With Japan reopening to tourists for the first time since 2020, Azamara® – the upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences – is excited to offer brand-new travel experiences allowing guests to dive deeper into this trending destination, including new pre- and post-voyage land programs as well as new shore excursions in maiden port, Niigata.
Travelers are invited aboard Azamara’s popular and nearly sold out Japan Country Intensive voyages, including Azamara Quest’s back-to-back 15-Night Japan Intensive Voyage in March, to discover the hidden secrets of Japan’s local culture and history through new experiences such as wine tastings in a local miso and soy sauce factory in Akita, mangrove kayaking in Ishigaki, exploring the Seiben Garden in Aomori, and much more. Guests will also have the chance to explore the cruise line’s new maiden port, Niigata, known for its scenic mountains and expansive rice fields as it sits on the Sea of Japan.
Azamara will also offer a special three-night pre- or post-voyage land journey to the new Historic Tokyo and Hot Spring in Hakone, where guests can immerse themselves in the traditions of Tokyo as they travel back in time to the samurai-era Edo. Famous for its hot springs, natural beauty, and views across Lake Ashinoko of nearby Mount Fuji, guests can enjoy an overnight stay in a Japanese ryokan in Hakone to rejuvenate body and soul with an authentic onsen (hot spring) bath experience, learn the dynamics of samurai aesthetics through a batto (swordsmanship) and tea ceremony, and understand local ritual traditions like taiko drumming lessons in a nearby drum shop in Asakusa.