Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea - Westbound

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo or the Palace Hotel, Tokyo. A transfer is included upon arrival from Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport to the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo or the Palace Hotel, Tokyo, premier hotels ideally located in the heart of the city. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel.

Visit the Meiji Shrine this morning, honoring the deified spirits of Japan's Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, before spending the remainder of the day exploring Tokyo as you like.

Enjoy a guided visit to the newly renovated Edo Museum today before lunch at a local restaurant. Dedicated to the history of Tokyo, the museum features city models of Edo and Tokyo between 1590 and 1964, along with exhibits chronicling the history, life, and culture of the city from the 1600s to today. After lunch at a local restaurant, board a bullet train bound for Osaka, where your small ship awaits your arrival. Embark ship late this afternoon and enjoy dinner at your leisure onboard.

Dock in Kobe in central Japan today renowned for its signature marbled beef and scenic setting of mountains framing the harbor. Enjoy the opportunity to explore the town, visit the Sake Brewery Museum and the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, with a cable car ride up Mt. Rokko Ropeway. Alternatively, drive to Kyoto, home to 2,000 temples and shrines, for a sightseeing excursion. Walk around the Golden Pavilion (Kinaku-ji), meticulously preserved since the 1400s, and visit Sanjusangen-do temple. After lunch, participate in a taiko drumming lesson and return to your ship in Kobe.

Dock in Tamano for a choice of excursions that cater to your interest. Travel to the old merchant town of Kurashiki for a walking tour of its charming historic quarter and a visit to the Ohara Museum. Ferry to the art island of Naoshima, devoted to the work of architect Tadao Ando and renowned for its contemporary art museums. Enjoy a bicycle ride* through Tamano town. Or visit a craft brewery and sample local beers.

Board a ferry for a ride to Miyajima Island see the iconic Miyajima-Itsukushima Shrine, best known for its floating torii. Ride the ferry back to the mainland for a choice of sightseeing excursions in Hiroshima. Visit the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Memorial or join us for a panoramic drive through Hiroshima with a stop to the A-Bomb dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, where sites associated with the WWII atomic bomb blast of August 1945 are poignantly memorialized. Feast on a traditional okonomiyaki lunch of savory-filled pancakes ashore before returning to the ship.

Dock in the famous spa resort city of Beppu this morning. Located on Kyushu Island between Beppu Bay and volcanic mountains, it's home to more than 2,000 onsen (hot springs) that together produce more hot spring water than any other onsen resort in the country. In addition to conventional hot water baths, visitors can enjoy sand baths where bathers are buried in naturally heated sand, steam baths that are heated by the steam of a hot spring, and mud baths. Enjoy an opportunity to experience them your way today on a guided visit that lets you see the "Hells of Beppu," nationally designated a "place of scenic beauty," or an opportunity to experience the healing waters of the hot springs like the locals do, clothes off. A third choice drives you to Usuki Castletown to view the ruins of its historic castle and its well-preserved Samurai district. Visit the impressive Inaba Family Villa and former Samurai residence, designated a National Tangible Cultural property. Continue on the Usuki Stone Buddhas, created between 794 and 1185 and the only stone Buddhas to be designated as a national treasure. Return to the ship for lunch and time at leisure and set sail for Uwajima tonight.

Enjoy a choice of excursions in Uwajima, Japan's main center for cultured pearls. Visit a family-owned pearl farm in the countryside to learn about skill and precision it takes to produce the oyster-grown pearls and tour a local open-air museum. Or, visit Nanrakuen Garden on a guided walk, followed by a calligraphy demonstration and a traditional tea ceremony. Chart a course for Hagi late afternoon.

On a choice of excursions today, experience the charms of coastal Hagi, a gem of a castle town lined with traditional well-preserved samurai-era residences and merchants' homes. The seaside town grew up around Hagi Castle, built in 1604; today the castle ruins are set Shizuki Park, known for its spring cherry blossoms and forested mountain slopes. The town is also known for its stoneware pottery, an art form dating back to the early 1600s; Hagi ware is one of the most famous pottery types in Japan and is characterized by its earthy texture. Join our local guide for a walking tour of the town; visit the 400-year-old Kikuya Residence and the Yoshika Taibi Memorial Museum, renowned for its Hagi pottery, still made by hand; or explore one of the largest limestone caves in the world at Akiyoshidai Plateau, learning about the geologic attributes of the area with a geoguide. Alternatively, visit the Shoin-Jinga Shinto Shrine and the beautiful wooden Tokoji Temple. Set sail for Sakaiminato this evening.

Disembark for a day of sightseeing in Sakaiminato. Located in western Japan, Sakaiminato has been known an important fishing port since the Middle Ages, serving as trading hub between Continental Asia and the archipelago for centuries. A choice of activities today includes a visit to Matsue's Black Castle or the Adachi Museum, renowned for its modern art and stunning gardens. Your ship sets sail for Busan, South Korea, this evening.

Nestled amidst mountains, pristine beaches, and steaming hot springs, Busan captivates with its cultural treasures, diverse landscapes and ocean-fresh seafood, displayed in markets teeming with every species of fish imaginable. Enjoy a tour of the town, including the Jalgachi Fish Market and the Gamcheon Culture Village, before boarding a bullet train bound for Seoul.

Ranked among the World's Best Cities by Forbes Magazine, Seoul is a global pop powerhouse rooted in cultural traditions that date back to the 1300s when it served as the capital city of Korea. Today, this charismatic South Korean capital celebrates its timeless heritage in lively street markets, ancient palaces, royal tombs and historical shrines set against a modern-day backdrop of towering skyscrapers, high-tech subways and futuristic plazas. Enjoy a panoramic orientation drive through the city past landmark sites and visit the ornate 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace, meaning "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven," and the Folk Museum on the grounds of the palace. An enduring symbol of Korea's rich history and the Joseon Dynasty, the palace offers a glimpse into Seoul's royal heritage and cultural traditions. Enjoy a different perspective of life during the Joseon Dynasty when you visit an open-air museum showcasing a typical Hanok village to view its well-preserved traditional houses. After a lunch of Korean specialties, return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure and join us for dinner tonight. Please note: Sightseeing activities may alternate on days 12 and 13.

Sightseeing continues today with a visit to the Korean War Memorial. Featuring poignant multimedia exhibits, monuments and memorials honoring fallen soldiers, and machinery and artifacts from various wars, the museum presents a sobering look at the wartime events that took place from 1950 to 1953. Explore the museum inside and out, including the fighter jets, rocket launchers, artillery batteries, and tanks that line the grounds. Experience a look at local life during a visit to bustling Namdaemun Market, the largest and oldest market in South Korea; it offers a rich tapestry of culture, history, and shops selling everything from food and fashion to trinkets. After lunch, enjoy free time to experience the sights of Seoul on your own and join us tonight for our farewell dinner.

Tour ends: Seoul. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, Conrad Seoul or Four Seasons Seoul to ICN Incheon International Airport or GMP Gimpo International Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.