Sacred Japan & South Korea

Experience all-inclusive luxury cruise travel on an unforgettable 11-day exploration of Japan, ‘the Land of the Rising Sun’ with Heritage Expeditions, pioneers in authentic small ship expedition cruising. Our voyage Sacred Japan & South Korea has been carefully curated to showcase Japan’s seamless blend of ancient customs and ultramodern living, culinary creativity, arts and gardens as we cruise from iconic cities to seldom visited remote coastlines and islands best explored by sea aboard our purpose-built expedition flagship Heritage Adventurer. 

Historic highlights on our journey include the five-storey Pagoda of Miyajima; the 17th Century Matsue Castle; the sobering Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with its eternal Flame of Peace; Kanazawa’s Teramachi District with its temples and shrines, including the famed ‘Ninja Temple’; Hagi’s Jokamachi District with its old Samurai houses, Hagi Castle ruins and beautiful Zen Buddhist Tokoji Temple featuring examples of Japan’s iconic Shinto Shrines and Torii Gates. 

During our expedition, we will also explore Japan’s traditional and contemporary art as we visit galleries and meet local artists including an option to visit Japan’s ‘art island’ Naoshima, and a day in South Korea’s Ulsan exploring UNESCO World Heritage Site Gyeongju - the ‘museum without walls’ alongside a visit to Haeinsa Temple, considered one of the three great temples in South Korea. Our voyage also visits parts of Japan where relatively few tourists set foot such as Sado Island - widely considered a perfect miniature Japan and thriving cultural capital filled with performing arts, natural scenery, samurai history, and more. 

For those with a passion for nature, we plan to visit Daisen-Oki and Hakusan National Parks, Kenrokuen Garden – one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan alongside one of Japan’s most famed gardens, the 28-acre formal 17th Century Koraku-en Garden. Explore one of Japan’s main bonsai centres at Kinashi Garden and discover the wonders of Japanese circuit-style Yuushien Garden home to more than 250 types of Japanese Peony.

Helping us understand all we will see and experience, and travelling with us throughout the voyage, will be our expert Guest Speakers and Japanese guides who will add immeasurably to your enjoyment and understanding of this captivating country. We hope you can join us on this in-depth exploration around the coastline and islands of Japan, as we discover the unspoiled nature, primeval wilderness, incredible gardens, cultural treasures, traditional villages and futuristic cities resplendent with their unique charms. Note: our 2027 departure is 10 days, operates in reverse with a hotel night in Osaka, flight to Niigata and sailing to Osaka. Fukuoka replaces Hagi.

Excludes

All items of a personal nature, laundry, drinks, gratuities. International/domestic flights, visas and travel insurance.