lively local flavour to the measured elegance of old Japan.

  7. Day 9

    Tsuruga, Japan

    Tsuruga faces the Sea of Japan in Fukui Prefecture. Its working harbor and compact city bear the marks of centuries of trade. At Kehi Jingu, an 11-metre vermilion torii makes a striking first impression. The Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse recalls the port’s shipping era. At Kehi no Matsubara, pine trees frame a quiet stretch of coast. Come ashore for shrine architecture, coastal walks and seafood from Fukui’s waters.

  8. Day 10

    Toyama City, Japan

    Toyama sits between the Sea of Japan and the Northern Japan Alps, with a quiet confidence few ports can match. From the waterfront, reach a compact city known for glass art, contemporary design and excellent seafood from Toyama Bay. Season permitting, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route leads into high mountain scenery. Its celebrated snow corridor is a seasonal highlight. Back in town, explore the castle park, then sample masu-zushi, Toyama’s distinctive pressed trout sushi.

  9. Day 11

    Sakata, Japan

    On Yamagata’s Sea of Japan coast, Sakata rewards travelers drawn to history, gardens, and excellent seafood. The port’s mercantile past lives on at Sankyo Soko, rice storehouses shaded by towering zelkova trees. Explore the gardens of the Homma Museum, then sample seafood from local fishing grounds. Sakata also offers access to Shonai’s rice-growing landscapes and a quieter side of northern Japan.

  10. Day 12

    Aomori City, Japan

    Aomori brings Japan’s northern frontier within easy reach, with the Tsugaru Strait beyond its harbor and mountains on the horizon. The city is known for crisp apples, fresh seafood and Nebuta, its dramatic summer festival of illuminated warrior floats. At Wa Rasse museum, the floats command attention year-round. Travelers can visit the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site or journey to Hirosaki for its castle and celebrated cherry trees.

  11. Day 13

    Hakodate, Japan

    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.

  12. Day 15

    Tokyo, Japan

    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.

  13. Day 16

    Omaezaki, Japan

    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.

  14. Day 17

    Kobe-Osaka, Japan

    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.

  15. Day 18

    Kochi City, Japan

    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.

  16. Day 20

    Hakata-Fukuoka City, Japan

    Fukuoka is Kyushu’s largest city, a compact gateway where old Hakata meets modern Japan. Hakata’s shrines, covered shopping arcades and lively yatai food stalls reveal its character. Try famed tonkotsu ramen, then visit Ohori Park, where a broad lake lies beside Fukuoka Castle’s ruins. Efficient buses and subway connections make it easy to balance heritage, waterfront walks and contemporary city life.

  17. Day 21

    Sokcho, Korea

    Sokcho sits between the East Sea and the granite peaks of Seoraksan National Park. Seoraksan’s trails, waterfalls and cable-car views lie a short drive inland. Along the waterfront, daily life still follows the catch. Fresh seafood is the obvious order. Abai Village adds a distinctive history, shaped by North Korean refugees who settled here after the Korean War. Come for the contrast: mountain air, working harbor and an East Coast town with a story beyond its scenery.

  18. Day 23

    Kanazawa, Japan

    Kanazawa rewards visitors who look beyond Japan’s best-known cities. On the Sea of Japan, it preserves a samurai quarter, historic castle and teahouse district. Stroll Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, then explore Omicho Market for seafood from nearby waters. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art and gold-leaf workshops reveal a modern city with a rich craft tradition.

  19. Day 24

    Sakata, Japan

    On Yamagata’s Sea of Japan coast, Sakata rewards travelers drawn to history, gardens, and excellent seafood. The port’s mercantile past lives on at Sankyo Soko, rice storehouses shaded by towering zelkova trees. Explore the gardens of the Homma Museum, then sample seafood from local fishing grounds. Sakata also offers access to Shonai’s rice-growing landscapes and a quieter side of northern Japan.

  20. Day 25

    Aomori City, Japan

    Aomori brings Japan’s northern frontier within easy reach, with the Tsugaru Strait beyond its harbor and mountains on the horizon. The city is known for crisp apples, fresh seafood and Nebuta, its dramatic summer festival of illuminated warrior floats. At Wa Rasse museum, the floats command attention year-round. Travelers can visit the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site or journey to Hirosaki for its castle and celebrated cherry trees.

  21. Day 26

    Sapporo-Otaru, Japan

    Otaru rewards a slow walk, with a canal, old warehouses and sea air recalling Hokkaido’s trading past. Built in 1923, Otaru Canal once carried cargo; today, its stone storehouses frame one of Japan’s most atmospheric waterfronts. Nearby Sakaimachi Street offers glass studios, music-box shops and seafood restaurants, all within an easy stroll of the center. Come for the craftsmanship, then settle in for Hokkaido seafood and sushi.

  22. Day 27

    Hakodate, Japan

    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.

  23. Day 29

    Tokyo, Japan

    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.

ms Westerdam Cruises

Published August 20, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard

Cruise Disclosure

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!