Diamond Princess
September 20, 2025

Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan, offers docking at Yokohama Port with excursions to Tokyo. Travelers explore Senso-ji Temple and Shibuya Crossing. Excursions visit Kamakura’s Great Buddha. Local markets sell yakitori. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather for city tours. Photography captures neon streets and Tokyo Bay vistas. Dining onboard includes sushi, a Japanese favorite. Souvenirs, like ukiyo-e prints, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Edo history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Yokohama’s urban gateway offers a vibrant Japanese stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic temples and modern cityscapes, making Yokohama an engaging destination.

Akita, Japan, accommodates cruise ships at its Northern Port terminal, 5 kilometers from downtown, with shuttles or taxis providing 15-minute transfers. The facility includes restrooms, a cafe, and tourist information. Travelers access the Akita City Museum of Art, showcasing Tadao Ando's architecture with a reflecting pool and works by Tsuguharu Foujita. Senshu Park, adjacent to the station, features the Akita Hachiman Shrine from 1694 and cherry blossoms in April. Kakunodate, 1 hour by train, explores preserved samurai residences with black lacquer walls and gardens. Lake Tazawa, 45 minutes west, offers boat rides on Japan's deepest crater lake, surrounded by beech forests. Local markets sell kiritanpo (rice sticks) and sake tastings. Peak visits October to April; trains cost 500-1000 yen. Dining includes inaniwa udon noodles at harbor eateries. Souvenirs feature Akita dog figurines.

Toyama, Japan, offers docking at Toyama Port. Travelers explore Toyama Castle and Gokayama’s gassho-zukuri villages. Excursions visit Tateyama’s snow corridor. Local markets sell masuzushi. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures historic villages and Japan Sea vistas. Dining onboard includes kaisendon, a Japanese favorite. Souvenirs, like lacquerware, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Hokuriku history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the temperate climate, while sturdy shoes enhance village walks. Toyama’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Japanese stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic sites and scenic mountains, making Toyama an engaging destination for exploration.

Tsuruga, Fukui, Japan, offers docking at Tsuruga Port. Travelers explore Kehi Shrine and Nihonkai Fish Market. Excursions visit Tojinbo Cliffs. Local markets sell kani miso. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Shinto gates and Japan Sea vistas. Dining onboard includes echizen soba, a Japanese favorite. Souvenirs, like lacquerware, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Fukui history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance shrine walks. Tsuruga’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Japanese stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of spiritual sites and scenic coasts, making Tsuruga an engaging destination for exploring Japan’s Hokuriku region.

Sakaiminato, Japan, offers docking at Sakaiminato Port. Travelers explore Mizuki Shigeru’s yokai museum and Tottori Sand Dunes. Excursions visit Matsue Castle. Local markets sell kani sushi. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures manga art and Sea of Japan vistas. Dining onboard includes dashi broth, a Japanese favorite. Souvenirs, like yokai crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Tottori history. Light layers suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance dune walks. Sakaiminato’s quirky charm offers a vibrant Japanese stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of cultural museums, scenic dunes, and coastal heritage, making Sakaiminato an engaging destination for exploration.

Busan, South Korea, in the southeast, sits on the Korea Strait, facing the Sea of Japan. The port is near Jagalchi Fish Market, where fresh seafood is sold daily. Haeundae Beach offers urban waterfront access, while Beomeosa Temple, in the forested hills, provides cultural history. The Gamcheon Culture Village, with colorful houses, draws visitors for its art and narrow alleys. Busan’s port history as a trading hub is evident in its maritime museum. The nearby Nakdong River Estuary is a birdwatching site, and the city’s coastal cliffs offer walking trails with ocean views.

Nagasaki, Japan, offers docking at Nagasaki Port. Travelers explore the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. Excursions visit Glover Garden’s colonial mansions. Local markets sell champon noodles. The peak season, March to May, brings cherry blossoms and mild weather. Photography captures historic sites and Dejima Island views. Dining onboard includes sara udon, a Nagasaki dish. Souvenirs, like castella cakes, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Nagasaki’s WWII history. Light layers suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance park walks. Nagasaki’s blend of history and resilience offers a poignant Japanese stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of somber memorials, colonial heritage, and scenic harbors, making Nagasaki an engaging destination for exploring Japan’s cultural and historical depth on Kyushu Island.

Returning to Yokohama (tokyo) — see Day 1 above for port info.