Digital Travel
Grand Japan with Kumano Fireworks
20 nightsFrom Tokyo19 ports of call

Grand Japan with Kumano Fireworks

Princess Cruises · Sapphire Princess

Departs
15 Aug 2027
Returns
4 Sept 2027
Duration
20 nights
Disembark
Tokyo

Overview

A 20-night voyage aboard Sapphire Princess, departing Tokyo on 15 Aug 2027 and returning to the same port, calling at 19 destinations along the way.

TokyoNagoyaKumano, JapanKobeWakayamaBeppuHiroshimaKanmon Straits, JapanBusan, South KoreaNagasakiKagoshimaKochi, JapanShimiju, japanTokyoToba, JapanKochi, JapanJejuKagoshimaTokyo

Cabin prices

Live prices per person based on two sharing. Select a grade to see its fare options.

Loading live cabin prices…

Itinerary

20 nights · 21 ports of call
  1. 1

    Day 1 ·TokyoEmbark

    15 Aug 2027
    Depart 16:00
  2. 2

    Day 2 ·Nagoya

    16 Aug 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 21:00
    Nagoya, capital of Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, is a manufacturing and shipping hub in central Honshu. The city’s Naka ward is home to museums and pachinko (gambling machine) parlors. Naka also includes the Sakae entertainment district, with attractions like the Sky-Boat Ferris wheel, which is attached to a mall.
  3. 4

    Day 4 ·Kumano, Japan

    17 Aug 2027
    Arrive 18:00Depart 22:00
    Kumano is a city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2015, the city had an estimated population of 17,727 and a population density of 47.4 persons per km². The total area was 373.35 square kilometres.
  4. 4

    Day 4 ·Kobe

    18 Aug 2027
    Arrive 09:00Depart 23:00
    The Port of Kobe is a Japanese maritime port in Kobe, Hyōgo in the greater Osaka area, backgrounded by the Hanshin Industrial Region.
  5. 5

    Day 5 ·Wakayama, Japan

    19 Aug 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 16:00
    The bustling port of Shimotsu is the gateway to Wakayama Prefecture and its capital city. With over 372 miles (600 km) of coastline, all of the delights of the sea are on offer, including snorkeling, swimming or scuba diving off one of its many white-sand beaches, marveling at the underwater world on display at the aquarium in the Museum of Natural History, and watching the intricate process of preparing a massive tuna in the Kuroshio Market. Known as 'Onsen Heaven', Wakayama is home to a variety of geothermal bathing experiences, a treasured Japanese tradition for centuries. Nearby are the hilltop Wakayama Castle, with park-like grounds, and the resort island of Wakayama Marina City. For those looking for a more active experience, there is everything from animal encounters at Adventure World to a walking tour along the sacred paths of the 1,200-year-old Koyasan monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When hunger strikes, try some Wakayama ramen made with a tasty soy sauce. And remember that the first matcha green tea ice cream was created in Wakayama City, so be sure to treat yourself.
  6. 6

    Day 6 ·Beppu

    20 Aug 2027
    Arrive 09:00Depart 17:00
    Ominous steam rises from the Japanese island of Kyushu where Beppu lies in wait. But not to worry - this legendary tourist town is renowned for its healing geothermal waters and spas. Overlooking Beppu Bay to its east and protected from the west by dramatic mountain peaks, this exotic city is blanketed with misty turquoise waters and elegant Japanese foliage. Its main attraction is the "Hells of Beppu," a collection of nine stunning onsen, or hot springs, some of which feature geysers and colorful waters in shades from white to copper to sapphire. The springs' names, including Kamado-Jigoku (Boiling Hell) and Oniyama-Jigoku (Demon Mountain Hell), are somewhat misleading as all of the hot springs are breathtakingly beautiful rather than frightening - though your nose may cower and crinkle at the sulfurous odor they emit!
  7. 7

    Day 7 ·Hiroshima

    21 Aug 2027
    Arrive 09:00Depart 21:00
    On August 6, 1945, human history was irrevocably altered when the American bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The bomb was code-named "Little Boy," but its detonation left half the city in ruins and aflame. Today, Hiroshima is a monument not only to the destructive forces harnessed by men but also to the indomitable will of the human spirit to overcome tragedy. At the heart of the city lies Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome. The gutted walls of the city's old Industry Promotion Hall and the skeletal frame that supported its copper dome, vaporized in the blast, are instantly recognizable symbols of Hiroshima.

    Travelers to Hiroshima will discover a more serene note at nearby Miyajima Island. One of the top-three scenic spots of Japan, the island is home to ancient Itsukushima Shrine, a designated National Treasure.
  8. 8

    Day 8 ·Kanmon Straits, Japan

    22 Aug 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 10:00
    The Kanmon Straits or the Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating Honshu and Kyushu, two of Japan's four main islands. On the Honshu side of the strait is Shimonoseki and on the Kyushu side is Kitakyushu, whose former city and present ward, Moji, gave the strait its "mon".
  9. 9

    Day 9 ·Busan

    23 Aug 2027
    Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00
    The second largest city in South Korea, Busan is your gateway to a fascinating land whose culture is a unique amalgam of old and new. Modern high-rise towers dwarf ancient Buddhist temples. The city's bustling business district offers a stark contrast to the serene grounds of Yongdusan Park. In short, Busan is a microcosm of South Korea, a nation whose startling economic success often obscures one of Asia's most sophisticated and venerable cultures.

    Busan was the scene of bitter fighting during the Korean War. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery marks the final resting place for the troops from 16 nations who gave their lives during the conflict.
  10. 10

    Day 10 ·Nagasaki

    24 Aug 2027
    Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00
    For most travelers, Nagasaki is a symbol of the horror and the inhumanity of war. An estimated 75,000 people perished in 1945 when the city became the second target of a nuclear attack. Today, Nagasaki's Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum draw visitors from around the world.

    But this beautiful city on Kyushu offers other sights. Often described as the San Francisco of Japan, the city occupies verdant hills surrounded by a deep-water bay. For three centuries, Nagasaki was Japan's sole window on the world. The city is also celebrated as the setting for Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly."
  11. 11

    Day 11 ·Kagoshima

    25 Aug 2027
    Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00
    From the 12th century to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Kagoshima was the chief stronghold of the mighty Shimazu clan. The city lies at the top of the Satsuma Peninsula, a mountainous, geothermal wonderland of hot springs and geysers. The area is also rich in modern Japanese history: Saigo Takamori and the Satsuma samurai were leaders of the Meiji Restoration that toppled the shogun and restored the Emperor to power in 1868. In 1877, dissatisfied with the direction of the new government, Saigo led the Satsuma Rebellion, which ended in his death and the final defeat of the samurai.

    The symbol of Kagoshima is Sakura Jima - the volcanic island that sits just offshore. The volcano has erupted over 30 times in recorded history.
  12. 12

    Day 12 ·Kochi

    26 Aug 2027
    Arrive 09:00Depart 17:00
    Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.

    Kochi is one of the wettest places in Japan - and a frequent target for cyclonic storms or typhoons. Southeast of the city, warm oceans currents washing against the Aki Mountains create a subtropical landscape of hibiscus, palm and ficus at Muroto-Anan Quasi-National Park.
  13. 14

    Day 14 ·Shimizu

    27 Aug 2027
    Arrive 13:00Depart 19:00
    Sprawling, semi-rural Shimizu Ward is dominated by forested coastal mountains, with hiking trails and ropeway rides to dramatic viewpoints above Suruga Bay. Miho Beach Park is popular for swimming and water sports in summer, and there are baseball and soccer fields nearby, plus an aquarium at the Marine Science Center.
  14. 14

    Day 14 ·Tokyo

    28 Aug 2027
    Arrive 06:00Depart 16:00
  15. 15

    Day 15 ·Toba

    29 Aug 2027
    Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00
    Toba, located at the northeastern end of the Shima-hanto Peninsula in Mie, flourished as the castle town of the Kuki family who ruled this region from the 16th century. It was also a landing spot for visitors on the sea route to Ise-jingu Shrine and belongs to Ise-Shima National Park.
  16. 16

    Day 16 ·Kochi

    30 Aug 2027
    Arrive 09:00Depart 17:00
    Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.

    Kochi is one of the wettest places in Japan - and a frequent target for cyclonic storms or typhoons. Southeast of the city, warm oceans currents washing against the Aki Mountains create a subtropical landscape of hibiscus, palm and ficus at Muroto-Anan Quasi-National Park.
  17. 17

    Day 17 ·At Sea

    31 Aug 2027
  18. 18

    Day 18 ·Jeju

    1 Sept 2027
    Arrive 07:00Depart 15:00
    Jeju-do lying off the south coast of Korea is the warmest and wettest place in the entire country. The island is at its most beautiful in spring when the azalea blooms in a riot of delicate colours and the wooded areas display the most fascinating shades of green. In Jeju the seasons determine the changing hues of color through the island. In the autumn the color that dominates is brown and orange due to the falling leaves, in summer the aqua blue waters of the sea and golden beaches take over as in spring the brilliant yellow flowers cover the landscape.

    Jeju Island, also known as the "Island of the Gods," is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and many Japanese. It remains one of the top honeymoon destinations for Korean newlyweds. The island's mixture of volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, make it very similar to the Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Halla-san (South Korea's highest peak), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, viewing majestic waterfalls, riding horses, or just lying around on the sandy beaches.

    One of the most outstanding features of the island is a regular maze of tunnels, caves and pillars formed by the cooling of lava flows from ancient volcanoes. Jeju-do is basically an island composed of extinct volcanoes formed by volcanic matter such as basalt and trachyte and layered with sedimentary rock. It still has a volcano- an extinct one, called Mt Hallasan, which, at 1950 m also doubles up as the island's main mountain. The main city on the island is Jeju City, the main base for trekking, sightseeing and exploring the rest of the island.
  19. 19

    Day 19 ·Kagoshima

    2 Sept 2027
    Arrive 10:00Depart 19:00
    From the 12th century to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Kagoshima was the chief stronghold of the mighty Shimazu clan. The city lies at the top of the Satsuma Peninsula, a mountainous, geothermal wonderland of hot springs and geysers. The area is also rich in modern Japanese history: Saigo Takamori and the Satsuma samurai were leaders of the Meiji Restoration that toppled the shogun and restored the Emperor to power in 1868. In 1877, dissatisfied with the direction of the new government, Saigo led the Satsuma Rebellion, which ended in his death and the final defeat of the samurai.

    The symbol of Kagoshima is Sakura Jima - the volcanic island that sits just offshore. The volcano has erupted over 30 times in recorded history.
  20. 20

    Day 20 ·At Sea

    3 Sept 2027
  21. 21

    Day 21 ·TokyoDisembark

    4 Sept 2027
    Arrive 06:00

Your ship: Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess

Explore Sapphire Princess's cabins, dining and onboard facilities.