14-Day ~ Circle Japan Knitting Cruise

14-Day Circle Japan Knitting Cruise with Alissa Barton
April 11-25, 2027

We invite you to pack up your needles and join us as we visit culturally rich cities and coastal towns in Japan and Korea on board Holland America's Westerdam with Alissa Barton. Japan is one of the few countries where ancient tradition and cutting-edge modernity coexist naturally. From snow-covered peaks and hot springs to cherry blossoms and a deep cultural heritage, Japan offers a diverse range of unique experiences, including incredible food and remarkable safety and efficiency. For a more immersive experience, participants can opt to extend their stay in Japan.

Shop at Japan's top yarn stores and be inspired by the Japanese knitters' passion for texture, intricate design, and innovative stitch combinations. Onboard, participants will enjoy knitting classes, social gatherings, and being pampered by Holland America's attentive staff. In port, shop for unique souvenirs and take excursions highlighting textile arts, culture, and history. Explore exotic places daily and return to familiar comforts, where you'll have time to rejuvenate before your next adventure.

Alissa Barton's onboard classes include a variety of techniques, as well as a knitalong. Alissa looks forward to sharing her passion for knitting with everyone on this cruise. Topics include Lace and Cables Scarf, combining the Japanese love of texture and lace, Unraveling Japanese Stitch Dictionaries, Top Down Hats at any Gauge, Cherry Blossom Cowl to commemorate your trip to Japan, Do the Twist with traveling and twisting stitches to create dazzling fingerless mitts, and Japanese Knitting Tricks.

This cruise is perfect for knitters of all skill levels who want to learn new techniques, connect with fellow fiber enthusiasts, and explore Japan's rich culture, artistry, and natural beauty while traveling in style and relaxation.

14-Day Circle Japan Knitting Cruise Highlights

• Arrive early to explore the largest city in the world, Tokyo. An immersive pre-cruise package will highlight the best of Tokyo and the surrounding region. Visit historic gardens, browse unique shops offering an exciting selection of souvenirs not found anywhere else, and experience a culinary culture unique to Japan.


• In Tokyo, shop for yarn at Nihon Vogue's Gakuen Craft Shop.


• Visit Japan's largest handicraft store, Yuzawaya.


• Learn about the production and history of silk at the Yokohama Silk Museum.


• While in Omaezaki, sample matcha, a type of green tea. Here, visitors can learn about tea farming, harvesting, and methods of preparation.


• While in Osaka, visit nearby Kyoto, Japan's spiritual center, on a private Craft Cruise tour that will be a memorable experience for all.


• Take in the fantastic views from the Kochi Castle in Kochi. Here, visitors enjoy lush subtropical flora, including hibiscus flowers blanketing the landscape and some of the most unusual trees found in Japan. Dine on Sushi at the Hirome Market.


• In Fukuoka, visit the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, housed in a traditional house, to explore exhibits on local history, handicrafts, and weaving. Here, visitors learn more about Japanese culture and watch local artisans at work.


• Sokcho, South Korea, was part of North Korea until the late 1940s. Here, visitors can sample fresh seafood in a maze of eateries and street vendors clustered around the cruise port or take a walk to enjoy the dramatic scenery surrounding the city with its serene forests, jagged granite peaks, and crystal-clear streams, just a short 30-minute bus ride from the cruise terminal. Make a quick stop at Sokcho Beach near the port to unwind amid golden sands and turquoise surf.


• Step into an enchanted world in Kanazawa. Here you can see one of Japan's most famous gardens, Kenrokuen, as well as visit the large bustling Omicho Market that sells almost anything you can imagine, including fresh local delicacies in 'the outdoor Kitchen of Kanazawa.' Watch the city and market come to life through the informed narration of a local guide.


• Learn why Sakata is nicknamed "the Fruit Kingdom" and sample such tantalizing fruits as ruby red cherries and mouthwatering French pears.


• In Otaru, you will appreciate the chance to visit Sapporo's Nijo Ichiba Market, famous for its freshly-caught seafood, as well as the surrounding pastureland with grazing sheep and mountain hamlets. Take a tour, which includes time for folk art demonstrations, folkloric performances, and opportunities to explore the many parks filled with flowering beds and world-famous sculptures. If time allows, be sure to go up the 482-foot-tall Sapporo TV Tower, which offers a dynamic view of the city and its surrounding areas.


• While in Hakodate, visit Fort Goryokaku, no longer an operational fort; this public park is considered a unique and breathtaking spot to view 1,600 cherry blossom trees along the star-shaped moats. For an aerial view of the park, ascend the observation tower, which, in addition to the blossoms, also provides a good view of Mt. Hakodate, the Tsugaru Strait, and the Yokotsu mountain range from afar.