14-Night Circumnavigation with New York Times Bestselling Author
Marc Cameron
Explore Japan and South Korea’s vibrant cities and charming coastal towns on a voyage featuring Omaezaki, Kochi, and Aomori visits and cruising through the scenic Kanmon Strait on the Holland America MS Westerdam
Day 1 – Sunday - Apr 11, 2027: Tokyo, Japan
Departure: 7:00 PM
Tokyo is the largest city on earth and is packed with some of the world’s best shops, museums and restaurants, big and small. While the bright neon lights and the bustle of contemporary Tokyo may be what comes to mind when you think of the city, there is another side.
Day 2 – Monday - Apr 12, 2027: Omaezaki, Japan
Arrival: 7:00 AM | Departure: 4:00 PM
Cruise to Omaezaki, Japan. Arrive to a laid-back seaside town in the Shizuoka Prefecture, which is about two hours by train from Tokyo. Rolling hills and wide, wind-swept beaches make Omaezaki a favorite destination for a weekend escape. It offers the best windsurfing in Japan, but if you aren’t up to ride the waves, there are plenty of other things to do in Shizuoka and Omaezaki. Climb the spiral stairs of the Omaezaki Lighthouse to sweeping views of azure water. Stretch out on a sandy, secluded beach surrounded by rippled dunes at Hamaoka Sand Dunes. Visit the market and treat yourself to fresh seafood and traditional Japanese treats. Shizuoka is also world-famous for green tea. Stroll among neat rows of verdant tea at tea fields in Makinohara, a thirty-minute taxi from the Omaezaki port. In early spring, expect cherry blossom festivities at the major attractions.
Day 3 – Tuesday - Apr 13, 2027: Osaka, Japan
Arrival: 9:00 AM | Departure: 7:00 PM
Think of Osaka, Japan (accent on the O), as a combination of Los Angeles and Chicago. It very definitely has L.A.’s second-city complex, but its attitude is pure Chicago. The only business that matters is business, and so what if the Hanshin Tigers, the local baseball team, are frequently the worst professional athletes in the world? They’re the home team. People in Osaka laugh louder, play harder and drink more than Tokyo’s most decadent dreams. Osaka even has its own dialect, one the rest of the country calls “dirty Japanese,” one entirely different than even Kobe’s—and Kobe is an Osaka suburb.
Nothing is old in Osaka. The place was flattened during the war (and then again in 1962 and 1989, by Godzilla). During the reconstruction, they forgot to include much in the way of parks or green space, and the sheer amount of concrete and steel sights can get overwhelming.
But Osaka has its attractions and interesting things to do. Sumo wrestlers wait for trains, reeking of chanko-nabe (traditional sumo food; pure energy and calories), just daring the official railway pushers to push them. Yakuza (Japanese gangsters) get train cars to themselves, but if you get on with them, it’s like you’re invisible. Busy markets, the visual noise of neon and nonstop action on shopping streets offer insight into the energy and ambition of Osaka.
And if all that isn’t enough, Osaka is less than an hour from some of the most beautiful temples, shrines and ancient Japanese tourist attractions in the world—a thousand years of Japanese history—waiting in the old capitals of Kyoto and Nara.
Day 4 – Wednesday - Apr 14, 2027: Kochi, Japan
Arrival: 8:00 AM | Departure: 9:00 PM
High atop a hill in Kochi sits 17th-century Kochi Castle, once the seat of the Yamauchi lords. Explore this historic site and enjoy panoramic views of the city, then dine on sushi at Hirome Market.
Day 5 – Thursday - Apr 15, 2027: Kanmon Strait
Scenic Cruising: All Day
The Kanmon Strait is a narrow channel of water that separates two of Japan's main islands, Honshu and Kyushu. The channel has long been important to maritime transportation and cargo ships, as it connects the Sea of Japan and the Inland Sea. Passenger and car ferries link the port cities of Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu, as do trains and bridges. The battle between the U.S. and Japanese navies that presaged the Shimonoseki Campaign in 1863 took place here, and eventually led to Japan's opening up to Western powers.
Day 6 – Friday - Apr 16, 2027: Fukuoka (Hakata), Japan
Arrival: 8:00 AM | Departure: 4:00 PM
Fukuoka, Kyushu's largest city, was once two separate entities: Fukuoka in the west and the merchant area of Hakata to the east. Joined together in 1889, the contemporary city—population 1.5 million—has a lively, modern atmosphere, an array of impressive architecture by international starchitects, including Rem Koolhaas, César Pelli, Emilio Ambasz and Aldo Rossi, and a number of cultural attractions and museums such as the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum. Modern developments like Canal City—a mixed-use complex designed by American Jon Jerde that contains hotels, cinemas, restaurants and shops—lend the city space a futuristic air, as does the striking 234-meter (768-foot) Fukuoka Tower, which is covered in mirrored glass and has an observation deck. On the historical side, sites like the Kushida Shrine and the ruins of Fukuoka Castle offer traditional and cultural insights. The pond in the center of Ōhori, Fukuoka's largest park, was once part of Fukuoka Castle's moat, and you'll find gardens, a zoo, an amusement park and a car museum in Uminonakamichi Seaside Park.
Day 7 – Saturday - Apr 17, 2027: Sokcho, South Korea
Arrival: 10:00 AM | Departure: 8:00 PM
Guests on cruises to Sokcho arrive to a coastal city in northeast South Korea, a must for anyone who wants to experience the natural beauty and culture of the country. Part of North Korea until the late 1940s, Sokcho is now a buzzing fishing hub. Dock at Daepo Harbor on the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Soon after you get off the ship, make your way through a maze of eateries and street vendors clustered around the cruise port. Snack on seafood in all forms— shrimp, crab, squid, and fish, deep-fried, pickled, raw or dried. Visit Sokcho Central Market, a lively, traditional marketplace, for an authentic taste of life in Sokcho. If you see sundae on the menu, don’t expect ice cream. Sundae is a popular street food made from Korean blood sausage. Vegetarians should try soft tofu dishes, another specialty in the area. Wash it all down with makgeolli, a milky rice wine. Dramatic scenery surrounds the city. Seoraksan National Park’s serene forests, jagged granite peaks and crystal-clear streams are only 30 minutes by bus from the cruise terminal. Amble an easy trail or embark on a strenuous three-hour trek to the Geum-gang-gul cave temple. If you want a more relaxing experience, take a cable car ride to the top of Mt. Seoraksan to admire endless views of cliffs and coastlines. Before your day in Sokcho is complete, pop into Sokcho Beach near the port to unwind amid golden sands and turquoise surf.
Day 8 – Sunday - Apr 18, 2027: At Sea
All Day
Full Day at Sea – on-ship activities.
Day 9 – Monday - Apr 19, 2027: Kanazawa, Japan
Arrival: 8:00 AM | Departure: 8:00 PM
Located on the shores of the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa is a bustling hub with ships arriving and departing for South Korea, Russia and China. The port is just west of the city center—a former samurai town that was once one of the largest in Japan. Like Kyoto, the city escaped bombing in World War II, and its historic buildings provide a glimpse of old Japan. Of the three teahouse (chaya, in Japanese) neighborhoods, the most famous is the charming Higashi Chaya District. Contemporary Kanazawa has its attractions, too. Sophisticated restaurants serve delicious Kaga cuisine, which highlights the bounty of the sea. (Kaga is the traditional name for this part of Japan.) Shops sell Kaga-nui pottery, Kutani porcelain and other handicrafts. Major sights include Kenrokuen—a 17th-century garden that is a high point of landscape design in Japan—and Kanazawa Castle and its park. At the Kanazawa Noh Museum, visitors can learn about Noh theater and storytelling, while the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art features both Japanese and international artists (it’s located next to Kenrokuen). Nearby, there are hot springs to bathe in and the natural beauty of the Japanese Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park.
Day 10 – Tuesday - Apr 20, 2027: Sakata, Japan
Arrival: 10:00 AM | Departure: 6:00 PM
Sakata is a riverside jewel in the Yamagata Prefecture. Located in the shadow of Mount Chōkai, it is known for its sublime natural scenery and historical sites. Yamagata is nicknamed “the Fruit Kingdom” because the growing conditions there produce tantalizing fruit. Stop to sample ruby red cherries and mouthwatering French pears. A fantastic seafood market is also a quick stroll from the port if you’re still hungry. Carry yen to make purchases.
Take the shuttle (roughly 1,000 yen) or a taxi into town. Sakata was a prosperous port during the Edo era due to its location on the Mogami River. Encounter several styles of traditional Japanese architecture from the 1700s at the Homma Historical Residence. Another place to explore old Japan is the Sankyo Soko Storehouse, a rice warehouse with 12 attractive storehouses dating back to 1893. Watch daily dance performances at Sōmarō, a Maiko tea house. Visit Japan’s first museum of photography – the Ken Domon Museum. It houses the works of Ken Domon, a photographer who redefined realism. A scenic drive along the coast or into the mountains is a lovely way to get to know Sakata.
Day 11 – Wednesday - Apr 21, 2027: Aomori, Japan
Arrival: 8:00 AM | Departure: 5:00 PM
Most Japanese used to think of Aomori merely as the place you caught the ferry to when you were going to Hokkaido. By the time you’d gotten here, they figured, you were pretty much at the edge of the civilized world. The small Tsugaru Strait that separates Honshu from Hokkaido isn’t big—only about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) at its narrowest point—but it’s ecologically important: Hokkaido has animals related to northern Asia, whereas Honshu’s are more closely related to southern Asia’s. The strait is also famous for sudden, very rough weather and for no shortage of shipwrecks. The city was flattened in World War II, so there isn’t much history left to see. Still, it’s a lovely area, not much congestion or development, and because the town is still the major gateway to Hokkaido, the city has money to spend on architecture and parks. Its setting on the edge of Mutsu Bay means you will often be surprised by lovely water views through the buildings. The old way of thinking of Aomori is over. Aomori may not be quite what most people think of when they plan a Japan trip, but it is what Japan thinks of when they consider where they got the new century right.
Day 12 – Thursday - Apr 22, 2027: Otaru, Japan
Arrival: 8:00 AM | Departure: 5:00 PM
An odd thing about Japan is that the people of this island country used to be horrified that there was a deep ocean all around them. (They have clearly gotten over it—today Japan’s navy is one of the five most powerful in the world.) Hundreds of years after the Polynesians had sailed to and settled impossibly distant islands, the Japanese were still mostly running rowboats not unlike the slave galleys from old Sinbad movies. A 1780s map from the voyages of French explorer La Pérouse shows the route his ship took to explore Japan: He’d get in close, map a few miles, the samurai would row out, and he’d calmly sail back into deep water, popping in to map the shore again a few miles later. This long-held fear makes Otaru all the more interesting: The city is where the Japanese began to venture further out to sea. Otaru grew and flourished on the cargo brought home by ships that had dipped below the horizon. The town was, for a while, Asia’s herring capital—herring on every plate for breakfast, tons of herring. Thus Otaru is where the foolhardy proved that even the deep and scary ocean has its attractions. And just how snug you can make a home financed by fish.
Day 13 – Friday - Apr 23, 2027: Hakodate, Japan
Arrival: 8:00 AM | Departure: 6:00 PM
If Japan ever had a wild west, it was Hokkaido. Oh, all the classic movie stuff of samurai bashing each other with swords never made it this far north, but the image of the West—open spaces, places to disappear, actual land horizons (which no other island in Japan has)—lingers.
Hokkaido's remoteness is so legendary that it figures into one of Japan’s most important historical tales: After losing a battle in 1189, good guy Minamoto Yoshitsune managed to escape capture and death by heading to Hokkaido (no one felt like chasing him that far). In one version of the story, he returned from Hokkaido to the mainland and, if you give alternate readings of the characters in his name, became Gin Ke Ka—Genghis Khan.
Hokkaido is the only spot among Japan’s primary islands where a non-Japanese culture manages to survive relatively intact, at least as an identity if not a lifestyle. The Ainu were here first, and are fairly easy to recognize; they have paler skin and more hair than ethnic Japanese. Cornerstones of Ainu culture remain, too: ceremonies that include sacrificing a bear (not often—bears are rare, although, this being the wild west, there are still some out there), the beautiful attush robe, and a dislike of uncooked fish. And they’re not going anywhere. In 1997, the Japanese government finally recognized the Ainu's right to their own culture. Get a taste of that unique culture in Hakodate, the capital city of this northern island.
Day 14 – Saturday - Apr 24, 2027: At Sea
All Day
Full Day at Sea – on-ship activities.
Day 15 – Sunday - Apr 25, 2027: Tokyo, Japan
Arrival: 8:00 AM
Tokyo is the largest city on earth and is packed with some of the world’s best shops, museums and restaurants, big and small. While the bright neon lights and the bustle of contemporary Tokyo may be what comes to mind when you think of the city, there is another side.