Several cruise lines offer voyages of between 7 to 14 days, moving along the coast among the islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and the smaller southern sub-tropical islands of Okinawa and Ishigaki. The range of ports provides a variety of sights and experiences. 

Our cruise departed from Yokohama, a major port city on Tokyo Bay, which was the first city to undo Japan's isolation during the Meiji period.
 

The cruise included stops in Shimizu, Nagoya, Takoshima, Naha and Ishigaki, delightful stops that are not usually part of tourist itineraries.

From the port in Shimizu, Mount Fuji is visible. Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a Japanese icon, frequently depicted in art and photography.

Shimizu's attraction lies in its rural simplicity, and its helpful volunteers who were eager to explain the history and culture of the area.
 

There are 5 attractive Buddhist Temples of different sects scattered throughout Shimizu (seen here is Jojuin).

The large Buddhist Baiin-zen-ji temple contains the tomb of and a tribute to local hero, Jirocho, who used his personal wealth to transform Shimizu.
 

A visit to the Minowa inari Jinja Shinto shrine in Shimizu provided insight into the practices and beliefs of Shinto, an indigenous and nature religion that originated in Japan.
 

At Shimizu's Suehiro Memorial Hall and other small, free-of-charge museums, carefully restored and clearly described displays explained the daily life in a Japanese household.

Ema are small wooden plaques on which practitioners write a wish or desire they would like to have fulfilled. They are placed at both Shinto and Buddhist shrines.
 

In the grounds of the Buddhist temples are cemeteries, where elaborate burial practices take place guided by monks.

In 1875, Emperor Meiji ordered the destruction of most of the 170 samurai castles in Japan to free the country of feudal rule and modernize the society.  In most locations all that remains are walls, ramparts and gardens.
 

On many of the former castle grounds, museums have been built which provide information about the history of the Shōgun era.
 

In Tokushima at the awaodori kaikan, a museum and stage performance explains the traditional awa odori dance and instruments. In mid-August, a street dance festival attracts almost 2 million visitors.

Tokushima marks the beginning of the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage route, a 1200-kilometer journey that people undertake for ascetic, pious and tourism-related purposes.

Once an independent kingdom, Ryukyu, Okinawa's geographical position has resulted in influence by and tensions between Japan and China.
 

Kokusaidori Street, Naha's main tourist zone, is lined with attractive and quirky stores, restaurants and bars. it is the venue for Okinawa's big festivals.
 

The large Makishi Public Market in Naha features a traditional meat, fish and produce market, as well as unusual souvenir shops.
 

The Okinawan Shisa pair (half dog-half lion) are found everywhere to ward off evil.
 

At Makishi Public market vendors offer samplings of a variety of spiced, dried and pickled condiments. 
 

Naha City Hall is a unique structure of white pillars and exterior hanging gardens. It anchors the central city that includes government and corporate offices and the large Pallette Kumoji shopping mall.
 

A fun feature of Japanese streets is their elaborate artistic  manhole covers adorned with images of tourist spots and mascots. An entire subculture of "manholer" tourism has arisen.

Ishigaki, Japan's southernmost island, is known as a nature preserve. Glass-bottom boat rides take visitors  to view the reefs in Kabira Bay.
 

Ishigaki has mountains, white-sand beaches, coral reefs, palm forests, mangrove-lined rivers and limestone caves.