Arrive in Sapporo, world renowned winter resort wrapped in nature and capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Famous for its beer (and Sapporo Beer Museum), skiing and annual Sapporo Snow Festival featuring supersized ice sculptures, transfer to your hotel where your group spend the first night of the expedition. This evening meet your fellow voyagers and expedition team over dinner at the hotel.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before travelling to Otaru, a port city in Hokkaido known for glassworks, music boxes, sake distilleries and the picturesque Otaru Canal flanked with shops and cafes built within its repurposed 1920s warehouses where you board Heritage Adventurer, settle into your cabin and familiarize yourself with the ship. Then the opportunity to introduce you to your expedition team and the voyage plans.

Sail into the port of Hakodate, located at the southern tip of Hokkaido. Venture to Onuma Park to explore its picturesque, island-dotted lakes and a majestic dormant volcano, Mount Komagatake. Explore the lakes’ endlessly fascinating and Instagram-worthy peninsulas and islands, many of which are connected by small bridges, by foot. Back in Hakodate,  enjoy a city tour including the enchanting Fort Goryokaku. This massive star-shaped citadel was built in the last years of the Edo Period but is repurposed now as a quirky public park boasting more than 1,000 cherry trees along its moats.

Enjoy the culinary delights of Noshiro. Famous for its local beef, pork, and chicken and rice soup known as Kiritanpo, tranquil Noshiro is a modern city flanked by nature with the Yoneshiro River winding through its heart. Gateway to the iconic Juniko (12 Lakes) park, this national treasure is actually a collection of 33 crystal clear ponds and lakes formed by an earthquake in 1704 and surrounded by ancient beech forest. Explore the forested walks that lead to these serene blue holes including 10-meter-deep Aoike (Blue Pond). Visit the stunning Lake Towada, a 2,000-year-old double caldera 400 meters above sea level, and its surrounding forest in TowadaHachimantai National Park and Japan’s largest pine forest, Kaze no Matsubara, where more than 7 million trees were planted to prevent coastal erosion. Known as the ‘Wind of Matsubara’, in 1996 it was designated as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.

Explore remote Sado Island off the coast of Niigata. Comprising the mountain ranges of Osado and Kosado flanking the Kokunaka Plain, Sado was once a destination of political exile. It now boasts its own rich cultural and religious life incorporating puppet theatre, Okesa folk songs, Ondeko drumming and demon dances, and Noh theatre thanks to some of its more famous displaced figures. Home to the Japanese Crested Ibis, extinct on the Mainland and the iconic taraibune tub boats, this island off the beaten path combines stunning natural scenery including Senkakuwan Bay and Ogi Peninsula, and wilderness and wildlife with a rich history including gold and silver mining, Samurai warrior culture and unique agri- and aquaculture practices. Sado Island is widely considered a perfect, miniature version of Japan.

Spend the day exploring the rich art center of Kanazawa discovering some of the unique styles of Japanese art. Kanazawa is rightly famous for its Kutani-style pottery, exquisite lacquerware, gold-leaf workmanship, hand-painted silk, and classical Noh dance drama performed since the 14th Century. Wander winding cobblestone streets, elegant restaurants, and craft galleries and visit the impressive Edo-period Kenrokuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and explore the Omicho Market boasting everything from flowers to crafts and food.

Sail towards the port of Sakaiminato and the entry point to Matsue, known as ‘the town of water’ due to being situated between Lake Shinji and Lake Nakaumi. A highlight of the visit will be the Matsue Castle, a national treasure and one of Japan’s few largely intact 17th Century castles. Explore Daisen-Oki National Park, steeped in beauty and history it’s also the home of rare flora and fauna including the giant salamander, visit the picturesque Yuushien Garden, the Adachi Museum of Art, and learn about the art of Japanese papermaking at the Yakumo-mura village, or perhaps you may wish to spend some time exploring the picturesque streets and local canals.

Relax on board as we sail south to Hagi, originally a minor fishing port but now famously known for its traditional pottery making. Discover the Teramachi District with its temples and shrines, including the famed ‘Ninja Temple’, the Jokomachi District with its old Samurai houses, Hagi Castle ruins at Shizuki Park, and the beautiful Zen Tokoji Temple.

Cross the Sea of Japan to Ulsan in South Korea where we plan to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gyeongju. The capital of the Shilla Dynasty and dating back to the first millennium, Gyeongju is known as ’the museum without walls’ and is full of ancient Korean history and Buddhist culture. Enjoy strolling through hundreds of excavated monuments, temples, tombs, and pagodas and enjoy Korean delicacies, cultural performances, and visit the National Museum with its gold jewelry, metal weapons, and distinctive pottery. Today provides a perfect taste of South Korea.

Once a major stop for ships and trading post between Korea and China, Karatsu is well known for its medieval heritage including the Karatsu Castle. Built on a plain, construction began in 1602 and the castle is also known as the ‘flying crane castle’ as its shape resembles a bird in flight. Tour the castle including the Exhibition Hall, which houses the floats and artifacts used in the annual Karatsu Kunchi autumn festival. Visit to the city of Imari celebrated for its porcelain pottery kilns and the flower-laden Mifuneyama Rakuen garden.

Explore the Yamaguchi prefecture, the last point on the main island of Honshu. Options here include visiting the Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, believed to be the oldest Tenmangu in Japan having been built in 903, and dedicated to the god of learning. Alternatively, visit the five-storied Pagoda, a symbol of Yamaguchi, and the national treasure Rurikoji Temple. Built in 1442, this Buddhist temple is considered one of Japan’s top three temples and is set amidst the beautifully manicured Kozan Park. Take the opportunity to visit the museum which houses thousands of national treasures and explore the beautiful gardens.

Explore the city of Uwajima, on Japan’s Shikoku Island. One of Japan’s premier pearl producers, learn about the traditional process of cultivating and harvesting pearls during a visit to a pearl farm. Visit the Uwajima Castle, built in the Edo Period (1603 – 1867), it features spectacular panoramic views of the town, harbor, and the tranquil Tenshaen Garden built in the Samurai era. Explore the town or perhaps visit one of the many gardens including Tenshaen and the island’s largest Nanrakuen Gardens. Other options include a meander along with a cherry treelined lane in Yoshida, or visiting the historic Kabuki theatre.

Explore Hiroshima and Miyajima Island. Despite its history including being the site of the world’s first atomic bomb attack on the 6 August 1945, Hiroshima is a vibrant and thriving cosmopolitan community. Visit the beautiful Peace Park and Museum, with its somber cenotaph containing names of atomic bomb victims, and the permanently lit ‘Flame of Peace’. Travel to Miyajima Island considered one of Japan’s most scenic spots and the location of the Torii Gate and the Daisho-in Buddhist temple. Ascend Mount Misen on Miyajima Island by cable car and enjoy a hike, admiring the views below of the Shinto Shrine and Torri Gate.

Our next stop on Shikoku Island will be Takamatsu. Takamatsu has had a long history as a port town earning itself the nickname ‘Gateway to Shikoku’, although more recently locals have been calling it ‘Udon Kingdom’. Visit  Ritsurin Park, considered one of Japan’s finest gardens, is sure to be a highlight. Visit to Kinashi, one of Japan’s main bonsai production centers and learn about traditional methods of growing bonsai. Travel to Naoshima Island for a full-day excursion. Shikoku Island is known for its art and this excursion to Naoshima will have you admiring its architecture and art museums, including Chichu Art Museum and Benesse House, featuring work by Japanese and international artists.

Sail into Kobe, Japan’s seventh-largest city and third-largest port. Considered one of Japan’s most beautiful cities, Kobe was rocked by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995 which killed more than 5,000 people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings. Today the city is completely rebuilt, though a few signs of the terrible event remain. After breakfast, there will be a complimentary coach to a central hotel or to the Osaka airport. To allow time for disembarkation procedures and travel from Osaka, it is not recommended booking flights departing before 1300 hours. During the voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. An Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. Please note: Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.