ASUKA III – Spring Voyage

Day 01 (Wed, 21 Apr’27)
Singapore – Haneda – Yokohama
(-/-/Dinner)
Hotel: Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers or similar

Arriving in Haneda this afternoon, transfer over to your hotel in Yokohama where you will have time to rest and prepare for your voyage tomorrow.

Day 02 (Thu, 22 Apr’27)
Yokohama
(Breakfast/-/Dinner)
Hotel: On board ASUKA III

Spend the morning free at leisure before you board ASUKA III later this afternoon. One of Japan’s most celebrated luxury cruise liners, ASUKA III’s philosophy is simple: to give every guest their own version of the finest time afloat. Carrying just 680 guests served by a crew of approximately 490, the level of care and attention on board is something that larger international liners simply cannot replicate. Every stateroom comes with a private balcony, and the interiors throughout the ship are a seamless blend of contemporary comfort and Japanese aesthetic sensibility, with multiple original commissioned artworks woven into the corridors, lounges, and dining spaces. Stepping aboard ASUKA III is to step into a world where hospitality, craftsmanship, and culture are one.

Day 03 (Fri, 23 Apr’27)
At Sea
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: On board ASUKA III 

Dining on board is an event in itself. The ship’s six distinctive restaurants offer everything from elegant Western dining and French haute cuisine to traditional Japanese kaiseki and presentation-style Italian, ensuring that every meal is an occasion in its own right. Whatever your mood or appetite, there is always something exceptional to look forward to at the table.

Beyond the table, the Grand Spa at the bow offers a panoramic indoor bath with views of the ocean ahead, as well as an outdoor bath where you can soak beneath the open sky. Wellness classes, a fully equipped fitness centre, a salon and spa offering a range of beauty and body treatments, and a 426m promenade deck for a morning walk with nothing but ocean on all sides complete a picture of wellbeing that is as restorative as it is indulgent.

Day 04 (Sat, 24 Apr’27)
Murora
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: On board ASUKA III

Today’s excursion takes you to the stunning caldera lake of Lake Toya, one of Hokkaido’s most scenic natural treasures. The lake’s glassy waters are ringed by volcanic peaks, and its clarity and calm create a landscape of exceptional beauty in the fresh spring air.

While here, take part in a relaxing herb tea blending experience at Herbal Ranch, a herb garden on a hill overlooking the lake. Pick your choice of herbs fresh from the garden, then savour your own original blend alongside the picturesque views of Lake Toya.

Enjoy a sweet treat at Lake Hill Farm, a charming farm shop and gelato parlour perched on a small hill with lovely views. Serving up 20 varieties of gelato made using milk from the farm itself, the seasonal flavours crafted from locally grown fruits and vegetables are not to be missed.

Day 05 (Sun, 25 Apr’27)
Sakata
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: On board ASUKA III

Docking in Sakata, visit one of Japan’s most quietly remarkable cultural institutions, the Ken Domon Museum of Photography. Japan’s first museum devoted solely to photography, the museum is dedicated to works by Sakata local and renowned photographer, Ken Domon. Designed by acclaimed architect Yoshio Taniguchi, with landscaping and various elements produced by famous artists, and set beside a pond surrounded by nature, the building itself is a work of art.

From there, explore the lively Sakata Seafood Market, where the freshest catch from the Sea of Japan is on full display, a wonderful opportunity to browse, sample, and soak in the energy of one of the Shonai region’s most important maritime traditions.

Day 06 (Mon, 26 Apr’27)
Aomori
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: On board ASUKA III

From the port of Aomori, today begins at the Towada Art Center, a contemporary art museum whose works were created specifically for the space by internationally celebrated artists including Yayoi Kusama. Each piece of art is incorporated into the museum’s building and seemingly on display for the world to see. Art here is not always found where you would expect it to be and often spills out into the surrounding city streets in unexpected and delightful ways.

From there, follow the gentle path along the Oirase Stream, where the gorge’s ancient forest of white cedar, Japanese beech, and maple trees is just beginning to come to life. In late April, the foliage is young and tender, the greens fresh and luminous, and the clear mountain waters of the stream run with a particular energy after the snowmelt, creating a quietly beautiful scene that is distinctly its own.

The site of the three-storey Hirosaki Castle, a historical monument, Hirosaki Park is one of Japan’s most celebrated cherry blossom destinations. Home to over 2,500 cherry trees which transforms the park into a sea of gorgeous pink and blossoms each spring, it is easy to see why this is one of the most popular cherry blossom-viewing spots in Tohoku. Enjoy the canopies of beautiful flowers throughout the park and the annual cherry blossom festival held at this time.

Day 07 (Tue, 27 Apr’27)
At Sea
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: On board ASUKA III

Another unhurried day at sea, and a chance to savour everything that makes life on board ASUKA III so special. The ship’s state-of-the-art theatre hosts the signature Performing Arts programme each evening, where music, dance, and breathtaking visual artistry come together in shows unlike anything found on other cruise liners. Jazz, classical, and pop performances fill the lounges throughout the day, while the Vista Lounge at the bow offers panoramic ocean views that make it a particularly magical spot as the sun goes down. For those who prefer a quieter afternoon, the ship’s boutiques, a dedicated books and café, and the casino offer their own unhurried pleasures. However you choose to spend the day, ASUKA III makes it effortless to simply enjoy being at sea.

Day 08 (Wed, 28 Apr’27)
Hitachinaka
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: On board ASUKA III

Witness one of nature’s most spectacular spring shows today at Hitachi Seaside Park. Spread across a vast coastal park on the Pacific shore, rolling hills are carpeted in millions of baby blue nemophila flowers at the peak of their bloom, a breathtaking expanse of colour that has made this one of Japan’s most photographed spring sights. Bright yellow canola and colourful tulipd add to the floral tapestry across the park’s many gardens and open spaces.

The afternoon takes you to Kairakuen, one of Japan’s three most celebrated landscape gardens. Constructed by the Mito clan lord Nariaki Tokugawa in 1842 with the intention of sharing its beauty with both nobles and commoners alike, the garden is a beautifully composed space of plum groves, cedar forests, bamboo thickets, and meandering paths leading to the elegant Kobuntei pavilion.

Day 09 (Thu, 29 Apr’27)
Yokohama – Tokyo
(Breakfast/Lunch/-)
Hotel: The Tokyo Station Hotel or similar

Disembarking at Yokohama, bid a fond farewell to ASUKA III before heading to the historic seaside town of Kamakura, once the seat of Japan’s feudal government and today a treasure trove of temples, shrines, and cultural heritage. Pay a visit to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the spiritual heart of Kamakura marked by towering vermilion torii gates making an immediate impression. Not to be missed is also the famous Great Buddha of Kamakura, an 11.4m bronze statue of Amida Buddha that has sat serenely in the open air since the 13th century, its surrounding hall long since lost to storms and time. Cast in 1252 and remarkably intact, it is the second tallest bronze Buddha in Japan and one of the country’s most enduring and moving works of art.

Day 10 (Fri, 30 Apr’27)
Tokyo
(Breakfast/-/-)
Hotel: The Tokyo Station Hotel or similar

Free and easy 

Day 11 (Sat, 01 May’27)
Tokyo – Haneda – Singapore
(Breakfast/-/-)

Flight back to Singapore