Japan & South Korea Spring Cruise with Azamara Cruises
Seoul to Tokyo | 16 April – 30 April 2027
15 days from $11,949 per person twin share
(Price based on V3 Veranda Stateroom. Single occupancy and cabin upgrade prices on application.)
A 15-day ocean cruise through two of Asia's most captivating countries, sailing from Seoul to Tokyo aboard the intimate Azamara Quest. This voyage visits 11 ports across South Korea and Japan in mid-spring, one of the most beautiful times of the year to be in this part of the world, with three overnight stays giving you the rare gift of evenings in port after the day-trippers have gone home.
Exclusive Bonus Inclusions when booking this Selected Voyage with Emma Whiting Travel
$250 Emma Whiting Travel voucher per person
Bonus USD $100 onboard credit per cabin
Welcome bottle of champagne per cabin
What’s Included
14 nights aboard Azamara Quest in your selected stateroom
Access to a variety of dining venues and 24-hour room service
Beer, wine and spirits all day and night
Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas
AzAmazing Evenings event (on most voyages)
Onboard gratuities
Shuttle service to and from port communities, where available
Unlimited self-service laundry
Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
All taxes, fees and local charges
$250 Emma Whiting Travel voucher per person
Bonus USD $100 onboard credit per cabin
Welcome bottle of champagne per cabin
Spring in Japan and South Korea
There is something almost ceremonial about Japan in April. The cherry blossoms that sweep the country from south to north have a quality that photographs can only partially capture. That particular softness of pink against old wood, the way the petals drift across castle grounds and temple gardens, the feeling of being somewhere ancient and alive at the same time. To be in Japan during spring is to understand why so many people return again and again.
South Korea in spring carries its own quieter beauty. In Yeosu, camellia-covered islands sit above clear blue coastal water. In Busan, you can follow paths between temples and beaches, take the cable car above the city, or lose an afternoon in the kind of seafood market that reminds you how much of the world still moves at the pace of the tide. The contrast between Korean and Japanese culture, even across a short stretch of water, is one of the great pleasures of a voyage like this.
Travelling east across the Sea of Japan, the route moves through Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe and the approach to Mount Fuji before finishing in Tokyo. Each port reveals a different layer of the country. The ramen stalls and ancient ruins of Kyushu, the profound stillness of Hiroshima, the sophistication of Kobe, the scale and energy of Japan's great capital city. Arriving by sea into each of them feels, every time, like a small privilege.
Why this Journey
This voyage has been selected for travellers who want to experience Japan and South Korea in real depth, rather than skimming the surface from a large ship with a bus full of fellow passengers. Azamara Quest carries around 690 guests, a fraction of the size of mainstream cruise ships, which means quieter ports, more relaxed embarkation and a gentler pace both onboard and ashore.
The itinerary is built around time in port. Three overnight stays in Busan, Kobe and Tokyo give you evenings on your own terms: dinner at a local restaurant, a wander through a neighbourhood after dark, or simply sitting somewhere with a drink and watching the city come alive. Extended destination days across most ports mean that even a single day ashore feels genuinely unhurried.
Through booking with Emma Whiting Travel, guests also receive a $250 Emma Whiting Travel voucher per person, a bonus USD $100 onboard credit per cabin and a welcome bottle of champagne per cabin to enjoy as you set sail from Incheon.
Journey Highlights
15-day cruise from Seoul (Incheon) to Tokyo
Three overnight stays: Busan, Kobe and Tokyo
11 ports across South Korea and Japan
Yeosu, Busan and the southern Korean coast
Fukuoka - the gateway to Kyushu, famous for its food culture
Kitakyushu, Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial
Beppu's extraordinary hot spring landscapes
Kochi Castle and the local food markets
Kobe - a short journey from Kyoto and Nara
Shimizu, with views towards Mount Fuji
Tokyo overnight stay before disembarkation
AzAmazing Evenings cultural experience
Smaller ship access to less crowded ports
Warm, attentive service in an intimate onboard atmosphere
The Experience
Days aboard Azamara Quest settle into a rhythm that suits this part of the world well. Mornings tend to begin early, when the ship is pulling into port and the light is still gentle over the rooftops. Days are long and full, with temples, markets, meals eaten standing up and conversations struck up with strangers. Evenings return you to a ship that feels genuinely welcoming, scaled for people rather than numbers.
Onboard, you will find multiple dining venues including the specialty restaurants Aqualina and Prime C, a spa, a fitness centre, a pool deck and a collection of bars and lounges. The mood is relaxed and unpretentious. This is a ship where guests tend to be curious, well-travelled and genuinely interested in where they are going. The lack of waterslides and theme park entertainment is, for many, precisely the point.
Azamara's signature AzAmazing Evenings event adds a cultural dimension that most cruises cannot offer. A privately arranged local experience ashore, usually held in a setting that would be inaccessible to independent travellers. It is the kind of evening that stays with you, and it arrives included in your fare.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Seoul (Incheon), South Korea Board Azamara Quest this evening at Incheon, the port city west of Seoul, and settle into life onboard before departing at 10pm.
Day 2 – At Sea A full day at sea to explore the ship, enjoy the spa or simply settle into the gentle rhythm of the voyage.
Day 3 – Yeosu, South Korea Spend a full day in this beautiful coastal city, known for its island archipelago, camellia-covered Odongdo Island and the Hyangiram clifftop hermitage.
Days 4 & 5 – Busan, South Korea (Overnight) Two days in South Korea's second city, with temples, beaches, markets and mountains, and an evening in port to explore on your own terms.
Day 6 – Fukuoka, Japan Arrive in Kyushu's largest city, home to the ramen that bears its name, atmospheric yatai street stalls and the ruins of Fukuoka Castle.
Day 7 – Kitakyushu, Japan A city with a remarkable story, one that came close to a very different fate in 1945 and has spent the decades since embracing its past while looking firmly forward.
Day 8 – Hiroshima, Japan Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then take the short ferry across to Miyajima Island and the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine.
Day 9 – Beppu, Japan One of Japan's most famous hot spring towns, known for the theatrical Hells of Beppu with its vivid geothermal pools in every colour and temperature, and the restorative pleasure of a traditional onsen.
Day 10 – Kochi, Japan Visit Kochi Castle, one of only 12 original castles still standing in Japan, before exploring the local Sunday market and tasting the region's signature seared bonito.
Days 11 & 12 – Kobe, Japan (Overnight) Famous for its beef and its cosmopolitan character, Kobe sits within easy reach of Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, giving you a full day and an evening to explore the region at your own pace.
Day 13 – Shimizu (Mt Fuji), Japan A port town nestled below Mount Fuji, with views across the Miho-no-Matsubara pine grove towards the mountain. On a clear day, one of Japan's most iconic sights.
Days 14 & 15 – Tokyo, Japan (Overnight into Disembarkation) Arrive in one of the world's great cities. A full day and an overnight stay give you the space to begin exploring, or to simply sit with a coffee in a neighbourhood you have never visited before.
Day 15 – Disembarkation, Tokyo After breakfast onboard, farewell Azamara Quest and the team, carrying with you a journey through one of the most remarkable parts of the world.
The Cruise
Azamara Quest is a mid-sized boutique ship designed for people who care more about where they are going than how big the pool is. With around 690 guests, the ship strikes the kind of balance that is genuinely difficult to find at sea: small enough to feel personal and unhurried, yet large enough to offer genuine variety with multiple restaurants and bars, a spa, a fitness centre, a pool deck and a full evening entertainment programme.
The ship's staterooms and suites range from well-appointed interior cabins through to ocean view rooms, verandas and a range of full suites including the expansive World Owner's Suite and the newer Grandview and Panorama Suites. Veranda staterooms offer private outdoor space and open air views throughout the voyage.
What sets Azamara Quest apart most is the culture of the ship itself. Warm, curious and genuinely interested in the destinations it visits, staffed by a crew that tends to stay for years. It is, in the best possible sense, a boutique hotel at sea.
Why book this selected departure through Emma Whiting Travel
Booking this selected departure through Emma Whiting Travel means you sail with the addition of exclusive inclusions that go beyond what is available through general booking channels.
Guests booking through Emma Whiting Travel receive:
$250 Emma Whiting Travel voucher per person
Bonus USD $100 onboard credit per cabin
Welcome bottle of champagne per cabin
Beyond the inclusions themselves, you are booking with a team who know this product and this region well. Our consultants can help you think through cabin selection, pre and post cruise extensions, flights and any additional nights in Seoul or Tokyo. We take care of the details because we understand that the journey begins long before you board.
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Prices are per person based on twin share V3 Veranda Staterooms and are subject to availability. A deposit of $1,200 per stateroom is due upon booking. Bookings are not confirmed until passenger details and deposit have been received. Final payment is due 1 November 2026. Cancellation fees apply: 150 to 121 days prior to cruise 25%; 120 to 91 days prior 50%; 90 to 61 days prior 75%; 60 days or fewer 100%. This voyage is subject to minimum numbers. Pricing is based on current transport costs, taxes and fuel surcharges and is subject to fluctuation. Solo pricing is subject to availability. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Further terms and conditions apply
We would be delighted to help you reserve your place on this Japan and South Korea voyage.
Contact Emma Whiting Travel to reserve your place
Please complete our booking form, or call us now on (03) 9481 1077.