An Oceania cruise is the best way to see Japan

Andrea Black scaled
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Published on
4.6
Editor Rating
★★★★☆
A woman getting a hot stone massage on an Oceania Cruises ship
The Baristas Lounge on an Oceania Cruises ship
The library onboard an Oceania Cruises ship
The Oceania Nautica
Tortellini at Toscana restaurant on an Oceania Cruises ship
The pool deck on an Oceania Cruises ship
Accommodation
80%
Food & Drinks
70%
Price
60%
Activities
70%
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Pros

  • There is a great array of immersive shore excursions with local guides.
  • All dining options are included in the fare and the food is fantastic.
  • The little touches in the staterooms like the turndown gifts and Bulgari amenities.
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Cons

  • While Oceania Cruises has a higher price point, it’s worth the money.
  • If you’re looking for big ticket entertainment at night, this is not what you’ll find on the ship.

It’s cherry-blossom season in Japan, parks and streets are awash in glorious pink and white. In Yokohama, the blooms are bursting in Sankeien Garden. It’s a clear day, and beyond the petals we can make out Mt Fuji.

I’m on the “Highlights of Yokohama” shore excursion with Oceania Cruises, our ship, the recently refurbished 342-stateroom Nautica is close by in Tokyo Bay. We’re lucky to be here in the sakura season marking the beginning of spring. It’s a nice reminder of “being in the moment” and we’re certainly in no rush to tick off the sights. Our guide talks us through the blossoming calendar on display.

The photo board shows all that we will see from white wisteria to pink azaleas. He also leads us through the array of architecture in the park. Somewhat of an outdoor museum, there are 17 historic buildings amongst the foliage, including a pagoda constructed in 1457 in Kyoto. Along the way, we leisurely spot carp, turtles, eels and cats.

Next on this sunny March day, we’ll be transported to the top of The Yokohama Landmark Tower to take in the panorama before exploring Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Japan. It’s been a fascinating morning, we’ve seen beautiful blooms and buildings, found our bearings, and now the time is ours to explore as we please.

The temples and cherry blossoms of Japan
The temples and cherry blossoms of Japan.

Why Australians love Japan

It’s no secret that Australians are heading to Japan in increasing numbers. According to Japan National Tourism Organization data, 613,100 Australians visited Japan in 2023. With a strong Aussie dollar against the yen, and an endless array of culinary and cultural options, it’s easy to be enticed. And it’s even easier to see the appeal of a cruise in Japan. On the Taiwan to Tokyo 12-day sailing aboard Nautica we sail into ports to enjoy these in-depth discoveries every day. On the final five days I have explored Hiroshima, Kobe (giving us the option of visiting Osaka or Kyoto), then Nagoya and finally Yokohama and Tokyo.

Navigating sprawling cities from airports or even train stations can be difficult, even if you can speak Japanese.  On a cruise, you will sail into a central port and can decide to spend the morning getting to know the cultural, culinary and historic highlights on an excursion and then take your time exploring, knowing that your luxury haven will be waiting on the harbour. And there’s no need to worry about getting lost. Oceania Cruises’ daily newsletter, Currents, lists the exact address where the ship is in Japanese and English, to show to a taxi driver or train-station attendant. There’s also an emergency phone number to call.

The shore excursions with Oceania

Oceania Cruises offers in-depth excursions because they partner with the best guides available in each port. In Hiroshima, on the Peace Memorial Park & Museum excursion, we meet our guide Keiko, who took on the role of a guide to honour her parents, both survivors of the atomic-bomb explosion in the city on 6 August 1945.

Our small tour group wanders amongst the cherry blossoms and oleanders along the banks of the Motoyasu River at Peace Memorial Park, where Keiko explains the horror of that day, the bomb killing perhaps 80,000 instantly, with a death toll reaching 140,000 by the end of that year. On site is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where the introductory exhibit shows a 3D projection of the city before and after the devastation. Keiko then takes us to see the statue of Sadako Sasaki before telling the story of the 1000 paper cranes.

“A sign of good luck in Japanese folklore says that a crane can live for a thousand years, and a person who folds an origami crane for each year of a crane’s life will have their wish granted,” she says.

“Sadako folded more than 1000 but she died (of leukaemia from the atomic bomb) at just 12 years old.”

The plaque underneath reads: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.”  Our group, mostly Americans and Australians, stands in solemn silence and unity with Keiko.

After our tour there’s enough time to wander around this beautiful city, and even sit down for to sample the local delicacies (here it’s okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake with pork) before leisurely returning to the ship. This became a common theme. In Osaka, I’d sit down to takoyaki (octopus balls), in Nagoya it was an izakaya to sample hitsumabushi (unagi and rice). As Nautica sails out of Hiroshima Harbour, two locals at the port fly semaphore flags signalling U and W meaning “I wish you a pleasant voyage”. 

The famous site of Hiroshima in Japan
The famous site of Hiroshima in Japan

The food on Oceania’s Nautica

After cocktail hour, it’s dinner time aboard Nautica. We could choose an a la carte experience at The Grand Dining Room, a more relaxed meal (perhaps grilled fish prepared to order, or sushi) at the Terrace Café, or even order room service, but we’re keen to take it up a notch. There are two specialty restaurants on board, and they come at no extra cost. At steakhouse Polo Grill, one might order Maine lobster one night and slow-roasted prime rib the next.

My pick of restaurants is the Italian-inspired Toscana, where a stacked trolley of olive oil is wheeled around along with freshy baked bread. Their impossibly fresh mozzarella di bufala caprese salad, followed by linguine cioppino with seafood in a light pinot grigio and cherry tomato sauce, were both worthy of Oceania Cruises registered claim to serve the “finest cuisine at sea”.

Feasting on culinary delights can be balanced out with daily complimentary fitness classes at the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre. Vinyasa yoga, Pilates and even HIIT workouts are on offer, as are several excellent treatments. I opted for the revitalising “vital bamboo massage”, where warm bamboo stalks are utilised to work deeper than hands alone.

Japanese eel and rice in a bowl
Some of the dishes at Red Ginger are Japanese-inspired

Life onboard the Nautica

Afterwards, I might take a seat in the inviting library to leaf through the collection while perched on an overstuffed leather chair with nailhead trim. The design of suites and public areas reflects the opulence of the Hollywood Regency period of the 1930s. The soft blues, metallic silver and glass with ample curves, velvets and bold patterns complement the glorious ocean views outside. My Veranda Stateroom features a private teak veranda, Bulgari amenities and, as a closing treat, Belgian chocolates on the pillow with turndown service.

Mornings are spent drinking barista-made coffee while taking in the view at Horizons, an observation lounge with dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s here that I meet cruise director Leslie Jon, it’s his job to make sure every guest is having a fabulous time. Just the night before, I saw him on stage introducing the guest pianist and comedian in the Nautica Lounge to much applause. A former Hollywood performer himself, he knew how to work the room.

“I will tell you this, when we have Australians onboard, they make for great audiences because they want to have a great time,” he says. There was dancing afterwards. Jon has been entertaining at sea for 52 years and is nearing retirement. He’s seen it all at sea. I ask him his favourite country to sail in. He looks out at the vista: the sky is blue, there’s a new adventure around every corner and in the distance, there are cherry blossoms framing the scene.

“I have to say cruising through Japan, I just love it here,” he says.


Expert tips

Favourite meal: Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded Jibundoki (savorjapan.com/0004027463/) is walkable (or a short taxi ride) from the port of Yokohama. A meal for two featuring tempura as well as tuna sashimi and agedashi tomago with drinks in a private room comes in at under $100.

What to pack: Why not dress up? Evening dresses, some slacks (that aren’t jeans), and a crisp shirt and blazer should be on top of any cruiser’s packing list. Dinners at specialty restaurants and The Grand Dining Room call for elegance. Make it an event!

Secret tip: In Kobe, the ship docks right near a train station offering shinkansen (bullet trains) to Osaka in just 13 minutes or Kyoto in 28 minutes. Plan for a half-day excursion in your city of choice and then stay there for the rest of the day and make your way back on the train. Easy!

How to book: Oceania Cruises currently has 18 voyages scheduled to travel through Busan and Japan from now until 2026. These voyages are either aboard Regatta (Nautica’s sister ship, catering for 656 guests) or Riveria (1250 guests). 

For information on Oceania Cruises’ luxury small ships, visit OceaniaCruises.com, or call 1300 355 200

1 thought on “An Oceania cruise is the best way to see Japan”

  1. Food on Nautica must be massively better than Regatta, which would be lucky to score 20%

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