Cruising The Land Of The Rising Sun - Northbound

14 days
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USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
Spend fourteen days discovering the people and places of Japan – enjoy eight nights aboard our elegant yacht L’Austral and five nights at premier hotels in the heart of Kyoto and Tokyo. Your journey starts in lovely Kyoto, city of two thousand temples and shrines, and ends in Tokyo; on your cruise, sightseeing excursions include Osaka, Uno Ko, Uwajima, Kagosh...

Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Visit temples and experience the traditions in Kyoto
    • Visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki
    • Bullet Train journey to Tokyo

What's this trip about?

    Spend fourteen days discovering the people and places of Japan – enjoy eight nights aboard our elegant yacht L’Austral and five nights at premier hotels in the heart of Kyoto and Tokyo. Your journey starts in lovely Kyoto, city of two thousand temples and shrines, and ends in Tokyo; on your cruise, sightseeing excursions include Osaka, 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 a tea ceremony...  a calligraphy lesson... and more. You’ll explore the volcano Sakurajima, visit a pearl farm, tour modern and historic museums, and see how the Japanese produce shochu, a popular beverage even stronger than sake. Travel in style aboard L’Austral – with outside staterooms; a choice of chic or casual dining; and all-day complimentary beverages, including wine and spirits. And that’s just the beginning of the amenities and services onboard.

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityKyoto
End CityTokyo

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Attractions

  • Busan
  • Hiroshima
  • Kyoto
  • Nagasaki
  • Osaka

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Photography
  • River cruise
  • Trains & Rail

Trip includes

    • All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers
    • 8-night cruise aboard the yacht L’Austral
    • 3 nights in Kyoto and 2 nights in Tokyo at premier city-center hotels
    • Special Tauck Experiences featuring local cultural entertainment include a sumo wrestling demonstration, geisha and taiko performances, a tea ceremony, and calligraphy
    • Onboard bar and restaurant beverages throughout the day, including house wines and spirits
    • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
    • 35 meals on land and at sea, service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, and porterage

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Itinerary

Travel Map
DAY 1: Arrive Kyoto
Meals: Dinner Accommodation: Hotel Granvia Kyoto and The Westin Miyako Kyoto Tour begins: Hotel Granvia Kyoto or the Westin Myako Kyoto. A transfer is included from Kansai Int’l Airport or Osaka Int’l Airport to the Hotel Granvia Kyoto or the Westin Myako Kyoto. Dine tonight at your leisure in your hotel.

DAY 2: Temples and traditions in Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Hotel Granvia Kyoto and The Westin Miyako Kyoto Immerse yourself today in the loveliness of classic Kyoto, city of 2,000 temples and shrines. Like a divine dream the Zen Golden Pavilion, bathed in gold leaf and capped by...
DAY 3: Taiko, Calligraphy, and Tea
Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel Granvia Kyoto and The Westin Miyako Kyoto This morning get to know traditional Japanese arts with a taiko performance (drumming as athletic as it is artful); a tea ceremony; and a calligraphy lesson. Your afternoon and evening are free to explore Kyoto independently. Our coach again makes a circuit of desirable areas so you can get on and off where you like.

DAY 4: Heian shrine & Osaka – Embark L'Austral
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Aboard L'Austral Say good-bye to Kyoto today with a visit to the Heian shrine, a powerful symbol of civic pride dedicated to the first and last emperors who ruled when Kyoto was the country’s capital. Inside the shrine’s...
DAY 5: Art in Naoshima and Kurashiki
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Aboard L'Austral Anchor in Uno Ko and board a ferry to the unique little island of Naoshima – it’s exclusively devoted to art installations and the work of the world-class architect Tadao Ando. Wander through the Art Hou...
DAY 6: Today’s Hiroshima
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Aboard L'Austral In your next port, Hiroshima – take in the iconic Miyajima-Itsukushima Shrine that seems to float on water (a photographer’s dream); have lunch at a restaurant serving regional fare; and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

DAY 7: Pearls and squirrels in Uwajima
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Aboard L'Austral Today provides a rare chance to spend a morning in a rural Japanese community. Visit a pearl farm, stroll through a market, and check out the Flying Squirrel Temple on a tour led by a Buddhist monk. The squirrels fly only at night!

DAY 8: A volcano, samurai, and shoju
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Aboard L'Austral Called the “Naples of Japan” for its location on a bay, Kagoshima lies on the southwestern tip of Japan’s southernmost main island, Kyushu. Ferry across the bay to see the volcano Sakurajima up close. A ...
DAY 9: A day in Nagasaki
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Aboard L'Austral Arrive in Nagasaki for another day of historic sights: the Nagasaki Peace Park, filled with notable monuments and memorials; the Atomic Bomb Museum; and Glover Gardens, an al fresco museum memorializing the Europeans who settled in Nagasaki in the late 19th century.

DAY 10: Busan, South Korea
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Aboard L'Austral Cross the Strait of Korea to Busan, South Korea and visit the Haedong Yonggung Temple, which bears the motto, “At least one of your wishes will be answered here through your heartfelt prayers.” Next go t...
DAY 11: Matsue’s Black Castle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Aboard L'Austral Your yacht arrives in Western Japan’s fishing industry center, Sakaiminato, for an excursion to Matsue, known as “the water city” for its river, canals, and setting on two lakes and the Sea of Japan. Wea...
DAY 12: Bullet Train to Tokyo – and Ginza
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo or Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo Disembark in Maizuru and take a scenic drive to Kyoto for the Bullet Train to Tokyo. Walking from your premier Tokyo hotel, your guide introduces the luxury shopping district of Ginza. Enjoy dinner and time to check out the city on your own.

DAY 13: From shrine to sumo in Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo or Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo Plunge into an eclectic day in cosmopolitan Tokyo with visits to the Senso-ji Temple – devoted to the Buddhist deity of compassion – and the Meiji Shrine, plus a guided...
DAY 14: Journey home
Meals: Breakfast Tour ends: Tokyo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo or Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo to Narita International Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $10,990
Price per day$785
Last Updated: 2/13/2023

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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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

What's excluded

    • International Flights
    • Personal expenses
Ship & cabin information
Le Soléal
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
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 .
Meals Included
35 Meals included
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
tauck-cruthetau

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