Japan by land and sea

You'll spend the morning with one of our guides for an orientation. They will run through your trip and offer any local advice to you so you can enjoy the country with confidence. You can then spend the afternoon exploring the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. The Hamarikyu Gardens and Asakusa Old Town are excellent places to start. In the evening, head out with a guide to sample some of the local Tokyo cuisine in the vibrant district of Ebisu.

Spend the day exploring Kamakura, a pretty seaside town which was once Japan's capital and is home to the Great Bronze Buddha. You can take the train there unaccompanied — trains depart regularly from Tokyo and the journey takes an hour and a quarter. There are many temples and shrines which you can visit here and one of our favourites is the Hase Kannon Temple.

You will make your way to Hakone today by bullet train. Enjoy the atmosphere of this quieter town. This will give you a nice contrast to the busy big cities in Japan. You will also have the opportunity to stay in a traditional ryokan accommodation. Ryokan are Japanese inns that are famous for their service and the incredible food they serve. You usually sleep on tatami-mat floors in a Japanese-style room. The Hakone area is famous for ryokans having hot spring onsen baths, too, given its location near the iconic Mount Fuji.

Today you can enjoy the area and towns of the Hakone National Park. The village of Hakone-machi sits right on the lake nestled in the hills near Mt. Fuji. You can also take the ferry across the lake and enjoy the scenery and vistas around Hakone. If the weather is clear, you may catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji.

Today you'll be picked up at your Hakone ryokan for a private transfer to Yokohama port. Here, you’ll board your Azamara ship and can settle into your suite before having dinner. Meals at many of the ship’s restaurants are included in your cruise, along with a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You could round off your evening with card games, music, and a nightcap in one of the lounges.

Stay docked today at the Port of Japan. You have the option to relax onboard or continue your exploration of Tokyo. You can spend the day on your own time, or arrange a guided shore excursion with the onboard team — you may wish to take city views from the impressive Tokyo Tower or visit Meiji Shrine and Sensoji Temple before returning to the ship for dinner.

Spend a full day at sea, sailing north along the eastern coast of Japan. As you travel, you could get in a workout with an ocean view in the gym, treat yourself to a treatment at The Sanctum Spa, or relax in the library with a book. Alternatively, head to The Den lounge to find out more about the ports you’ll soon be stopping at and the experiences you can have there.

Your first port of call is Hakodate, on Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido. Your specialist can help you decide how to spend your day here, selecting the activities that most interest you. That might mean visiting the unusual star-shaped Goryokaku Fort, wandering around the historic Motomachi district, or venturing to the top of Mount Hakodate. You can reach its summit on foot or via ropeway for panoramic views of the city and surrounding ocean.

Today, you wake up in the merchant town of Sakata, in rural Yamagata prefecture. You have the entire day to explore its preserved streets, which are lined with Edo-era samurai residences, museums, and rice warehouses. Your specialist can also recommend some traditional breweries where you have the chance to sample local sake before heading back to the ship.

This morning, your ship docks in Toyama, which sits at the foot of the snow-capped Japanese Alps. Here, you could explore the city’s history through the museum and reconstructed castle keep at Toyama Castle Park, or view striking modern glasswork at the Toyama Glass Art Museum. Plus, your specialist can suggest some restaurants where you can dine on the region’s renowned seafood or distinctive black-broth ramen for lunch.

After journeying south overnight, you arrive this morning in Maizuru, an important naval base where you might spot some Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force boats docked in the bay. Meanwhile, on land, you can wander around the ruins of Tanabe Castle and its museum, or see the converted red-brick warehouses once used by the military that now house art studios, restaurants, and gift shops.

Your next stop is the small fishing town of Sakaiminato in Tottori prefecture. As well as being celebrated for its fresh seafood, the town is known as the birthplace of manga artist Mizuki Shigeru — keep an eye out for statues of his ghostly characters as you explore. This evening, as you sail west toward South Korea, you could take in a live performance in the ship’s Cabaret Lounge, or watch the sunset from the deck.

Today you have a full day in Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea. You might like to spend your time hiking in the mountains, relaxing on Haeundae — the largest and most popular beach in the country — or sampling local delicacies at the food markets. There’s also the opportunity to take in the views from the top of Busan Tower, and discover the intricate architecture of Beomeosa Temple on the slopes of Mount Geumjeongsan.

You spend this morning at sea, perhaps taking a dip in the pool or sipping a coffee in the Mosaic Cafe as you sail south. After docking in Nagasaki, you can head onto dry land and explore this effervescent and multicultural city. We recommend a visit to the poignant Peace Park and museum, as well as the Chinese-style Sofukuji Buddhist temple and European-influenced Glover Garden. If you have time, Chinatown makes a great spot to grab some lunch.

The next port of call on your cruise is Kitakyushu, the northernmost city on the island of Kyushu. Kokura Castle is one of its highlights, with its tiered keep and extensive grounds. Inside, interactive exhibits give you a glimpse into what life was like as a samurai during the Edo period. And, on the waterfront at Moji Port, you’ll find an observation room offering views over the Kanmon Straits, as well as museums, restaurants, and art galleries to explore.

Today you have an entire day to explore Hiroshima. In addition to visiting the moving memorials to the city’s past, we highly recommend taking a boat ride to Miyajima Island. Here, you can see the “floating” red torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine and hike up the scenic slopes of Mount Misen. Your specialist can also tell you the best lunch spots in Hiroshima to try okonomiyaki, the city’s signature pancake-like dish filled with vegetables, meat, and noodles.

This morning, you sail further along the Seto Inland Sea to the castle town of Takamatsu. One of the highlights to see here is Ritsurin Koen, a traditional Japanese garden with ponds and a teahouse where you can sip a cup of matcha while gazing out at the scenery. Alternatively, take a boat to Naoshima Island and discover its renowned contemporary art museums.

The final stop on your cruise is cosmopolitan Kobe. On the waterfront, you can head up the hourglass-shaped Kobe Port Tower for views over the city, stroll around Meriken Park, or go shopping in the Umie mall complex. Alternatively, make your way inland and ride the Nunobiki Ropeway up the Rokko mountains to explore waterfalls, a herb garden, and an observation deck. We recommend making the trip in the evening, so you can enjoy the glittering night view before returning to your ship.

This morning, your driver will meet you at Kobe Port and take you by private transfer to Kyoto. In the afternoon, you might like to take a guided tour of the gilded Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion). For a more hands-on cultural experience, we can arrange a personal class in calligraphy, ikebana flower arranging, or the art of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Today is a chance to explore some of the temples, backstreets, and gardens that make up this fascinating city. Fushimi-inari Taisha Shrine is famous for the tunnels of red Torii gates working their way through the forest and is one of the best sights in Japan. About an hour from Kyoto is the ancient capital of Nara where you can find Todai-ji, one of the largest wooden structures in the world, set in beautiful parkland filled with tame deer.

Today we suggest starting at Nijo Castle, visiting a few covered markets and the Nishiki-dori food market to sample Japanese delicacies such as squid, octopus, eel and matcha powder sweets. Wander the narrow streets of Gion, the Geisha district, and visit a few of Kyoto's most iconic temples and shrines nearby.

Today you'll take a direct train to Kansai Airport for your journey home. Your return flight will arrive the same day.