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Cruise · Holland America Line · 28 nights

28-day circle Japan

  • Explore Japan's cultural and historical highlights
  • Scenic cruising through stunning waterways
  • Onboard enrichment and entertainment program
From
$8,259 pp twin share
28 nights
Cruise Snapshot
28 Nights

Immerse yourself in Japan's captivating culture and history on this 28-night cruise, exploring iconic cities and scenic wonders from Tokyo to Tokyo

  • Discover ancient traditions and modern marvels in Japan's top destinations
  • Cruise the stunning Kanmon Strait and Maizuru Bay
  • Enjoy enriching onboard experiences and entertainment

Trip Details

Departs
26 September 2027
Returns
24 October 2027
Operator
Holland America Line

28-night Asia cruise from Tokyo, Japan to Tokyo, Japan aboard Noordam.

Calling at Shimizu, Osaka, Hiroshima, Busan, Sakaiminato, Maizuru, Kanazawa, Hakodate, Miyako, Hitachinaka, Kochi, Fukuoka, Yeosu, Niigata and Aomori, with 4 days at sea.

Noordam is a Holland America Line Vista-class ship that entered service in 2006, carrying around 1,970 guests. A regular in Australian and New Zealand waters, she offers the line's classic mid-size experience with a notable art collection, the Greenhouse Spa and Pinnacle Grill dining.

Stateroom categories range from Interior to Signature Suite.

When & how much

Departures & Pricing

Departs
26 September 2027
Returns 24 October 2027
Returns
24 October 2027
Duration
28 nights
From pp twin share
$8,259 pp
  • 26 Sep 2027 - 24 Oct 2027
    from $7,239 pp twin share *
Additional Pricing Information
  • Interior from $7,239 pp twin share
  • Ocean View from $7,829 pp twin share
  • Verandah from $10,809 pp twin share
  • Signature Suite from $14,959 pp twin share

* Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.

Upgrades, transfers, accommodation and more can be quoted on enquiry — call 1300 414 198.

Life in transit

Noordam

Noordam
Details · Holland America Line
Noordam

Noordam is a Holland America Line Vista-class ship that entered service in 2006, carrying around 1,970 guests. A regular in Australian and New Zealand waters, she offers the line's classic mid-size experience with a notable art collection, the Greenhouse Spa and Pinnacle Grill dining.

Guests
1,916
Crew
800
Gross tonnage
82,500
Speed
23 knots
Length
285 m
Launched
2006
Deck plans
11
Noordam · Deck plans

Deck 11 — Sports Deck

Noordam — Deck 11 — Sports Deck deck plan

Source: Holland America Line, captured 5 August 2026. Deck plans are provided by the cruise line and are subject to change at any time.

Day by day

Itinerary

  1. 1

    Tokyo, Japan

    Departs 07:00 pm.

    Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza, an international shopping mecca, stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience.

  2. 2

    Shimizu, Japan

    Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.

  3. 3

    Osaka (for Kyoto), Japan

    Arrives 11:00 am, departs 11:59 pm.

    For centuries, Osaka was Japan's cultural and commercial gateway to Asia - the point of entry both for trade goods and, most importantly, cultural influences that shaped Japanese society. From tea to Zen, from art to science and philosophy, Osaka was Japan's contact with the great East Asian cultures that flourished in China and Korea. The city reached its zenith in the late 16th century, when the great feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi made Osaka his capital. Toyotomi was master of Japan, and an immense administrative and commercial center rapidly developed around Osaka Castle. After Toyotomi's death, the nation's seat of power shifted from Osaka to a sleepy little fishing village called Edo - modern Tokyo. While overshadowed by Tokyo, Osaka remains Japan's second largest city and a vital commercial center.Modern Osaka is home to monuments from Japan's past including Toyotomi's immense castle and the Sumiyoshi Shrine. The city is also your gateway to Kyoto, Japan's ancient imperial capital and the nation's cultural and spiritual center.

  4. 4

    At Sea

  5. 5

    Hiroshima, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:59 pm.

    On August 6, 1945, human history was irrevocably altered when the American bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The bomb was code-named "Little Boy," but its detonation left half the city in ruins and aflame. Today, Hiroshima is a monument not only to the destructive forces harnessed by men but also to the indomitable will of the human spirit to overcome tragedy. At the heart of the city lies Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome. The gutted walls of the city's old Industry Promotion Hall and the skeletal frame that supported its copper dome, vaporized in the blast, are instantly recognizable symbols of Hiroshima.Travelers to Hiroshima will discover a more serene note at nearby Miyajima Island. One of the top-three scenic spots of Japan, the island is home to ancient Itsukushima Shrine, a designated National Treasure.

  6. 6

    Scenic Cruising Kanmon Strait

  7. 7

    Busan, South Korea

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

    The second largest city in South Korea, Busan is your gateway to a fascinating land whose culture is a unique amalgam of old and new. Modern high-rise towers dwarf ancient Buddhist temples. The city's bustling business district offers a stark contrast to the serene grounds of Yongdusan Park. In short, Busan is a microcosm of South Korea, a nation whose startling economic success often obscures one of Asia's most sophisticated and venerable cultures.Busan was the scene of bitter fighting during the Korean War. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery marks the final resting place for the troops from 16 nations who gave their lives during the conflict.

  8. 8

    Sakaiminato, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

  9. 9

    Scenic cruising Maizuru Bay

  10. 9

    Maizuru, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 09:00 pm.

  11. 10

    Kanazawa, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

  12. 11

    At Sea

  13. 12

    Hakodate, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

    It took Commodore Perry and American gunboat diplomacy to open Japan to the outside world after two centuries of self-imposed isolation. In 1859, the port of Hakodate became the first Japanese city fully opened to Westerners under the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Foreigners soon flocked to Hakodate, and today visitors wandering the cobblestone streets of the city's Motomachi District can view their Western-style frame houses. Hakodate, once a fishing port famed for its high quality fish and shellfish, quickly became Hokkaido's largest city and one of Japan's most important ports. The Great Hakodate Fire of 1934 dealt the city a near fatal blow - a blow from which Hakodate was slow to recover. Today the city is Hokkaido's third largest - surpassed by Sapporo and Asahikawa - but retains its foremost position as the finest Japanese producer of sushi's raw product: the high quality seafood caught in Hokkaido's cold waters.It may not compare to Tokyo's Tsukiji's Fish Market, but at Hakodate's four-block-long Morning Market, vendors offer a stunning array of fresh fish and shellfish prized for sushi including salmon roe, sea urchin, scallops and crab. Restaurants and food stands prepare a wide arrange of dishes including domburi topped with fresh seafood.

  14. 13

    Miyako, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

  15. 14

    Hitachinaka, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

  16. 15

    Tokyo, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

    Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza, an international shopping mecca, stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience.

  17. 16

    Shimizu, Japan

    Arrives 07:00 am, departs 03:00 pm.

  18. 17

    Osaka (for Kyoto), Japan

    Arrives 10:00 am, departs 09:00 pm.

    For centuries, Osaka was Japan's cultural and commercial gateway to Asia - the point of entry both for trade goods and, most importantly, cultural influences that shaped Japanese society. From tea to Zen, from art to science and philosophy, Osaka was Japan's contact with the great East Asian cultures that flourished in China and Korea. The city reached its zenith in the late 16th century, when the great feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi made Osaka his capital. Toyotomi was master of Japan, and an immense administrative and commercial center rapidly developed around Osaka Castle. After Toyotomi's death, the nation's seat of power shifted from Osaka to a sleepy little fishing village called Edo - modern Tokyo. While overshadowed by Tokyo, Osaka remains Japan's second largest city and a vital commercial center.Modern Osaka is home to monuments from Japan's past including Toyotomi's immense castle and the Sumiyoshi Shrine. The city is also your gateway to Kyoto, Japan's ancient imperial capital and the nation's cultural and spiritual center.

  19. 18

    Kochi, Japan

    Arrives 10:00 am, departs 09:00 pm.

    Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.Kochi is one of the wettest places in Japan - and a frequent target for cyclonic storms or typhoons. Southeast of the city, warm oceans currents washing against the Aki Mountains create a subtropical landscape of hibiscus, palm and ficus at Muroto-Anan Quasi-National Park.

  20. 19

    Scenic Cruising Kanmon Strait

  21. 20

    Fukuoka (Hakata), Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

  22. 21

    Yeosu, South Korea

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

  23. 22

    At Sea

  24. 23

    Maizuru, Japan

    Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.

  25. 24

    Niigata, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

  26. 25

    Hakodate, Japan

    Arrives 10:00 am, departs 11:00 pm.

    It took Commodore Perry and American gunboat diplomacy to open Japan to the outside world after two centuries of self-imposed isolation. In 1859, the port of Hakodate became the first Japanese city fully opened to Westerners under the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Foreigners soon flocked to Hakodate, and today visitors wandering the cobblestone streets of the city's Motomachi District can view their Western-style frame houses. Hakodate, once a fishing port famed for its high quality fish and shellfish, quickly became Hokkaido's largest city and one of Japan's most important ports. The Great Hakodate Fire of 1934 dealt the city a near fatal blow - a blow from which Hakodate was slow to recover. Today the city is Hokkaido's third largest - surpassed by Sapporo and Asahikawa - but retains its foremost position as the finest Japanese producer of sushi's raw product: the high quality seafood caught in Hokkaido's cold waters.It may not compare to Tokyo's Tsukiji's Fish Market, but at Hakodate's four-block-long Morning Market, vendors offer a stunning array of fresh fish and shellfish prized for sushi including salmon roe, sea urchin, scallops and crab. Restaurants and food stands prepare a wide arrange of dishes including domburi topped with fresh seafood.

  27. 26

    Aomori, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

    The capital of the Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan, Aomori derives much of its beauty from the apple orchards and cherry blossoms that encompass its landscape and the snow-covered Hakkoda Mountains that look on from a distance. Throughout its history, the city has been stricken with misfortune time and time again - in 1910, a fire destroyed Aomori, and during World War II, the city was left in ruins following an air raid - yet it always prevails.Aomori is perhaps best known for its renowned Nebuta Festival, an elaborate yearly event in which participants illuminate giant paper representations of samurai warriors, animals, and popular cartoon characters while parading them through the streets.

  28. 27

    Miyako, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

  29. 28

    At Sea

  30. 29

    Tokyo, Japan

    Arrives 08:00 am.

    Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza, an international shopping mecca, stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience.

What you get for the price

Inclusions & exclusions

What’s included

  • Dining in the main Dining Room and casual venues
  • Live music venues and nightly entertainment
  • Fitness centre and swimming pools
  • Enrichment programme and port talks
Where you’ll stay

Accommodation

Noordam is a Holland America Line Vista-class ship that entered service in 2006, carrying around 1,970 guests. A regular in Australian and New Zealand waters, she offers the line's classic mid-size experience with a notable art collection, the Greenhouse Spa and Pinnacle Grill dining.

Stateroom categories available on this sailing: Signature Suite, Verandah, Ocean View and Interior.

From the operator

Common questions about this voyage

How long is this journey?
This itinerary runs for 29 days and 28 nights.
When can I travel?
Departures are currently scheduled between 26 Sep 2027 and 24 Oct 2027, subject to live availability.
What is generally included?
Inclusions typically cover guided touring and selected experiences, with exact details listed in the itinerary.
What style of accommodation is used?
Accommodation is pre-arranged as part of the journey, with specific properties shown in the trip details.
Ready to lock in?

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From (twin) $8,259 pp
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