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From Osaka to Busan

The best of Japan

Dates:
9 May - 17 May 2027
Duration:
8 Nights
Journey type:
Cruise only (please call for flight options)
No. of ports:
10
Ship:
Le Soléal
Cruise Line:
Ponant Explorations
Fares:

From £8,540 pp

Forest in Yakushima, Japan

From Osaka to Busan

The best of Japan

Dates:
9 May - 17 May 2027
Duration:
8 Nights
Journey type:
Cruise only (please call for flight options)
No. of ports:
10
Ship:
Le Soléal
Cruise Line:
Ponant Explorations
Fares:

From £8,540 pp

Voyage Itinerary

9 May

Setting sail from Osaka

Osaka, Japan's third largest city, is a pulsating commercial hub, famous for its food and its fiercely independent spirit. This is where the conveyor-belt sushi restaurant was first invented, and the cityscape rivals Tokyo for neon-lit futurism. If you need respite from the urban sprawl seek out Osaka Castle and the surrounding Nishinomaru Garden, a particularly pretty spot during the cherry blossom season.

Osaka, Japan by night

10 May

Japan: Tamano

The port of Tamano is an important centre for shipbuilding and fishing, but the city also has an arty side, with some eye-catching sculptures scattered about. Local points of interest include Miyama Park, with its elegant English garden, and Shibukawa Beach, a popular spot for watersports.
Shibukawa beach in Tamano, Japan

11 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.
Atomic Dome, Hiroshima

11 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.
Miyajima shrine gates, Japan

12 May

Japan: Beppu

Steam rises over the spa town of Beppu, home to numerous onsen (hot springs) and the surreal red waters of the macabre-sounding ‘blood pond hell’. Beppu is also close to Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, and the ancient temples of the Kunisaki Peninsula.
Red hot spring in Beppu, Japan

13 May

Japan: Uwajima

The historic town of Uwajima, situated on the west coast of Shikoku island, is home to a beautiful 17th century castle, surrounded by ornamental gardens. Another popular and rather eye-opening attraction is the Taga fertility shrine, with its 9-foot carving of a phallus and adjoining sex museum.
Uwajima castle, Japan

14 May

Japan: Miyanoura (Yakushima)

The island of Yakushima is an unspoilt natural paradise, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its primeval temperate rainforest. The mountainous interior is a magical landscape of waterfalls, ancient cedar trees and winding trails, and provided the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed anime ‘Princess Mononoke’.
Forest in Yakushima, Japan

15 May

Japan: Kagoshima

The friendly southern Japanese city of Kagoshima enjoys a balmy climate, and sits just across the bay from the very active Sakurajima volcano, which erupts so regularly that an ‘ash forecast’ is included in local weather reports.
Kagoshima, Japan

16 May

Japan: Nagasaki

Three days after Hiroshima was flattened by an atomic bomb, Nagasaki suffered the same horrifying fate. The reconstruction of both cities has been quite extraordinary; Nagasaki today is a vibrant, cosmopolitan place, with a fascinating history that goes back a lot further than 1945.
Aerial view of Nagasaki, Japan

17 May

Arriving in 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.
Busan, South Korea

The ship

Le Soléal

Capacity:
264 Guests
Crew:
145 Staff
Style:
Refined with a wonderful mix of a modern super yacht and nautical tradition, all with a French flair.

Sleek and stylish, Le Boréal, Le Soléal, L'Austral and Le Lyrial are wonderful small ships that blend luxury and intimacy with a discreet elegance and tasteful décor.

What we love

These chic sisters are amongst the most stylish ships at sea, with muted natural tones, minimalist interiors and playful splashes of colour. The accommodation is flexible, with the option to combine staterooms and create expansive suites, while the restaurants deliver the sort of outstanding gastronomic experience that you would expect from a French flag cruise line.

Learn more about Le Soléal
Ponant Cruises - Le Lyrial

inclusions

  • All meals in all venues
  • Tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
  • All onboard entertainment
  • Unlimited use of the Fitness Centre
  • Zodiac outings and landings on expedition sailings
  • Complimentary WiFi
  • One complimentary excursion per port

How can we help?

Our frequently asked questions

From cruise tips to travel protection, here are some of our most-asked questions

visit our faqs

Will I save by booking with Mundy Cruising?

Absolutely. You'll save money and time by booking with us rather than directly with the cruise line and enjoy more flexibility in your travel arrangements. We have access to preferential rates and exclusive offers, and we offer expert advice on how to get the best value.

Can you help with pre and post-cruise arrangements?

From flights and transfers to hotels and tours, we can help with all your travel needs to make sure your trip is exceptional. What's more, we are members of ABTA and also offer full ATOL protection, not to mention a 24hr emergency contact, so we offer complete peace of mind.

What are the benefits of a small luxury ship?

Because small ships are able to reach smaller ports of call and provide a higher level of service than their big ship counterparts, we believe that small ship cruising is the very best way to travel. Usually they offer more space per person, and an attentive team to make sure you have the very best experience. Small ship cruising offers the very best of the best.

Why Mundy?

Who we are

Founded in 1970, we have sold more luxury cruises for more years than anyone else in the UK.

Mundy Cruising was the very first cruise specialist in the UK. We have been making the best cruise holidays even better since 1970.

How? Simply by offering our clients more expertise, more personal service, more unique ideas, more fascinating add-ons, more fabulous freebies and more peace of mind.

More about Mundy

We're happy to do all of that over the phone. But if you prefer to chat face to face, why not visit us at our comfortable offices on London's High Holborn - we'd be delighted to see you.