Alaska to Japan: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture

Land in Sapporo and continue to your hotel for check-in.

Explore Sapporo’s local food scene and quieter city atmosphere before boarding your expedition ship in Otaru.

Today the ship arrives at the southern tip of Hokkaido Island. Rapid modernization in the late 1800s transformed this region, creating a unique blend of contemporary development, traditional fishing villages, and historic castles and fortifications from earlier eras of Japanese history. Explore the preserved buildings and walls of these landmarks or simply soak in the natural beauty overlooking the Tsugaru Strait.

On the northern coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu is Aomori City. With the Hakkōda mountains in the distance, this bountiful countryside is known for its apple orchards, world-famous seafood, local treasures of Tsugaru lacquerware and painted kites. Explore the tranquil Seiryu-ji Temple with its impressive bronze statue of Dainichi Nyorai. Learn about Nebuta Matsuri, the summer festival with colorful papier-mâché floats, and see the amazing artistry up close.

Dock at Muroran and choose to drive to Shikotsu-Tōya National Park, filled with mirror-like lakes and forest-covered hills set against the silhouette of the Mount Yōtei stratovolcano. Alternatively, drive to the lush town of Shiraoi to visit the newly opened National Ainu Museum and Park, an open-air museum where visitors can experience various elements of Ainu culture.

Arrive on the northeastern shore of Hokkaido. With a deep connection to the sea, Kushiro is known for a variety of seafood, fresh from the sea. Experience the bustle of the local market, where the daily catch is on display. Explore the Kushiro City Museum and delve into the rich history of the city and the traditions of the Ainu people. Following your morning of exploration, enjoy a meal loved by locals: robata-yaki, or “fireside grilling.” You will select your favorite seafood and grill it over the hot coals at your seat—a very special treat.

As the ship sets a course for the Aleutian Islands, enjoy discussions with your naturalists. Join them on deck to identify the seabirds that follow the ship and the volcanic cones in the distance that make up the “Ring of Fire.” Be on the lookout for unexpected visits from whales and other marine mammals. There is also an array of shipboard activities to enjoy: attend a photo workshop with your National Geographic photographer, treat yourself to a massage or a wellness class or cozy up in the library with a good book. As you make your way toward North America, you will gain a day crossing the International Date Line.
International Date Line note: This itinerary crosses the International Date Line, resulting in the repeat of one calendar day (July 19) as you sail from Japan to the Aleutian Islands.

With 69 islands, countless islets and tens of millions of seabirds, the Aleutians offer much to discover. Spend four days exploring these rugged and remote volcanic islands—some of which still harbor active volcanoes. Learn about the culture of the Aleuts, fishing and hunting people who have inhabited these islands for millennia. Observe marine mammals such as northern fur seals, Steller sea lions and a variety of whales, as well as prolific birdlife. Witness how the weather—wind, rain, fog and glorious sunshine—impacts all aspects of life in this spectacularly scenic region.

The westernmost tip of the Alaska mainland gives way to a 1,100-mile-long string of islands that separate the Bering Sea from the northern Pacific: the Aleutian Islands. Explore this wildlife-rich archipelago in the Baby Islands, east of Unalaska. Here, dynamic tides offer the chance to look for sea otters and fur seals, as well as rare seabirds. Stand on deck as the ship navigates Baby Pass and be on the lookout for the islands’ wildlife. Arrive at Dutch Harbor, site of a fierce World War II battle and now one of the world’s most important fishing ports.

A naturalist’s paradise, the Pribilof Islands welcome three million seabirds and a million marine mammals each summer during the breeding season. Cruise beneath the cliffs of St. George, rocky outcrops that harbor one of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Hemisphere. Watch for horned and tufted puffins, red-legged kittiwakes, crested auklets and rare Asian vagrant species seldom seen in North America. Go ashore on St. Paul, home to the majority of the Pribilofs’ more than half a million northern fur seals. After two days exploring these remote islands, strike off across the Bering Sea toward Nome, Alaska.

Arrive in the remote city of Nome, on the coast of the Bering Sea. Enjoy breakfast on board and disembark to explore the town prior to your flight to Anchorage. Lunch is included in town before boarding the flight. In Anchorage, transfer to the airport for flights home.