Day 1 – Thursday, August 4 – Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan
Embark Diamond Princess, Depart at 5 pm – Melding together past and future, Tokyo dazzles with its traditional culture and passion for everything new. Our program begins onboard with our Welcome Aboard program and group ice breaker.
Day 2 – Friday, August 5 – Sea Day/Spa Day
Cruising – Explore our home-away-from-home and get to know your fellow Amazing Journeyers as we enjoy our first day at sea. Diamond Princess has a ton to offer from fun restaurants, live music, a relaxing spa, pools, classes and more. Learn your way around and join in on some of our group-exclusive events and gear up for a great vacation of adventure, exploration and good times. Tonight, enjoy our onboard community for an Amazing Journeys Shabbat.
Day 3 – Saturday, August 6 – Akita, Japan
Arrive at 7 am, Depart at 11 pm – Facing the Japan Sea, this area has abundant rivers and flat lands. Known for its seafood and scenery, Akita is also noted for its high-quality rice, earning it the nickname “Empire of Beautiful Sake”. The city is also home to the Kanto Matsuri, or pole lantern festival. This festival showcases an impressive display of skill in which performers balance kanto (long bamboo poles) with as many as 46 candle lit paper lanterns.
Day 4 – Sunday, August 7 – Aomori, Japan
Arrive at 10 am, Depart at 11 pm – 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. 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. The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of Japan’s most colorful festivals. Paper floats are paraded through the city of Aomori by enthusiastic locals. The floats are inspired by Japanese folklore and regional myths. Each float is lit up with hundreds of lights for a stunning effect.
Day 5 – Monday, August 8 – Sea Day/Spa Day
Cruising – Today you’ll get to enjoy all you came on a cruise to do… enjoy a massage at the spa, participate in wine tasting or yoga. Our day at sea will provide lots of opportunities for great times on our floating resort. Later, enjoy a “Jacuzz-a-Palooza” with your new friends, try your luck in the casino, take in a lecture and learn about your surroundings or enjoy a Broadway Style show this evening. Tonight, join together with others from our group for pre-dinner drinks.
Day 6 – Tuesday, August 9 – Sakaiminato, Japan
Arrive at 6 am, Depart at 6 pm – Wedged between sea, sky and mountains, this small fishing port has been esteemed for centuries for its superb seafood. 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 7 – Wednesday, August 10 – Busan, South Korea
Arrive at 7 am, Depart at 6 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.
Day 8 – Thursday, August 11 – Kanmon Straits, Japan
Arrive at 7 am, Depart at 9 am – The Kanmon Straits, aka the straits of Shimonoseki, separates Yamaguchi prefecture on the western edge of Honshu and Fukuoka prefecture on Kyushu island. About 6,000 years ago a crustal change divided Honshu in two, and the straits and Kyushu island were born. To some, it may just look like ordinary straits, but in fact this is the place where some great historical sea battles were fought, which makes it significantly dramatic and not just an ordinary expanse of sea water.
Day 9 – Friday, August 12 – Kochi, Japan
Arrive 7 am, Depart 11:59 pm – Kochi is a smart, compact city with a deserved reputation for enjoying a good time. This city 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. 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. The summer celebration in Kochi is a dance/parade extravaganza, called ‘Yosakoi’. What the word means exactly is open to interpretation, but the general sense is ‘let the good times roll’. Over 10,000 dancers in many dozens of teams throng the main streets and thoroughfares, beating time with small wooden clappers called naruko and dressed in colorful costumes.
Day 10 – Saturday, August 13 – Tokushima, Japan
Arrive 7 am, Depart 11:59 pm – Tokushima is home to the first 23 of Shikoku’s 88 Temples. From the dramatic scenery of the Iya Valley to the surf beaches of the southern coast, this area has it all. Add to it the Awa Odori Festival, a celebration of local folk dance set to traditional music. Awa dance is said to be a ‘fool’s dance’. A well known saying runs, “it’s a fool who dances and a fool who watches, so if both are fools, you may as well dance!”
Day 11 – Sunday, August 14 – Sea Day
Cruising – Spend the day relaxing poolside with your friends while enjoying your favorite beverage as you share your most exciting experiences of the trip so far, enjoy learning about the different destinations with on board enrichment programs or de-stress with a visit to the Japanese baths onboard. Choose to do it all, or nothing at all. It’s your vacation, and we want you to enjoy it as you please! Join us this evening for an Amazing Journeys Farewell Program.
Day 12 – Monday, August 15 – Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan
Disembark 6 am – Soak in the last of your Japanese experience as we head home, taking with us new friends and memories of a fabulous vacation. Or, join us for our post-cruise to explore Kyoto.
All rooms where we provide roommate matches are non-smoking. Items listed on this website are subject to change at any time. By providing payment you agree to the terms and conditions as outlined on this website.
Air: Airfare is not included in the cruise rate. Transfers are available at an additional cost. Details regarding transfers will be sent closer to the sailing date.
Cruise and Pre-Cruise – Fly roundtrip – NRT – Narita – for Tokyo and Yokohama Pier
Cruise and Post-Cruise – Fly into NRT and back from KIX – Kansai (for Kyoto)
Cruise, Pre-Cruise and Post-Cruise – Fly into NRT Narita – for Tokyo and back from KIX – Kansai (for Kyoto)
Cancellation Policy for the Cruise, Pre-Cruise and Post-Cruise Package: Prior to February 4, 2016, there is a $100 penalty for cancellation. From February 5 – May 4, 2016, the cancellation penalty is the amount of the deposit for the cruise, pre-cruise and post-cruise packages. From May 5 – July 1, 2016, the cancellation penalty is 50% of the total for the cruise, pre-cruise and post-cruise packages. Cancellations made on July 2, 2016 or after and “no-shows” will receive no refund. There is no refund in the event of interruption or cancellation after the start of the cruise, pre-cruise or post-cruise.
This tour is operated by Princess Cruises and Tumlare Corporation. Ships registry: Bermuda
Cancellation insurance: Trip insurance is optional but highly recommended. Information will be sent with your cruise confirmation.
Passport and Visa Requirements: All passengers must present a valid passport (valid for six months beyond the last date of travel) in order to travel. There is no visa required for US, Canadian, UK or Australian Citizens. If you are from a country other than those mentioned, please check with the embassy of Japan to find out if a visa is necessary. Visa requirements may change at any time. It is up to the individual passenger to know whether a visa is required for travel.
Port taxes, Government Fees and Gratuities: Port taxes, government fees and gratuities have all been included in the rate. Port taxes, government fees and gratuities are based on August, 2015 rates and are subject to change. Fuel surcharges are not required at this time. Should they be reinstated, the passenger would be required to pay. Typically they would be no more than $15 per person per day.
Currency Fluctuations: In case of currency fluctuations greater than 3% on our pre-cruise and post-cruise packages, we reserve the right to adjust our prices accordingly in order to operate the tour.
Dining Preference: Late Dining has been reserved for our group on this sailing. In addition to the main restaurant, there are several specialty restaurants (fees apply), a buffet, room service, and poolside dining.
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