Gilded Pagoda Circuit – Hakodate, Busan & Kanazawa

About this cruise

You come back from a trip like this actually rested, not just "I went on vacation" rested. 24 nights from Tokyo on April 8, 2027, visiting Miyako-Iwate, Hakodate and Aomori, with additional stops along the Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan. Expect a run of consecutive ports, 12 stops total, with the busiest days packed close together. The sea days around them feel earned. Street food that'll ruin you for takeaway back home, ancient shrines, and cities that run like clockwork. Nagasaki alone is worth the trip, A city of peace, bridges, and lantern festivals. Roughly 10 hours ashore per stop. No need to rush. Sapphire Princess keeps you well fed. 14 places to eat, with 7 included in the fare and a few specialty spots if you're in the mood. The shows alone are worth the extra nights. You'll catch comedy, music, theatre, and themed evenings you'd miss on a shorter trip. If you've done the short cruises and want more, this is the upgrade. Longer, deeper, and more relaxed. If you can, add a night in Tokyo before boarding. It's a good city to wander. And April is a good time to go. Mild weather, things starting to bloom, and fewer people than summer. Worth booking. That's the short version.