Iconic Japan: Sacred Cultures & Nature

10 Days
Seoul to Sapporo
From (CAD)
$ 12,553
Dates & Pricing

2023 Seoul > Sapporo

Japan unearthed

Sail up the east coast of Japan, seeing the contrast between the futuristic Tokyo, a captivating city shining bright with neon, and the wild remote nature of Hokkaido, considered Japan’s last frontier. Along the way, learn of the history of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, and Date Masamune, one of Japan’s most powerful feudal lords.
Visit Hokkaido, a remarkable island that’s a world away from the Japan that you may know, boasting mountains lining the horizon of national parks, and pristine lakes and rivers that you can explore during your voyage.
Tour Map
Tour Code:
401A
Duration:
10 days
Departure City:
Seoul
Return City:
Sapporo

Selected Itinerary

10 Day Itinerary

  1. Day 1 - Seoul, South Korea

    Welcome to South Korea. Enjoy your one night stay in Seoul.

  2. Day 2 - Busan, South Korea

    This morning board the KTX bullet train and travel to Busan. A tapestry of colours rolling across the magnificent natural setting, Busan is where the locals go for a relaxing getaway, thanks to its laid-back atmosphere, urban beaches, and great street food culture. South Korea’s second largest city represents a harmonious relationship between the calm sea, snaking rivers and lush mountains. Transfer to Scenic Eclipse where your journey into wonder begins with a warm greeting by the crew as you step on board. Raise your glass this evening and toast the start of your ultra-luxury cruise.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3 - Matsuyama, Japan

    Offering great historic insights into Japanese culture, Matsuyama is cradled between gorgeous green mountains and the peaceful Seto Inland Sea. At the heart of city is one of Japan's twelve originally surviving castles, the Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle.

    Freechoice


    Today’s Scenic Freechoice:

    Uchiko Walking Tour & Katsuben
    Explore the charming town of Ichiko dating back to the Edo period, and visit Kamihaga-tei, a traditional Japanese house, Honhaga-tei garden and a wooden Japanese style theatre, Uchiko-za.

    Highlights of Matsuyama
    Discover the magnificent stone walls, gates and turrets of Matsuyama Castle, built on top of Mount Katsuyama. At Isite-ji temple, delight in the exquisite structures before strolling Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest and most famous hot springs in Japan.

    Dogo Onsen Hot Spring & Ishiteji-Temple
    Visit Dogo Onsen and Isite-ji Temple, a time-honoured Buddhist temple close to the hot spring.

    Matsuyama Castle & Dogo Hot Spring
    Enjoy a birds eye view of Matsuyama from Matsuyama Castle, before indulging in a bathing experience at Dogo Onsen.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4 - Shingu

    Crisscrossed with fast-flowing rivers and mountain trails, Shingu is a small seaside city located in Wakayama's sacred south. Nestling inside verdant mountains, this secret place is a treasure trove of lush greenery and a unique religious culture. Shingu is home to many UNESCO World Heritage sites, including one of the three Kumano Sanzan Shrines connected by the network of Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, prominently standing out on the riverbanks with its bold red colouring and sweeping roofs. 

    Freechoice


    Today’s Scenic Freechoice:

    A Taste of Kii-Katsuura
    The Katsuura fishing port boasts the largest catches of raw tuna in Japan, using environmentally friendly longline fishing methods. Walk around the bustling fish market and enjoy tuna and other Katsuura dishes while watching a tuna carving demonstration.

    Nachi Shrine Walking Tour
    Explore the spiritual realm of Kumano and retrace the footsteps of the countless pilgrims who underwent the perilous journey to Kumano Sanzan. Hike Mount Nachi and visit the Kumano Nachi Shrine and Seigantoji temple, while enjoying the breathtaking views of Nachi Falls.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5 - Shimizu

    Enjoy  breakfast on your verandah or at one of the  outdoor dining venues this morning as you sail into Shimizu. You will soon see why it is considered one of Japan’s most beautiful ports, with Mount Fuji dominating the horizon, and history dating back to the Nara Period (710-784). Shimizu is blessed with stunning natural scenery such as the Shiraito Falls, flowing in thin white streams from the foothills of Mount Fuji, and rich Japanese culture and history reflected throughout the bright red buildings and gold accents.

    Freechoice


    Today’s Scenic Freechoice:

    Kunozan Toshogu Shrine & Mt.Fuji
    Visit Nihondaira Park and enjoy panoramic views of verdant tea fields and towering Mt. Fuji. Board an aerial ropeway up the mountainside to the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, the burial place of the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.

    Mt.Fuji, Shrine & Nature
    Soak up the beauty of Shiraito Falls, fed by the volcano’s spring water and ranked among the most beautiful in Japan. Visit Mt Fuji World Heritage Centre and Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, erected in the 16th century to calm Mt. Fuji’s eruptions.

    Ukiyoe Museum & Miho-no-Matsubara
    View more than 1,300 ukiyo-e exhibits at the Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum then relax with a cup of tea at Miyuki-tei, a traditional teahouse. Then enjoy scenic views of Mount Fuji, the Izu Peninsula and across Suruga Bay at Miho-no-Matsubara.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6 - Tokyo

    Welcome to the city that captivates. With some neighbourhoods shining bright with neon lights and filled with futuristic architecture, others boasting glowing lanterns and traditional wooden buildings, and dozens of art galleries and cocktail bars hidden amidst concrete blocks, no two experiences in Tokyo are the same. Previously a small castle town, and now the world’s most populous metropolis, this capital city is always on the move and buzzing with energy. With Scenic Eclipse docked overnight, experience the best of Tokyo by both day and night.

    Freechoice


    Today’s Scenic Freechoice:

    Panoramic Tour in Tokyo
    Explore the landmarks of Tokyo on a panoramic drive through the city. Visit the Imperial Palace located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the centre of Tokyo, and the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family.

    Explore Structure of Tokyo Sky Tree
    Discover the structure of Tokyo Sky Tree, the tallest structure in Japan. Learn how the tower was built before enjoying panoramic views of Tokyo from the observation deck.

    Tokyo Highlights
    Learn about Japanese royalty at the Imperial Palace, take a peaceful stroll at Meiji Shrine, be amazed by the bustle at Sensoji Temple, and enjoy verdant views over Tokyo at Tokyo Tower.

    Open Air Folk House Museum
    Step back in time at the Open-air Folk House Museum, home to preserved buildings from the Edo Period, including traditional Gassho-zukuri farmhouses, samurai houses and merchant homes.

    Shinjuku & Shibuya
    Visit Meiji Jingu, the most important and popular Shinto shrine in Tokyo. Be amazed by the bustle at Shibuya Crossing, and explore thriving Shinjuku, centred around the busiest railway station in the world.

    Gardens of Tokyo
    Experience two of Tokyo’s most historic gardens: the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Hamarikyu Garden, an Edo Period Japanese garden surrounded by the Shiodome district’s futuristic skyscrapers, a great example of how Japan is the land of contrasts.

    Enrich


    Scenic Enrich Experience

    Tokyo Shinto Shrine & Sake Barrel Ceremony
    Encounter the magic of Shinto, the indigenous Japanese faith. Also known as The-Way-Of-The-Gods, Shinto holds the belief that everything in our world is inhabited by kami, divine spirits. Taking place at a Shinto Shrine, the traditional Shinto ceremony is woven with rituals that have become intertwined in the fabric of the country’s culture. Enjoy the scents and sounds of temple life: the ringing of the bell, the fragrance of burning incense, the drumming and chanting of the monks, performing their rituals. Relax in its tranquility. Participate in the 300-year-old traditional sake barrel ceremony to wish for good luck and prosperity. This ceremony is a deeply symbolic ritual and a culturally immersive Japanese experience.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7 - At sea

    Spend the day at leisure exploring the various amenities of your luxurious Discovery Yacht. Tempt your palate at one of the dining experiences or unwind in Senses Spa. 

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8 - Hachinohe

    Outstanding natural beauty and shared cultural history await for you in Hachinohe. Located on the main Japanese island of Honshu, Hachinohe’s enchanting coastline and natural splendour is known as being an inspiration for countless artists, writers and creatives. Believed to be inhabited since the Jomon Era, some 20,000 years ago, there is a great historical and cultural significance surrounding the area.

    Freechoice


    Today’s Scenic Freechoice:

    Culinary Tradition & Sake of Hachinohe
    Delight in the local food of Hachinohe. Discover the long history of Hachinohe Shuzo, a prestigious Sake brewery.

    Natural Beauty of Oirase & Lake Towada
    Float down one of the most beautiful river valleys in the country, Oirase Gorge, marked by rock formations and plunging waterfalls along the way. Enjoy a leisurely cruise on Lake Towada and visit atmospheric Towada Shrine.

    Life & Culture of Fisherman
    Enjoy a brewery tour and sake tasting at Hachinohe Shuzo Sake Brewery, founded in 1775. Be welcomed by local fishermen and enjoy local delicacies with sake for lunch, while the men depict their life at sea.

    Natural Sceneries of Hachinohe
    Hike the Michinoku Shiokaze Trail, past wildflowers and 100-year-old pine trees. Visit Ashigezaki Observatory and Kabushima Shrine, home to incredible numbers of wild Umineko Black-tailed gulls.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9 - Muroran

    Muroran is a manufacturing town with beautiful scenery and delicious food. Gentle slopes surrounding provide the perfect place to stroll, listening for the chirping birds, murmuring rivers and the fresh scent of flowers. Take the time to taste the curry ramen, known to have an unbelievably delicious and addictive taste.

    Freechoice


    Today’s Scenic Freechoice:

    Toya lake and Mount Usu
    Walk the trails around Toya lake seeing various ruins and two of the largest craters from the eruption of Mount Usu in 2000.

    Noboribetsu Hotspring
    Hokkaido’s most famous hot spring resort, Noboribetsu offers eleven different kinds of thermal waters that are considered among Japan’s best and most effective.

    Upopoy National Ainu Museum
    National Ainu Museum and Park promotes the life and culture of Ainu people, an ethnic group indigenous to northern Japan.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10 - Otaru

    Welcome to Otaru. Disembark from Scenic Eclipse after breakfast as you farewell the crew and take away memories of a truly unforgettable cruise.

    Please book your flight to depart out of Sapporo after 12:00 PM.

    The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the cruise will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

    Meals Included: Breakfast

Pricing & Availability