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Cruise Japan during cherry blossom season with Good Housekeeping

japan cruise 2024
Cruise to Japan's cherry blossom displays with GH7maru - Getty Images

A bucket list destination for many people (even those who have been before), Japan rarely fails to impress travellers. While there are many ways to explore the Asian hotspot, a Japan cruise offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where you can tick a handful of destinations off your list and explore the ports and cities you never knew you wanted to see.

A cruise here can also incorporate one of the world's most breathtaking natural events and if you visit during the best times to visit Japan, you'll witness the epic cherry blossom season.

Each spring, millions of people in Japan wait for the first buds of the pink cherry blossom to appear. In 2024, you can experience the breathtaking sight on an exclusive cruise around Japan with Good Housekeeping in March.

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One of the world's most incredible sailings, Japan cruises sell out fast and are best booked early if you want to grab a cabin. After the country's borders were closed for so long during the Covid-19 pandemic, there's high demand for holidays to Japan, including its cruises, which are around a fortnight long.

japan cruise 2024
OsakaJackyenjoyphotography - Getty Images

Good Housekeeping's 14-night Japan cruise holiday in 2024 will take you on a journey far and wide through this fascinating land.

You'll fly from London to Tokyo and start by exploring the port city of Yokohama, just south of Tokyo and the second largest city in Japan. One of the buzziest cities, it's home to microbreweries, a traditional Japanese garden and terrific places to eat. You'll spend your first night at a hotel in Yokohama, before you have more time to explore the city and board Holland America Line's elegant MS Westerdam for a 14-night cruise.

japan cruise 2024
Yokahamanaomi aoki - Getty Images

After a day at sea, your first port of call will be Osaka, one of the best places to visit in Japan. The city is modern, fun and known for its outgoing residents. Loved for its street food, Osaka is famous for its tasty takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

VISIT JAPAN IN 2024

Your next stop is Kochi, home to Kochi Castle, one of the few castles in Japan that still has a wooden structure. There's plenty of history and panoramic views to enjoy from the city, as well as the must-visit Hirome Market for fresh seafood.

japan cruise 2024
onosan - Getty Images

Travelling on the MS Westerdam, you'll enjoy world-class facilities and dining, with seven restaurants on board. There is also a spa with a heated hydropool, a large open air pool and lots of entertainment venues, such as the Lincoln Center Stage, where top musicians perform.

Osaka and Kochi aren't the only destination highlights on this incredible 2024 cruise around Japan. You'll visit Hiroshima and see the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, or the Genbaku Dome, which was the only structure left standing when the first atomic bomb exploded and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

japan cruise 2024
OsakaJake Jung - Getty Images

You'll venture to South Korea to explore Busan, a haven for foodies, as well as a great spot to explore temples, the cliffs of Taejongdae and the golden beaches of Gwangalli and Haeundae.

Back in Japan, you'll stop in Sakaiminato, Tsuruga and Niigata, known for its natural beauty and top-notch sake.

Why choose a Japan cruise over a land tour?

Apart from the amazing views of vibrant destinations from the water, you'll also enjoy visiting South Korea.

japan cruise 2024
BusanSean3810 - Getty Images

You'll have a ship to call your home for the whole duration of the cruise too, so you don't have to worry about packing and unpacking as you arrive in a new place.

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On MS Westerdam, you can also enjoy spa treatments, fitness classes, cooking demonstrations and wine tasting on a vessel that has won Best Cruise Ship awards.

Which sites can you visit on a Japan cruise?

From Hiroshima's Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to the chance to take the railway up to Mount Tateyama or cruise through a cherry blossom tunnel on the Matsukawa River when you stop in Toyama, there's so much to see during a spring cruise.

japan cruise 2024
Matsukawa RiverMIXA - Getty Images

You'll love Hokkaido, the 'wild west' of Japan and the stunning Eihe-ji Temple when you stop in Tsuruga.

What's included in GH's cruise around Japan?

  • 14 nights on MS Westerdam

  • A pre-cruise stay at a four-star hotel in Yokohama

  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner on board the cruise (drinks not included)

  • Return flights from London to Tokyo

Want to see Japan on a cruise with Good Housekeeping? Visit our holiday website to discover more about our exclusive trip departing in March 2024

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