Gilded Shrines – Hakodate, Niigata & Busan

About this cruise

If you've got 19 nights to work with, this sailing from Yokohama on July 2, 2027 through Hakodate, Niigata and Busan, 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. Don't rush through Busan, which is known as Temples on the mountain, fish markets by the sea. Around 9 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. You won't go hungry on Diamond Princess. 7 restaurants come with the fare, plus 5 more when you feel like treating yourself. 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 timing works well too: warm evenings on deck, late sunsets, and a lively atmosphere. All told, 10 ports across 19 nights covers a lot.