Snow-capped Mount Fuji framed by red autumn maple leaves

Kosher Cruise to Japan, South Korea and China, November 2026

Tokyo to Hong KongWhere

November 8–22, 2026Dates

$7,200 per personFrom

The cruise

Fourteen nights through East Asia, from Tokyo to Hong Kong

Our kosher cruise to Japan sails from Tokyo on Sunday, November 8, 2026 and reaches Hong Kong on Sunday, November 22: fourteen nights aboard Holland America's Westerdam through Japan, South Korea and China. On the way are Mount Fuji's port of Shimizu, Osaka, Kochi, Hiroshima, the Kanmon Strait and Fukuoka, then Busan and Jeju Island, then two days in Shanghai. It is an East Asia cruise with our own group on board: Glatt Kosher Mehadrin meals cooked for the group, a minyan every day, and two Shabbatot kept together on the ship.

14 nights on board: Board in Tokyo on Sunday, November 8, sail at 7:00 pm. Leave the ship in Hong Kong after breakfast on Sunday, November 22.
Ten ports, three countries: Seven days in Japan, two in South Korea, two in Shanghai, three days at sea, and Hong Kong at the end.
Meals: Glatt Kosher Mehadrin, freshly prepared for the group and served in its own dining area, with packed lunches for days ashore.
Shabbat: Two Shabbatot with the group: the first in port at Fukuoka, the second at sea on the way to Hong Kong.

The Bund's waterfront promenade beside the Huangpu River in Shanghai, seen from above — The Bund, Shanghai

The arched Memorial Cenotaph in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, with the A-Bomb Dome framed beyond it — Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima

Tokyo Tower rising above the city on a clear day — Tokyo

The glass towers of Marine City on the water in Busan — Busan

Hong Kong's skyline and harbor under a cloudy sky — Hong Kong

What the cruise includes

Fourteen nights aboard the Westerdam, with taxes and port charges
Glatt Kosher Mehadrin meals, freshly prepared for the group, Chalav Yisrael, Pat Yisrael and Bishul Yisrael
An executive kosher chef on board, with mashgichim responsible for the kosher kitchen
A dining area of our own for the group
Packed lunches for the days ashore
Our own weekday program and Shabbat program
A daily minyan, with a Sefer Torah on board

Your flights to Tokyo and home from Hong Kong, shore excursions and travel insurance are not in this list.

Kashrut

A kosher kitchen for the group, on a Holland America ship

The Westerdam is a Holland America ship with its own guests on board; our group eats apart from them. Every meal is Glatt Kosher Mehadrin, freshly prepared for the group alone by an executive kosher chef, under mashgichim who are responsible for the kosher kitchen, and served in a dining area that is ours.

Everything is Chalav Yisrael, Pat Yisrael and Bishul Yisrael. On the days in port, packed lunches go ashore with you, so a day in Osaka or Shanghai does not mean hunting for food.

The Kanmon Bridge spanning the strait between Honshu and Kyushu, with green hills behind — The Kanmon Strait, sailed on the Friday before the first Shabbat

The ship

Your cabin on the Westerdam

There are four kinds of cabin, from an inside stateroom to a suite with its own veranda. Every one has a private bathroom, air conditioning, a TV, a safe and a hairdryer, and beds that can be a queen or two twins.

Inside Stateroom: 151 sq ft, for two. Convertible twin or queen beds and a shower. The best value on board.
Ocean View: 171 sq ft, for two. A large picture window; a shower, some with a bathtub.
Balcony: 249 sq ft including the balcony, for two. A private veranda and a sitting area.
Signature Suite: About 506 to 590 sq ft including the veranda, for two to four. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a dressing room, a whirlpool bath and a separate shower, a king bed, Neptune Lounge access, a concierge and priority check-in.

A small cargo ship crossing the Kanmon Strait below the Kanmon Bridge — The Kanmon Strait, between Japan's main islands

Port by port

The Japan, South Korea and China itinerary, day by day

Times are the ship's arrival and departure at each port.

Day 1 · Sun, Nov 8Tokyo. Board the Westerdam, settle into your cabin and meet the group at the opening reception. The ship sails at 7:00 pm.Departs 7:00 pm
Day 2 · Mon, Nov 9Shimizu. The port below the slopes of Mount Fuji: views of the mountain, traditional gardens and local markets.7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Day 3 · Tue, Nov 10Osaka. Osaka Castle, the shopping streets and the old neighborhoods of one of Japan's liveliest cities.8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Day 4 · Wed, Nov 11Kochi. On the island of Shikoku: its castle, the coastline, the markets and the samurai history.8:00 am – 5:00 pm

The Rainbow Bridge across Tokyo Bay at dusk — Tokyo Bay

The white and green main keep of Osaka Castle against a blue sky — Osaka Castle

The white keep of Kochi Castle above its stone walls — Kochi Castle

Day 5 · Thu, Nov 12Hiroshima. A full day: the Peace Memorial Park, and the city that rebuilt itself after the war.8:00 am – 11:59 pm
Day 6 · Fri, Nov 13The Kanmon Strait. Scenic cruising through the strait between Honshu and Kyushu. Kabbalat Shabbat and a festive Shabbat dinner on board.At sea
Day 7 · Shabbat, Nov 14Fukuoka (Hakata). Shabbat in port, with services, Kiddush and the Shabbat meals on board. Outside is a relaxed city of waterfront parks and cultural landmarks.7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Day 8 · Sun, Nov 15Busan, South Korea. The country's second city: the painted hillside houses, the coastline, the fish markets and the views over the sea.8:00 am – 5:00 pm

The ruined A-Bomb Dome beside the river in Hiroshima — The A-Bomb Dome, Hiroshima

Fukuoka Tower above the city skyline and the bay — Fukuoka

A curved sandy beach and rocky shore in Busan, with hotels along the seafront — Haeundae, Busan

Day 9 · Mon, Nov 16Jeju Island. Volcanic landscapes, waterfalls and a dramatic coast. Jeju is a tender port: you go ashore by the ship's launch, and wheelchair access is limited.8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Day 10 · Tue, Nov 17A day at sea. Lectures, time together, the daily minyan and the ship's facilities.At sea
Day 11 · Wed, Nov 18Shanghai, China, overnight. The Bund, the skyscrapers of Pudong across the river, and a city where East and West meet. Arrival depends on the tide.Arrives 8:00 am
Day 12 · Thu, Nov 19Shanghai. A second full day for the gardens, the museums, the shops and the old city. Departure depends on the tide.Departs 11:00 pm

A tall waterfall dropping down a green, rocky cliff on Jeju — Jeongbang Falls, Jeju

The domed and clock-towered buildings of the Bund lit gold at night beside the river — The Bund at night, Shanghai

Day 13 · Fri, Nov 20A day at sea toward Hong Kong. Kabbalat Shabbat and a festive Shabbat dinner on board.At sea
Day 14 · Shabbat, Nov 21Shabbat at sea. The last Shabbat together: tefillot, Torah and the quiet of Shabbat on the open ocean.At sea
Day 15 · Sun, Nov 22Hong Kong. The ship arrives at 6:30 am. After breakfast, leave the ship for your flight home or a stay in the city.Disembark

The towers of Hong Kong Island and the harbor seen from the wooded Peak — Hong Kong from the Peak, where the cruise ends

Shabbat and Torah

Two Shabbatot on board, and a minyan every day

A Sefer Torah sails with the group and there is a minyan every day of the cruise. On the days at sea there are lectures and time together, alongside our own weekday program.

The first Shabbat begins on Friday in the Kanmon Strait, with Kabbalat Shabbat and a festive dinner, and continues in port at Fukuoka with services, Kiddush and the Shabbat meals on board. The second is at sea on the way to Hong Kong: tefillot, Torah and the long Shabbat meals of a voyage with nowhere else to be.

The sea stack of Oedolgae Rock off the green coast of Jeju — Open water off Jeju

Who it suits

Who the cruise suits, and what the ports ask of you

A cruise is the easy way to see this much of East Asia: you unpack once, and the ship carries you from port to port while you sleep. The days ashore are as active as you make them, and there are three days at sea to rest.

Our guests are mostly English speakers from the USA, Europe and Israel
Jeju is a tender port: you go ashore by launch, and wheelchair access there is limited
Busan's hillside neighborhoods and the old streets of each port mean steps and slopes
November is autumn in Japan, Korea and Shanghai
The reservation form asks for a short health declaration

Houses painted in pastel colors stacked up a steep hillside in Busan — Gamcheon, Busan

A grassy path leading toward the volcanic cone of Seongsan Ilchulbong above a rocky bay — Seongsan Ilchulbong, Jeju

Price

What the cruise costs, cabin by cabin

Prices to be confirmed. Per person in a double cabin, in US dollars, with taxes and port charges included.
Cabin	14 nightsNov 8 to 22, 2026
Inside Stateroom151 sq ft	$7,200
Ocean View171 sq ft	$7,900
Balcony249 sq ft	$8,900
Signature Suite506 to 590 sq ft	$10,900

The cabins

Inside Stateroom

151 sq ft

Beds that convert to a queen, a private bathroom with shower, TV, safe, hairdryer and air conditioning. No window: the best value on board.
Ocean View

171 sq ft

A large picture window for natural light and sea views. Beds that convert to a queen; a bathroom with shower (some with a bath), TV, safe and air conditioning.
Balcony

249 sq ft, including the balcony

Your own private veranda and a sitting area. Beds that convert to a queen; a bathroom with shower (some with a bath), TV, safe and air conditioning.
Signature Suite

506 to 590 sq ft, including the veranda

Floor-to-ceiling windows, a private veranda, a sitting area and a dressing room. Beds that convert to a king, a sofa bed for more guests, and a bathroom with two sinks, a whirlpool bath and a separate shower. Neptune Lounge access, concierge service and priority boarding.

Cabin sizes and features are the cruise line’s, and can vary by deck and position on the ship.

The price covers the fourteen nights on board, every kosher meal, the packed lunches ashore and our own program. Flights, shore excursions and travel insurance are extra.

Deposit and terms

What you pay, and when

Payment

On booking$1,000 per person
BalanceIn full, as the sailing is under 120 days away

All prices and payments are in US dollars.

If you need to cancel

120 days or more before$500 per person
45 to 120 days before50% of the invoice
Within 45 daysNo refund

We strongly recommend travel insurance covering cancellation, medical care and luggage.

What happens after you inquire

You send a short inquiry
A few questions, with this cruise already filled in.
We reply within one working day
The person for your region calls or emails you with the cabins still open and the reservation form.
We answer every question
Kashrut, cabins, Shabbat, the ports, visas, flights and payment. Ask as many as you like.
Cabins are confirmed in order of booking
The group has a fixed number of cabins. Your reservation form and payment confirm yours.

Your hosts

Who is looking after you

David Walles
Cruises and tours
David looks after our cruises and tours with Chana. Who from our team sails with the group is confirmed with your booking.
Chana Walles
Cruises and tours
Chana runs our cruises and tours with David.

Our guests all share a commitment to Shabbat and kosher observance, but there are no specific religious requirements to join. We won't ask about your personal religious practices. For anything before you travel, the simplest route is an email or a call to the line for your region; every missed call and message is returned.

The Pudong skyline and its reflection in the still Huangpu River at dawn — Shanghai, the last port before Hong Kong

What our guests have to say

What guests said

“The organization, catering and religious atmosphere are amazing.”

A guest on their third cruise with us

“We enjoyed the Mediterranean tour so much that we already booked another cruise next summer to the Baltics!”

A guest after a Mediterranean cruise with us

Questions

Asked before booking the Japan cruise

When is the kosher cruise to Japan, South Korea and China?

Sunday, November 8 to Sunday, November 22, 2026: fourteen nights aboard Holland America's Westerdam, from Tokyo to Hong Kong.

Where does the cruise start and finish?

You board in Tokyo on November 8; the ship sails at 7:00 pm. It arrives in Hong Kong at 6:30 am on November 22, and you leave the ship after breakfast. You book your own flights to Tokyo and home from Hong Kong.

Is every meal kosher on the ship?

Yes. Every meal for the group is Glatt Kosher Mehadrin, Chalav Yisrael, Pat Yisrael and Bishul Yisrael, freshly prepared for the group by an executive kosher chef under mashgichim, and served in a dining area of our own. On the days in port you take a packed lunch ashore.

How is Shabbat kept on the cruise?

There are two Shabbatot on board. The first begins in the Kanmon Strait and continues in port at Fukuoka, with services, Kiddush and the Shabbat meals on the ship; the second is at sea on the way to Hong Kong. A Sefer Torah sails with the group and there is a minyan every day.

Which ports does the cruise visit?

In Japan: Tokyo, Shimizu below Mount Fuji, Osaka, Kochi, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, with a day sailing the Kanmon Strait. In South Korea: Busan and Jeju Island. In China: two days in Shanghai, then Hong Kong. There are three days at sea.

Do I need a visa for China?

The itinerary flags a Chinese visa for the two days in Shanghai. The rule depends on your passport, so ask us when you inquire and we will tell you what to arrange.

Are shore excursions included?

No. Shore excursions are offered by the cruise line. They are booked and paid for separately, and the packed lunch for the day comes with you.

Do I need travel insurance?

We strongly recommend insurance covering cancellation, medical care and luggage, bought as soon as you book so the cover is complete.

Also in Japan

More kosher travel to Japan, and our other cruises

Every cruise we run, with its dates, is on the kosher cruises page. For our other trips in the region, see kosher tours in Asia.

Discover

The world beyond the ordinary.

Connect

Friendships that outlast the trip.

Enrich

Memories that touch the soul.

From$7,200 per person

Jerusalem at dusk, seen from the Inbal Hotel

Inquire

Speak to someone about your trip

Call the line for your region, or send an inquiry and we will come back to you.

info@koshertravelers.com

Speak to Shelley in reservations. Every missed call and message is returned.

Since 1991 · Glatt Mehadrin