Palaces and Pavilions Japan Cruise

Day 1 Sunday 5 April 2020 Departure
Today we board our flight to Kyoto. Kyoto is old Japan with atmospheric temples, sublime gardens, traditional teahouses and is the heart of Japan’s geisha world. It is most well known in Japanese history for being the former Imperial capital of Japan for more than one thousand years.

Day 2 Monday 6 April 2020 Kyoto
On arrival we meet our guide and transfer to Kyoto for an overview sightseeing tour before transferring to our hotel. We will visit the Philosopher’s Path, a pleasant stone path through the northern part of Kyoto’s Higashiyama district that follows a canal, lined by hundreds of cherry trees (we might see early signs of cherry blossom – cherry trees bloom in late April). This afternoon will be at leisure before we come together for an included Welcome Dinner this evening.

Day 3 Tuesday 7 April 2020 Kyoto
Today our sightseeing tour of Kyoto commences at Kinkakuji, better known as the Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will, it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. We then visit the Ryoanji Temple, the site of Japan’s most famous rock garden. Originally an aristocrat’s villa during the Heian Period, the site was converted into a Zen temple in 1450 and belongs to the Myoshinji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Later we visit Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district made famous from the novel and film Memoirs of a Geisha. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geisha and maiko (geisha apprentices) entertain.

Day 4 Wednesday 8 April 2020 Kyoto
Today we will visit Ginkakuji, consisting of the famous Silver Pavilion and Nanzenji Temple, whose spacious grounds are located at the base of Kyoto’s forested Higashiyama Mountains, and is one of the most important Zen temples in all of Japan. In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today’s temple, modelling it after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather’s retirement villa. The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa’s death in 1490. Later we visit the Imperial Palace, which was the residence of the Imperial family until the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1869. Within the Imperial Palace grounds, which are enclosed by a roofed earthen wall, are the Seiryo-den (Palace Hall) and the Kogosho (Minor Palace) – reminiscent of the dynastic age.

Day 5 Thursday 9 April 2020 Tokyo
Today we transfer to the railway station for our exciting Bullet Train ride on the famous Shinkansen train to Tokyo, travelling up to 270 kmph. Upon arrival in Tokyo we have an orientation tour of the city. We visit the famous Ginza shopping district, renowned as the most expensive real estate in the world. We then visit the Imperial Palace East Gardens, which is part of the Royal residence, and a superb example of traditional Japanese landscape design. Day 6 Friday 10 April 2020 Tokyo/Embarkation The morning is free for individual sightseeing and shopping. Early afternoon we are transferred to the port of Yokohama to board the Celebrity Millennium. Make sure you’re up on deck as the Celebrity millennium slips her moorings and we start our cruise around Japan.

Day 7 Saturday 11 April 2020 Mt Fuji
Today we visit Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain and the focal point of the sprawling Hakone National Park. This morning we will enjoy a sightseeing tour of this very special area followed by a majestic cruise across Lake Ashinoko on a replica pirate ship, this lake was formed by a volcanic eruption 3000 years ago.

Day 8 Sunday 12 April 2020 Osaka
Today we take a visit to the city’s cultural highlight Osaka Castle to admire traditional Japanese architecture style, catch the panoramic view of the entire city from the Floating Garden Observatory standing in the top of Umeda Sky Building, and stroll along the bustling Dotonbori Shopping Area.

Day 9 Monday 13 April 2020 Kobe
Today we arrive in Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of Japan’s ten largest cities. Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan’s most attractive cities. On our sightseeing tour we will enjoy an orientation tour of the city including a cable-car ride in the Shin-Kobe Ropeway that lifts us up the southern slopes of the Rokko mountain chain. As it ascends, it passes by the Nunobiki Waterfall and the Nunobiki Herb Garden, giving a lovely aerial view of both. The highlight of the ride lies in the observation deck which offers spectacular views of Kobe.

Day 10 Tuesday 14 April 2020 Kochi
This morning we arrive in Kochi, the capital of Kochi Prefecture on the southern coast of Shikoku and we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. We visit Kochi Castle, one of just 12 Japanese castles to have survived the fires, wars and other catastrophes of the post feudal age. The castle used to be the seat of the Yamauchi lords, who ruled over the surrounding region, then known as Tosa, during the Edo Period. The castle buildings have since been designated “important cultural properties”, and now house local treasures and historical objects. We then visit the Chikurinji Temple on Godaisan, one of the 88 temples along the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Day 11 Wednesday 15 April 2020 Fukuoka
A unique blend of a harbor city and a castle town, Fukuoka is a fascinating melting pot of history, culture, modernity and food, making the city a fantastic destination for visitors. Being close to the Asian mainland, Fukuoka has been an important region for centuries as seen in the number of castles, shrines and temples scattered around the area. We visit some of the more famous attractions including the ruins of Fukuoka Castle in Maizuru Park, Dazaifu Temmangu shrine and Kushida shrine.

Day 12 Thursday 16 April 2020 Busan
We call into the port of Busan, South Korea where we have a sightseeing tour and visit the ancient Silla capital, Gyeong-Ju, a place UNESCO designated as one of the world’s top 10 historic sites. We explore the royal tombs at Tumuli Park and then experience the serenity of an 8th-century Bulguksa Temple.

Day 13 Friday 17 April 2020 At sea
A day at sea is the perfect opportunity to explore the fabulous facilities of this magnificent ship. Perhaps visit the Spa for a relaxing massage. This afternoon join us for a fun game of The Senior Bingo.

Day 14 Saturday 18 April 2020 Aomori
This morning we arrive in Aomori, in the northernmost prefecture on Japan’s main island Honshu. On our tour today, we will visit Hirosaki, once the political and cultural capital of the Tsugaru Region, the western section of present-day Aomori Prefecture. The city remains one of the culturally richest cities in the northern Tohoku Region. We visit Hirosaki Castle, built in 1611 with its three-storey keep the only one in the Tohoku Region that was not rebuilt in the modern era, amongst only a handful in all of Japan.

Day 15 Sunday 19 April 2020 At sea
Another day at sea to explore the fabulous facilities of this magnificent ship. This afternoon join us for a fun game of Scattergories with prizes for the winners.

Day 16 Monday 20 April 2020 Tokyo
Our ship arrives in Yokohama, Tokyo this morning. There aren't many places on Earth that blend ancient tradition and the ultra-modern quite like Tokyo. Centuries-old gardens and cobblestone laneways live in perfect harmony with soaring skyscrapers and dazzling neon lights. We will visit the Asakusa district, well-known as a region of Old Tokyo, the Asakusa Kannon Temple, a Buddhist temple also known as Sensoji, built in 645 A.D with the finest Japanese architecture. Later we return to the ship for our final night in Port.

Day 17 Tuesday 21 April 2020 Tokyo
We disembark this morning. There will be free time for last minute sight-seeing and shopping before we are transferred to the airport for our flight home to Australia.

Day 18 Wednesday 22 April 2020 Australia
Tour members arrive back in Australia. The tour concludes.