Cruise · Princess Cruises · 20 nights

Grand Circle Japan with Summer Festivals

Discover Japan's rich history and modern marvels
Witness the energy of summer festivals across the country
Relax in comfort aboard the Sapphire Princess with entertainment and dining

$3,647 pp twin share

20 nights

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1/ 11

Sapphire Princess®

Tokyo, Japan

Kagoshima, Japan

Kochi, Japan

Nagoya, Japan

Hakodate, Japan

Aomori, Japan

Sakaiminato, Japan

Busan, South Korea

Nagasaki, Japan

Grand Circle Japan with Summer Festivals — Itinerary Map

Cruise Snapshot

20 Nights

Immerse yourself in Japan's captivating blend of ancient traditions and modern wonders on this 20-night cruise from Tokyo

Explore historic cities like Kagoshima, Kochi, and Nagoya
Experience Japan's vibrant summer festivals and cultural heritage
Enjoy the comforts of the Sapphire Princess with MedallionClass experience

Trip Details

Departs: 23 July 2028
Returns: 12 August 2028
Embarks
Operator: Princess Cruises

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

$3,647

pp twin share

Enquire

Refundable until 90 days before departure. No pressure.

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When & how much

Departures & Pricing

Departs

23 July 2028

Returns

12 August 2028

Duration

20 nights

From pp twin share

$3,647 pp

23 Jul 2028 - 12 Aug 2028
from $3,646.90 pp twin share *

Additional Pricing Information

Interior from $3,646.90 pp twin share
Balcony from $6,221.90 pp twin share
Mini-Suite from $8,331.90 pp twin share
Suite from $20,991.90 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
Kagoshima, Japan
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 03:30 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.
Day 4
Arrives 09:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.
Day 5
Arrives 02:30 pm, departs 04:30 pm.
6
Kochi, Japan
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 03:00 pm.
Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.Kochi is one of the wettest places in Japan - and a frequent target for cyclonic storms or typhoons. Southeast of the city, warm oceans currents washing against the Aki Mountains create a subtropical landscape of hibiscus, palm and ficus at Muroto-Anan Quasi-National Park.
7
Nagoya, Japan
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 02:00 pm.
Perched on Honshu's central coast, Nagoya is the fourth largest urban center in Japan. It is also a perfect illustration of the Japanese national story. Japan's colorful history and love for tradition are embodied in the mighty donjons of Nagoya Castle, built by the first Tokugawa shogun. Two celebrated shrines - one Shinto, the other Buddhist - are found in the city center. Yet Nagoya also embodies Japan's love of modernity and its thirst for technological innovation. The city is home to the very model of a major multinational corporation - Toyota. Tradition and change. Esthetics and innovation. In its own quiet manner Nagoya embodies the essence of the Japanese way. Toyota's corporate headquarters are located just outside Nagoya in Toyota City (23 miles), while the company's excellent museums and factories are scattered about the city and environs. Toyota began life as a manufacturer of industrial looms. Toyota Motor Corporation was spun off from its parent company in 1937.
8
Tokyo, Japan
Arrives 06:00 am, 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.
9
At Sea
Day 10
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
11
Hakodate, Japan
Arrives 07:30 am, departs 11:00 pm.
It took Commodore Perry and American gunboat diplomacy to open Japan to the outside world after two centuries of self-imposed isolation. In 1859, the port of Hakodate became the first Japanese city fully opened to Westerners under the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Foreigners soon flocked to Hakodate, and today visitors wandering the cobblestone streets of the city's Motomachi District can view their Western-style frame houses. Hakodate, once a fishing port famed for its high quality fish and shellfish, quickly became Hokkaido's largest city and one of Japan's most important ports. The Great Hakodate Fire of 1934 dealt the city a near fatal blow - a blow from which Hakodate was slow to recover. Today the city is Hokkaido's third largest - surpassed by Sapporo and Asahikawa - but retains its foremost position as the finest Japanese producer of sushi's raw product: the high quality seafood caught in Hokkaido's cold waters.It may not compare to Tokyo's Tsukiji's Fish Market, but at Hakodate's four-block-long Morning Market, vendors offer a stunning array of fresh fish and shellfish prized for sushi including salmon roe, sea urchin, scallops and crab. Restaurants and food stands prepare a wide arrange of dishes including domburi topped with fresh seafood.
12
Aomori, Japan
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:00 pm.
The capital of the Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan, Aomori derives much of its beauty from the apple orchards and cherry blossoms that encompass its landscape and the snow-covered Hakkoda Mountains that look on from a distance. Throughout its history, the city has been stricken with misfortune time and time again - in 1910, a fire destroyed Aomori, and during World War II, the city was left in ruins following an air raid - yet it always prevails.Aomori is perhaps best known for its renowned Nebuta Festival, an elaborate yearly event in which participants illuminate giant paper representations of samurai warriors, animals, and popular cartoon characters while parading them through the streets.
13
At Sea
Day 14
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.
15
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.
16
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.
17
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."
18
Kagoshima, Japan
Arrives 07:00 am, departs 03:00 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.
19
Kochi, Japan
Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:59 pm.
Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.Kochi is one of the wettest places in Japan - and a frequent target for cyclonic storms or typhoons. Southeast of the city, warm oceans currents washing against the Aki Mountains create a subtropical landscape of hibiscus, palm and ficus at Muroto-Anan Quasi-National Park.
20
At Sea
21
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.