JAPAN: You’ve been asking about Japan a lot lately, so here’s a few tidbits to help plan your trip:

Why is it so popular right now?

• It was closed longer for the pandemic, so the demand is still equalizing.
• It’s safe and easy to travel:  All the secondary signage is in English, and it regularly scores in the Top 10 globally for public safety. 
• It’s naturally beautiful – Mt. Fuji, the blossoms, the gardens and hot springs.

Ways to travel Japan:

• CRUISE:  As a group of islands, Japan lends itself well to cruise vacations.  The most common ones are 12 – 14 days that circumnavigate the Japanese islands with one or two stops in South Korea.
• REPOSITIONING CRUISE:  These cruises start or finish in Japan, and include port stops in China/Taiwan, or Southeast Asia (Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore).  Some cruises carry on through Malaysia and Indonesia to Australia.  It’s a great way to see parts of the world otherwise more difficult to get to.
• JAPAN & ALASKA:  This is also a repositioning cruise that has become more popular.  These cruises are usually 20 – 24 days, and save you the long flight one way.
• LAND CRUISE:  The options for packaged land tours to Japan are endless, and they almost all include getting around by train (or “shinkansen” – the bullet train).  Ultimately, doing a back to back circumnavigation of Japan by ship, and coupling it with a packaged land tour, will give you a comprehensive visit to this fascinating country. 

Logistics of Visiting Japan

• AIR:  It’s a long flight: 11.5 hours from LA, or 10 hours from Vancouver.
• TOKYO:  Most people fly to Tokyo’s Narita Airport.  Check out Haneda – there’s not as many flights there, but it is often more convenient.
• CLIMATE: It’s seasonal, and the northern and southern extremes have different climates.

When to Visit Japan

Japan is a four-season destination.  Tokyo is on the same parallel as central California, and the weather is moderate year-round. 

• WINTER: Visit the hot springs, OR go skiing / snowshoeing on Mt. Fuji.
• SPRING: Cherry Blossom season is March through May.  This is peak season in Japan with crowds and prices set accordingly. 
• SUMMER:  There are Festivals and public events continuously during summer in Japan. 
• FALL:  If you want to take in the Autumn leaves, and have already been to Canada/New England, this may be your next destination. 

Things to See and Do in Japan:

• TOKYO: By some measures, this is the largest city in the world, and you can marvel at how orderly and safe such a large city can be.
• HIROSHIMA: the peace memorial and museum here are moving and poignant.
• KYOTO: for temples and shrines.  Check out the Golden Pavillion.
• HAKONE: to take in the vistas of Mt. Fuji or dip into the hot springs. 
• OKINAWA:  for beaches and snorkelling.
• CULTURAL:  do a tea ceremony, take a cooking class, or go to a Sumo demonstration.

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about how to travel Japan, and the different types of cruises there. https://youtu.be/tNOmAsGSZCc 

In Case You Missed It:

REMAINING MOM & POP.  The luxury-leisure travel industry has doubled in size since 2019.  We love the growth, but we also want to maintain a small-business “mom & pop” feel: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/remaining-mom-pop/

CRYSTAL CRUISES:  We travelled with Crystal last month for the first time since the brand’s resurrection.  Here’s what you can expect on board: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/crystal-whats-new-whats-cherished/

SHORE EXCURSIONS:  Many of the cruise lines are STILL struggling to deliver quality shore excursions.  This is a result of many skilled tour guides leaving the industry during the pandemic, but here’s some ideas of what you can do to minimize your risk: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/shore-excursion-survival-guide/

FEATURED YouTube Post:

VANCOUVER City Guide:  Just about everyone on an Alaskan Cruise does Vancouver pre/post.  Here’s a quick look at how to make the most of your time there:

https://youtu.be/Dtn_1BR_z3k

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

CRYSTAL CRUISES to JAPAN

Tokyo round-trip departing April 5 for 13-nights

• Visit Shimizu, Kobe (overnight), Okinawa, Ishigaki Islands, Taiwan, Kagoshima, Kochi, Tokyo (overnight). 
• Fares from $6940

Tokyo round-trip departing May 9 for 11-nights

• Visit Shimizu, Osaka (overnight), Okinawa, Jeju, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Tokyo
• Fares from $6530

Ultimate Japan: Toyko round-trip departing May 20 for 23-nights

• Visit Hakodate, Aomori, Sakata, Niigata, Kanazawa, Maizuru, Sakaiminato, Busan, Seoul, Jeju, Nagasaki, Miyako-jima, Okinawa, Aburatsu, Hiroshima, Kobe (overnight).
• From $10,530

JULY BONUS:  Any Crystal reservations made this month through our agency qualify for an additional on board credit!  See the details here: https://pamperedcruiser.com/crystal-whats-new-whats-cherished/

JAPAN & ALASKA with VIKING: Tokyo to Vancouver (or reverse) for 23-days

• Visit Tokyo (overnight), Tsugaro Strait, Sapporo (overnight), Bering Sea/Gulf of Alaska, Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Valdez, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Ketchikan, Vancouver. 
• 2025: Depart September 14 from Vancouver from $5499 (with FREE AIR, pre-paid gratuities, and the Silver Spirits Beverage Package). 
• 2026: Depart May 6 or 25 from Tokyo from $6999 (with FREE AIR). 

JAPAN INTENSIVE with AZAMARA: Kobe to Tokyo departing March 13 for 14-nights

• Visit Kobe, Kochi, Hiroshima, Kitakyashu, Nagasaki, Busan, Sakaiminato, Kanazawa, Niigata, Akita, Aomori, Tokyo
• Fares from $5079 (March 13), $6199 (March 27), $5510 (April 10), $6169 (April 24)

JAPAN LAND CRUISES

A land-cruise combined with an ocean cruise of Japan gives you a comprehensive experience:

COLLETTE:  Tokyo to Kyoto for 11-nights

• Visit Tokyo (3-nights), Hakone, Takayama (2-nights), Kanazawa (2-nights), Kyoto (3-nights)
• 2025: Sold out
• 2026:  January through December from $4999

TAUCK: Tokyo round-trip for 13-days

• Visit Tokyo (3-nights), and then travel by train to Lake Ashi/Mt Fuji, Hakone (2-nights), Nagoya, Gero Onsen, Takayama, Kanazawa (2-nights), Kyoto (4-nights), Hiroshima.
• 2026: Departures February through November from $11,990.

TAKE THE KIDS/GRANDKIDS: There is also a 10-day version June through August from $9590

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC from Osaka to Kyoto departing September 7 or 19, 2026 for 16-days

• Visit Osaka (overnight), Naoshima, Okayama, Kurashiki, Takamatsu, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Uwajima/Uchiko, Yakushima Island, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Ulsan, Matsue, Moji, Mitarai, Kyoto. 
• Fares from $30,048

RIVER CRUISES with TAUCK

There aren’t river cruises in Japan, so if Japan ISN’T on your radar, here are a few options for Europe: 

EASTERN EUROPE: from BUDAPEST to BUCHAREST for 13-days

• Visit Budapest for 2 nights, then travel to Mohacs, Pecs, Vukovar, Novi Sad, Belgrade (with a private Palace evening at Royal White Palace of Serbian royal Family), Iron Gates scenic cruising, Ruse (also known as little Vienna), Constanta & Mamaia, then disembark to visit Bucharest and Transylvania.  
• 2026:  Departures April through October from $7490

GERMAN OKTOBERFEST:  Amsterdam to Munich for 10-days in September

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Dusseldorf (to visit local craft breweries), sail the Rhine Gorge, Heidelberg for a beer-paired lunch, Strasbourg, Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus, Lake Konstanz, and then on to Munich for 2 nights for the world’s largest festival!
• 2025: Sold Out
• 2026: Depart September 16 or 23 from $8490

PORTUGAL & SPAIN on the Douro River for one-week:

• Visit Porto, Douro valley, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Mateus Palace, Guimaraes.
• See the vineyards and estate wineries, traverse the locks, take in spectacular scenery, visit castle ruins, see paleolithic art, and enjoy architectural treasures.
• Optional extensions to Madrid and/or Lisbon. 
• 2025:  Limited availability on October 10 or November 14 from $5890 
• 2026:  Departures April through October from $5790

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

• $100 per person on board credit
• 6-month final payment date
• $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.

We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:  

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32 
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley