Appreciate Japan with one of these 3 Luxurious Cruises

As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics draw closer, Japan is now one of the hottest travel destinations in the world. The land of the rising sun is an archipelago that stretches 3,000 km from southwest to northeast. So, if you want to fully enjoy the diverse scenery, geography, variety of food and local culture it has to offer, cruises are the way to go! It is no wonder big and famous cruise lines from the world over are rushing to this asian tourist hot spot. Here I have listed my top three cruise line recommendations to enjoy Japan in comfort and luxury.

Check out our writers’ top Japan travel ideas!

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1. PRINCESS CRUISES





Princess Cruises are renowned for their excellence. They have won numerous awards from many travel magazines and organizations. “Best Cruise Line”, “Best Premium Cruise Line” and “Healthiest Cruise” are just a handful of the awards! People around the world love this luxurious cruise ship because it has great onboard entertainment, food & beverages, spa & fitness, and more! This cruise takes you to the northern island of Hokkaido, and the Nebuta festival in Aomori, which is one of the most iconic and famous summer festivals in Japan. You can also visit Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture. Your voyage starts at the port of Yokohama. It is less than an hour away from the capital city. You can truly experience the geographical and cultural diversity of this archipelago.
The cruise will take you on a relaxing, yet an exciting trip to various tourist destinations around Japan. Summer festivals, nature, cuisine, history, and culture all await!

Shore Excursions: Tokyo/Yokohama area
This greater metropolitan area is one of the biggest cities in the world. The area boasts a population of around 34,000,000. Both the traditional and modern sides of Japan can be enjoyed with the shore excursions from the port of Yokohama. You can visit the famous Asakusa Senso-ji Temple, Imperial Palace, and of course shop to your heart’s content in Ginza where you can find top fashion brands from all over the world.

Shore Excursions: Nebuta Festival in Aomori
Once you experience this bright and energetic summer festival your perception that Japanese people are quiet and reserved will change. This festival dates back to 300 years. It’s famous for its enormous lantern floats. The dancers and their accompanied traditional Japanese Taiko drum music are thrilling. Get ready for the overwhelming scenes of gigantic moving statues and the bellowing sound of Taiko drums that echo into the night.

Shore Excursions: Okinawa/Miyako Islands
Japan’s southernmost prefecture has charms of its own. It’s blessed with a subtropical climate and pure white sandy beaches that stretch out 62 miles (100km). The crystal clear water is the pride of the people and the color is famously called Miyako Blue. This heavenly island is well known for its picturesque scenery and that’s not all, its landscape under the sea is stunning too! This makes it a diver’s dream destination. The onsen (hot springs) are the perfect end to an adventurous day of diving, golfing and cycling the island. A day trip of the island is sure to help you release any stress that has been building up. The island breeze fills you with inner peace.

Sample room rates for 17 days (varies by date and guest room):
(Approx)
Standard (inside): 345,000 JPY
Oceanview Balcony: 701,000 JPY
Junior Suite:701,000 JPY
Suite:1,241,000 JPY

*Per person rate with two guests in one room.

2. CELEBRITY CRUISES

A luxury cruise ship with a stunning and modern design. The accommodation is luxurious. It boasts culinary excellence that meets everyone’s expectations.
The onboard entertainment includes the project mapping 3D show “Le Petit Chef” at the QSINE.

In fact, this stunning cruise line has won numerous rewards, including 2018 Best Premium Cruise Line for 11 consecutive years, 2019 Best Onboard Spa Facilities for 5 consecutive years and also 2018 Best Onboard Dining for 6 consecutive years. Celebrity Cruises chose to add Japan to its list of countries to its unforgettable destinations.

The “Best of Japan Cruise” lasts 14 days and begins its voyage in Tokyo (Yokohama), onboard the Celebrity Millennium in Japan. The cruise covers most of the famous tourist destinations of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The cruise allows you to visit Tokyo (Yokohama), Mt Fuji, Kyoto (Osaka), Kochi, Hiroshima, Kagoshima, Hakodate, Aomori and then returns to Tokyo (Yokohama). On day 9, the ship also takes a detour to Busan in South Korea.

3. GUNTU

This big name cruise line, Guntu, resembles a Ryokan (a traditional-style inn) that floats on the ever tranquil Seto Inland Sea.

For a genuinely unique and traditional Japanese style cruise experience, Guntu is for you. This floating Ryokan has 19 cabins so the experience feels exclusive. It is very luxurious and you can enjoy Omotenashi (traditional Japanese hospitality). It includes a trip to one of Japan’s World Cultural Heritage Sites, Itsukushima Shrine.

The interior is of a simple and sophisticated Zen style. This floating inn has everything one would expect from a high-end Ryokan, but on the sea. All 19 cabins are decorated in wooden furniture and designed by one of the most celebrated Japanese architects, Yasushi Horibe.

Activity In the lounge area, you can experience a tea ceremony with a tea master.

The ship features spacious lounges and a dining room where you can delight yourself with elegant sushi and other Japanese and Western-style cuisine. In the evening, you can try out drinks from the exquisite selection of sake and other types of liquor. There is also a non-alcoholic menu. After dinner, you can bathe and wash away your worldly worries in an open-air bath.

Sample room rates (departures between February – September 2019 varies by date, room type and course):

(Eastward route 1 night /anchor offshore at Tomonoura in The Terrace Suite with open-air bath [2 people per cabin]) from 250,000 JPY per person

Westward route 3 nights/anchor offshore at Miyajima, Kaminoseki, Omishima Island in The Terrace Suite with open-air bath [2 people per cabin] from 650,000 JPY per person

This time, I introduced three cruise trips that are perfect for tourists visiting Japan. By all means, how about traveling all over Japan by luxury cruises trip? Please contact the travel agencies directly for more details and to make any reservations for these cruises.



The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

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