2026 Summer Circle Japan: Sea of Japan, Korea & Kyushu Cruise

Sailing Japan and Korea on a Princess Cruise this Summer

Our 2026 Summer Circle Japan: Sea of Japan, Korea & Kyushu Cruise Plus Tokyo & Yokohama started with four nights in Tokyo, where we explored TeamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills, took in the views from the Tokyo Skytree, visited Meiji Shrine and Asakusa Sensoji Temple, painted our own furin (Japanese wind chimes), and enjoyed a dinner and show at the one-of-a-kind SUIGIAN. Before boarding the Diamond Princess in Yokohama, we made our own ramen at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. The cruise took us through Nagasaki, Busan (South Korea), Sakaiminato, and Aomori before returning to Yokohama, where we wrapped up with shopping at Minato Mirai 21, Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, and Ameyoko. A big mahalo to Tour Managers Dean & Annette Mizumura for taking care of this group!

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Tour Managers ready for the adventure at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

We landed at Haneda Airport safely!

Then checked in at the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo for 4 nights.

For dinner we ate at the hotel at Glass Court Super Buffet.

Fresh pastas made in front of you.

Oishii!

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at night.

Our first stop of the trip was teamLab Borderless – Azabudai Hills.

teamLab Borderless is a world of artworks without boundaries, a museum without a map created by art collective teamLab.

Our second stop was the Tokyo Skytree.

The view from Tokyo Skytree.

We took a Edo Kiriko Glass Cutting hands-on experience.

What a beautiful piece of art to take home!

Some of the final pieces from our class.

We started the next day by visiting Meiji Jingu Shrine.

Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of the Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken.

After the shrine we headed to Asakusa to visit Sensoji and the surrounding shops.

More Tokyo cityscapes.

Shopping at COREDO Muromachi, a shopping and entertainment complex located in the historic Nihonbashi district.

Saboten for lunch.

Delicious cutlets!

Fresh melon pan!

We finished off the day by enjoying dinner and a show at SUIGIAN.

Suigian dinner menu.

The bowls and plates used to serve the cuisine are vintage items from the Edo (1603–1867), Meiji (1868–1912), and Taisho (1912–26) Periods.

On stage, the performers have their own microphones and provide explanations so that audience members can enjoy the show even without prior knowledge of Japan’s traditional performing arts.

Group pics with the performers after the show.

Day of leisure and exploration! Hachiko statue in Shibuya.

Pokemon!

Ramen making experience at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum!

Traditional bamboo pole technique to bounce on and flatten the dough.

Flattened dough ready for cutting.

Slicing the sheet into fresh ramen noodles.

Ready for the broth!

Final step, tasting! Itadakimasu!

Embarking the Diamond Princess ship!

Sail Away Party on the Diamond Princess.

How do you spot a seasoned cruiser?

A fun surprise in the room!

Ready for our first group dinner aboard the ship!

Fun food sculptures.

Delicious food and drinks.

Fun getting to know each other.

Tour managers group pic!

Pupus!

Quick stop in Osaka before sailing to Busan.

Passing through the Kanmon Straits, which separates Honshu and Kyushu.

Arriving at the Port of Busan.

Ready to explore Busan!

BIFF Square (Busan International Film Festival Square)

Arirang Street (Arirang-geori)

Learning about Busan's history at the Bokcheon Museum.

Trying to get into the Royal Family!

Lunch at a local restaurant in Busan.

Busan Tower

Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin in Yongdusan Park.

Gorgeous sunset as we sail to the next port.

Ready for a formal dinner on the ship!

The spread at Crown Grill on the Diamond Princess.

No sharing! So delicious!

Our next port was Sakaiminato on the western side of Honshu.

Sakaiminato Port

We stopped at the beautiful Adachi Museum of Art and explored the gardens.

Then visited Matsue Castle in Shimane Prefecture.

View from Matsue Castle.

Some explored the Mizue Shigeru Road, an 800-meter-long arcade with some 153 bronze statues of Mizuki's fantasy creatures on display.

Yakoi Shrine on Mizue Shigeru Road.

Sakaiminato Train Station

Yokai Cave exhibit inside the Mizuki Shigeru Museum.

Local seafood market along the road.

Learning to make sushi in Sakaiminato.

Back on the Diamond Princess for another delicious meal!

Celebrating a birthday!

Next on the cruise itinerary was Aomori, Japan.

Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center in Aomori City.

We explored Seiryu-ji Temple next.

Boke-zoke Kannon statue

Headed to the Showa Daibutsu statue.

Showa Daibetsu statue at Seiryu-ji Temple.

We checked out the float displays at Nebuta Museum WA RASSE.

Auga Fresh Market

Trying the Makoto restaurant on the Diamond Princess.

Japanese breakfast to start the day on the Diamond Princess.

Culinary demonstration and galley tour on the ship.

Desserts on board.

View of the stern including the Izumi Bath.

Bingo night on the ship!

Sabatini's restaurant on the ship.

Sampling the great food on the Diamond Princess ship.

Our last meal on board before disembarkation!

Future tour managers!

Outside Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama.

Final group shot in front of the Diamond Princess.

Fish market in Tokyo.

Mmm, fresh oysters!

Sanrio Fest!

Eel vendor at Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai.

Foot bath at Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai.

The view from the top! Next up, Honolulu!

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2026 Summer Circle Japan: Sea of Japan, Korea & Kyushu Cruise

Sailing Japan and Korea on a Princess Cruise this Summer

Travel Photo Gallery

Explore more adventures in our photo and video galleries below!