Imperial Loop – Busan, Kochi & Aomori

About this cruise

Block out 17 nights from May 28, 2026 and let this sailing from Yokohama do its thing. The route covers Toba-Mie, Kochi and Aburatsu-Nichinan, with additional stops along the Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan and there's plenty of room to breathe between each stop. Expect a run of consecutive ports, 8 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. If one port sticks with you, it'll probably be Kobe (Osaka), Where Wagyu beef meets harbour-side elegance. Roughly 10 hours ashore per stop. No need to rush. Diamond Princess keeps you well fed. 12 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 Yokohama before boarding. It's a good city to wander. And May is a good time to go. Mild weather, things starting to bloom, and fewer people than summer. It's the kind of trip you actually remember afterwards.