Grand Circle Japan Cherry Blossoms

Trip Code:55512
(AUD) Twin Share from $6,099pp
Days 25
Nights 24

24-night Japan cruise from YOK to YOK aboard Diamond Princess

  • 27 Mar 2027 – 20 Apr 2027
    from $6,099 pp twin share *

Additional Pricing Information

  • Interior from $6,099 pp twin share
  • Balcony from $10,899 pp twin share
  • Mini-Suite from $13,819 pp twin share

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

Itinerary

  • Day 1 – Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan (depart 03:00 PM):
    Yokohama and Edo began life as sleepy fishing villages. That changed in the early 17th century after Tokugawa Ieyasu became Shogun. Edo became the center of political power in Japan, a position the city retained even after the restoration of Imperial rule in 1866.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.With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo, the “Eastern Capital,” to distinguish it from the old imperial capital at Kyoto, the “Western Capital.”
  • Day 2 – At Sea:
    Enjoy a relaxing day at sea with all the experiences and amenities of your ship.
  • Day 3 – YS (arrive 08:00 AM, depart 04:00 PM)
  • Day 4 – Busan, South Korea (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 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.
  • Day 5 – Nagasaki, Japan (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 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.”
  • Day 6 – Kagoshima, Japan (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 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.
  • Day 7 – BPU (arrive 09:00 AM, depart 05:00 PM)
  • Day 8 – Matsuyama, Japan (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 04:00 PM):
    Matsuyama, Japan, is a peaceful haven where you can indulge in the healing waters of hot springs, satisfy your sweet tooth with amazing Japanese confections, and discover the area’s rich literary tradition. The largest city on the island of Shikoku, Matsuyama developed around its celebrated 17th-century castle. Lined with cherry trees, this extensive fortress is a museum of historic relics from weaponry to armor, calligraphy and art. It also offers phenomenal views of the city and the Seto Inland Sea from its hilltop perch. Another city hotspot is Dogo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot springs. Known throughout Japan as a popular setting in the late author Natsume Soseki’s famed novel, Botchan, Dogo Onsen features an elegant and inviting public bathhouse where many a visitor renews their spirit. Matsuyama is also the birthplace of Masaoka Shiki, considered the “Father of Modern Japanese Haiku Poetry,” and there are several monuments to the haiku located throughout the city. From the hospitality at the hot springs to the renowned Matsuyama tarts and botchan dango (rice dumplings in bean paste), you won’t want to leave this port!
  • Day 9 – Kochi, Japan (arrive 09:00 AM, depart 05:00 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.
  • Day 10 – Osaka (for Kyoto), Japan (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 11:00 PM):
    For centuries, Osaka was Japan’s cultural and commercial gateway to Asia – the point of entry both for trade goods and, most importantly, cultural influences that shaped Japanese society. From tea to Zen, from art to science and philosophy, Osaka was Japan’s contact with the great East Asian cultures that flourished in China and Korea. The city reached its zenith in the late 16th century, when the great feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi made Osaka his capital. Toyotomi was master of Japan, and an immense administrative and commercial center rapidly developed around Osaka Castle. After Toyotomi’s death, the nation’s seat of power shifted from Osaka to a sleepy little fishing village called Edo – modern Tokyo. While overshadowed by Tokyo, Osaka remains Japan’s second largest city and a vital commercial center.Modern Osaka is home to monuments from Japan’s past including Toyotomi’s immense castle and the Sumiyoshi Shrine. The city is also your gateway to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient imperial capital and the nation’s cultural and spiritual center.
  • Day 11 – TKS (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 04:00 PM)
  • Day 12 – SH (arrive 10:00 AM, depart 06:00 PM)
  • Day 13 – Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan (arrive 06:30 AM, depart 03:00 PM):
    Yokohama and Edo began life as sleepy fishing villages. That changed in the early 17th century after Tokugawa Ieyasu became Shogun. Edo became the center of political power in Japan, a position the city retained even after the restoration of Imperial rule in 1866.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.With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo, the “Eastern Capital,” to distinguish it from the old imperial capital at Kyoto, the “Western Capital.”
  • Day 14 – Toba, Japan (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 04:00 PM):
    Toba, located at the northeastern end of the Shima-hanto Peninsula in Mie, flourished as the castle town of the Kuki family who ruled this region from the 16th century. It was also a landing spot for visitors on the sea route to Ise-jingu Shrine and belongs to Ise-Shima National Park.
  • Day 15 – At Sea:
    Enjoy a relaxing day at sea with all the experiences and amenities of your ship.
  • Day 16 – Nagasaki, Japan (arrive 08:00 AM, depart 05:00 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.”
  • Day 17 – Busan, South Korea (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 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.
  • Day 18 – Sakaiminato, Japan (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 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.
  • Day 19 – MZ (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 07:00 PM)
  • Day 20 – TOY (arrive 10:00 AM, depart 06:00 PM)
  • Day 21 – SK (arrive 08:00 AM, depart 05:00 PM)
  • Day 22 – Hakodate, Japan (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 05:00 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.
  • Day 23 – MY (arrive 07:00 AM, depart 04:00 PM)
  • Day 24 – Hitachinaka (for Nikko), Japan (arrive 08:00 AM, depart 05:00 PM):
    Extending from the Naka River to the Pacific Ocean, Hitachinaka offers pristine beaches, stellar views, and a charming mix of old and new attractions. Hitachinaka is steeped in traditional history which shines in such sites as the oceanside Oarai Isosaki-jinja Shrine, and the Kasama Inari Shrine, one of the most famous Inari shrines in the country. Gaze upon Hitachinaka’s nature’s wonders from the lookout point of the bronze Ushiku Buddha, one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world, and if flowers are your passion, you simply can’t miss Kairakuen Gardens, one of the “Three Great Gardens” in Japan, and Hitachi Seaside Park, which blooms with wildflowers, including the bright Kochia ball blooms and the delicate, baby-blue Nemophila. The color blue remains a theme at Aqua World Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium, where huge tanks house over 68,000 sea creatures. For those looking to delve into Hitachinaka artistic heritage, the Tokugawa Art Museum displays almost 30,000 artifacts of the Mito Tokugawa family, offering a detailed glimpse into the lives of Japan’s daimyo feudal lords. And when hunger strikes, the stalls of Nakaminato Fish Market brim with the “fruits of the sea,” and restaurants serve the freshest sushi and local delicacies in town.
  • Day 25 – Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan (arrive 06:30 AM):
    Yokohama and Edo began life as sleepy fishing villages. That changed in the early 17th century after Tokugawa Ieyasu became Shogun. Edo became the center of political power in Japan, a position the city retained even after the restoration of Imperial rule in 1866.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.With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo, the “Eastern Capital,” to distinguish it from the old imperial capital at Kyoto, the “Western Capital.”

Highlights

  • Witness the stunning cherry blossoms in full bloom across Japan.
  • Explore historic cities, shrines, and cultural landmarks.
  • Enjoy an immersive onboard experience aboard the Diamond Princess.

24-night Japan cruise from YOK to YOK aboard Diamond Princess

Inclusions

  • MedallionClass® experience
  • Broadway-style entertainment
  • Multicourse dining and casual venues
  • Fitness facilities
  • Youth and teen clubs (ages 3–17)

FAQs

How long is this journey?

This itinerary runs for 25 days and 24 nights.

When can I travel?

Departures are currently scheduled between 27 Mar 2027 and 20 Apr 2027, subject to live availability.

What is generally included?

Inclusions typically cover guided touring and selected experiences, with exact details listed in the itinerary.

Provided by: Princess Cruises

Fine Print

Terms and conditions apply. Click here for more details.

(AUD) Twin Share from $6,099pp
Days 25
Nights 24

Enquire Now

Phone: +61 433 830 429
Email: [email protected]