Japan is a beautiful country made up of 14,125 islands, 260 of which are inhabited with a total population of about 125 million. We were lucky enough to spend a few days in Tokyo before boarding the Azamara Journey for our 16-day cruise that circumnavigated Honshu, Japan's main island. We saw historic sites, amazing architecture, beautiful cherry blossoms, and ate delicious food. Everyone we met was very friendly and extremely helpful. Our days were a mix of exploring on our own, taking tours from the ship, and hiring private guides. We easily navigated the subway and train systems.

Japan is known for its cherry blossom season which typically occurs in late March and early April, but is extremely dependent on the weather. In Japan cherry blossoms are called Sakura and the whole country goes crazy for their very short blooming season. Peak flowering only lasts for about one week. Seeing hundreds, or even thousands of cherry blossom trees in full bloom is beautiful. We timed our trip so that we would arrive during the height of the season, but the weather didn't cooperate. When we first arrived in Tokyo there were fewer flowers than usual due to the colder than normal temperatures. Lucky for us, we were traveling around the country to various climates, and over the next couple of weeks we did get to see a number of stunning displays.