Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun - Southbound 2019

14 days
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USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
Spend fourteen days discovering the "land of the rising sun" on the best of Japan cruises - with eight nights aboard our elegant yacht Le Soléal and five nights at premier hotels in the heart of Osaka and Tokyo; explore Nara, 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 Osaka and 2 nights in Tokyo at premier hotels
    • special Tauck Experiences featuring local cultural entertainment including a sumo wrestling demonstration
    • geisha and taiko performances and more

What's this trip about?

    Spend fourteen days discovering the "land of the rising sun" on the best of Japan cruises - with eight nights aboard our elegant yacht Le Soléal and five nights at premier hotels in the heart of Osaka and Tokyo; explore Nara, Uno Ko, Uwajima, Kagoshima, Nagasaki and more.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOsaka
End CityTokyo, Japan

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Attractions

  • Busan
  • Hiroshima
  • Nagasaki
  • Osaka
  • Tokyo

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Private Tauck Shore Excursions - $4,250 Value! All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers 8-night cruise aboard the yacht Le Soléal Your cruise may be a shared ship experience with non-Tauck guests onboard as well; all Tauck guests will be accompanied by one Tauck Director for approximately every 40 Tauck guests, and your itinerary will always be highlighted by exclusive, private Tauck shore excursions 3 nights in Osaka and 2 nights in Tokyo at premier hotels Special Tauck Experiences featuring local cultural entertainment include a sumo wrestling demonstration, geisha and taiko performances and more Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available throughout the day aboard ship including house wines and spirits; premium spirits and wines are available at extra cost. Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 36 meals on land and at sea, service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, and porterage

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Osaka
Tour begins: The St. Regis Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton Osaka or The Conrad Osaka. A transfer is included from Osaka's Kansai Int'l Airport or Itami Airport to The St. Regis Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton Osaka or The Conrad Osaka. After settling in to your hotel, depart for a Tauck...
Day 2 Temples and traditions of Kyoto
Travel today from your hotel in Osaka to nearby Kyoto, and immerse yourself in the loveliness of this classic 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 me...
Day 3 Exploring historic Nara
Head to the city of Nara this morning to visit Todai-ji (Eastern Great 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 of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japane...
Day 4 Osaka discoveries & embark Le Soléal in Maizuru
Begin the day with a walking tour of Osaka's Dotumburi district, and tour other areas of this famed Japanese city. After lunch at a local restaurant in Osaka, take a scenic drive to the port of pretty Maizuru, tucked in a bay off an inlet of the Sea of Japan, where your ...
Day 5 Sakaiminato and Matsue's black castle
Arrive this morning in Sakaiminato, Western Japan's fishing industry center, 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 the great view of the city and beyond from...
Day 6 Sail on to 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 7 A day well spent in Nagasaki
Le Soléal arrives in the port city of Nagasaki for a day filled with historic sights. In the morning, visit the Nagasaki Peace Park, graced with notable monuments and memorials, and the Atomic Bomb Museum. After lunch aboard ship, return for a choice of activities this a...
Day 8 From a volcano to a peace museum in Kagoshima
Called the "Naples of Japan" for its location on a bay, Kagoshima lies on the southwestern tip of Japan's southernmost main island, Kyushu. You'll have your choice of three excursions in the Kagoshima area today. One invites you to take a short ferry ride from Kagoshima ...
Day 9 Choices galore in Uwajima
Today provides a rare chance to 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 rafts...
Day 10 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 regional fare, you can choose to visit...
Day 11 Art, bicycling & beer in Uno Ko & environs
Anchor in Tamano 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, and weeping willows line a koi-filled canal. Another Kurashiki treasure, the Ohara Museum ...
Day 12 Disembark Osaka & Bullet Train to Tokyo
Disembark Le Soléal in Osaka, and take a ride on the Bullet Train to Tokyo, where you'll arrive in time for lunch at a local restaurant. After checking in at your premier Tokyo hotel, join your local guide for a walking tour introducing you to the city's famed luxury sho...
Day 13 From shrines to sumo in Tokyo
Plunge into an eclectic day in cosmopolitan Tokyo with a visit to the Meiji Shrine, plus a guided tour of the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Lunch is at a local restaurant before an afternoon of poking around on your own. Finish the day in style with our farewell reception and dinner...
Day 14 Journey home
Tour ends: Tokyo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, the Shangri La Hotel, Tokyo or the Palace Hotel, Tokyo to Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in. MEALS : B PORTOFCALL : Tokyo, Japan

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Dates & Availability

Price From $12,490
Price per day$892
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
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
Trip ID
tauck-XJS2019

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