The Best of Japan

Maizuru, located on the western coast of Honshu in the province of Kyoto, is known for its stunning enclosed bay, considered one of the most scenic in Japan. The observatory offers panoramic views of the inlet, dotted with small, forested islands. Traditional landmarks such as Enryu-ji Temple and Tanabe-jo Castle highlight the town’s cultural heritage. Remnants of Maizuru’s military history are visible in the former naval arsenals—red brick buildings now converted into a museum.

Located on the southwest coast of Honshu Island, the bustling fishing port of Sakaiminato honors renowned comic writer and artist Shigeru Mizuki, a native of the town. In addition to a museum dedicated to his work, a themed walking route winds through streets and squares, featuring 134 bronze statues of his iconic characters. Sakaiminato also offers fresh local seafood and scenic views of Mt. Daisen and the Yumigahama Peninsula.

Included Excursions:

Adachi Museum & Yushien Garden - 4 hours and 30 minutes
Begin with a visit to the Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi. Founded in 1970 by Zenko Adachi, the museum reflects his deep appreciation for both Japanese art and garden design. Its ceramics collection features works by masters such as Rosanjin Kitaoji and Kanjiro Kawai, while the museum’s meticulously landscaped gardens are equally renowned.

Adachi sourced pines and stones from across Japan to create a garden infused with beauty and intention. Since 2003, the garden has consistently been ranked the best in the Traditional Japanese Garden category. Inside the museum, explore a collection of nearly 1,000 works, including pottery, wood carvings, and Japanese paintings dating back to 1912.

Next, continue to Daikon Island, located in Lake Nakaumi and formed by volcanic activity. This small island is home to Yushien Garden, known for its seasonal floral displays. In spring and early summer, vibrant peonies create a striking scene, while lush green foliage and carefully tended landscapes offer beauty year-round.

• This tour includes approximately 1.24 miles (2 km) of walking and about 20 steps. Photography is not permitted inside the Adachi Museum of Art. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

With around four million inhabitants, Busan is the second-largest metropolis in South Korea, after Seoul. This dynamic harbor city, located in the south-east, surrounded by the warm waters of the Sea of Japan, benefits from a mild, pleasant climate. You can find delightful simply to stroll around the lively streets and explore the city’s outstanding cultural heritage of art galleries, museums, and Buddhist sites, such as the Haedong Yonggungsa temple, which elegantly sits on the waterfront. Rich too in magnificent beaches and superlative natural landscapes, Busan’s peaceful atmosphere will win you over, as will its inhabitants, whom you have the pleasure of meeting.

Included Excursions:

Tea Ceremony & Temple Culture - 4 hours
A 45-minute drive will bring you to the GwangMyeongsa Temple. After a guided visit to the temple, experience a traditional tea ceremony.
The art of the Korean Tea Ceremony has been passed down for more than 1,000 years and is known for its graceful etiquette, refined beauty, and almost meditative state of personal harmony.

Tea Culture was originally one of the six offerings (with incense, flowers, lanterns, fruit, and rice) to Buddha. Brewing and drinking tea is considered to befit a practice of the eight virtues taught by Buddha. The Temple's tea ceremony is a form of meditation that aims to purify the soul and become one with nature. It will be a unique experience of learning and practising how to enjoy the culture of the tea ceremony, following a monk's or tea master's guidance.

After the ceremony, sit down with a Buddhist Monk (if available) to ask questions and gain insight into temple life. This excursion provides a truly unique opportunity for those seeking an inspired, authentic, and moving look at the Korean heritage.
Before returning to the ship, enjoy some time at leisure at the Gukje Market. Following the Korean War, refugees who fled to Busan set up stalls in order to make a living, this is how the market started. Browse through its many alleyways, which stock a wide variety of goods.

• This tour is only conducted in English, there will be no translation into French. The tour is limited to 60 guests. Walking is limited to 0.6 mile (1 km) but involves some steps and inclines. If the GwangMyeongsa Temple is not accessible due to a religious ceremony, it will be replaced by another temple. Participants need to sit on the floor for 30-40 minutes during the tea ceremony. Only a limited number of chairs are provided. Your English-speaking guide will act as translator during the ceremony and question and answer session with the Monk. If the monk is called for official religious affairs, he will not be able to guide during the tea ceremony, and the time normally spent on questions and answers will be replaced by more time at the Gukje Market.

Haedong Yonggungsa & Fish Market
A 45-minute drive from the port will bring you to the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. En route, you will cross the Gwangan Grand Bridge. With its 4.6-mile length, it is the country’s longest suspension bridge, offering wide views of the Oryuk Islets, Dongbaek Island, and the Dalmaji Hill.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is located on the seaside. Unlike other temples, which are normally located in the mountains, this Buddhist temple is situated near the sea. This temple was originally built in 1376 and then reconstructed in 1970 using all the colors that were traditionally used in the structure. The birth of Buddha, celebrated in April-May (following the lunar calendar), offers spectacular night-time views as the temple area is surrounded by lit lanterns. Haedong Yonggungsa is one of three sacred places related to the Goddess Buddha. There are 108 steps down to the Temple, the number of steps representing 108 anguishes in life in Buddhism. So, you can pray to be out of the 108 anguishes, step by step, 108 times.

Back in Busan, you will visit the Jagalchi Fishery Market located next to the Fisherman’s Wharf. This market was established by women peddlers during the Korean War. Today, the market rivals many in the world, with a rich variety of fresh catches from shellfish to exotic seaweeds and carved filets, ready to cook.

• This tour involves approximately 1.25 miles (2 km) of walking over sometimes wet, slippery tiles. To reach the Sanctuary, you normally have to walk the 108 steps down and back up, but a path without steps has just been laid out, so that the 108 steps up and down can be avoided. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes.

Located on the north-west coast of Kyushu, Nagasaki will impress you by its rich heritage. Despite the destruction in 1945, you can visit several ancient sites, including the beautiful 19th-century Catholic Church of Oura and its garden, the sanctuary of Suwa Shrine as well as several Buddhist temples. A visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum gives you insight into the extent of the damage caused by the nuclear attack. Close by, a walk in the Memorial Peace Park leads you to a collection of objets d'art offered as a gift from Japan to the world.

Included Excursions:

Ground Zero and Atomic Bomb Museum - 4 hours
From the pier, board your coach for a short drive to  Ground Zero, the hypocenter of the catastrophe marked by a sober black pillar. Then visit the Atomic Bomb Museum, with over 900 artefacts indicative of the city's devastation. But more than just a commemoration, the museum promotes peace by denouncing the abomination of war and by tracing the evolution of the use of atomic weapons.

After visiting the Peace Memorial site, you will have some leisure time to spend at Hamamachi Arcade, which is one of Nagasaki’s largest shopping areas. See the craft shops, restaurants, and local food stalls.

Enjoy the scenic drive through Dejima, a man-made island completed in 1635 that served as the only trading post where foreigners were allowed to exchange goods during the Edo era, when Japan was closed to the outside world. The Dutch, who were permitted to trade at that time, lived on the island. Driving by Chinatown, you will see the Chinese-style gate and various architecture and decorations from the coach (no stop included).

• This tour is mainly a walking tour and involves approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) of walking over flat terrain (including steps and elevators).

Nagasaki Historical Tour - 4 hours and 15 minutes
From the pier, a short transfer will bring you to the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture, which is one of the few museums in Japan based on "Overseas Exchange". The museum holds approximately 48,000 pieces in its precious collections, including historical documents and arts & crafts that tell the story of how Nagasaki developed as the sole window opened to foreign countries during the period of national isolation.

Next, continue to Dejima Island, a Dutch outpost that served as Japan's only contact point with the Western world for over 200 years. Dejima Museum of History portrays the history of Dejima, the manner of daily life for the Dutch who lived there, and how the trading system worked between Japan and the Netherlands.

Afterwards, visit Glover Garden: situated on a picturesque hillside overlooking Nagasaki Port, you will find a number of late 19th and early 20th century Western-style buildings gathered together. These gardens are said to be the setting for the opera "Madame Butterfly".
Reboard your coach and drive back to your ship.

• This tour involves approximately 1.9 miles (3 km) of walking. There are approximately 40 steps to climb during the visit to the Oura Church and many stairs to reach Glover Gardens. Shoes must be removed for visits to some locations. Appropriate clothing is required to enter religious sites: shoulders and knees must be covered.

The seaside city of Kagoshima, at the south of Kyushu Island, ﾠis best known for Sakurajima, an active volcano that faces Kinko Bay. A visit to this busy metropolis will remind you just how much the volcano is part of the inhabitants' everyday life: in the wake of the almost daily eruptions, a delicate layer of ash settles on everything. The top of a buried torii (traditional Japanese gate) measuring three meters that was swallowed up by a giant lava flow in 1914 can still be seen. The power of nature will send a shiver down your spine.

Included Excursions:

A Trip to Chiran - 4 hours and 15 minutes
Board your coach for the one-hour southbound drive to Chiran, sometimes called “Little Kyoto” in reference to all the samurai residences that have been preserved there. Several houses have been preserved alongside their beautiful gardens, all dating back to around 250 years old.
The gates to the residences, with the moss-covered stone walls, hedges and black tile roofs help recapture the flavor of the Edo Period. Many of the residences are still being used by descendants of the samurai, although some gardens have remained open to the public. Though small in size, each garden is a fine example of “borrowed landscaping”, in which surrounding mountains and scenery have been made part of the garden design.
Not far from the Chiran Samurai Residences is the Peace Museum or Tokko Heiwa Kaikan. Dedicated to the young kamikaze pilots who trained near Chiran before embarking on suicide missions against Allied sea vessels in World War II, the museum commemorates the bravery and sad sacrifice of these young Japanese men, and makes a plea for world peace.
Return to Kagoshima and the ship following your detailed visit to Chiran.

• This tour involves approximately 1 mile (1.5 km) of walking, mostly over flat terrain. Photography is not allowed inside the Chiran Peace Museum.

Kagoshima Treasures - 3 hours and 30 minutes
Discover the enchanting Sengan-en garden, also known as Iso Teien, a tranquil Japanese garden dating back to 1660. Nestled between lush landscapes, this historical gem offers stunning views of the bay and the iconic volcano Sakurajima. Former summer residence of the powerful Shimazu Clan, the botanical jewel features serene rivers, sculpted mountains, a peaceful bamboo grove, and cascading waterfall as a dedication to the art of poetry.
 
Further along is the Goten, originally the residence of the Shimazu clan, followed by the Shoko Shuseikan. Explore the treasure trove of artifacts that unveil the rich history of Kagoshima and the legacy of the Shimazu Clan.
 
The last treasure of Kagoshima is the Reimeikan, where the historic grounds of Kagoshima Castle now house a museum for a journey through various historical eras. The castle’s original gate stands proudly, offering a timeless invitation to explore the region's folk art and traditions.

• This tour involves 1 mile of walking, about 100 steps.

Located on the west coast of Shikoku island, Uwajima delights lovers of history and traditional customs. The magnificent Uwajima Castle was built in the 17th-century by the powerful Date clan and has a beautiful ornamental garden and bridge. The much-visited Taga Shrine is dedicated to fertility and is full of phalluses. Another interesting tradition is togyu, a Japanese variant of bull-fighting where two bulls are pitted against each other without a toreador. As for eating, you must taste jakoten, a local delicacy based on fried fish.

Included Excursions:

Highlights of Uwajima - 3 hours and 15 minutes
Uwajima is located deep inside Uwajima Bay, with its coast facing the Bungo Channel in southwestern Ehime. Since the early 17th century, the city has flourished as a castle town of the Date family.
Upon your arrival, your first visit will be Uwajima Castle, a masterpiece by Lord Tohdoh Takatora, renowned architect of the Edo period. This exceptional donjon, one of the few to retain its original structure, is designated as an Important Cultural Property.
Next, you will visit the Date Museum, where the treasures of the powerful Date clan are on display. Explore artifacts such as weapons, paintings, writings, and everyday items, reflecting the clan’s significant influence during the samurai era.
Your final stop will be a stroll through Tenshaen Garden, a tranquil oasis created in 1866. With its central pond and picturesque pathways, the garden offers a glimpse into the elegance and refinement of the time.

• This tour involves approximately 0.6 miles (1 km) of walking and 300 steps, mainly on flat ground with a slight climb towards the Uwajima Castle.

Terrace Fields and Pearls of Uwajima - 3 hours and 30 minutes
You will embark on a journey to discover the natural beauty of Uwajima. Upon arrival, your first visit will be the stunning Yusu-Mizugaura fields, a traditional Japanese agricultural landscape where the filled terraces create a changing spectacle throughout the seasons. The terraces line the sparkling coast of the Uwa Sea. The steep mountain slope has been transformed with stacked stones into a staircase of agricultural land.
 
Next, you will visit a pearl farm, a cornerstone of the Japanese industry, where pearl cultivation is practiced in the ideal conditions of the Seto Inland Sea, renowned for the exceptional quality of its pearls.

• This tour involves approximately 0.6 miles of walking and 120 steps, mainly on hilly ground  towards the Yusu-Mizugaura fields. The Pearl Farm involves narrow pathways and floating rafts. The order and the duration of visits may vary.

Historic Ehime - 3 hours and 15 minutes
Saiyo, a charming small town located in the Ehime Prefecture, invites to discover its peaceful atmosphere where hills, forests, and rivers create breathtaking landscapes.
 
Discover Saiyo spiritual History with a visit to the Meisekiji temple, an essential stop on the Shikoku pilgrimage. Rebuilt by Kobo Daishi and restored by Minamoto no Yoritomo, it is the first temple where pilgrims from Kyushu begin their journey. The temple served as an important place of prayer for the Date clan of Uwajima during the Edo period (1603-1868).
 
Continue at the Ehime History and Culture Museum for an immersion in Saiyo folklore: its customs, history, and the fascinating legends of the Shikoku pilgrimage.

• This tour involves approximately 1 mile of walking and 300 steps, mainly on paved paths. The order and the duration of visits may vary.

Visiting Hiroshima is a moving experience. The town spreads along Honshu Island, along the inside coasts of Seto. While firmly focused on the future, Hiroshima doesn't forget its past, and a visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Genbaku Dome is a must. You'll enjoy the city's modern, cosmopolitan atmosphere and effervescent nightlife just as much as the peaceful stillness of its natural parkland areas such as splendid Shukkei-en, the town's historic garden.

Included Excursions:

Hiroshima Museum and Peace Memorial Park
Discover the Hiroshima of the past and present by visiting the moving Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Peace Memorial Park. In the years that followed the explosion of the atomic bomb on 6 August 1945, scientists doubted that Hiroshima would live again one day. However, modern Hiroshima rose from its ashes like a phoenix and, less than five decades after its destruction, is now a dynamic city whose population is growing steadily. From the pier, you will go to the touching Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Made up of two buildings, the museum recounts the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb. However, it focuses on the events of 6 August 1945: the dropping of the bomb and its consequences in terms of human suffering. The personal details exhibited are deeply moving and a reminder that peace must not be taken for granted.

You will then walk from the museum to the Atomic-Bomb Dome, via the Peace Memorial Park. This large green space, criss-crossed with alleyways and dotted with memorial monuments, is bordered by rivers on either side. The central element is the long Pond of Peace, edged with trees, leading to the Cenotaph. This saddle-shaped concrete monument contains the names of all the known victims of the bomb. To the north of the road crossing the park, there is the Children's Peace Monument, inspired by Sadako Sasaki, who was two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped. When Sadako developed leukaemia age of 11, she decided to fold 1,000 orizuru (paper cranes). In Japan, the crane symbolises long life and happiness, and she thought that she would get better if she reached this goal. Her story inspired a national wave of paper crane folding that has continued to this day.

This visit involves approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) of walking. It is recommended you wear comfortable walking shoes. This visit includes sensitive materials, particularly graphic images and presentations of the atrocities of war. The order and the duration of visits may vary.


At the heart of the Inland Sea, Miyajima, the “island sanctuary,” will reveal its treasures. In the background, you will see the Shinto Grand Sanctuary, whose entrance is guarded by a magnificent vermilion “Torii“. Considered to be one of the most beautiful sites in the Japanese islands, you will be transported by the unique character and the serenity of this sacred site.

Included Excursions:

Itsukushima Shrine and Omotesando Street - 2 hours and 30 minutes
Upon your tender landing, a 30-minute walk will bring you to one of Japan’s most iconic sights: the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, ranked among the country’s top three scenic views. The shrine was established in 593, the first year of the reign of Empress Suiko, and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The current torii was erected in 1875 after the original one was destroyed. The shrine's torii rises 48 feet (16 meters) above the sea. Its columns, made of camphor, are 30 feet (10 meters) in circumference and are supported by smaller pillars, which are buried in the seabed.
 
The construction of the sanctuary, consisting of structures on piles and pontoons, is owed to the sacred status of the island. Visitors were not allowed to disembark on the island; when they arrived by boat, they passed under the torii and floating dock on the pontoons. The Noh theatre, which also stands on stilts, is located right by the temple.

Your visit will conclude with a peaceful stroll along Omotesando Street, lined with souvenir shops, traditional sweets, and local restaurants. After your visit to the shrine, you will then return to the pier.

Located on the island of Honshu, hugging the banks of the Sento Inland Sea, Tamano is a popular destination thanks to its sun-drenched climate. Upon arrival, marvel at the way in which the city has been built along the coast at the foot of a deep, dark forest. In the area surrounding Tamano, stroll down the streets of Kurashiki, known as the 'white-walled city' in a nod to the pretty façades of the houses that line the streets of this ancient Edo-period trading town. Another major regional attraction is the Seto Ohashi bridge. Its 12.5 kilometers make it the world's longest double-decker bridge.

Included Excursions:

Historic Kurashiki - 4 hours and 30 minutes
Located in the western part of Okayama Prefecture, Kurashiki is known for the lovely, white walls of its buildings. This city developed as a port town along the Kurashiki River.

From the pier, board your coach for the one-hour drive to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area. The atmosphere of the Edo period is preserved in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area along the Kurashiki River, which still contains old storehouses that point to a time when this city was a vital location for the distribution of goods throughout Japan. The houses are known for their white walls and black tile roofs and are a reason why Kurashiki is sometimes called the “white-wall town”. The area also includes numerous museums and sightseeing spots. All electrical wires are buried beneath the ground, so there is nothing to mar the view of the buildings. Many of the buildings you will have seen before entering the museum were originally rice granaries built in the late 18th century. The tiled roofs, white-washed walls, and black-tiled walls with lattice windows were characteristic of Kurashiki.

From amongst the variety of local museums, you will visit the Kurashiki Museum of Folk Craft, which contains a collection of over 10,000 objects collected by Mr. Kichinosuke Tonomura, the first president of the museum. The museum displays a wide range of everyday objects such as ceramics, textiles, lacquerware, baskets, wood and metal objects, drawings, and paintings....

Next, walk to the Ohashi Family Old Merchant House, a 200-year-old merchant's house that was listed as an Important Cultural Property in 1978. The Ohashi family built their wealth by salt farming and financial business in the Edo period (1603-1867). The main wing is simple and solid; a fire-resistant architecture with a gated terrace, which was a privilege reserved for high-class families, is proof of their outstanding prosperity in the area.

• This tour is mainly a walking tour and involves approximately 2.2 miles (3.5 km) of walking, mostly over flat terrain, as well as some cobblestone streets. You will be asked to remove your shoes when visiting the Ohashi House and the Gangukan Japanese The Kurashiki Folk Art Museum is closed on Mondays, so the visit will be replaced by the Gangukan Japanese Toy Folk Museum. This museum houses a collection of old toys such as hand-painted kites, carp-shaped windsocks called "koinobori", etc.

Bizen Ware and Swords - 4 hours and 30 minutes
Immerse yourself in ancient Japanese craftsmanship, where the beauty of the earth and the power of fire combine to create ancient pottery and legendary swords. In Okayama Prefecture, history and know-how come together to offer an unforgettable experience for lovers of art and tradition.
 
Follow the tranquil waters that bathe this ancient corner of the world, and you will arrive in Okayama Prefecture. Your first stop will be the picturesque town of Imbe, home to the famous Bizen pottery kiln. Here, the deft hands of craftsmen still shape clay using ancestral techniques, just as their forefathers did over a thousand years ago.
 
In the shadow of this ancient kiln, you will meet a craftsman who guards the knowledge of Bizen yaki. You will observe the secrets of these rough-textured ceramics with changing colors. Watch the dancing hands create unique pieces.
 
Further on, the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum will invite you into the fascinating world of this sanctuary dedicated to the art of blacksmithing. Long ago, this region was the birthplace of elegant blades, the curved katana that capture the very essence of Japan. Discover the finesse of these swords, their delicate curve and their gleaming steel.  

• This excursion includes some walking on cobbled streets. It is recommended wearing walking shoes and comfortable clothing. The order and the duration of visits may vary.

Like its big sister Tokyo, Osaka is the product of ancestral traditions and amazing technological innovations. And despite its size, its location on the Pacific Ocean gives it a sense of serenity. The main historic landmark is the 16th-century Osaka Castle, which stands proud in the midst of majestic skyscrapers. The lively streets of Dotomburi and the bizarre Shinsekai district attract thousands of locals and visitors. A multitude of restaurants offer menus full of regional specialties: takoyaki, made with octopus, and other succulent dishes such as kushikatsukebabs.

Disembark after breakfast in Osaka.