Pacific Passage & Japan's Hidden Gems

Pressed between the Pacific and the Coast Mountains, Vancouver is the natural gateway to Alaska's Inside Passage — a city where temperate rainforest meets glass towers and where Dungeness crab and wild sockeye salmon define a Pacific Rim cuisine that rivals any in North America. Walk the 22-kilometre Stanley Park seawall, lose yourself in the Granville Island market, then ferry across to Victoria's Edwardian splendour. Alaska cruise season peaks from May through September, making Vancouver an ideal starting point for one of the world's great ocean journeys.

Ketchikan clings to the forested shore of Revillagigedo Island in Alaska's southeastern panhandle — a town so narrow that locals joke it is three miles long and three blocks wide. Revered by the Tlingit people for millennia as a place of abundant salmon, it is today celebrated as the Totem Pole Capital of the World: the collections at Saxman Native Village and Totem Bight State Historical Park preserve the most significant concentration of these monumental artworks anywhere. Creek Street, a boardwalk of colorful historic houses built over Ketchikan Creek, should not be missed. Summer (May–September) brings the best weather, with salmon running in the creeks below.

Klawock is one of Alaska's oldest Tlingit settlements on Prince of Wales Island, where twenty-one totem poles in a community park narrate clan histories predating European contact by centuries. Visit May through September via Regent Seven Seas or Silversea for genuine Tlingit cultural encounters, Alaska's longest cave system, and the intimate experience of a remote island community where wilderness is neighbor, not commodity.

Sitka, set on the wild west coast of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska, is one of the Pacific Northwest's most historically resonant ports — a place where Russian Orthodox onion domes rise above totem poles and the great temperate rainforest presses down to the water's edge. The Sitka National Historical Park preserves the site of the 1804 battle between Tlingit warriors and Russian colonisers alongside a magnificent collection of monumental poles. Whale-watching, sea kayaking among sea otters, and brown bear spotting in the surrounding wilderness define the outdoor experience. May through September offers the most accessible and luminous conditions.

Hubbard Glacier, known as the "Galloping Glacier," is a breathtaking natural wonder in East Alaska, captivating visitors with its stunning ice formations and wildlife. Must-do experiences include witnessing the glacier calving and savoring local delicacies such as Dungeness crab and reindeer sausage in nearby Skagway. The best season to visit is during the summer months when the weather is milder and wildlife is abundant.

Kodiak, Alaska's oldest European settlement and one of America's largest fishing ports, sits on an island home to 3,500 giant Kodiak brown bears—the densest concentration on Earth. Must-dos include floatplane bear-viewing at remote salmon streams, the Alutiiq Museum of indigenous culture, and sampling king crab fresh from the harbor. July and August offer the warmest weather and peak bear-viewing season.

Dutch Harbor, in Alaska's volcanic Aleutian Islands, is America's highest-volume fishing port where king crab fleets brave the Bering Sea's notorious waters. Japanese WWII bombing sites, Unangan indigenous heritage, and a Russian Orthodox cathedral layer history across a landscape of emerald tundra and volcanic peaks. Carnival Cruise Line and HX Expeditions navigate the Aleutian chain to this frontier outpost where extreme weather, extraordinary seafood, and the wild beauty of the North Pacific converge at the edge of the world.

Kushiro, on Hokkaido's wild eastern coast, is Japan's gateway to pristine marshlands, volcanic lakes, and the sacred red-crowned crane. The city's legendary Washo Market offers build-your-own sashimi bowls, while nearby Kushiro Shitsugen National Park protects the country's largest wetland. Silversea brings expedition travelers to this unhurried port where Ainu heritage and untamed nature converge.

Miyako is a resilient Pacific coast city in Japan's Tōhoku region, gateway to the dramatic Sanriku ria coastline and the ethereal Jōdogahama "Pure Land Beach" of white rock formations and turquoise water. Must-dos include boat tours through Jōdogahama's volcanic rock formations, visiting the 2011 tsunami memorial, and tasting the region's exceptional seafood including fresh uni and wakame. April through November offers varied seasonal beauty from cherry blossoms to autumn foliage.

Sendai, the "City of Trees," is the cultural heart of Japan's Tohoku region, founded by the legendary feudal lord Date Masamune and renowned for its gyutan (charcoal-grilled beef tongue), zelkova-lined boulevards, and nearby Matsushima Bay — one of Japan's Three Most Scenic Views. Visitors should explore the ornate Zuihoden mausoleum, climb the 1,000 steps to Yamadera temple, and time their visit for the spectacular Tanabata Festival in August or autumn foliage in November.

Hitachinaka, Japan, offers an immersion in a culture where aesthetic refinement and daily life are inseparable. Essential experiences include exploring local food markets, tasting regional specialties at intimate eateries, and visiting the surrounding temples and gardens. The port is most rewarding October through April, when cooler temperatures and lower humidity create ideal conditions. Cruise lines including Princess Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Shimizu is Japan's premier Mount Fuji gateway port on Suruga Bay, where a storied tea-trading heritage meets exceptional coastal cuisine — most notably the prized sakura ebi cherry blossom shrimp found nowhere else. Visitors should not miss the UNESCO-listed Miho no Matsubara pine grove for iconic Fuji views and the vibrant Kashi no Ichi fish market for the freshest tuna and whitebait in Japan. The ideal window stretches from late March through May, when cherry blossoms frame the snowcapped volcano and spring's first tea harvest perfumes the hillsides.

Tokyo's port is a vibrant gateway to both cultural and culinary experiences, uniquely blending traditional Japanese heritage with modern innovation. Must-do experiences include savoring fresh sushi at Tsukiji Outer Market and exploring the natural beauty of Fuji Hakone Izu National Park. The best season to visit is spring, when cherry blossoms bloom, transforming the city into a picturesque landscape.

Yokohama is Japan's premier cruise gateway and a captivating port city where nineteenth-century cosmopolitan heritage meets contemporary waterfront elegance, just thirty minutes south of Tokyo. Visitors should explore the historic Yamate Bluff district and lose themselves in Asia's largest Chinatown, savouring iconic iekei ramen and shōronpō soup dumplings. Spring offers the most enchanting experience, when cherry blossoms transform nearby Hirosaki Castle and the mild coastal air makes harbour-side strolling an irresistible pleasure.

Miyako is a resilient Pacific coast city in Japan's Tōhoku region, gateway to the dramatic Sanriku ria coastline and the ethereal Jōdogahama "Pure Land Beach" of white rock formations and turquoise water. Must-dos include boat tours through Jōdogahama's volcanic rock formations, visiting the 2011 tsunami memorial, and tasting the region's exceptional seafood including fresh uni and wakame. April through November offers varied seasonal beauty from cherry blossoms to autumn foliage.

Hakodate, Japan, offers an immersion in a culture where aesthetic refinement and daily life are inseparable. Essential experiences include exploring local food markets, tasting regional specialties at intimate eateries, and visiting the surrounding temples and gardens. The port is most rewarding May through October, when the climate is at its most welcoming for outdoor exploration. Cruise lines including Hapag-Lloyd Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Aomori, at Honshu’s northern tip, produces 60% of Japan’s apples and stages the Nebuta Matsuri—one of the country’s most spectacular festivals, with giant illuminated warrior floats parading through August nights. Must-dos include the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, building a custom rice bowl at Furukawa Market, and autumn walks through Oirase Gorge. Visit August for the electrifying Nebuta festival, or October for Tohoku’s legendary autumn foliage at Lake Towada.

Akita is a rice-growing prefecture on Japan's Sea of Japan coast, renowned for the spectacular Kanto Festival of illuminated bamboo poles, UNESCO-listed Shirakami beech forests, and a cuisine of kiritanpo rice sticks and Inaniwa udon that ranks among Japan's finest. Must-dos include the August Kanto Festival, bathing at the rustic Nyuto Onsen hot springs, and tasting Akita's prized local sake. Visit August for the festival or October for the magnificent autumn colours.

Niigata, Japan, Japan is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Princess Cruises. Must-do experiences include walking the historic center to experience the layered architectural heritage, and seeking out the regional culinary traditions at a locally favored establishment away from the port area. The optimal time to visit is May through September, when mild temperatures and long days favor unhurried exploration.

Kanazawa is a Sea of Japan coast city of extraordinary cultural refinement, home to Kenrokuen — one of Japan's three greatest gardens — alongside perfectly preserved samurai and geisha quarters, and craft traditions including gold leaf, Kutani porcelain, and Kaga silk dyeing. Essential experiences include strolling Kenrokuen's seasonal landscapes, exploring the wooden tea houses of Higashi Chaya, and feasting on fresh crab and nodoguro at the historic Omicho Market. Each season offers distinct beauty, from winter snow to autumn foliage.

Thunder Bay is the gateway to Lake Superior's north shore, where the Sleeping Giant mesa, Fort William's living fur trade history, and one of Canada's finest Indigenous art collections await at the head of the world's largest freshwater lake. Visit July through August via Seabourn or Viking for cliff-edge boreal hiking, the Terry Fox Memorial, and access to the most powerful freshwater landscape in the Americas.

Osaka is Japan's exuberant culinary capital, a neon-drenched metropolis where Edo-period merchant culture lives on in vibrant street food markets and Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurants alike. No visit is complete without savouring *takoyaki* and *kushikatsu* along the Dōtonbori Canal, or venturing north to witness Hirosaki's legendary cherry blossoms. The ideal window is late March through May for spring blooms and mild weather, or October through November when autumn foliage transforms the surrounding Kansai region into a tapestry of amber and gold.