Japan: A Journey Through Time



Tour Name: Japan: A Journey Through Time
Tour Code: 101A
Days: 12
Day 1
Wed, 21 Jun
Sapporo, Japan > Otaru (D)

Welcome to Sapporo where you will transfer to the lively harbour town of Otaru. Step on board Scenic Eclipse where your journey into wonder begins with a warm greeting by the crew. Raise your glass this evening and toast the start of your ultra-luxurious cruise.

Day 2
Thu, 22 Jun
Aomori (B,L,D)

Superb seafood, riveting modern art and the world's largest virgin beech forest, Aomori is a hidden gem that is starting to find its place on the map. This ultra-modern port was rebuilt after World War II, and is filled with attractions that will reveal a different side of Japan. Just outside of Aomori, the archaeological dig site Sannai Maruyama, the largest and best preserved from the Jomon era (13,000-300 BC) provides a rare look into the nation’s ancient history.   

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Aomori City Walking Tour
Experience the charm of the Aomori on a walking tour, visiting the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse and the local fish market where you can experience local life of Aomori.

Arts & Crafts of Aomori
Learn about the traditional “Kogin-sashi” embroidery which is unique to the area and Tsugaru Ujoyaki, a pottery kiln established by potter Rikei Imai who will explain his style of work.

Castle City of Hirosaki
Visit Hirosaki Castle Park, one of only 11 castles in all of Japan to maintain the original main donjon structure and learn about the Neputa Festival at the nearby Tsugaru-han Neputa Village.

Cultures of Aomori
Walk around the Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site one of the most complete and best preserved Jomon Period villages in Japan.

Day 3
Fri, 23 Jun
Hakodate (B,L,D)

Located on the southern tip of the island of Hokkaido, Hakodate was one of the first ports that opened to international trade. The international influence can be traced in the sophisticated architectural styles juxtaposed against the city’s traditional temples. One of the most underrated Japanese cities, Hakodate is well-known for the panoramic views from Mount Hakodate that encompasses the city, the harbour and the mountains in the distance. If you’re feeling adventurous, take the time to taste Hakodate’s signature salty Hakodate Ramen, rumoured to be the first ramen dish in Japan.  

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Hike Mt. Esan
Mt. Esan is an active volcano rising 618 metres above sea level. Hike up to the summit with your local guide where you will be rewarded with panoramic views and spectacular sulphur-emitting steam vents.

Highlights of Hakodate
Explore the famous Hakodate Morning Market and view the historic Fort Goryokaku Park before travelling by ropeway to the summit of Mt. Hakodate.

Onuma Quasi-National Park
The Quasi-National Park features a landscape formed by the ancient volcanic eruptions of Mt. Komagadake. Walking along a natural hiking path that allows you to walk from island to island by crossing bridges.

Goryokaku & Bay Area
Fort Goryokaku is a star shaped Western style citadel. Obtain an aerial view from Goryokaku Tower before visiting the bay area, an atmospheric shopping, dining, and entertainment complex.

Morning Market & Goryokaku
Visit the Hakodate Morning Market with a local expert and delve into the many products on sale including various types of fresh seafood as well as fresh produce.

Day 4
Sat, 24 Jun
Sado Island (B,L,D)

Sado is believed to have been inhabited for over 10,000 years, and even finds mention in Japanese creation stories. Sado Island is a miniature Japan, showcasing every kind of coastal landform seen in Japan and a blend of cultures introduced by previous exiles to the island. Explore the Geopark, where the gold and silver mines, the taraibune (tub boat) and the nurtured rice farms are all deeply entrenched in the landscapes. While on the island, keep your eyes peeled for the crested ibis. Previously extinct in Japan, the Japanese Ibis (toki) was reintroduced to Sado Island through a successful breeding program, and several hundred now exist in the wild.

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Sado Gold Mine
Visit Sado Gold Mine, learning how the people in the Edo era worked in this mine and how the “Koban” was manufactured.

Japanese Drum Experience & Sake Brewery
Join a special taiko-drumming workshop and enjoy a performance before visiting the Hokusetsu Sake Brewery for a tasting.

Ogi Exploration on E-Bike
Enjoy an easy ride on an e-bike along the coastline of Sado with a local guide, making stops at highlight destinations including Yajima-iriguchi, Shukunegi Village, and the Ogi Folkloric Museum.

Shukunegi Village & Tarai-Bune Boat
The Tarai–bune is a traditional boat used to collect shellfish and seaweed around various fishing ports of the Ogi district. Visit Shukunegi Village and enjoy a ride.

Day 5
Sun, 25 Jun
Kanazawa (B,L,D)

Exceptional historical sites, traditional cuisine, renowned art museums and refined craftwork. Throughout history Kanazawa, meaning ‘the golden marsh’, has been one Japans most important cities for culture and art. Supplying 99% of Japans gold leaf, Kanazawa is also known to have one of the best and most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan. Spacious and secluded, it forms the green heart of this compact city. 

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Shirakawago & Washi Making
Explore one of the most scenic World Heritage sites in Japan, Shirakawago village, before taking part in the art of Japanese paper making at Gokayama.

Castle Town of Kanazawa
Learn about the lifestyle and structures of Kanazawa’s Castle town. Enter one of the Samurai Houses and view the Kenrokuen Garden from a traditional style of Japanese tearoom.

Best of Kanazawa
Visit the largest teahouse district, try a gold leaf experience using quite thin gold sheet produced in Kanazawa, visit Kenrokuen Garden, and learn about how to make Kutani ware.

Cooking Local Cuisine
Walk through Omicho Market, called ‘Kitchen of Kanazawa’, and purchase items for your cooking experience. Cook the local food “Jibuni” simmered in “dashi” and soy sauce.

Higashi Chaya District & Tea Ceremony
At the Gyokusenan teahouse watch a tea ceremony performance. Enjoy green tea and Japanese dry confectioneries called “Higashi” whilst enjoying a pleasant view of a Japanese garden. 

Enrich
Kanazawa Geisha Experience
Experience the elegance and hospitality of trained Geisha in an exclusive performance of a lifetime. Only 48 performers entertain across three teahouse districts in Kanazawa, and the opportunity for you to share a couple of hours in their company is incredibly rare. Spend an evening being entertained and serenaded by these fascinating women. Enjoy performances of traditional dances and songs from ancient Kabuki and Noh theatre recitals that have evolved into a controlled form of dance. Every gesture tells a story, every look expresses emotion, and only a true expert can understand the gentle symbolism. Geisha also train in the Japanese shamisen, a notoriously complex, three-stringed instrument that many spend their whole lives mastering. Enjoy a traditional sake barrel breaking ceremony that is said to bring good fortune. A quintessential Japanese experience.

Day 6
Mon, 26 Jun
Maizuru (B,L,D)

With a Naval history from 1901, Maizuru was the main port in Japan to receive repatriated soldiers after World War II. Home to the Japanese Navy Base, the closest to North Korea, local fisherman to this day report any suspicious boats who they believe may be North Korean spies. 
Taste the citiy’s official dish nikujaga (meat-and-potato stew), dedicated to the legacy of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Fleet Admiral Togo, who became famous for destroying nearly two-thirds of Russia’s fleet in the Battle of Tsushima.

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History of Maizuru
Learn the naval history at Red Brick Park and Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum before seeing the stunning view from Goro Sky Tower.

Amanohashidate & Motoise Kono Shrine
Explore Amanohashidate, or ‘Bridge of Heaven,’ considered to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Continue on Motoise Kono Shrine, built using the oldest architectural style known in Japan.

Best of Kyoto
Spend the day taking in Kyoto’s top highlights. Visit Nijo Castle, the torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the gilded Golden Pavilion.

Tenryuji Temple & Miyama
Visit of Tenryuji Temple in Arashiyama to see a famous Japanese Garden before exploring the Miyama Old Good Town with more than 200 thatched-roof (kayabuki) farmhouses dotting the picturesque countryside.

Washi Paper Making Experience & Sake Tasting with Sake Sommelier
Join a washi experience that delves into the heritage and beauty of this ancient paper-making tradition. At the legendary shrine Motoise Kono, enjoy a sake tasting and lecture on the history of Japanese sake with an authentic Japanese sake sommelier.

Day 7
Tue, 27 Jun
Hagi (B,L,D)

Hagi is best known for its preserved former castle town, being fortunate enough to avoid all major disasters since the Edo Period. Located on the South Western corner of Honshu facing the Sea of Japan, this small town has a fascinating history. Wander through the small streets lined with cross-hatched namako walls and samurai houses, stunning castle ruins and traditional potteries.

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Hagi Castle Town Walking Tour
Pass through the streets of Hagi, marvelling at the architecture which dates to the days of the samurai.

Five Storied Pagoda & Sesshu Garden
Head deep into the heart of Yamaguchi prefecture and explore the Zen style Sesshu Garden of the Joeiji Temple and Rurikoji Temple, one of Japan’s most beautiful and a national treasure.

Explore the Akiyoshi-do Cave
Marvel at the natural limestone sculptures of Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park, taking in the beautiful views of the karst plateau. Explore Akiyoshi-do Cave, one of the largest limestone caves in Japan.

Castle Town Walking & Kikuya-ke House
Delight in the works of Hagi ceramic artist Yoshika Taibi, led by his son who will guide you through the museum, before strolling through the samurai district and enjoying an exclusive tea ceremony.

Ukiyoe Museum & Samurai Quarter
Visit a gallery displaying unique Ukiyo-e era Japanese woodblock prints and contemporary art, before exploring the traditional style Japanese houses and old-fashioned streets of the Samurai Quarter.

Day 8
Wed, 28 Jun
Busan, South Korea (B,L,D)

A tapestry of colours rolling across the magnificent natural setting, Busan is where the locals go for a relaxing getaway, thanks to its laid-back atmosphere, urban beaches, and great street food culture. South Korea’s second largest city represents a harmonious relationship between the calm sea, snaking rivers and lush mountains.

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Gamcheon Culture Village
Visit the Gamcheon Culture Village, once a modest mountainside community that has been transformed into an art hotspot.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple & Haeundae Beach
Experience this Buddhist temple built in 1376 built on a cliff face, before visiting one of the most popular beaches in Korea, Haeundae Beach.

Gyeongju City Tour
Drive to South Korea’s ancient capital and see the World Heritage Listed Bulguksa Temple and Tumuli Park, a collection of royal Silla tombs.

Jagalchi Fish Market & Gukje Market
Walk through the largest fish market known for the strong willed and determined “Busan wives”. Taste local delicacies at the Gukje Market.

Day 9
Thu, 29 Jun
Matsuyama, Japan (B,L,D)

Offering great historic insights into Japanese culture, Matsuyama is cradled between gorgeous green mountains and the peaceful Seto Inland Sea. At the heart of city is one of Japan's twelve originally surviving castles, the Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle.

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Uchiko Walking Tour & Katsuben
Explore the charming town of Uchiko dating back to the Edo period, and visit Kamihaga-tei, a traditional Japanese house, Honhaga-tei garden and a wooden Japanese style theatre, Uchiko-za.

Highlights of Matsuyama
Discover the magnificent stone walls, gates and turrets of Matsuyama Castle, built on top of Mount Katsuyama. At Isite-ji temple, delight in the exquisite structures before strolling Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest and most famous hot springs in Japan.

Dogo Onsen Hot Spring & Ishiteji-Temple
Visit Dogo Onsen and Isite-ji Temple, a time-honoured Buddhist temple close to the hot spring.

Matsuyama Castle & Dogo Hot Spring
Enjoy a birds eye view of Matsuyama from Matsuyama Castle, before indulging in a bathing experience at Dogo Onsen.

Day 10
Fri, 30 Jun
Hiroshima (B,L,D)

Known for the devastating atomic bomb blast that ravaged the city and its inspiring status today as a symbol of peace and rebirth, Hiroshima is a destination steeped in history and outstanding natural beauty. Walking around the Peace Memorial Park is a moving experience, with monuments located throughout the tranquil ‘island’ including the World Heritage listed Atomic Bomb Dome, which survived complete destruction, and made use of nature to reaffirm the value of all life.

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Explore Hiroshima City
Step back in time and discover Hiroshima’s rich history, visiting the Peace Memorial and Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome, then on to the lovely Japanese garden, Shukkeien.

Hiroshima On Foot & Tram Ride
Travelling by local tram, enjoy a walking tour of Hiroshima’s most iconic sights including the Peace Memorial Park and Museum.

Sacred Island of Miyajima
Discover the UNESCO World Heritage, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, and marvel at the 50-foot-tall red archway standing in the water, appearing to float on the sea.

Saijo Sake Street & Peace Memorial Park
Enjoy a walking tour through the historic district from brewery to brewery to delight in samples of sake in Saijo, before visiting the Peace Memorial Park.

Day 11
Sat, 01 Jul
Uno (B,L,D)

The port of Uno will immediately immerse you in local works of art. Uno is the gateway to Okayama, home to stunning gardens and an imposing castle.

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Kurashiki & Korakuen Garden
Visit Korakuen Garden, one of the best landscape gardens in Japan before exploring Kurashiki, famous for its white buildings. Discover the oldest private collection of Western art at the Ohara Art Museum.

Kurashiki
Enjoy Ohashi House, a 200-year-old Edo-period merchant’s house and the Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum, boasting the finest collection of folk craft in all Japan, and include woodwork, lacquer ware, glassware, bamboo ware and textiles.

Okayama Castle & Korakuen Garden
Soak up the views of Okayama Castle with its black façade, which led people to begin referring to it as Ujo, or “Crow Castle”.  Roam the spacious grounds of Korakuen Garden with many areas to explore and discover.

Japanese Sword & Bizen Pottery
Discover the Bizen Pottery Museum to learn about the world-famous Bizenware pottery, with a history spanning 1,000 years. Continue to Osafune, once known as a blacksmith town, and visit the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum.

Naoshima Island
Explore the artistic island of Naoshima - known for its modern art museums, architecture, and sculptures including the famous giant pumpkin created by Yayoi Kusama. Visit one of the island’s icons – the Benesse House, designed by star architect Ando Tadao. Continue on to the Art House Project, a collection of abandoned houses, workshops, a temple, and a shrine that have been converted into art installations.

Day 12
Sun, 02 Jul
Kobe (Osaka) (B)

Welcome to Osaka. Disembark from Scenic Eclipse after breakfast as you farewell the crew and take away memories of a truly unforgettable voyage. Or, choose to continue on your Japanese adventure, cruising up the east coast.    

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the tour will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.