Six reasons to sail past Tokyo

Posted 7 April, 2026 Sasha Oelsner | This content is sponsored by Princess Cruises

No matter where you are in Japan, you’re never more than 150km from the sea.

It makes sense once you realise Japan is an archipelago of more than 14,000 islands, with the four main islands connected by bridges and tunnels. The resulting jagged coastline stretches more than 29,000km – even longer than Australia’s.

Most visitors stick to the island of Honshu with its big hitters: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and rightly so. You can read about these must-visit destinations here. But with so much coastline, treasures abound for those who venture beyond the bullet-train corridor.

Instead, here are six coastal ports of call well worth adding to your itinerary.

Ishigaki: tropical paradise

Balmy weather, turquoise ocean lapping at sandy white shores, and snorkelling with manta rays and sea turtles among coral reefs. Wait a minute – are we in Far North Queensland… or Japan? The island of Ishigaki (pictured above) lies about 2000km southwest of the mainland and is famed for its natural beauty, cultural sites and black pearls. If snorkelling or diving is too strenuous, join a glass-bottom boat tour to get up close to the spectacular marine life.

The mesmerising colours of the ocean are embodied in the island’s unique ceramics style, which combines pottery with glass resulting in otherworldly blue pieces of art. For a one-of-a-kind souvenir, join a pottery workshop to create your own masterpiece. To soak in breathtaking panoramic views, follow the hibiscus-lined path to the Tamatorizaki Observatory. The observatory also doubles as an ideal stargazing location at night, so stick around after the sun has disappeared below the horizon.

Okinawa: promoting peace

Approximately 160 islands make up the Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa Main Island is home to national parks, cultural sites and reminders of recent and ancient conflict. There are two museums dedicated to promoting the message of peace, as well as memorial parks and monuments at historical battlefields, and for a sense of wartime conditions, visit the Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters.

Okinawa is also the birthplace of the martial art of peace – karate. Other legacies from the Ryukyu Kingdom include Shurijo Castle, Shikinaen Gardens, and the sacred grounds of Sefa Utaki, where nature itself was worshipped as divine.

Hakodate: an ocean of possibility

Located on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, Hakodate is one of Japan’s most important ports and its finest seafood producer. Though not as large as Toyko’s, a visit to the four-block-long fish market is a must for foodies.

For some peace and quiet, head to the massive grounds at Goryokaku Fort. Under a canopy of thousands of cherry trees that Japan is so famous for, watch the koi that fill the star-shaped moat or in the warmer months, hire a rowboat to get a closer look at the fish. The expansive Onuma Quasi-National Park, often hailed as one of the most beautiful landscapes in the whole country no matter the season is also a picturesque destination worth visiting. 

Niigata: rice for all occasions

You can’t have sake without rice, and Niigata, Japan’s largest rice producing region, is renowned for both the food and drink. Reflections in the water-filled Hoshitoge Rice Terraces are a photographer’s dream. You can also enjoy the region’s excellent rice as sea-to-plate sushi, or see it transformed into quality liquor at one of the 90 sake breweries in the area.

Take in bird’s eye views of Niigata and Sado Island from the 31st floor of the Bakauke Observatory. Niigata is also famous for traditional metalwork crafts. From nails to swords, chefs and home cooks alike can take home quality kitchen knives and other tableware. Rest your muscles in the Iwamuro onsen and feel those aches and pains melt away.

Kagoshima: heating things up

Sandwiched between two peninsulas, the well-protected harbour of Kagoshima (on Japan’s Kyushu island) looks out towards dramatic Sakurajima, an active volcano which smokes constantly, even erupting multiple times a day.

As a result, Kagoshima is a geothermal wonderland filled with hot springs and geysers. Relax in one of many onsens, or be buried up to your neck – it’s more relaxing than it sounds – in naturally heated sand on the shores of seaside city Ibusuki. Further inland you can sate your curiosity at Chiran Airfield. This peace museum was once the home base for Japan’s infamous kamikaze pilots.

Tokushima: Mother Nature’s wonders

Mother Nature has hit all the right notes in Tokushima, on Japan’s Shikoku island. Surrounded by towering mountains and filled with spectacular gorges, vine bridges and panoramic views, this seaside town isn’t to be missed. Each summer, the colourful Awa Odori dance festival brings the streets to life in a riot of colour and movement.

Equally dramatic are the tidal Naruto Whirlpools – occurring roughly every six hours – which can be experienced up close from a sightseeing boat. Don’t forget to stop by the Awa Jruobe Yashiki Residence Theatre. Once home to a 17th-century samurai, it’s now one of the last remaining traditional puppet theatres in the country.