Duration
16 Nights
Journey Type
Sailing from Japan
Ports
19 Ports
4 May
Setting sail from Tokyo
Tokyo is a dazzling introduction to Japan and its utterly unique culture. With more neon than Las Vegas and more Michelin stars than Paris, it's a real assault on the senses, but an efficient public transport system means it's easy to explore. Asakusa is an atmospheric district where you'll find Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, Akihibara spills over with shops selling electronic gadgets, and Harajuku is the place to marvel at the latest colourful Japanese fashions. It's also easy to escape the crowds and find a spot of peace and quiet, with tranquil parks, shrines and lotus ponds dotted around the city.
Our tip
Brave the metro subway system. It’s efficient, fun and easy to use. The staff are unfailingly polite if you get confused or lost. Live like the locals but avoid rush hours!
5 May
Japan: Oarai
6 May
Japan: Sendai
Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region, founded in the 16th century by the powerful samurai lord Date Masamune. His legacy lives on in the ruins of Sendai Castle, heavily damaged by Allied bombing during the Second World War. The city also plays host to the colourful Tanabata Matsuri festival every summer.
7 May
Japan: Hakodate
Situated at the southern tip of Hokkaido, Hakodate was one of the first Japanese ports to open up to international trade in the 19th century, and a scattering of European-style buildings remain. Take a ride on the historic streetcar, tuck into delicious seafood or enjoy a revitalising dip in an onsen (hot spring).
8 May
Japan: Akita
9 May
Japan: Niigata
Set amongst snowy mountains on the west coast of Honshu, the city of Niigata is known for its ski resorts, seafood and hot springs, and produces some of the finest sake in Japan. Other attractions nearby include Shibata’s impressive castle and the town of Murakami, renowned for its traditional wind-dried salmon.
10 May
Japan: Sado Island
Remote Sado Island is rarely visited by foreign tourists, and for many years served as a penal colony for political exiles. Take a ride in one of the unique tarai bune ‘tub boats’, search for the endangered Japanese ibis and learn about the art of taiko drumming in Kodo village.
10 May
Japan: Ogi (Niigata)
Set amongst snowy mountains on the west coast of Honshu, the city of Niigata is known for its ski resorts, seafood and hot springs, and produces some of the finest sake in Japan. Other attractions nearby include Shibata’s impressive castle and the town of Murakami, renowned for its traditional wind-dried salmon.
11 May
Japan: Kanazawa
Kanazawa rivals Kyoto for historical significance, though the city is far less overrun with tourists. The 17th-century Kenroku-en garden is the jewel in Kanazawa’s crown, filled with pretty ponds and waterfalls, and the city is also home to exceptionally well preserved samurai and geisha districts.
12 May
Japan: Sakaiminato
The port of Sakaiminato is known for its fishing industry and superb seafood, and it’s a short drive from Matsue and its famous medieval ‘Black Castle’. Sakaiminato is also the home of the popular Japanese manga artist Mizuki Shigeru, and the town is full of statues celebrating his work.
13 May
South Korea: Busan
Busan is South Korea’s second biggest city and one of the world’s busiest container ports, but it’s an easygoing place with a discernibly different character to Seoul. Haeundae beach is a popular summer holiday destination for Koreans, while the pungent Jagalchi market sells every type of fish and sea creature imaginable.
14 May
Japan: Hofu
15 May
Japan: Hiroshima
On 6 August 1945 the world witnessed the terrifying power of nuclear weapons for the first time, unleashed on the unsuspecting Japanese city of Hiroshima. The modern city's sobering Peace Memorial Park commemorates that fateful day, which left more than 140,000 dead.
15 May
Japan: Miyajima
Miyajima island, officially known as Itsukushima, is famous for its incredibly photogenic torii (shrine gates) which seem to float above the water. Renovation work beginning in June 2019 means that the gates will be obscured by scaffolding for a couple of years, but the shrine itself will remain open.
16 May
Japan: Kochi
The small, laid back city of Kochi is situated on the south coast of Shikoku island, an important place of pilgrimage for Japanese Buddhists. Three of the 88 temples on the pilgrimage route are in Kochi, and the city is also known for its elegant 17th century hilltop castle.
17 May
Japan: Kobe
Small in size and cosmopolitan in its outlook, Kobe is a thoroughly pleasant city with a long and distinguished history as one of Japan’s main trading ports. Kobe’s past as a commercial hub is reflected in its architecture, with a number of unusually European-looking houses, as well as a charming, if slightly touristy, Chinatown.
18 May
Japan: Toba
19 May
Japan: Shimizu
Shimizu is one of the most spectacular ports in Japan, a sweeping bay in the shadow of the iconic Mount Fuji. You can spend some time admiring the views and wandering through peaceful pine groves, or visit the unique Shimizu Sushi Museum at the S-Pulse Dream Plaza shopping mall.
20 May
Arriving in Tokyo
Don't miss
The world’s busiest pedestrian crossing at Shibuya. Take the metro to the station of the same name and watch as thousands cross simultaneously when the traffic lights turn red.
For once-in-a-lifetime tailor-made itineraries, Mundy Adventures specialises in expedition cruises to some of the most wonderful places on earth; places often only accessible by water.
Your home from home
Launching in 2023, Scenic Eclipse II is Scenic's second discovery yacht, set to be the most advanced expedition ship in the world.
What we love
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Capacity | 228 Guests (200 guests in polar waters) |
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Style |
Sleek, modern and designed to deliver once-in-a-lifetime experiences, this ship really has it all! The state-of-the-art design provides the perfect combination of luxury and adventure. |
Inclusions |
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Tailor-make your trip
Extend your stay in Tokyo
The Park Hotel at Shimbashi in the Shiodome Media Tower offers premium rooms with great views from the 25th floor up!
Get on your bike
The 25km Tokyo Great Cycling Tour is one of the city’s greatest trips. See both secret back streets and landmark attractions on this full day extravaganza.