Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun - Northbound 2017

14 days
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USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
Spend fourteen days discovering the "land of the rising sun" on the ultimate Japan cruise - with eight nights aboard our elegant yacht L'Austral and five nights at premier hotels in the heart of Kyoto and Tokyo; explore Osaka, Uno Ko, Uwajima, Kagoshima, Nagasaki and more.

Overview

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

Highlights

    • 8-night cruise aboard the yacht Le Soléal
    • 3 nights in Kyoto and 2 nights in Tokyo at premier hotels
    • special Tauck Experiences featuring local cultural entertainment including a sumo wrestling demonstration
    • geisha and taiko performances
    • a tea ceremony
    • and calligraphy

What's this trip about?

    Spend fourteen days discovering the "land of the rising sun" on the ultimate Japan cruise - with eight nights aboard our elegant yacht L'Austral and five nights at premier hotels in the heart of Kyoto and Tokyo; explore Osaka, Uno Ko, Uwajima, Kagoshima, Nagasaki and more.

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Details

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

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Attractions

  • Busan
  • Hiroshima
  • Kyoto
  • Nagasaki
  • Osaka
  • Tokyo

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Private Tauck Shore Excursions - $2,267 Value! 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 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

Day 1 Arrive Kyoto
Tour begins: The Westin Miyako Kyoto or Hotel Granvia Kyoto. A transfer is included from Osaka's Kansai Int'l Airport or Itami Airport to The Westin Miyako Kyoto or Hotel Granvia Kyoto. Dinner is included this evening at your hotel. MEALS : D LODGING : Hotel Granvia Kyoto or The Westin Miyako Kyoto PORTOFCALL : Kyoto, Japan

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 Zen Golden Pavilion, bathed in gold leaf and capped by a golden phoenix, sits in a landscape design meticulously preserved since the 1400s, with a strate...
Day 3 Taiko, Calligraphy, and Tea
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. Your afternoon and evening are free to explor...
Day 4 Heian shrine & Osaka - Embark 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 massive torii gate stands a partial replica of the Heian-period imp...
Day 5 Art in Naoshima and Kurashiki
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 Houses Project, traditional houses transformed into stand-alone art pro...
Day 6 Today's Hiroshima
In your next port, Hiroshima - take in the iconic Miyajima-Itsukushima Shrine that seems to float on water (a photographer's dream); discover the city on a guided tour; have lunch at a restaurant serving regional fare; and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. MEALS : B, L, D LODGING : Aboard L'Austral PORTOFCALL : Hiroshima, Japan

Day 7 Pearls and squirrels in Uwajima
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! MEALS : B, L, D LODGING : Aboard L'Austral PORTOFCALL : Uwajima, Japan

Day 8 A volcano, samurai, and shoju
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 shoju distillery tour reveals all about sake's prime rival; shoju, a...
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; the sobering Atomic Bomb Museum; and Glover Gardens, an al fresco museum memorializing the Europeans who settled in Nagasaki in the late 19th century. MEALS : B, L, D LODGING : Aboard L'Austral PORTOFCALL : Nagasaki, Japan

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 from many nations who fell during the K...
Day 11 Matsue's Black Castle
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. Weather permitting, take in a great view of the city and beyond from it...
Day 12 Bullet Train to Tokyo - and Ginza
After disembarking your small ship in Maizuru, take a scenic drive to Kyoto to board the Bullet Train for a quick trip to Japan's capital city, Tokyo. Walking from your premier Tokyo hotel, your guide introduces the luxury shopping district of Ginza. Enjoy dinner and tim...
Day 13 From shrine to sumo in 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 tour of the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Lunch is at a local restaurant before an afternoon spent poking around o...
Day 14 Journey home
Tour ends: Tokyo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo or Palace Hotel Tokyo to Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport. MEALS : B

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Dates & Availability

Price From $11,690
Price per day$835
Last Updated: 2/16/2023

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

Ship & cabin information
L'AUSTRAL
L'AUSTRAL L'Austral, a sleek yacht launched in 2011, is small enough to provide a truly intimate cruise experience; her size makes her ideally suited for visiting ports that bigger ships can’t reach. L'Austral sports 6 decks that include Le Restaurant Gastronomique, the elegant main dining room serving French and international cuisine; the casual Le Grill Restaurant; three lounges offering evening entertainment, bars and access to the open decks; Le Théâtre hosting informative lectures and entertainment; a Fitness and Beauty Corner; a Medical Center; and multiple observation areas. Elevators serve all passenger decks. Staterooms (ranging in size from 200 to 210 sq. ft.) and suites (ranging in size from 301 to 398 sq. ft.) have ocean views; 95% have private balconies. Staterooms are decorated by French designers, offering individually controlled air conditioning, twin beds converting to a queen-size bed (or one queen-size bed), DVD / CD player, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, electronic safe and minibar.
Built: 2010 Length: 466 ft. Draft: 15.3 ft. Beam: 59 ft. Tonnage: 10,700 tons Cruising Speed: 14 knots Air Conditioned: Yes Elevator: Yes Number of Guests: 224 - 264 Crew Members: 140 Registry: France Crew Nationality: French / International Internet: Send / Receive / Surf
L'AUSTRAL
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
Trip ID
tauck-JAPN2017

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