Samurai Shadow – Kochi, Busan & Hiroshima

About this cruise

You board in Tokyo on March 29, 2027 for 10 nights visiting Toba-Mie, Wakayama and Kochi, with additional stops along the Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan, and you come back from this kind of trip wondering why you don't do it more often. 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. If one port sticks with you, it'll probably be Yatsushiro (Kumamoto), Kumamoto's port beneath a storied castle. Around 9 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. There are 14 restaurants on Sapphire Princess, so you'd need to double up a few evenings to try them all in 10 nights. The longer time on board means you'll catch several shows, themed nights, and start feeling like a regular at your favourite bar. Tokyo itself is worth spending some time in. Don't just treat it as a departure point. Timing-wise, spring usually means comfortable temperatures and lower prices than peak season. It's the kind of trip you actually remember afterwards.