Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun - Southbound 2025

14 days
From $1,142/day
$15,990
4.4/5 Great
23 reviews  
87%
Trip last updated: 11/13/2024
Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
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Overview

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
    • and see how the Japanese produce one of their most popular beverages – Kirin beer. Travel in style aboard Le Soléal– 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.

What's this trip about?

    Spend fourteen days discovering the "land of the rising sun" as you discover Japan on 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.
Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeOperator does not provide
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Osaka, Japan
End CityOsaka

Travel Themes

Activities

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 Array 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 Private Tauck Shore Excursions – $6,741 Value All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Osaka

Tour Begins: 5:30. 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 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 Kinkaku-ji "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" bathed in gold leaf ...

Please note:
Sightseeing on Days 2 and 3 may alternate.)

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : The St. Regis Osaka

PORTOFCALL : Osaka, Japan

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 & embark in Maizuru

Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Osaka and other areas of this famed Japanese city by a combination of motor coach and walking. After lunch at a local restaurant in Osaka, take a scenic drive to the port of pretty Maizuru, t...

Day 5 Sakaiminato and Matsue's castle

Arrive this morning in Sakaiminato, Western Japan's fishing industry center, 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...

Day 6 Sail on to Busan in 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 7 A day well spent in Nagasaki

Arrive in Kyushu's 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, recounting the devastating event...

Day 8 A Volcano & More 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 where you will take a guided sce...

Day 9 Choices 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 a...

Day 10 Hiroshima Today

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 11 Art, bicycling & beer in Uno Ko

Anchor in 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 Muse...

Day 12 Disembark & a Bullet Train to Tokyo

Disembark in Osaka, and take a ride on the Shinkansen 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 introd...

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 Museum. Lunch is at a local restaurant before an afternoon of poking around on your own. Finish the day in style with ...

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 : Osaka, Japan

Dates & Availability

Price from
$15,990
Price per day
$1,142

Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun - Southbound 2025 Reviews & Ratings

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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Associations

United States Tour Operators Association

Details

Group size:

Standard Group - 25 + people

Trip Excludes:

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