2023 Diamond Princess Asia Cruises [Japan, South Korea, Taiwan]

I’ve booked my first cruises of 2023. Plural – cruises – as in 3. It will be the longest I have ever been on the same ship – 3 weeks, but the cruises are quite different.

Japan is one of my favorite countries and I do miss it, as well as the food, so I am excited to visit all the new places in Japan.

The first cruise leaves from Yokohama, near Toyko (closer than the NRT airport is to Tokyo) and goes north (hopefully to cherry blossoms) to Aomori and Hakodate, Japan. From there it sails to Busan, South Korea and Nagasaki before returning to Yokohama.

The second cruise departs Tokyo and stops in Nagasaki (duplicated, but it will allow me to visit more than the Peace Park) before going to Jeju island in South Korea. After the day in South Korea the ship will stop in Kagoshima, Japan before arriving in Kobe.

The third (and final cruise) departs from Kobe and stops in Okinawa and Ishigaki before stopping in Taipei in Taiwan. This itinerary has a bit more sea time than the others, but Taiwan will be a new country for me and Okinawa and Ishigaki will be interesting.

International travel since COVID is a bit of a challenge. I had to research what was required to enter Japan (only vaccination card with booster), what was required for the cruise (vaccination card and COVID test), what was required to enter South Korea (K-ETA waived until the end of 2024) and Taiwan (passport only). Definately not for the faint of heart. And it is only going to get worse as the EU is spending billions of dollars for their ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) system as a reciprocity fee for the USA having an ETA for EU citizens, petty I know.

I still need to sort my flights, but I expect to spend at least one night in Yokohama near the port. I’ve been to Tokyo a few times already and want to see something new. Yokohama even has a website with tourist information.

Yokohama Official Visitors Guide – Travel Guide to Yokohama City

Explore Yokohama with the official travel guide. Find the best things to do, what’s on, events, activities, and sightseeing in a port city located only 30 minutes away from Tokyo.

I even found a nice walking map of the port area which will be handy for my day in port between cruises.

And there is a list of 5 free things to do in Yokohama. I like free activities, they are usually better than the tourist traps.

5 Things To Do for Free in Yokohama | Yokohama Official Visitors Guide – Travel Guide to Yokohama City

Japan can be expensive. From train tickets to restaurants, food and fun in Japan can put a strain on the wallet. For those looking to enjoy a day out in Yokohama while also saving some cash for big ticket purchases, look no further than this list of free things to do in Yokohama.

This will definitely be yet another one of my epic journeys.