Hidden Treasures of Japan

Japan is a nation of history, culture, and beauty unlike any other. Over the course of 12 days explore delightful destinations like Hagi, Takamatsu, Nagasaki and Hiroshima as you cruise round trip from Kobe. Aboard the all-suite Spirit of Oceanus you’ll experience beautiful gardens, shrines, castle, islands, parks and art on your voyage of a lifetime.

Surrounded by the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku, and dotted with more than 3,000 other islands, the Inland Sea is one of Japan’s scenic gems, often compared to the Aegean Sea in its beauty. The Inland Sea is linked to the Sea of Japan by a narrow channel. The shores of the Inland Sea are heavily populated and part of Japan’s most important industrial area. The main industries are steel production, ship construction, oil refining and oil-derived productions. The Inland Sea is 280 miles long and from 9 to 34 miles wide. The water is fairly shallow with the average depth at 122 feet and the greatest depth of 344 feet. It is also known for its moderate climate and relatively low rainfall. Over 500 species of marine life are known to live here including the horseshoe crab, the finless porpoise, and the great white shark. The Inland Sea is also famous for its periodic red tides, caused by dense grouping of a certain type of phytoplankton.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - ARRIVE IN JAPAN
Transfer from Osaka airport to Kobe where you'll spend the night at the Kobe Okura Hotel.

Day 2 - KOBE
Enjoy historic attractions of this port city, one of the first to begin accepting foreign traders following Japan's two and a half centuries of isolation. The highlight of your visit: a trip to spectatular white Himeji Castle. Board the Spirit of Oceanus, and sail in the early evening. BD

Day 3 - OKAYAMA/KURASHIKI
Indulge yourself in Zen perfection as you tour Korakuen Garden, one of Japan’s three most famous. Visit the Ohara Museum, which hosts an eclectic mix of classical European, Chinese, and Japanese folk art. At Ohashi House, tour the home of wealthy merchants. And stroll the charming lanes of Kurashiki, along canals crisscrossed by humpbacked stone bridges and bordered by willow trees. BLD

Day 4 - MIYAJIMA/HIROSHIMA
Itsukushima is one of the most important Shinto shrines. View the famous red torii gates as we anchor just offshore, and tour the shrine with a Shinto priest. In Hiroshima, a city now devoted to peace, tour the Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, and Peace Memorial Museum. BLD

Day 5 - DAY AT SEA
Leisurely cruise through Saikai National Park and the Kujukushima Islands (literally the "Ninety-Nine Islands") off the west coast of Kyushu. This beautiful, and rarely explored part of Japan offers many beautiful sights. BLD

Day 6 - YAKUSHIMA
Yakushima Island became Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, and its natural wonders will astound you. Yakushima has a particularly diverse flora, with some 1,900 species and subspecies, including ancient specimens of the sugi (Japanese cedar). It also contains a remnant of a warm-temperate ancient forest that is unique in this region. We spend our time here on nature walks and taking in the sublime Japanese beauty. BLD

Day 7 - KAGOSHIMA
Kagoshima is Kyushu's southernmost, major city and the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture. The city is often compared with its Italian sister city Naples due to a similarly mild climate, palm tree lined streets, and Sakurajima, Kagoshima's Vesuvius. Kagoshima is best known for its Satsuma ware and Silk. BLD

Day 8 - NAGASAKI
In this second city destroyed by an A-bomb in World War II, tour the Atomic Bomb Museum and Glover Garden (built by an enterprising Scotsman who helped overthrow the shogunate). BLD

Day 9 - ULSAN/KYONGJU
Step into the world of Korea’s Shilla dynasty in the ruins of Kyongju. A thousand years ago, this open-air museum was their capital, sparkling with palaces and gardens. Today, the ruins and burial mounds bring to life memories of a 900-year rule that lasted from the time of Julius Caesar to Charlemagne. BLD

Day 10 - HAGI
Japan’s revolution began here in Jokamachi¹s old samurai residential quarter, where you¹ll tour a samurai’s home. Yoshida Shrine is a monument to one of the last of the samurai, killed by the shogun for attempting to ensure Japan¹s survival by opening up to the West. Also visit Daisho Temple, the resting place of the two first Mori daimyo and all the even-numbered daimyo (odd-numbered daimyo were laid to rest on the other side of the Matsumoto river). BLD

Day 11 - TAKAMATSU/CRUISING THE INLAND SEA
Ritsurin Koen was designed at the bequest of an early 17th century feudal lord, who envisioned a fantastic garden set against the beautiful backdrop of Mt. Shiun. Shikokumura Village gives you a glimpse into peasant life in the Edo period. Spend the afternoon cruising the Inland Sea. Designated a national park, the Inland Sea is an area of great natural beauty with its emerald green waters dotted with thousands of islands. BLD

Day 12 - KOBE
After a short tour of Kobe, transfer to Kansai International Airport for your return flight home

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