Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun - Northbound 2025

14 days
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USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
Spend fourteen days discovering the "land of the rising sun" as you discover Japan one of the region's best cruises – with eight nights aboard our elegant yacht Le Soleal and five nights at premier hotels in the heart of Osaka and Tokyo; explore Nara, Uno Ko, Uwajima, Kagoshima, Nagasaki and more.
From$15,990
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Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Discover the people and places of the 'land of the rising sun'... a showcase of timeless traditions
    • revered settings and modern-day memories taking you beyond the Japan you think you know and introducing you to the rich culture this island nation has to offer. Your explorations begin during your stay in Osaka and include nearby Nara and Kyoto – city of two thousand temples and shrines – and end in Tokyo; on your cruise
    • sightseeing excursions include Uno Ko
    • Uwajima
    • Kagoshima
    • Nagasaki… Uncover layers of Japanese culture – past and present; explore historic sights and trend-setting neighborhoods... attend a taiko drumming performance
    • a geisha performance
    • a sumo wrestling demonstration... and more. You'll explore the volcano Sakurajima
    • visit a pearl farm
    • tour modern and historic museums

What's this trip about?

    Spend fourteen days discovering the "land of the rising sun" as you discover Japan one of the region's best cruises – with eight nights aboard our elegant yacht Le Soleal and five nights at premier hotels in the heart of Osaka and Tokyo; explore Nara, Uno Ko, Uwajima, Kagoshima, Nagasaki and more.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Osaka, Japan
End CityOsaka

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Hiroshima
  • Osaka
  • Tokyo

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • You have a choice of hotel accommodation for nights 1, 2 & 3 and 12 & 13 –The St. Regis Osakanights 1, 2 & 3 andTheShangri-La Hotel, Tokyo nights 12 & 13orThe Ritz-Carlton, Osaka nights 1, 2 & 3andThe Palace Hotel, Tokyo nights 12 & 13orThe Conrad Osaka nights 1, 2 & 3 andThe Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo nights 12 & 13 An eight-night cruise through the fascinating Japanese archipelago takes you from the port of Maizuru to Osaka and includes a stop in Busan, South Korea; it is bookended by three nights in Osaka and two nights in Tokyo – daily shore excursions provide a wide-ranging look at Japan's icons of religious, historic, and royal life Board a ferry bound for the volcanic landscapes of Sakurajima, known as "Cherry Blossom Island." A choice of excursions includes a visit to revered Sengan-en Garden and a stately home in Kagoshima, or a poignant visit to the Chiran Peace Museum, built in memory of WWII Kamikaze pilots Learn about traditional Japanese cultural entertainment, including a lecture on the life of a Geiko / Geisha, a dramatic sumo wrestling demonstration, and a fascinating Taiko drumming performance as athletic as it is rhythmic All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers Private Tauck Shore Excursions – $6,741 Value

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Osaka

Tour Begins: The St. Regis Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton Osaka, or The Conrad Osaka. You have a choice of hotel accommodation for nights 1, 2 & 3 and 12 & 13 – 

The St. Regis Osaka
 nights 1, 2 & 3 and 

The Shangri-La Tokyo nights 12 & 13
 or 

The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka nights 1, 2 & 3
 and 

The Palace Hotel, Tokyo nights 12 & 13
 or

 The Conrad Osaka nights 1, 2 & 3 and 

The Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo nights 12 & 13
 

Day 2 Temples and traditions in Kyoto

Immerse yourself today in the loveliness of classic Kyoto, city of 2,000 temples and shrines. Like a divine dream the Kinkaku-ji, also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" bathed in gold leaf and capped by a golden phoenix, ...

Day 3 Exploring historic Nara

Head to the city of Nara this morning to visit Todai-ji (Great Eastern Temple), a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the city's powerful Seven Great Temples. Its Great Buddha Hall houses the world's largest bronze statue o...

Day 4 Osaka discoveries & embark

Begin the day with morning sightseeing in Osaka by motor coach, walking tour and visits to local markets. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a walking tour through one of Osaka's local markets followed by some free time to exp...

Day 5 Art, bicycling & beer in Uno Ko & environs

Anchor off Tamano (Uno Ko) and travel to the old merchant town of Kurashiki for a walking tour of its historic quarter, where warehouses, shops, and mills remain virtually unchanged by time. Another Kurashiki treasure, the Ohara Mus...

Day 6 Today's Hiroshima

In your next port of call, Hiroshima, you'll set off on a morning sightseeing tour and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and sites associated with the WWII atomic bomb blast of August 1945. After lunch at a local restaurant serving...

Day 7 Choices galore in Uwajima

Spend a morning in a rural area around the port city of Uwajima on Shikoku, with a choice of three excursions. One takes you into the countryside to visit a pearl farm – where you'll view a hatchery and see farmers working on bamboo...

Day 8 From a volcano to a peace museum in Kagoshima

Kagoshima lies on the southwestern tip of Japan's southernmost main island, Kyushu. This morning, take a short ferry ride across the bay to see Sakurajima ("Cherry Blossom Island"), an active volcano; take a guided scenic drive and ...

Day 9 A day in Nagasaki

Arrive in Nagasaki for another day of historic sights: the Nagasaki Peace Park, filled with notable monuments and memorials; and the Atomic Bomb Museum recounting the devastating events that occurred on August 9, 1945 when an atomic...

Day 10 Busan, South Korea

Your crossing of the Strait of Korea to Busan, South Korea, today is a perfect time to enjoy some of the amenities aboard ship. After docking in Busan, city sightseeing includes the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, honoring troops ...

Day 11 Sakaiminato and Matsue's Black Castle

Arrive in Western Japan's fishing industry center, Sakaiminato, for a visit to the Adachi Museum of Art. Following lunch, you can take an excursion to Matsue, known as "the water city" for its river, canals, and setting on two lakes...

Day 12 Bullet Train to Tokyo – and Ginza

After disembarking your small ship in Maizuru, take a scenic drive to Kyoto to board the Shinkansen bullet train for a high-speed rail trip to Japan's capital city, Tokyo. Walking from your premier Tokyo hotel, your guide introduces...

Day 13 From shrine to sumo in Tokyo

Plunge into an eclectic day in cosmopolitan Tokyo with a visit to the Meiji Shrine – honoring the deified spirits of Japan's Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, who died in 1912 and 1914, respectively – plus a guided tour of...

Day 14 Journey home

Tour ends: Tokyo.
Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Shangri-La Tokyo or Palace Hotel, Tokyo to Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in. 

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Osaka, Japan

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Dates & Availability

Price From $15,990
Price per day$1,142
Last Updated: 11/13/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
17 Apr 2025
01 May 2025
$15,990
$24,448
$32,990
03 May 2025
17 May 2025
$15,990
$24,448
$32,990

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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May 2024

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My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

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Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

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Cougess

Jan 2023

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Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
LE SOLEAL
LE SOLEAL Sophisticated styling, cutting-edge “green” technology and service that is welcoming and attentive combined for unsurpassed small ship cruising when Le Soléal joined her sister ships, Le Boréal and L’Austral, in 2013. Like the award-winning Le Boréal, this luxe mega-yacht features six decks, a choice of two dining venues and all-included bar and restaurant beverages throughout the day aboard ship, including house wines and spirits. Le Soléal’s facilities and observation areas make your time at sea a pleasure; they include three lounges, bars with access to the open decks and evening entertainment. A state-of-the-art theatre provides an intimate space for lectures and entertainment, while a fitness and beauty complex and medical center provide for travel with ease. 132 staterooms (200 to 226 sq. ft.) and suites (290 to 398 sq. ft.) have sea views; 95% have private balconies. Staterooms offer individually controlled air conditioning, two twin beds that convert to a king-size bed or, a sofa converting to a queen-size bed. Amenities include video on demand, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, electronic safe, hair dryer, iPod Dock and minibar. Superior staterooms and Prestige suites can accommodate triples.
Built: 2013 Length: 466 ft. or 142 m. Draft: 15.3 ft. or 4.7 m. Beam: 59 ft. or 18 m. Tonnage: 10,944 gross tons Cruising Speed: 14 knots Air Conditioned: Yes Elevator: Yes Number of Guests: 224 - 264 Crew Members: 139 Registry: France Crew Nationality: French / International Internet: Send / Receive
LE SOLEAL
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-XJN2025

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