ON TREND: JAPAN

Japan has always been a study in balance — a place where ancient rituals, innovation, contemporary art, temples, forest, & neon skylines coexist

Japan set a new tourism record in 2024 with 36.87 million international arrivals The rise in tourism to Japan reflect a deeper trend — the pursuit of aesthetic harmony, art, and cultural preservation in an increasingly digital age.You can experience the destination's popularity and also ask your travel advisor to find you hidden gem alternatives and sustainable luxury hotels

Yayoi Kusama & Japan's Art Islands

Art is shaping Japan’s new cultural map. The Setouchi Islands or Seto Inland Islands, home to the Naoshima and Teshima art projects, continue to attract travelers who crave creativity in open air. Design lovers are also making pilgrimages to Kyoto’s contemporary galleries, Tokyo’s hidden ateliers, and Kengo Kuma’s architectural masterpieces. These experiences reflect a deeper trend — the pursuit of aesthetic harmony and cultural preservation in an increasingly digital age.

You can sail to the breathtaking Seto Inland Sea on Windstar's brand new Star Seeker, where nearly every suite features a veranda or infinity window that opens to the sea.

Seabourn & the Japan You Live For

As Seabourn Encore glides through the peak of Cherry Blossom season, indulge in unparalleled opportunities to delve into Japan’s rich tapestry. Delight in exclusive experiences such as optional sake tastings and authentic noodle classes, and savor overnight stays in iconic cities like Kobe and Nagasaki. Exploring Japan is truly a celebration of the senses.

Seabourn Japan 2026 Voyages

Seabourn Encore will sail through Japan at the height of spring flowers and cherry blossom seasonal festivities before crossing the Pacific Ocean to Alaska for the summer, returning just in time for guests to delight in Japan’s fall foliage. Join us for Seabourn maiden calls to Beppu, Hososhima (Miyazaki), Toba, and Maizuru in Japan, and Sokcho, South Korea.

Complimentary 3rd Night at Shangri-La Tokyo

Step off the bullet train at Tokyo Station as a smiling, red-clad staff member from Shangri-La Tokyo greets you. You’ll be whisked through a discreet entrance directly into the 28th-floor lobby of this luxury hotel, a bastion of tranquility amid the city’s sea of neon. Given its perch atop the Marunouchi Trust Tower, you can expect many extraordinary vantage points in the 200 window-walled, Asian-urban rooms outfitted with all the latest technology. Do laps in the indoor pool with a view before dining on Italian fare at Piacere; reserve a table overlooking the Imperial Palace Gardens. You’re minutes from the Ginza’s shops.

Book with a travel advisor for exclusive benefits like daily breakfast, $100 credit, room upgrade and flexible check in/out, subject to availability.

Shangri-La Tokyo

Make the most of your stay, book from now for stays throughout 2026 in any room type (*1), reserve for two consecutive nights and receive the third night complimentary (*2).

Book Period: Now - January 31, 2026
Stay Period: Now - December 31, 2026

Tokyo with InsideJapan

To take on one of the most fascinating metorpolitan cities in the world, consider part of your time with an Inside Japan guided tour.

For your first night, you'll have a welcome dinner (included) at an izakaya tapas-style restaurant where you can get to know your Insider and meet the others in your group.

With this winter-timed Must-see Japan departures, you could spend Christmas tucking into a KFC bucket (yep) in front of Tokyo’s illuminations just like the locals do, or have your spirit cleansed in Kyoto by Chion-in temple’s huge, bronze bell ringing out 108 times to see in the New Year (one to cleanse each ‘earthly desire’).

You'll enjoy five of Japan's must-see destinations: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima (including Miyajima), Osaka, and Kamakura (optional daytrip) offering a mix of old and new, vibrant city life and quieter rural stops, and flexibility to do your own thing.

Japan & South Korea: From Tokyo to Seoul with Collette

Encounter Japan’s rich cultural heritage from Tokyo to Kyoto and the energy of Seoul in South Korea. Explore Japan’s blend of past and present through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, traveling between them on the shinkansen bullet train. Meet Japan’s ama pearl divers, see the beauty of the Golden Pavilion, and explore Gion, the historic geisha district of Kyoto. Reflect at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. In South Korea, discover Seoul’s Gyeongbok Palace, and take a tour of Korea’s infamous Demilitarized Zone. Join a conversation with a North Korean defector and enjoy a traditional lunch hosted in a Korean family’s home. The spirit of Japan and South Korea’s vibrancy shine from neon-lit streets to tranquil shrines.

InsideJapan Tour Highlights

Take an evening walking tour of Kyoto's Gion geisha district
Take a boat across Lake Ashi in the shadow of Mount Fuji
Visit Miyajima island and encounter the local wild deer-
Enjoy okonomiyaki pancakes in Hiroshima
Hike to the Daibutsu ‘Great Buddha' in Kamakura

Azamara Japan Intensive 14-night cruise Kobe, Nagasaki & Tokyo

With more overnight stays and late departures than any other cruise line, their journey is more than just a stop along the way, it’s a deeper exploration.

With The New Horizon Sale, you can enjoy up to $500* in onboard credit on select cruises, theirs to spend on premium dining, curated shore excursions, or indulgent onboard experiences.

Tokyo with Azamara

As travelers shift from material gifts to meaningful moments, a cruise through Japan stands out as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you're ready to explore this trending destination in the most effortless and enriching way, this Azamara voyage is the perfect choice.

You asked, Windstar delivered.

Windstar's newest sailing yacht & mystery cruise in Japan Summer 2027

Built for private-yacht style discovery, the 224-guest small-ship yacht offers private verandas and infinity windows in most suites, expansive decks made for glacier and wildlife viewing, and standout venues like the new Basil + Bamboo restaurant.

Guests sail from iconic ports like Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Kyoto to smaller harbors such as Karatsu and Takamatsu, where udon-making workshops and tea ceremonies await. • Exclusive Destination Discovery Event: In Tomonoura, Windstar guests explore Edoperiod streets with exclusive access to cultural treasures—live koto music, samurai sword performances, tea ceremonies, calligraphy workshops, and private entry into historic residences. • Windstar

Mystery Cruise – Now in Asia: Adventurers can embark in Hokkaido and disembark in Osaka, with each port revealed only days in advance. Featuring new-to Windstar South Korean ports, the Mystery Cruise pairs seamlessly with Grand Japan for a 21-day voyage!

Get an onboard credit of up to $200 per stateroom, good for shore excursions, treatments at World Spa by Windstar, and other amenities.
Plus, be one of the first to reserve your 2026 Windstar voyage with your travel advisor & enjoy a complimentary All-Inclusive experience, featuring Wi-Fi, unlimited select wine, beer and cocktails, and gratuities — valued at more than $1,300 per stateroom on a 7-day cruise.

Six Senses Kyoto

Six Senses Kyoto offers a refined oasis in this city’s dynamic downtown. The lifestyle brand’s debut in Japan welcomes with 81 elegantly minimalist guestrooms and suites; book one overlooking the serene Toyokuni Shrine gardens. Create your own aromatic blend before a chakra-balancing massage, sip rare Japanese spirits in the chic, speakeasy-style lounge, and savor bluefish tuna dishes at the celebrated Sushi Oga Higashiyama restaurant. Buddhist temples, cherry blossoms, and other UNESCO-designated treasures are right outside your door.

Book Six Senses Kyoto with your travel advisor for daily breakfast, $100 resort credit, flexible check in/out, room upgrades and more!

Osaka

Osaka offers a more relaxed yet equally exciting contrast to Tokyo's hustle. Stroll through the neon-lit alleys of Dotonbori, feast on local specialties like takoyaki and okonomiyaki, or dive into history at Osaka Castle. From the bustling markets of Kuromon Ichiba to the futuristic skyline of Umeda, Osaka combines a dynamic urban vibe with a rich cultural heritage that captivates every traveler.

Japan is layered with etiquette, history, symbolism, and regional nuance. A Keytours guide doesn’t just recite facts — they help you decode what you’re seeing. A guided tour - even half day- is something that usually ends up being the highlight of your itinerary.

Osaka is vibrant, electric, and full of culinary treasures — but it can be dizzying for first-timers. A half-day tour with Keytours removes all the friction:

No navigating complex train lines
No guessing which food stall is the real local favorite
No worrying about cultural missteps
No time lost figuring out where to go next

A tour with Keytours might seem like a small detail in your travel planning — but in Japan, it can be priceless.

Book with a travel advisor now until November 30, 2025 for complimentary travel protection for land-only bookings over $10,000 or air & land bookings over $15,000.

Save 15% when staying 2 nights at St. Regis Osaka

Osaka is known for its cherry blossoms, namesake castle, street food, and The St. Regis Osaka. Book with a MVT advisor to receive these exclusive benefits:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant
$100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Art of effortless cruising

At Princess, exploring Japan is more than a journey—it’s a seamless cultural immersion. Our cruises are designed to let you experience vibrant cities, serene countryside, and timeless traditions without the usual travel stress. Glide between iconic destinations like Nagasaki, Kyoto, and Hiroshima—no packing, train schedules, or language barriers. Onboard, enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine, cultural performances, and thoughtful touches that reflect the spirit of Japan. With Princess, Japan isn’t just a destination—it’s a story you’ll live, effortlessly.

A travel advisor becomes a bridge between you and this once faraway destination — and they have insider knowledge that elevates everything that follows.

They can offer lived-in experience that you cannot find from a website, like suggesting a guided tour in a certain city – travelers often say that their tour guide was the highlight of their entire trip — someone who felt like a new friend by the end of the day.

In a alluring country like Japan and its islands, a travel advisor is a valuable asset and can help you make the most of your time traveling.