Princess Cruises has launched its 2023 Japan programme, featuring 43 itineraries.

The line’s 2,670-guest Diamond Princess will offer sailings ranging from five to 19-nights.

Itineraries will call at 38 destinations in four countries, spanning from the southern tropical islands of Okinawa to the northernmost island of Hokkaido.

Princess Cruises will also operate 13 or 14 night Highlights of Japan cruise tours, giving guests more time ashore

Late-night stays will be featured in ports including Akita, Aomori, Hakodate and Osaka (for Kyoto).

The announcement of the programme follows the news that Diamond Princess will return to service in spring 2022 with a season of Japan sailings.

Prices for a seven-night Kyushu & Korea voyage – departing 8 September 2023 – start from £879pp, sailing roundtrip from Tokyo (Yokohama) and calling at Nagasaki, Jeju, Kagoshima, and Omaezaki.

Other highlights from the 2023 Japan programme include visits to a number of temples and shrines, such as the 16^th-century Osaka Castle, or Seiryu-ji Temple, home of Japan’s largest bronze seated Buddha.

Across the itineraries, there are seven festivals for guests to experience, including the Kyoto Gion Festival, featuring hand-crafted ‘Yama’ and ‘Hoko’ floats that are constructed every year without the use of nails, or the Kumano Fireworks Festival with a display of 10,000 fireworks.

Princess Cruises said that the programme will also provide access to UNESCO world heritage sites, such as Mt. Fuji, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

Elsewhere, the line’s Island Princess will return to service with a series of cruises to the Caribbean in spring 2022, prior to its 14-day Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean voyage on 27 April 2022.

Sky Princess has also set sail with guests on board for the first time in more than 17 months as part of the line’s domestic cruises from Southampton.