Gilded Shinto Circuit – Hakodate, Busan & Kobe

About this cruise

If you've got 28 nights to work with, this sailing from Yokohama on October 28, 2026 through Hakodate, Aomori and Akita, with additional stops along the Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan is genuinely one of the better ways to spend them. A few ports come in quick succession, which is great for sightseeing but means you'll appreciate the sea days when they arrive. Bullet trains visible from the harbour, cherry blossoms, and thousands of years of history. East Asia is a lot to take in. Of the stops, Aburatsu-Nichinan tends to be the one people talk about: Moai replicas and wild horses on Miyazaki's sun-drenched coast. Around 9 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. From casual buffets to proper sit-down restaurants, Diamond Princess has 12 dining spots on board, most of them included. There are enough performances, events, and social mixers on a cruise this length that you couldn't do them all if you tried. And that's a good problem. The autumn timing is underrated too. Good weather, calmer seas, and a more relaxed ship. Sometimes the best trips are the ones you just go ahead and book.