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 give it a sense of serenity.ﾠ 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 specialities: takoyaki, made with octopus, and other succulent dishes such as kushikatsukebabs.

A former fortified city, ruled over by the Matsudaira clan from the Tamamo castle with its seawater moats, the city is home to one of the most beautiful classic gardens in Japan, the Ritsurin. It was created by the barons of the city at the start of the Edo period, during which time gardening became a profession in its own right. Its landscape incorporates Mount Shiun in the background, an example of what is known as the shakkei technique, which uses the surrounding landscapes to increase the beauty of the gardens.

Optional Excursions:

RITSURIN GARDENS & FOLK HOUSES

• Length : 3h30

From the pier, embark your coach for the short drive to the Ritsurin Garden. One of Japan's finest gardens, Ritsurin Park is a world-class cultural heritage property that encompasses 185 acres and includes six ponds, 15 bridges and 13 hills in a park design of great variety. The Edo Period park has been designated a spot of special scenic beauty and there are said to be more than sixty separate views within the park, which took over one hundred years to construct. The name “Ritsurin” means “chestnut woods” and shows that the entire park area was once covered with chestnuts in past years.
Before leaving the garden, enjoy Japanese tea and a sweet.
Next visit Shikokumura, which features traditional Japanese folk houses embodying the old, nostalgic lifestyle in Japan. At the bottom of Yashima Hill is an excellent village museum with old buildings brought from all over Shikoku and neighboring islands. Scattered through the sprawling forest are 27 houses, such as a Country Kabuki theatre, a sugar-making house, a salt refinery house, and a paper making house.

TAKAMATSU HIGHLIGHTS

• Length : 7h30

Depart from Takamatsu Port to enjoy the rich culture of the area. Start with the visit of the Ritsurin Garden. One of Japan's finest gardens, Ritsurin Park is a world-class cultural heritage property that encompasses 185 acres and includes six ponds, 15 bridges and 13 hills in a park design of great variety. The Edo Period park has been designated a spot of special scenic beauty and there are said to be more than sixty separate views within the park, which took over one hundred years to construct. The name "Ritsurin" means "chestnut woods" and shows that the entire park area was once covered with chestnuts in years past.
Next drive to Shikokumura, which features traditional Japanese folk houses embodying the old, nostalgic lifestyle in Japan. At the bottom of Yashima Hill is an excellent village museum with old buildings brought from all over Shikoku and neighbouring islands. Scattered through the sprawling forest are 27 houses, such as a Country Kabuki theatre, a sugar-making house, a salt refinery house, and a paper making house. After the visit, enjoy a typical Japanese lunch in a local restaurant.
Your next visit is to the Nakano Udon School. Here you will have a chance to make your own udon, a type of noodle for which the area is so well known for. There is also time for free shopping at the store. This is a great introduction to the local gastronomy.
Your last visit of the day is a Bonsai Centre, where you will marvel at the various masterpieces of bonsai, an art form using potted trees. After your time at the bonsai garden, makes your return to the ship.

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. 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.

Optional Excursions:

A TRIP TO MIYAJIMA

• Length : 4h30

Travel by coach following the route to Miyajima-Guchi, here board the local ferry for the 10-minute cruise to the lovely island of Miyajima. This picturesque island, considered one of Japan's most scenic destinations, is the location of the Itsukushima Shrine and its famous large red torii gate that rises up out of the ocean.
Depending on the tide, the view of the torii gate will be totally different. At high tide the torii seems to be floating while at low tide, visitors can walk up to the gate.
The sight of the torii in the background with Mount Misen is designated as one of the “Three most famous views of Japan” with the Amanohashidate sand bar and Matsushima Bay.
The shrine was established in 593, the first year of the reign of Empress Suiko, and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
The construction of the sanctuary, consisting of structures on piles and pontoons, is due to the sacred status of the island. The visitors had indeed no right to dismount; when they arrived by boat, they passed under the torii and floating dock on the pontoons. Scene from Noh theatre, also on stilts, is close to the temple.
After your visit to the shrine, enjoy a free time to discover the numerous shops located in the narrow streets.
Finally, walk back to the ferry terminal for the trip back to Miyajima-Guchi, where your coach awaits to transfer you to the pier in Hiroshima.

HIGHLIGHTS OF HIROSHIMA

• Length : 4h00

In the years just following the atomic bomb blast on 6 August 1945, scientists doubted if Hiroshima could ever live again. Yet modern Hiroshima rose like a phoenix from its own ashes, and less than five decades since its obliteration, it is a vital city with a population of one million and growing.
From the pier,  reach the poignant Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and its powerful museum. Following the bomb attack, only a few concrete buildings remained standing. Though unusable, one of these ruins is now a symbol of the city and the Memorial Park: the Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall, now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, located near the epicentre of the blast. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996, the Dome remains a stark and powerful symbol of the destructive force created by humankind. See the Cenotaph, shaped like an ancient tomb and holding the names of the dead, as well as the Flame of Peace, visited daily by monks offering prayers and burning incense.
Continue to the serene Shukkeien Garden, modelled after the famous West Lake of Hangzhou in China. Shukkeien Garden is a quiet respite from the bustle of Hiroshima's busy streets. Plum trees, azaleas, cherry trees and other plants guarantee a blooming landscape, regardless of the season, and its sculpted gardens, paths, ponds, bridges, waterfalls and bamboo groves make the garden an extremely pleasant and photogenic place for a stroll.

SCENERY OF KARATSU

• Length : 4h00

Karatsu is a coastal city on the island of Kyushu. In the past, Karatsu was a major stop for ships making the journey towards Korea and China because it is one of the closest Japanese cities to the Korean Peninsula.
From the pier, board your coach for the drive to the port of Yobuko. On the way, drive past the Karatsu Castle and through the Niji Pine Grove, one of Japan's largest pine groves with approximately 100,000 black pine trees.
On arrival, board a local tour boat for the 40-minute cruise which allows you to see the 7 caves of Nanatsugama. Thousands of years of continuous wave erosion have formed these unusual and beautiful cliffs today.
It is here that, as a child, Jacques Mayol (the French free-diver) learned to dive and trained in those caves.
Lastly visit Cape Hado which is known as a lovers’ sanctuary. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and see the heart-shaped monument. Walk down the underwater observation tower, located at the confluence of the Japan Current and Tsushima Current, the number and variety of fish you might observe is important. In a nearby hut, you will have a chance to taste the local "grilled turban shells".
 
HIGHLIGHTS OF KARATSU

• Length : 3h30

Karatsu is a coastal city on the island of Kyushu that in the past was a major stop for ships making the voyage towards Korea and China, because it is one of the closest Japanese cities to the Korean Peninsula. A short drive brings you to the Karatsu Castle, which was built in 1608 and renewed in 2017. The castle faces the sea and houses a museum about the castle's history and Karatsu ceramics. The top floor offers views of the bay, the city and the pine grove. To get to the castle tower, you will need to walk up stone steps and take an elevator. Next, visit the Hikiyama Festival Float Exhibition Hall, which stores and displays the 14 large floats of the Karatsu Kunchi Festival which takes place annually in November. Your last visit is to Kyu-Takatori-Tei, the former home of Koreyoshi Takatori (1850-1927), a successful coal baron. This well-restored late Meiji Period villa of a local trader is built in a mix of Japanese and Western styles, with lantern-filled gardens, a Buddhist altar room, a wealth of paintings on cedar boards and an indoor nō stage.

TRADITIONS OF KARATSU

• Length : 3h30

On this half day tour, discover the traditions of puppetry, ceramic ware and tea ceremony. From the pier, board your coach for the 15-minute drive to the traditional hotel Yoyokakuy, rated as one of Japan’s top 100 ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). Here, experience a traditional “Ningyo Joruri” puppet show, where live performers, dolls and puppets are mixed to form an artistic theatrical performance. In the 16th century, Karatsu ceramics were mass produced and sent to areas all over Japan. It is now considered one of the main types of Japanese ceramics. It tends to be sturdier than other types of ceramics and was originally used in daily life. Ceramics in general have also been referred to at times as Karatsu ware, due to widespread use around Japan. Visit the “Nakazato Tarouemon Toubou” gallery – featuring works from the Nakazato family, one of the most famous producers of Karatsu ceramics. The Nakazato family have been making Karatsu ceramics for 14 generations, and is the only family that actually dates all the way back to the origins of this ware. This gallery is located in a traditional style wooden house with a beautiful garden and a koi pond.
Just a couple of minutes walk from the Nakazato gallery, you can see a climbing kiln which was originally used to make the ceramics. No longer in use, the kiln is covered with grass and situated in a peaceful corner of the town. This kind of climbing kiln is still used in ceramic making: fire burns in the lower chamber of the kiln, and the heat rises through the upper chambers to fire the ceramics. After this visit, also visit the Kinsho temple and experience a tea ceremony, before returning to your ship.

Located on the north-west coast of Kyushu, Nagasaki 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ﾒart offered as a gift from Japan to the world.

NAGASAKI HISTORICAL TOUR

• Length : 4h00

Explore the city of Nagasaki during this remarkable introduction. First, visit the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture, which is one of the few museums in Japan with the theme of "Overseas Exchange". The museum holds approx. 48,000 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.
The Oura Catholic Church, is both the oldest Gothic-style wooden building and oldest church in Japan and is the only Western artifact designated a national treasure. The church was founded by French priest Bernard Petijean, who soon dedicated it to the martyrdom of the 26 saints in Japan in 1597. Though Christianity had been banned in Japan from even before that time, in 1865 Petijean was approached by local farmers whose families had kept their faith alive in secret through the centuries. The white marble statue of the Holy Mother at the entrance of Oura Catholic Church was placed there in commemoration of these hidden Christians.
Afterwards, you can visit Glover Garden: situated on a picturesque hillside looking over Nagasaki Port, 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". 

GROUND ZERO & ATOMIC BOMB MUSEUM

• Length : 4h30

From the pier, take your coach for a short drive to the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park, commemorating the city's destruction by the atomic bomb dropped on 9 August 1945. Although "Fat Man", the name given to the second bomb dropped on Japan, missed its target by over a mile and a half, it levelled nearly half the city. The park's main attraction is its collection of statues and sculptures donated by countries and groups all over the world. This includes the massive Peace Memorial Statue depicting a man with his right arm pointing to the sky to indicate the continued threat of nuclear destruction.
After a short walk, reach Ground Zero, the hypocentre 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 the Peace memorial sites, you can have some time at leisure at Hamanomachi Arcade, which is a central shopping area of Nagasaki. See the craft shops, restaurants, and local foods stalls.
Enjoy the scenic drive through Dejima, a man-made island created to serve as only trading post with foreign countries during the Edo era when Japan was closed to the outside world, and completed in 1635. Dutch who were permitted to trade at that time lived on island. Driving by the China town, see the Chinese-style gate, architecture and decorations from the coach (no stop included).

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call can also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they are able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observer marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Set in the most amazing geographic location, Shanghai has fast become the largest economic and commercial hub in China. Although this futuristic megalopolis is the capital of excess, it still has soul. See for yourself as you stroll around the Bund district, emblematic of old Shanghai. From here, you can reach Peopleﾒs Square, a must-see vast and luminous space bordered by historical monuments. In the former French concession, youﾒll be able to appreciate the charm of the most Westernised of Chinese cities: a haven of peace in the heart of an urban jungle! 

CHINESE ACROBATIC SHOW

• Length : 3h00

Witness the incredible skills and agility of a truly unique group of artists during this unforgettable demonstration of Chinese acrobatics. Ancient stone carvings, earthen pottery and early written works trace the ancestry of today’s Chinese acrobats back to 700 BC. Confucius’ father was an acrobat and strongman of unrivalled strength, and is reputed to have once lifted 450-kg city gates to permit an army to storm through.
More than 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty, the first Chinese acrobats, magicians and jugglers sprang forth from the annual village harvest celebrations. With relatively little to do over the long winter, Chinese farmers and village craftsmen decided to spend their idle time improving their social position by becoming acrobats. They practised this art form with items found around the house and farm, using cups, saucers, tables, chairs, plates, and even their own bodies to form human walls and pyramids.
Depart the pier for the drive to the Shanghai Centre Theatre to see a spectacular performance of incredible balance and amazing displays of strength by highly-skilled and trained Chinese acrobats. Building on the traditional performances, today’s artists have added new techniques and spectacular stunts designed to thrill and amaze audiences all around the globe.

ANCIENT WATER TOWN OF ZHUJIAJIAO

• Length : 5h00

From the pier, a 90-minute ride brings you to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town well-known throughout the country with a history of more than 1,700 years. Covering an area of 47 sq. km (18 sq. mi), the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains. Upon arrival, make your way along the meandering alleyways and admire the stone or wooden structures known for their simplicity and elegance. Endowed with another elegant name – Pearl Stream – the little town is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in Shanghai. Unique old bridges across bubbling streams, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with attached courtyards all transport people, who are living amidst the hustle and bustle of the modern big city, to a world full of antiquity, leisure and tranquillity.
It is said that to visit Zhujiajiao without seeing the bridges means that you have not really been to Zhujiajiao. The bridges in town are distinctive and old, built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The old town is connected by 36 delicate spans in different shapes and styles, from wooden to stone to marble. Among them, Fangsheng Bridge is the most famous. Built in 1571, Fangsheng Bridge (“setting fish free” bridge) is the longest, largest and tallest stone bridge, with five openings both in Zhujiajiao and in the Shanghai region. On the bridge stand four stone lions and a stone tablet named Dragon Gate Stone, which is engraved with eight coiling dragons encircling a shining pearl.
Continue on to Daqingyouju, a post office from the Qing Dynasty, the only remnant of its kind in East China. Next stop is the Tong Tian He Pharmacy, a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy with over 200 years old history. Afterwards, you head back to Shanghai and return to your ship.

HIGHLIGHTS OF SHANGHAI

• Length : 8h00

Your tour starts with a drive through the promenade aside of the Old Town known as the Bund, where you are afforded a panoramic glimpse of this former “Wall Street” of the colonial days of western powers. First visit the renowned Shanghai Museum, housing over 110,000 historical objects and 430,000 reference pieces. Its collection of bronze-ware from Shang and Zhou Dynasties, dating back as far as 3,500 years, enjoy international fame. Have time to explore the outstanding museum on your own, enjoying the well laid out displays of ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, sculptures, furniture, jade, coins and minority nationalities' art. Next head northwest to Jade Buddha Temple, founded in 1882. Its rare statues of the Buddha, each carved from a single piece of white Burmese jade, are of special interest. Depending on the schedule of resident monks, you may be able to peek inside one of the temples to witness a prayer session.
Midway through your busy sightseeing programme, enjoy a Chinese-cuisine luncheon.
Continue the afternoon tour to the enchanting Yu Yuan Gardens, the only classical Chinese garden in Shanghai. Commissioned by a Ming Dynasty mandarin, the garden is a perfect gem of landscaping and architecture, with a 400-year-old ginkgo tree, ponds and rockeries, graceful alleys and pavilions, and beautifully arranged weeping willows and bamboo groves. Outside the walls of the garden, see the Nine Zigzag Bridge, built to baffle evil spirits, as well as the narrow streets and market stalls that make up the popular Old Town. Return to your ship afterwards

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call can also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they are able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observer marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Hong Kong, known as the “Fragrant harbour”, bordered by the South China Sea, is a heady place attracting tourists from the world over. This former British colony today combines ultramodern shopping malls and authentic markets like the Ladie’s Market or the night market on Temple Street. At first sight, you’ll be overwhelmed by the city’s architecture which, because of lack of ground space, reaches skywards, with its 1,250 skyscrapers and other towers. Believing is seeing, so if you go up to Victoria Peak, the highest point on the island, you can see a dizzying and unforgettable view of the bay.

HONG KONG ORIENTATION

• Length : 4h30

Explore some of Hong Kong’s most scenic and popular landmarks during this memorable orientation tour of the island. Depart the pier for Hong Kong Island via the Harbour Tunnel, and begin your tour with an ascent of Victoria Peak. Upon arrival at the Peak Tram Station, exit your coach to join the Peak Tram for the exciting ascent, then rejoin your coach at the top. The Peak is visited by millions of tourists and locals every year, and offers unforgettable views and photo opportunities of both the city and harbour.
Continue on for the scenic drive to the southern side of the island towards Aberdeen, an old fishing town where boat people still live traditional lives, and noisy sampan ladies vie for customers to take their water taxis and sightseeing trips. One of Hong Kong’s most famous landmarks, the Jumbo Floating Restaurant, can be found here. You then be transferred to one of the motorized sampans for a ride in the Aberdeen harbour. Your tour concludes with a stop at Hong Kong’s Stanley Market, located at the southernmost point of Hong Kong Island. Here, you can browse the narrow lanes lined with small shops selling the latest fashions, including leather and silk clothing, Chinese bric-à-brac and Hong Kong souvenirs.
Following your tour, rejoin your coach for the return drive to the pier and your ship.

TAI CHI AND TEA

• Length : 4h00

Your tour begins with an insightful look into the graceful art of Tai Chi, an ancient form of martial art created in the 12th century. Tai Chi has been known to help develop balance, improve muscle tone and breathing, and aid in the digestion process. Follow a one-hour class with a Tai Chi master on Kowloon’s promenade.
Board your coach for a short transfer to Shanghai Street where you can enjoy a stroll along the oldest street in town. In a tea house, see a tea-making demonstration followed by a sampling of tea, a drink that the Chinese find to be more than just a refreshing beverage. The custom of drinking tea, or cha, is a ritual steeped in tradition and deeply ingrained in the people of China. This is probably due to the fact that tea contains vitamins, essential oils and fluoride. It is also used as a cure for many illnesses, and an essential element in Chinese folk medicine.

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call can also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they are able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observer marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Located 170 kilometres east of Hanoi, in the gulf of Tonkin, Halong bay is a marvel of marvels. A must for all who wish to soak up the spirit of Vietnam, at once peaceful and mysterious. Sail into the heart of this legendary natural beauty, not surprisingly listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Over approximately 1,500 square kilometres, the famous bay offers an infinite quasi supernatural and ghostly spectacle of limestone pillars rising from the sea in all shapes and sizes, sculpted by nature for centuries. This exceptional scenic beauty of this site includes myriad creeks, caves and other interior lakes to feast your eyes on.

On the banks of the Red River Delta, Haiphong is one of Vietnam's three major ports. Contemporary and outward-looking, the city also has a rich past. One stunning example of its old colonial town is the Du Hang pagoda, the gateway to Hanoi, the county's capital and a symbol of its anti-colonial struggle. Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam's independence here in 1945, where his body rests in the middle of the Ba Dinh square in his mausoleum. A few hundred meters away is the wrought-iron fence that surrounds the Presidential Palace and the delicate One Pillar Pagoda. Further south, kick back in the peace and quiet of the Confucian Temple of Literature.