Sail to Serene Japan with Princess Cruises

Travelers who have wanted to explore Asia's serenity on a Japan cruise have a number of excursions and destinations to choose from, whether they want to experience the crowded streets of Tokyo or sip tea during a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Each unique cruise itinerary throughout Japan has been customized to showcase the country's rich culture, and Princess cruise passengers will be able to enjoy the national celebration of Golden Week along with the renowned Dontaku Festival in Hakata.

Beginning in April, Golden Week is a festival that combines four of Japan's most significant holidays, including Constitution Day, Greenery Day and Children's Day. The entire country celebrates this week, and numerous monuments will be open to the public. In Aomori, the Hirosaka Castle comes alive during the spring with more than 2,500 cherry trees and passengers on Asian shore excursions can take memorable photographs during the Sakura matsuri, or cherry blossom festival. Featuring a moat and five illustrious gates, the castle is situated on 121 acres of pristinely manicured land.

In Hakata, where Princess cruise passengers will spend two days, the famous Dontaku Festival is a fixation for locals and travelers alike. With a history spanning more than 800 years, the festival features thousands of people dressed as folkloric Japanese gods while parade floats make their way down the streets, intricately decorated with the region's beautiful flowers. The name Dontaku is derived from the Dutch word Zondag, or Sunday, and every year, locals dance in the middle of the town square for two raucous days.

While on an Asian cruise to Japan, Princess travelers can visit dozens of cities throughout the country, including Maizuru, where they will find the Fukuoka Castle Ruins. Located in the middle of the city, the Fukuoka ruins date back more than half a century to the Edo period, and today, features some of the best cherry blossom viewing in the region. Walking throughout the ruins, Princess passengers will be treated to unspoiled panoramas of the city.

Rounding out an Asian cruise vacation, passengers can extend their stay in Sapporo so they can explore the many natural wonders found in this lovely city. From the cool waters of Lake Toya to the hotsprings at Noboribetsu Onsen, Princess passengers will find it hard to leave this serene and relaxing destination. View Asia cruises.