A fusion of old and new awaits as you set sail on a cruise to Japan. Marvel at the medieval castles and ornate shrines as you travel Japan’s scenic coastline punctuated with traditional villages and modern cityscapes. From neon lit skylines to peaceful zen gardens and subtropical islands, there is an abundance of scenery and culture waiting to be discovered on a cruise around Japan.
A Viking ocean cruise is the discerning traveller’s dream. Whether you choose to visit Scandinavia, Asia, the Mediterranean or the Americas, our itineraries more are designed to immerse you in the history and culture of each destination. With us, you could be exploring a local food market with our head chef one day and experiencing an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a world-famous museum the next.
Our state-of-the-art small ships take you right into the heart of each destination, and you won’t find any casinos or kids on board. Plus, our fares include just about everything you need - from meals, beverages and Wi-Fi to a culturally enriching shore excursion at every port of call. This unique combination of features has become affectionately known as ‘the Viking difference’.
Viking is the world’s leading small-ship cruise line, and we can’t wait to welcome you on board to discover the Viking difference for yourself.
Why Princess? Because you want to tell better stories. To immerse yourself in destinations near and far. To try new foods and encounter new cultures. To more refresh your spirit and reconnect with those you love. Choosing a cruise line can seem tough, but Princess makes it easy. Because you want more than the usual cruise experience…you want to come back new. Discover what makes each port unique through the insights of local experts and crew members who sail with us to over 330 destinations.
No schedules. No stipulations. Just award-winning entertainment and diverse dining options from the only cruise line built for versatile vacationing. NCL's more award-winning ships are designed for you to enjoy as you choose while cruising to beautiful destinations around the world. Add a wide range of superb dining options and spectacular entertainment and you'll experience your best holiday ever.
Popular experiences and highlights on a cruise around Japan
Marvel at Mt. Fuji
Admire the snow covered peak of Mt. Fuji as you travel through varied landscapes en route, then take in spectacular panoramas from its slopes.
Cultural Immersion in Kyoto
Explore the cultural heart of Japan brimming with temples and shrines. From the famed Golden Pavilion to Nijo Castle, there's plenty to discover.
Island Time in Okinawa
Switch to island time with a visit to Okinawa. Here you will find subtropical coastlines fringed by coral reefs and dotted with pristine beaches.
Old Meets New in Tokyo
Explore this cosmopolitan city where tradition meets the cutting edge. Wander through serene Japanese gardens between traditional shrines, all nestled in the shadows of a neon-lit skyline pierced by skyscrapers.
Japan’s Seasonal Colours
Whether it is the pink pastels of the cherry blossoms in springtime, or the reddish-orange hue that coats the countryside in autumn, the seasonal shades of Japan’s countryside add colour to an already stunning canvas.
Recent Reviews
What our clients are saying about their cruises around Japan
We enjoyed our cruise although we do prefer the Princess Royal class of cruise ship, as the Diamond Princess doesn’t have a large Piazza with cafe, no concierge lounge and not quite as many facilities. November was a great time of year to see the Autumn colour, Mt Fuji with snow on the top, plus the weather was perfect and we didn’t have any rain. The read more shore excursions were good, but very expensive. Once again a big thank you to Hannah C for organising everything and we highly recommend Global Journeys for a great booking experience.
Thank you Global Journeys- Diamond Princess Cruise Circle JapanSandra and Peter , New Zealand, Oct 2025
I’d like to thank Hannah from Global Journeys for her help and for answering all my questions so promptly. It was very reassuring having her to help us on our journey. The 9 Day Japan cruise on Diamond Princess was amazing from start to end. The onboard entertainment was incredible and the staff so welcoming and friendly. The variety of food was excellent. read more We had a wonderful time.
A Wonderful North Pacific Cruise on Viking Venus from Vancouver to Tokyo. North Pacific CrossingDi and Ian, VIC , Australia, Sep 2025
We have just returned from another wonderful Viking Ocean Cruise expertly booked and managed by Hannah Perry. Any concerns or changes we requested were promptly addressed and resolved. We travelled with Viking again as their ships are large enough to provide excellent facilities, service and dining whilst maintaining a personal element. Voyaging through read more the Inside Passage to Alaska then across to Japan with Viking was filled with beatuiful, ever changing vistas. We enjoyed our shore time but also our sea days when we could choose our own agenda. So we have already booked another Viking Ocean cruise - using Hannah of course. Many thanks!
We were looking forward to a holiday that was going to give us the overall coverage of Japan in one trip so we thought the Cunard QE was going to give us that and it did. We enjoyed the trip but thought the boat was a bit too over the top for us. We felt if you weren’t the type of people who wanted to go glitzy each night there was little alternative read more - for that reason we felt a bit left out. Food was average and we expected better for a ship that is suppose to exude luxury but we saw all the sights we wanted and at a convenient docking spot each day.
Firstly thanks to Hannah Campbell. Hannah was very helpful in booking our trip and responding to my queries. Some of the included excursions were disappointing. eg. 2 hours at Hiroshima Peace Park was too long and should of had an alternative excursion in Kobe when weather blocked mountain top views. No refund for cancelled excursion in Tokyo due to bad weather.