While a cruise can be enjoyable in and of itself, we like using them as transportation between islands and other coastal destinations that can be expensive to fly to.

We recently toured Japan by cruise and invite you to join us on our latest segment for ABC television’s The Daily Refresh. Click to watch the video, then read on to learn more about each stop on the itinerary and get our tips for making the most of your next adventure at sea.

Point of Departure: Tokyo

We began our adventure in Tokyo, where we toured beautiful temples and parks and took in the urban sights before boarding the cruise ship. Some of our highlights include Edo Castle, the Meiji Shrine, the Scramble traffic intersection, and the Japanese bullet trains.

Click here for a list of things to see and do in the Tokyo area: Greater Tokyo Region

First Port of Call: Mt. Fuji

The tallest mountain in Japan has been a sacred site since ancient times. Mt. Fuji is an active volcano, but don’t worry — its last eruption was in 1707.

Click here for a list of things to see and do in the Mt. Fuji area: Chūbu Southeast Region

Second Port of Call: Kobe

Kobe is world renowned for its beef, which has only been exported since 2012. There are plenty of places to sample it all over the city, including Chinatown, where you’ll find rows of street food vendors and restaurants offering it every way you can imagine.

We rented a car to visit nearby mounded tombs of ancient Japan and several historical shrines as well as and the Nunobiki Herb Garden.

Click here for a list of things to see and do in the Kobe area: Kansai Western Region

Third Port of Call: Okinawa

The southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan has been inhabited by humans since the Stone Age, and it was ruled by the indigenous Ryukyuan people until the 1600s.

We visited the beautiful Shuri Castle built in the 14th century and the nearby royal mausoleum, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Click here for a list of things to see and do in the Okinawa area: Ryukyu North Region

Fourth Port of Call: Ishigaki

Ishigaki Island may be small at only 86 square miles, but it’s surrounded by coral reefs that make it a major destination for scuba divers. It’s also a great place to enjoy fresh seafood, including straight-from-the-ocean sushi.

We also hiked through the island’s farmland to the southernmost Shinto shrine in Japan, which features striking blue torii gates.

Click here for a list of things to see and do in the Ishigaki area: Sakishima Islands Region

Fifth Port of Call: Hong Kong

Originally farms and fishing villages, Hong Kong is now one of the most densely populated places on Earth.

The famous Kowloon Bay in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour is a great place to observe the skyline and enjoy the nightly light and laser show. It’s next to the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Space Museum, and it’s a short walk to Hong Kong Comic Avenue.

We also walked through the Temple Street night market for some delicious street food and cheap beer.

Click here for a list of things to see and do in Hong Kong: Hong Kong Territory

Sixth Port of Call: Singapore

Our cruise ended in Singapore, where we stayed for a few days to enjoy the amazing food, art, and architecture. We also spent a day at Changi International Airport, which is so incredible that people visit without even taking a flight! We’ll share some highlights on an upcoming episode of The Daily Refresh.

Click here for a list of things to see and do in Singapore: Republic of Singapore

Over the years, we’ve developed some tried and true ways of saving money on board the ship and in ports of call. Check them out to help you make the most of your next cruise, and take a look at some of our cruises in other parts of the world:

• Antarctica: Nearly naked in the South Shetland Islands
• Australian Adventure: Liveaboard Diving on the Great Barrier Reef
• Cruising the Mediterranean: Mykonos, Athens, Rhodes, Santorini, Crete, Malta, Sicily, and Naples
• Egyptian Adventure: The Nile, forever new and old
• Stockholm to Helsinki: An overnight cocktail cruise to Åland Islands