Day 1 – Kyoto

Join your tour group at the hotel.

Day 2 – Kyoto

This morning, we’ll set out on a guided sightseeing tour of Kyoto, birthplace of the Japanese tea ceremony. First up, we’ll head for some spiritual (and literal) reflection at Kinkakuji Temple. Its elegant three tiers, glittering gold leaf covering, and mirror-like reflection in Kyoko-chi Pond, is one of the most iconic sights in Japan. We’ll continue to Nijo Castle, one of the best-known castles in Japan and a powerful symbol of the might of the warlords who ruled the country for 200 years. After trying our luck on the castle’s famous anti-intruder ‘nightingale’ floors (which chirp with every footfall), our morning ends with an invitation to experience the unique ritual of a Japanese tea ceremony in the city where the custom was born.

Day 3 – Kyoto – Yudanaka

This morning, we’ll fast forward to modern-day Japan with a ride on a Japanese bullet train. Travelling at speeds of up to 198mph, these are some of the fastest trains in the world. Our ride takes us from Kyoto city to Nagano station in Yudanaka, a hot spring resort in the Japanese Alps. After free time for lunch, we’ll visit Zenkoji Temple, which has seen over 1,400 years of history under its delicately scalloped roof, before heading to the village of Kanbayashi Onsen in the foothills of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. Here we’ll be further immersed in Japanese tradition as we relax in open-air hot spring baths and tonight enjoy a delicious, delicate kaiseki meal, Japan’s own ‘haute cuisine’.

Day 4 – Yudanaka – Tokyo

After a Japanese-style breakfast, we’ll take a short walk to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) live completely free range. The park was set up to protect and observe their unique behaviour – they’re the only monkeys in the world who like to bathe in hot springs! After watching the famous troupe swimming and sunning themselves, we’ll prepare for the next chapter of our journey as we swap the foothills of the Alps for Tokyo, Japan’s exhilarating capital.

Day 5 – Tokyo

Nothing quite prepares you for Tokyo. The city blends ultra-modernity with proud, deep-rooted history, and you get a real sense of both almost everywhere you look. This morning’s city tour takes in Imperial Palace, home to the Emperor of Japan and once the largest fortress in the world, and Meiji-Jingu, a grand Shinto shrine surrounded by tall trees and green forest in the heart of Tokyo. After breathing in these sharp city contrasts, the rest of the day is free.

Day 6 – Tokyo – Embark ship

After a late check-out from our Tokyo hotel, we’ll transfer to Yokohama cruise terminal, where we’ll embark on MS Westerdam and set sail early this evening.

Day 7 – At sea

A whole day at sea gives you ample time to get acquainted with the ship and its first-class facilities. Perhaps attend a port lecture, indulge in a spa treatment, or grab a sun lounger and enjoy the sea views and fresh air on deck.

Day 8 – Osaka

Today, we travel to Osaka – a busy, modern Japanese skyscraper metropolis. Explore busy markets and enjoy great street food. Perhaps take a day cruise down the river to catch a glimpse of some of the city’s highlights, such as Osaka Castle, the Twin Towers, and visit Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrina.

Day 9 – Kochi

A hop across the water brings us to the island of Shikoku and its capital, Kochi. Set high on a hill behind the city, 400-year-old Kochi Castle is the only one in Japan with its original tower and main keep. The castle is almost as well known for its spring cherry blossoms as it is for the views across the city below. Afterwards, head for nearby Hirome Market and browse all manner of Japanese food stalls from seared beef to sushi.

Day 10 – Hiroshima

Whilst marking its tragic past at the poignant Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima today embraces a bold and bright future. Alongside serene temples and colourful shrines, it tempts visitors with first-class art institutions, the historic Shukkei-en Garden and Miyajima Island, one of the most scenic spots in Japan.

Day 11 – Scenic cruising Kanmon Strait

Take your seats on deck for today’s scenic cruising along this narrow, strategically important stretch of water which separates two of Japan’s four main islands: Honshu and Kyushu. The Kanmon Strait also connects the Sea of Japan and the lovely, island-studded Inland Sea.

Day 12 – Busan (Pusan), South Korea

We make a side trip to South Korea today with a stop in vibrant Busan, whose hilly setting and laid-back ‘big city’ vibe has earned it the nickname ‘the San Francisco of Korea’. Aside from great beaches and hiking trails, cultural highlights include the spectacular Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which is built into the side of a cliff, and the murals and installations in Art Street, Sinchang-dong.

Day 13 – Sakaiminato

Today, we’ll step into the life and birthplace of the renowned Japanese animator, Shigeru Mizuki. His work shaped modern Japanese culture, and his best-known characters can be seen in books, films, TV and t-shirts everywhere in Japan. If Japanese anime isn’t your thing, a visit to Black Castle, an imposing six-storey castle which was home to the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled Japan for over 250 years, is a step back in time.

Day 14 – Tsuruga

Rolling hills thickly blanketed with pine trees wrap around this lovely coastal town that, in its heyday, was a prosperous port city. You can learn about its history on the waterfront, where the Red Brick Warehouse has a huge diorama recreating Tsuruga in the early 1900s. Or go back even further to the Kehi Jingu Shrine, which dates back to the year 702. Tsuruga is also known for delicious fresh seafood like Echizen crab, sweet shrimp, and pufferfish. Otherwise, slip off your shoes and sink your toes into the sand at Kehi no Matsubara beach.

Day 15 – Toyama

Toyama means ‘rich with mountains’, and it’s a name you’ll appreciate as you cruise to this coastal city. In spring, Toyama is even more picturesque, especially along the banks of the Matsukawa River, which is flanked by hundreds of blossoming cherry trees. The river was once a moat for Toyama Castle, which also has beautifully landscaped grounds. For views of a different kind, take the railway up Mount Tateyama and see rural Japan spread before you. On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji.

Day 16 – Sakata

Standing in the shadow of Mount Chōkai facing the Sea of Japan, Sakarta grew wealthy in the 17th-18th centuries by growing high-quality rice on the surrounding Shonai Plain. It was a boom time for the town, and buildings from this period still stand, including grand merchants’ houses and warehouses where the precious goods were stored. More modern Japanese history is documented at the Ken Domon Museum of Photography, the first such museum in Japan, which shows his portraits and photos of everyday life in postwar Japan.

Day 17 – Aomori

Located on the northern tip of Honshu, Japan’s main island, Aomori is the jumping-off point for trips across the narrow Tsugaru Strait to the island of Hokkaido. The area is known for its beautiful lakes and spectacular mountain scenery, with many lovely parks and coastal walks to explore. Perhaps take the opportunity to visit Hirosaki Park for the chance to see one of Japan’s most spectacular cherry blossom displays, when 2,600 trees and over 50 different types of cherry trees are in bloom.

Day 18 – Hakodate

Yesterday we saw it across the water. Today we’re in Hokkaido, the wildest and least developed of Japan’s four islands. Top attractions here include taking a cable car to the summit of eponymous Mount Hakodate for sweeping views across the scalloped bays and city below, and visiting Fort Goryokaku. This massive star-shaped citadel is now a popular country park, and its wide canals lined with cherry trees often have some of the best cherry blossom in Hokkaido.

Day 19 – At sea

We follow the coast of Honshu south as we cruise towards Tokyo, enjoying the ship’s fabulous facilities and sea views for one last day.

Day 20 – Yokohama

Disembark after breakfast and enjoy a visit to the Sankiein Garden, which is renowned for its seasonal beauty. Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.

Exact itineraries may vary slightly depending on departure date – your full itinerary will be shown on your confirmation invoice.