Cruise · Princess Cruises · 11 nights

Circle Japan with Summer Festivals

Cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess with MedallionClass experience
Enjoy Broadway-style entertainment and multicourse dining onboard
Access to fitness facilities, youth and teen clubs (ages 3-17)

$1,769 pp twin share

11 nights

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Sapphire Princess®

Tokyo, Japan

Akita, Japan

Sakaiminato, Japan

Busan, South Korea

Nagasaki, Japan

Kagoshima, Japan

Circle Japan with Summer Festivals — Itinerary Map

Cruise Snapshot

11 Nights

Discover Japan's vibrant festivals, ancient traditions, and natural wonders on this 11-night cruise from Tokyo

Explore the paradoxical mix of modern and traditional culture in Tokyo
Celebrate with colorful festivals and parades in the historic city of Akita
Visit ancient shrines, castles, and scenic mountains in the Honshu region

Trip Details

Departs: 4 August 2027
Returns: 15 August 2027
Embarks
Operator: Princess Cruises

11-night Japan cruise from Tokyo, Japan to Tokyo, Japan aboard Sapphire Princess

$1,769

pp twin share

Enquire

Refundable until 90 days before departure. No pressure.

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When & how much

Departures & Pricing

Departs

4 August 2027

Returns

15 August 2027

Duration

11 nights

From pp twin share

$1,769 pp

04 Aug 2027 - 15 Aug 2027
from $1,768.74 pp twin share *

Additional Pricing Information

Interior from $1,768.74 pp twin share
Balcony from $2,898.74 pp twin share
Mini-Suite from $3,818.74 pp twin share
Suite from $9,438.74 pp twin share

* Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.

Cabin grades, balcony upgrades and pre-cruise hotel options are quoted on enquiry — call 1300 414 198.

Day by day

Itinerary

1
Tokyo, Japan
Departs 04:00 pm.
Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza, an international shopping mecca, stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience.
2
At Sea
3
Akita, Japan
Arrives 09:00 am, departs 11:59 pm.
There is a celebratory air in Akita, where year round festivals and street parades are colorfully integrated into daily life. A key city in the Tohoku region since medieval times, Akita was once a castle town of the Satake clan, but today is a vibrant, prosperous city that seamlessly honors its past but embraces its young energetic spirit. Noted for its burgeoning art community, there are several fine museums to explore including The Hirano Masakichi Art Musuem housing a collection of work by Western and Japanese artists, the Akita City Folklore Museum and the Kakunodate Samurai District, a living museum that showcases the samurai way of life. In the neighboring Oga Peninsula, the region's most famous icon, the terrifying Namahage, has it's won cultural center and festival ritual performed in his name. Surrounding the city, fertile farmland and rice fields produce some of the best sake in the country and nature lovers won't know which way to turn – to the west is the picturesque Sea of Japan and to the north, south and east, majestic mountain ranges including the UNESCO World Heritage sight of Shirakami-Sanchi proudly stand. A trip to the revolving observation center Mt. Kanpuzan Observatory solves the dilemma.
Day 4
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:59 pm.
5
At Sea
Day 6
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.
7
Sakaiminato, Japan
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
Wedged between sea, sky and mountains, this small fishing port has been esteemed for centuries for its superb seafood. Here, the Sea of Japan yields up both crab and hon-maguro, the prized Bluefin tuna esteemed by gourmets around the world. Sakaiminato is also your gateway to a very ancient region of Honshu. West of the city lies Izumo-taisha, one of the oldest and holiest shrines in Shinto. This area is dotted with burial mounds from Japan's Bronze Age. The town of Matsue boasts the celebrated "Black Castle," a six-story, black-walled castle that home to a clan of the mighty Tokugawa dynasty that ruled Japan for over 250 years. And to the east rises the great snow-capped summit of Mt. Daisen, considered one of the four most scenic mountains in all Japan.Also a common sight ashore are the Yokai - approximately 100 bronze statues of supernatural characters as imagined by famed manga comic author Shigeru Mizuki, who was born in Sakaiminato. The Yokai have become synonymous with the town and delight visitors at every turn.
8
Busan, South Korea
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.
The second largest city in South Korea, Busan is your gateway to a fascinating land whose culture is a unique amalgam of old and new. Modern high-rise towers dwarf ancient Buddhist temples. The city's bustling business district offers a stark contrast to the serene grounds of Yongdusan Park. In short, Busan is a microcosm of South Korea, a nation whose startling economic success often obscures one of Asia's most sophisticated and venerable cultures.Busan was the scene of bitter fighting during the Korean War. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery marks the final resting place for the troops from 16 nations who gave their lives during the conflict.
9
Nagasaki, Japan
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.
For most travelers, Nagasaki is a symbol of the horror and the inhumanity of war. An estimated 75,000 people perished in 1945 when the city became the second target of a nuclear attack. Today, Nagasaki's Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum draw visitors from around the world.But this beautiful city on Kyushu offers other sights. Often described as the San Francisco of Japan, the city occupies verdant hills surrounded by a deep-water bay. For three centuries, Nagasaki was Japan's sole window on the world. The city is also celebrated as the setting for Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly."
10
Kagoshima, Japan
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.
From the 12th century to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Kagoshima was the chief stronghold of the mighty Shimazu clan. The city lies at the top of the Satsuma Peninsula, a mountainous, geothermal wonderland of hot springs and geysers. The area is also rich in modern Japanese history: Saigo Takamori and the Satsuma samurai were leaders of the Meiji Restoration that toppled the shogun and restored the Emperor to power in 1868. In 1877, dissatisfied with the direction of the new government, Saigo led the Satsuma Rebellion, which ended in his death and the final defeat of the samurai.The symbol of Kagoshima is Sakura Jima - the volcanic island that sits just offshore. The volcano has erupted over 30 times in recorded history.
11
At Sea
12
Tokyo, Japan
Arrives 06:00 am.
Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza, an international shopping mecca, stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience.