Diamond Princess Cruise & Japan
June - July 2014:
Our cruise on Diamond Princess departing from Yokohama - which surprisingly has a huge and wonderful Chinatown - was very enjoyable and had a great itinerary. Many of the passengers on-board were Japanese and the food was to the usual high standard expected on a Princess cruise but with a wide range of authentic Japanese cuisine.
Ports included Kanazawa and a visit to the stunning Kernrokuen Gardens, Maizuru in the Kyoto Prefecture, Busan in South Korea and Nagasaki.
Japan's contrasts are part of what makes it such an amazing place to visit. Tokyo is incredibly sprawling and densely populated. It is full of skyscrapers, towers, shops, ancient castles, temples and people. Technology is always visible. Shopping and eating areas are ablaze with bright and flashing lights. People fill the railway platforms and trains, each in their own electronic world as they silently interact with their phones and other devices. You can't look lost for long as someone will always kindly assist with reading train timetables or maps.
Cruising is an excellent option if you want to see Japan in a relaxed and very enjoyable way.