Samurai Shrines – Osaka, Hakodate & Yeosu

About this cruise

A 14-night sailing gives you something shorter trips can't: the feeling that you're not just visiting places but actually living somewhere else for a while. This one leaves Tokyo on October 10, 2027 and visits Shimizu, Kobe (Osaka) and Kochi, with additional stops along the Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan. 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 Niigata, which is known as Japan's Snow Country port of sake and rice. Around 10 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. Noordam takes the food seriously, with 7 restaurants to choose from. 5 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. 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. This one's for people who really want to switch off. No half measures. Block out the calendar. The autumn timing is underrated too. Good weather, calmer seas, and a more relaxed ship. All told, 10 ports across 14 nights covers a lot.