Gilded Shrine Circuit – Hakodate, Busan & Kanazawa

About this cruise

This is the kind of cruise where you actually have time to go back to a port highlight you missed the first time. 11 nights from Tokyo on June 5, 2027, visiting Hakodate, Aomori and Sakata, with additional stops along the Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan. The itinerary clusters several port calls together. Fast-paced for a few days, then the sea days hit and you can catch your breath. Tokyo's neon at one port, Kyoto's temples at the next. You cover centuries in a few days. You get around 10 hours in each port, which is enough for an excursion, lunch, and some wandering around on your own. When you're not ashore, 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. One of the underrated parts of a longer cruise: you actually get to know people. The couple from dinner, the group at trivia, the bartender who remembers your drink. Suits retirees, remote workers, or anyone who doesn't need to be anywhere else for a while. A June departure puts you in the best summer conditions: long days, warm nights, plenty of sun. You start in Tokyo and come back with stories from Japan and South Korea.