From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Culture… Japan is a nation with a history, culture and beauty unlike any other in the world. Tour ancient wooden castles where shoguns once ruled. Explore the ruins, tombs, temples and shrines of the Shilla kingdom in Kyongju. Visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Approach the famous red torii of Itsukushima Shrine at high tide, when the magical gates seem to float on the sea. Stroll through the famous gardens of Ritsurin Koen and Korakuen.
Each of the places you'll explore presents new insights into a realm that has fascinated travelers for millennia.
Breathtaking scenery. Mind-opening cultural experiences. Wonderful food and wine. Congenial companionship. Taken separately, each is a delightful experience. Combined onboard the 114-passenger, Spirit of Oceanus in Japan, they make each day a celebration and each evening a special occasion. Your voyage to Japan is filled with highlights. You'll visit stunning gardens and serene temples. You'll share a craftsman's delight in his work, and a child's pleasure in an ancient story. And, along the way, you'll form new friendships you'll treasure always.
Cruise Details
Duration
12 Days
Location
Islands of Japan
Season
May, October - November
Cruise Type
Overnight
Nearest City
Kobe
Physical Condition Required
Fair
Destination(s)
Cities of Japan, Japan
Guest Capacity
114 Passengers
Accommodations
This all-suite vessel features suites with view windows, ample closet space, a large marble vanity and sink, a lounge area, bathrobes, spa bath amenities, an in-room safe, a chilled refreshment center and satellite telephone access. Several suites also feature sliding glass doors and private teak balconies.
Dining
All meals are included. The ship’s open dining features continental and regional cuisine.
Activities
Cultural Interactions, Natural History, Photography, Small Ship Cruising
What's on Board
The Spirit of Oceanus has a dining room, two lounges, sun deck, sports deck, hot tub, library and game room. There is elevator access to all passenger decks.
Rates
$5,849.00 - $14,299.00per personCurrency Converter (Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change.)
Additional Rate Info
Not Included: Airfare from USA to Japan; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, laundry fees and insurance of any kind.
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Cruise Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Japan Plan to depart the USA one day prior. Transfer from Osaka airport to Kobe where you'll spend the night at the deluxe Kobe Okura Hotel.
Accommodations: Kobe Okura Hotel
Included Meals: None
Day 2: Kobe Enjoy the historic attractions of this port city, one of the first to begin accepting foreign traders following Japan's two and a half centuries of isolation. The highlight of your visit: a trip to spectacular white Himeji Castle. Board the Spirit of Oceanus and sail in the early evening.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3: Okayama / Kurashiki Indulge yourself in Zen perfection as you tour Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and participate in an ancient tea ceremony. Visit the Ohara Museum, which hosts an eclectic mix of classical European, Chinese, and Japanese folk art. At Ohashi House, tour the home of wealthy merchants. Also, stroll the charming lanes of Kurashiki, along canals crisscrossed by humpbacked stone bridges and bordered by willow trees.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Miyajima / Hiroshima Itsukushima is one of the most important Shinto shrines. View the famous red torii gates, as the ship anchors just offshore, and tour the shrine with a Shinto priest. In Hiroshima, a city now devoted to peace, tour the Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, and Peace Memorial Museum.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Day At Sea Leisurely cruise through Saikai National Park and the Kujukushima Islands (literally the "99 Islands") off the west coast of Kyushu. This beautiful, and rarely explored part of Japan offers many beautiful sights.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Yakushima Yakushima Island became Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, and its natural wonders will astound you. Yakushima has a particularly diverse flora, with some 1,900 species and subspecies, including ancient specimens of the sugi (Japanese cedar). It also contains a remnant of a warm-temperate ancient forest that is unique in this region. Spend your time here on nature walks and taking in the sublime Japanese beauty.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Kagoshima Kagoshima is Kyushu's southernmost major city and the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture. The city is often compared with its Italian sister city Naples due to a similarly mild climate, palm tree lined streets, and Sakurajima, Kagoshima's Vesuvius. Kagoshima is best known for its Satsuma ware and Silk.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Nagasaki In this second city destroyed by an A-bomb in World War II, tour the Atomic Bomb Museum, Glover Garden (built by an enterprising Scotsman who helped overthrow the shogunate), and Oura Catholic Church, which inspired Japan's secret Christians to emerge from centuries in hiding.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Ulsan / Kyongju Step into the world of Korea's Shilla dynasty in the ruins of Kyongju. A thousand years ago, this open-air museum was their capital, sparkling with palaces and gardens. Today, the ruins and burial mounds bring to life memories of a 900-year rule that lasted from the time of Julius Caesar to Charlemagne.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Hagi Japan's revolution began here in Jokamachi's old samurai residential quarter, where you'll tour a samurai's home. Yoshida Shrine is a monument to one of the last of the samurai, killed by the shogun for attempting to ensure Japan's survival by opening up to the West. Also, visit Daisho Temple, the resting place of the two first Mori daimyo and all the even-numbered daimyo (odd-numbered daimyo were laid to rest on the other side of the Matsumoto river). Make an optional visit to a pottery studio for pastel-glazed pottery once reserved for the samurai.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Takamatsu / Cruising the Inland Sea Ritsurin Koen was designed at the bequest of an early 17th century feudal lord, who envisioned a fantastic garden set against the beautiful backdrop of Mt. Shiun. Shikokumura Village gives you a glimpse into peasant life in the Edo period. Spend the afternoon cruising the Inland Sea. Designated a national park, the Inland Sea is an area of great natural beauty with its emerald green waters dotted with thousands of islands.
Accommodations: Spirit of Oceanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Kobe After a short tour of Kobe, transfer to Kansai International Airport for your return flight home.
Accommodations: N/A
Included Meals: None
This Package Includes
One Nights Hotel Accommodation with Breakfast Included
Taxes, Port Charges, Fees and On Board Services
On Board Gratuities are Neither Required Nor Expected
All Airport/ Hotel Transfers
Japan Cruise including all Meals while Aboard
Tours by Experienced Naturalist Guides
Notes
Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone. Some excursions from the boat to the shore will be made in zodiacs. On land, trip members will walk to specific areas to enjoy cultural interactions, photography and enjoying nature.
Itinerary: AdventureSmith may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. The ability to be spontaneous makes their style of cruising unique.
Reservation Policy
A deposit of USD $1000 per person is required to confirm a reservation, with final payment due 90 days prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received prior to departure are subject to cancellation penalties per person.
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