Legacy of the Rising Sun – Busan, Niigata & Kochi

About this cruise

A week or so at sea, a few great ports, and nothing to organise once you're on board. This 10-night sailing from Tokyo on October 8, 2028 visits Hakodate, Niigata and Busan, with additional stops along the Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan. Expect a run of consecutive ports, 7 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. People come back from this cruise talking about Busan: Temples on the mountain, fish markets by the sea. Roughly 9 hours ashore per stop. No need to rush. Diamond Princess takes the food seriously, with 12 restaurants to choose from. 7 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. With more nights comes more time for the ship's rhythm to kick in: morning coffee in the same spot, evening shows, late-night conversations on deck. Long enough that you stop checking your phone. Short enough that you're not bored. And October is a good call. Still warm, less crowded, and usually cheaper too. 7 ports, 2 countries, one suitcase. That's the appeal.