Escape To Japan’s Hidden Gems With Mitsui Ocean Sakura’s Exclusive Luxury Cruise Experience

Published on December 20, 2025

Mitsui Ocean Cruises will showcase the newest vessel, Mitsui Ocean Sakura, in 2026 in North American waters. The Mitsui Ocean Sakura, a Japanese-flagged ship, promises to offer a unique and luxurious experience. The Mitsui will offer unique travel experiences to international patrons in the cruise industry. Guests on the Mitsui will be able to encounter Japan in a deeply immersive way.

Due to the cruise line’s unique onboard spaces and ambience inspired by Japan, the Mitsui will likely be the first of its kind in the industry within its category of cruising. After being branded the Seabourn Sojourn for several years, the vessel will be taking its first cruise, offering a carefully crafted atmosphere to experience Japanese culture and hospitality. Mitsui Ocean Cruises’ new ship will give Japan its first cruise ship for its guests to experience the unique cultural and historical heritage of Japan in an immersive and deeply satisfying way.

New Locations to Appreciate Japan’s Beauty and Culture

Mitsui Ocean Cruises built the onboard experience for the Mitsui Ocean Sakura to appreciate the elegance and spirit of Japan. Translated as beautiful encounters with Japan, the cruise line philosophy, FUNATABI, will blend seamlessly with the ship’s new spaces. The goal is to surround travelers with the experience of Japan’s diverse culture, and have the experience stay with them long after the voyage is complete.

The ship’s design is based on traditional Japanese architecture, integrating the timeless style with modern luxury. These spaces will help foster and strengthen the cultural mosaic created with the presence of international visitors, and join them with local Japanese travelers to share a unique appreciation for the beauty of Japan. The ship’s design and cultural programming have been meticulously crafted so that every guest is able to touch something at the very core of Japanese culture.

Mitsui Ocean Sakura Food Experience

Mitsui Ocean Sakura is going to be a great ship with many places to eat and a great selection of foods inspired by Japan to eat. The head chefs of Mitsui Ocean Sakura will decide what to serve at their flagship restaurant, Restaurant Sakura, a mix of Japanese and Western dishes. Guests will be able to eat from a wide variety of dishes that show off the talent in Japanese cooking and mix with some Western favorites.

Those who sail the Mitsui Ocean Sakura will be able to eat freshly made Japanese cuisine at the Sushi Bar Shiosai. Like other restaurants onboard the Mitsui Ocean Sakura, this restaurant promises to capture a little piece of Japan by bringing the essence of Japan’s cuisine to the table.

The Terrace Restaurant Yae is going to be a great place to eat for those wanting to eat something new. It will serve some self-service and seasonal dishes prepared from locally sourced and available ingredients with a mix of Japanese, Asian, and Western cuisine. The name Yae is a Japanese word that means multi-layered, and their service and menu will surely be as multi-layered as their name.

Apart from the main dining venues, guests will also experience Hokusai Fine Dining, a specialty venue that opened on the Mitsui Ocean Fuji. In collaboration with Chef Kiyomi Mikuni, guests will experience a fusion of Japanese and French cuisine, with the French dishes featuring French culinary techniques, and the Japanese cuisine featuring traditional flavors, an art cuisine of Japanese influence.

Mitsui Ocean Sakura will feature a variety of Additional luxury venues focused on relaxing with a view of the ocean. Located on one of the upper decks, The Bar Umi will serve specialty cocktails, Japanese whisky, and wine with light food. The upper deck will offer live music in the bar during the evenings.

The grand pool offers a feel for Japanese resorts with a pool designed to resemble Japanese onsens for relaxing, and culture whirlpools, and is the first of its kind on a cruise from Mitsui Ocean Sakura. This cruise also offers a unique footbath, the first of its kind in the cruise industry. These offerings position Mitsui Ocean Sakura to deliver an experience unmatched in the cruise industry.

We are happy to welcome back our patrons’ favorites, Mitsui Ocean Square, Ocean Stage, and Spa & Wellness Kodama, which debuted on the Mitsui Ocean Fuji. These venues provide guests with opportunities to refresh and engage with culture while being entertained on their cruise.

Japan’s Off-the-Beaten-Path Scenery

The Mitsui Ocean Sakura will also provide the guests with the chance to experience some of the most beautiful and remote parts of Japan. Because of the ship’s small size, it can dock at smaller ports, islands, and bays that other larger vessels can’t access. This means more opportunities to experience the country’s secluded gems, including the culturally and naturally rich Seto Inland Sea, Okinawa, and Hokkaido.

Japan’s Mitsui Ocean Sakura will focus on the exploration of its lesser-known destinations. This will provide guests with the opportunity to visit areas that are usually ignored by most travelers. These distinctive voyages will provide the country’s rich and varied coastline, which includes calm and sheltered bays, and will provide an in-depth experience of the country’s natural marvels and diverse landscape.

Mitsui Ocean Sakura’s Debut and Future Sailings

Mitsui Ocean Sakura is set to break into the luxury cruise industry. Being the first cruise ship under the Japanese flag to cater to North American passengers, Mitsui Ocean Sakura will set sail in September of 2026. Bookings will become available in 2026 along with the ship’s itinerary. Passengers will be able to sail on the ship and appreciate the true cultural beauty of Japan.

The cruise will offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but it will also offer more. Passengers will be able to foster an appreciation and deeper awareness of Japanese customs, hospitality, and the lush, beautiful nature of the country. Because of the smaller size of the ship, the cruising experience on Mitsui Ocean Sakura will be more personalized. Because of this, the ship is bound to be a hit and be one of the first choices with travelers who have more strict preferences.

As of 2026, Mitsui Ocean Sakura will be one of the biggest names when it comes to decorating the crown of the luxury cruise market. Mitsui Ocean Sakura promises to deliver the very essence of Japan—elegance, culture, sophistication, comfort, and timeless traditions—rolled into one world-class cruise. Passengers will have the unique and rare opportunity to explore the Land of the Rising Sun like never before. With tailored routes and breathtaking amenities to aid their travel, Mitsui Ocean Sakura is guaranteed to transcend the essence of Japan, leaving a lasting impression on the North American cruise community.