28-Day Japan's Crafts & Cherry Blossoms

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.

Kochi, on Japan's island of Shikoku, is a Pacific coast port city renowned for its remarkably preserved 17th-century castle, vibrant Hirome Market food hall, and the iconic katsuo no tataki — straw-seared skipjack tuna that defines the region's bold culinary identity. Visitors should not miss exploring the castle grounds and savouring sawachi communal platters paired with crisp Tosa sake. The best time to visit is spring for mild weather and cherry blossoms, or autumn when typhoon season has passed and the yuzu harvest perfumes the countryside.

Hososhima is a tranquil port on Miyazaki Prefecture's Pacific coast, serving as a gateway to mythical Takachiho Gorge, the subtropical Aoshima Island, and the cave shrine of Udo Jingu. Visitors should savour chicken nanban and charcoal-grilled jidori, both Miyazaki originals. October through May offers the best weather for exploring this uncrowded corner of southern Japan.

Kagoshima, the "Naples of the East," is a dramatic port city on Japan's southern coast defined by the active Sakurajima volcano and a rich samurai heritage dating to the powerful Shimazu clan. Visitors should not miss the fifteen-minute ferry crossing to Sakurajima's lava fields and a tasting of legendary Kurobuta black pork paired with local sweet-potato shōchū. Spring (March–May) offers mild temperatures and cherry blossoms, while autumn (October–November) brings clear skies ideal for volcano views.

Nagasaki is a historically rich port city on Japan's Kyushu island, shaped by centuries of Portuguese, Dutch, and Chinese influence — offering visitors the Glover Garden heritage district, the moving Peace Park, and the spectacular Mount Inasa night panorama. Must-do experiences include tasting the city's signature champon noodle soup and exploring the atmospheric hillside lanes lined with stone churches and Chinese temples. The best months to visit are March through May for mild weather and cherry blossoms, or October through November when autumn colours set the surrounding hills ablaze.

Busan, a bustling port city in South Korea, is known for its stunning coastal scenery, rich history, and vibrant culinary scene. Must-do experiences include visiting the iconic Jagalchi Fish Market for fresh seafood and exploring the ancient sites of Gyeongju. The best time to visit is during the mild spring or autumn months when the weather is pleasant and local festivals abound.

Fukuoka is widely regarded as Japan's greatest food city, where legendary tonkotsu ramen, evening yatai street stalls, and mentaiko spicy cod roe define a culinary culture without rival. Must-dos include slurping ramen at a Nakasu yatai, visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, and exploring the Hakata old quarter. Spring and autumn offer the best weather, with the spectacular Yamakasa festival heating up early July.

Hiroshima is a deeply moving yet vibrantly reborn Japanese city, home to the UNESCO-listed Peace Memorial Park and the iconic A-Bomb Dome. Must-dos include savouring the city's famous layered okonomiyaki, tasting fresh Inland Sea oysters, and taking the ferry to Miyajima to see the floating vermilion torii gate. Spring cherry-blossom season and autumn foliage (March–May and October–November) offer the most spectacular visits.

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.

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.

Beppu is Japan's ultimate hot spring city on Kyushu's coast, producing more geothermal water than anywhere else on Earth, with 2,800 vents, spectacular boiling "Hells," and volcanic sand baths on the beach. Must-dos include the Jigoku Hells circuit, hell-steaming your own meal at Kannawa, and soaking in a variety of mineral-rich onsen. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for combining bathing with sightseeing.

Busan, a bustling port city in South Korea, is known for its stunning coastal scenery, rich history, and vibrant culinary scene. Must-do experiences include visiting the iconic Jagalchi Fish Market for fresh seafood and exploring the ancient sites of Gyeongju. The best time to visit is during the mild spring or autumn months when the weather is pleasant and local festivals abound.

Sakaiminato is a charming Sea of Japan fishing town famous for its yokai manga heritage along the Mizuki Shigeru Road and some of Japan's finest fresh crab and seafood. Visit for the bronze-statue-lined streets, excursions to sacred Mount Daisen, and the award-winning Adachi Museum of Art gardens.

Maizuru on the Sea of Japan coast combines Meiji-era red-brick naval architecture with the deeply moving Repatriation Memorial Museum, a UNESCO Memory of the World site documenting the return of 660,000 Japanese from Siberia. Must-dos include visiting the memorial museum, exploring the brick warehouse district, and tasting matsuba crab in winter. May through October offers the best weather, while November to March brings prized crab season.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.