Circumnavigation of Japan: Sacred Isles & Northern Shores

Welcome to Osaka, Japan's vibrant culinary capital and gateway to the treasures of the Kansai region. Renowned throughout the country for its street food culture and warm, convivial spirit, Osaka blends the grandeur of its imposing 16th-century castle with a dynamic cityscape of neon-lit neighbourhoods, historic temples and lively waterside districts. Nearby, the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara invite exploration of serene gardens, sacred shrines and centuries of imperial heritage.

Your Discovery Voyage begins with a warm greeting by the Captain and crew as you step on board Scenic Eclipse II, your ultra-luxury Scenic Discovery Yacht. Sip on a glass of Champagne as you explore your luxurious suite, then join fellow guests at the Sky Bar to toast the start of a remarkable circumnavigation of Japan.

As evening falls, choose from a range of distinct culinary experiences, before settling into an evening of thoughtfully curated entertainment.

Discover Matsuyama, the largest city on the island of Shikoku and a place where history, literature and the art of bathing converge. Presiding over the city from a forested hilltop, Matsuyama Castle is one of only twelve original castles remaining in Japan, its elegant keep and stone ramparts offering sweeping views across the urban landscape to the Seto Inland Sea beyond.

At the heart of Matsuyama's identity lies Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest hot spring bathhouses in Japan, with a history stretching back over a thousand years. The ornate, multi-storied main building has welcomed emperors, poets and pilgrims alike, and its distinctive architecture is said to have inspired the iconic bathhouse in Studio Ghibli's animated masterpiece. The surrounding streets are lined with traditional inns, craft shops and tea houses, creating a district of quiet charm and unhurried enjoyment.

This evening, savour the flavours of Asia at Koko's Asian Fusion, where expertly crafted dishes from the Sushi & Saké Bar @ Koko's or the vibrant Night Market @ Koko's+ menu provide a refined counterpoint to your day spent in Japanese culture.

Arrive in Hofu, a quietly distinguished city in Yamaguchi Prefecture where centuries of spiritual devotion have shaped both the landscape and local character. The revered Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, one of the oldest and most significant Tenmangu shrines in Japan, crowns a hillside above the city, its sweeping stone staircase and vermillion structures dedicated to the deity of learning and scholarship. The shrine grounds are particularly celebrated during the spring months, when cherry blossoms frame the approach in a canopy of delicate pink.

Beyond the shrine, Hofu reveals the quieter pleasures of a provincial Japanese city. Traditional streetscapes give way to the landscaped grounds of Mori Garden, a former feudal estate set amid tranquil ponds and wooded pathways. The surrounding countryside, with its terraced hillsides and sheltered bays, speaks to the enduring relationship between this Seto Inland Sea community and the natural world.

Cross the Korea Strait to discover Busan, South Korea's dynamic coastal metropolis. Stretched along a dramatic shoreline of beaches, cliffs and wooded hillsides, the city reveals a distinctive character quite unlike any Japanese port on this voyage. The bustling Jagalchi Fish Market, one of the largest in Asia, hums with energy as vendors display the morning's catch, whilst nearby Gamcheon Culture Village cascades down a hillside in a mosaic of pastel-coloured houses and street art.

Along the coast, the cliffside Haedong Yonggungsa Temple overlooks the Korea Strait from a spectacular clifftop setting, its ornate architecture framed by crashing waves and coastal pines. Historic Beomeosa Temple, set in the forested slopes of Mount Geumjeongsan, offers a more contemplative setting, with its ancient halls nestled among towering trees and mountain streams.

Return on board this evening for a cocktail at the Scenic Lounge Bar, where over 130 whiskies await, or choose from the expertly crafted menu at Elements, featuring Italian, steak and seafood prepared with locally sourced ingredients.

After a morning at sea, arrive at the Oki Islands, a remote archipelago in the Sea of Japan that feels a world apart from the mainland. Designated a World Heritage-listed Global Geopark, these islands reveal a dramatic geological story written in sheer sea cliffs, volcanic rock formations and coastlines sculpted by millennia of wind and wave. The towering Matengai Cliff, one of the highest sea cliffs in Japan, plunges vertically into the ocean, creating a spectacle of raw natural power.

Beyond the dramatic landforms, the Oki Islands preserve traditions that have largely disappeared elsewhere in Japan. Remote fishing communities maintain customs rooted in centuries of island life, and the unique bullfighting tradition, where bulls lock horns in matches of strength rather than spectacle, connects the present to an ancient past. The islands' relative isolation has also nurtured distinctive flora and fauna, making them a haven for those drawn to landscapes shaped more by nature than by human hand.

Be sure to check your Daily Program for the Discovery Team activity times, where you can deepen your understanding of the region with insightful presentations and activities.

Miyazu sits on the shores of Miyazu Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture, serving as the gateway to Amanohashidate, one of Japan's celebrated “three most scenic views.” This extraordinary natural sandbar stretches across the bay, its narrow ribbon of white sand lined with thousands of pine trees, creating a scene that has inspired poets and artists for centuries. Viewed from the surrounding hillsides, the pine-clad bridge appears to float between sea and sky, an image long held as one of the most beautiful in all of Japan.

Nearby, the fishing village of Ine presents a different kind of beauty. Its distinctive funaya, traditional boathouses built directly over the water, line a sheltered bay in a scene of quiet maritime charm, earning Ine recognition as one of Japan's most beautiful villages. The unhurried rhythm of village life, the sound of water lapping against wooden hulls, and the scent of the sea create an atmosphere that feels timeless.

Arrive in Toyama, a city framed by one of the most dramatic mountain backdrops in Japan. The Tateyama Mountain Range of the Northern Alps rises to over 3,000 metres directly behind the city, its snow-capped peaks creating a stunning contrast with the coastal plains below. The city itself blends modern civic spaces with a historic castle park and a network of elegant waterways, whilst the surrounding region is celebrated for its exceptionally fresh seafood, drawn from the deep, cold waters of Toyama Bay. Beyond the city, the traditional mountain villages of the Gokayama district, a World Heritage-listed site, preserve the distinctive gassho-zukuri farmhouses that have sheltered communities through centuries of heavy snowfall. These steep-roofed structures, set among terraced rice paddies and forested valleys, offer a rare glimpse into a way of life shaped by the rhythms of nature and the demands of a mountain environment.

Discover Niigata, a prosperous port city on Honshu's Sea of Japan coast, renowned for producing some of the country's finest rice and, by extension, its most celebrated saké. The Niigata region is home to an extraordinary concentration of saké breweries, many with histories stretching back generations, where master brewers draw on pure mountain water and locally grown Koshihikari rice to craft beverages of exceptional quality.

The city's historic port quarter reflects centuries of maritime trade, with handsome merchant residences and warehouses that speak to Niigata's importance as a gateway between Japan and the Asian mainland. Fertile plains stretch inland, their patchwork of rice paddies providing the foundation of the region's agricultural identity, whilst the nearby coastline offers quiet stretches of sand and views across the sea.

This evening, perhaps enjoy contemporary French fine dining at Lumière+, where each dish is paired with an exquisite selection of Champagne

Arrive in Akita, a city steeped in samurai heritage and the traditions of northern Japan's Tohoku region. Once the seat of the powerful Satake clan, Akita retains a strong sense of its feudal past, with the historical relics of Kubota Castle set amid expansive parkland that is particularly striking during cherry blossom season, when hundreds of sakura trees transform the grounds into a sea of soft pink.

The region is celebrated for its vibrant festival culture, and its renowned for its saké brewing traditions, with local rice varieties and pristine water from nearby mountains producing beverages of exceptional refinement. Beyond the city, the deep blue waters of Lake Tazawa, Japan's deepest lake, sit cradled among forested mountains, offering a landscape of remarkable natural beauty.

Cross to Hokkaido and arrive in Hakodate, a port city at the island's southern tip with a distinctive cosmopolitan heritage. Among the first Japanese cities to open to international trade in the mid-19th century, Hakodate retains a fascinating blend of Western and Japanese architectural influences, particularly in the Motomachi district, where European-style churches, former consulates and elegant merchant houses line hillside streets overlooking the harbour.

The star-shaped Fort Goryokaku, Japan's first Western-style citadel, is beautifully set amidst parkland that transforms into a sea of cherry blossoms each spring. The sweeping panorama from Mount Hakodate is considered one of Japan's three finest vistas, with the city's twinkling lights tracing the narrow isthmus between two bays. The vibrant morning market near the waterfront is an immersive introduction to Hokkaido's extraordinary seafood culture from glistening uni to succulent crab – in a setting that brings the region's maritime identity to life.

Later, after sailing, perhaps visit the open bridge on Deck 7 to meet the Captain and navigational team and gain first-hand insight into a Scenic Discovery Yacht's state-of-the-art technology from one of the most inspiring vantage points on board.

After a morning at sea, arrive in Sendai, the largest city in the Tohoku region and a place known affectionately as the “City of Trees” for the graceful zelkova-lined boulevards that define its urban character. Founded in the early 17th century by the powerful feudal lord Date Masamune, Sendai carries a rich samurai legacy that is beautifully preserved at the Zuihoden Mausoleum, an ornate complex of lacquered and gilded buildings set among towering cedars on a forested hillside.

The relics of Aoba Castle, located on a wooded bluff above the Hirose River, offer sweeping views across the city and surrounding mountains, whilst the bustling Jozenji-dori avenue provides a canopied walkway of mature trees, public art and seasonal colour. Sendai's culinary reputation rests firmly on its celebrated gyu-tan, tender charcoal-grilled beef tongue that has become a regional delicacy, complemented by the area's renowned saké and fresh seafood from nearby Matsushima Bay.

Discover Oarai, a seaside town on the Ibaraki coast that serves as the gateway to one of Japan's most celebrated landscape gardens. Kairakuen, built in 1842 by the local feudal lord and ranked among Japan's three great gardens, is renowned for its vast plum grove of over 3,000 trees, which fills the hillside with fragrant blossoms in early spring. Beyond the plum season, the garden unfolds across bamboo groves, cedar forests and open meadows designed for the enjoyment of all.

Closer to port, the lively Nakaminato Fish Market offers a vivid introduction to the region's coastal culture, with fresh catches displayed alongside local specialities that reflect the bounty of the Pacific. The Oarai Isosaki Shrine, perched on rocky outcrops above the ocean with its torii gate rising directly from the sea, creates a striking tableau that has drawn visitors for centuries.

This evening, perhaps savour refined Italian, steak and seafood at Elements, the main dining experience on board, where locally inspired menus complement the day's discoveries ashore.

Arrive in Tokyo, Japan's extraordinary capital and one of the world's great metropolises. A city of ceaseless reinvention, Tokyo layers ancient tradition upon cutting-edge modernity with a fluency unmatched anywhere else. The serene grounds of Meiji Jingu Shrine and the Imperial Palace Gardens offer moments of contemplation amidst a vast urban landscape, whilst the neon-lit corridors of Shibuya, Shinjuku and Akihabara pulse with the energy of contemporary Japanese culture.

Beyond the iconic landmarks, Tokyo reveals itself in quieter neighbourhoods: the atmospheric lanes of Yanaka, where time seems to have paused; the elegant boutiques and café culture of Omotesando; and the historic temple district of Asakusa, where Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, draws visitors beneath its towering red lantern and through the bustling Nakamise-dori market. The city's culinary landscape is unrivalled, holding more Michelin stars than any other city on earth, from intimate sushi counters to refined kaiseki dining.

Arrive in Toba, a quiet port city on the Shima Peninsula that holds an outsized place in Japanese cultural history. It was here, in the sheltered waters of Ago Bay, that Mikimoto Kokichi pioneered the technique of cultivating pearls in the late 19th century, transforming a local fishing tradition into a global industry. The legacy of pearl cultivation remains woven into the fabric of the city, and the traditions of the ama, the free-diving women who have harvested shellfish and seaweed along these shores for over two thousand years, endure as a living connection to the region's maritime past.

Nearby, the Ise Grand Shrine, Japan's most sacred Shinto site, stands in a forest of towering ancient cryptomeria trees. Rebuilt every 20 years in an unbroken cycle of renewal stretching back centuries, the shrine complex embodies the essence of Japanese spiritual tradition. The forested slopes of Mount Asama and the surrounding pilgrimage trails offer a contemplative counterpoint to the coastal pleasures of Toba.

This evening, perhaps enjoy one final dinner at Lumière+, where contemporary French fine dining is paired with an exquisite selection of Champagne, or celebrate your journey with the vibrant street-food inspired dishes at Night Market @ Koko's+.

Today, it is time to farewell Scenic Eclipse II after 15 extraordinary days on board. Be sure to fit in one last indulgent breakfast at the Yacht Club or ask your butler to deliver coffee to your suite so you can take your time packing. Disembark in Osaka with the memories of an unforgettable Discovery Voyage around Japan at its most enchanting time of year.

#Spa treatments and services at additional cost. Daily activities may be subject to change; please consult your Daily Wonder for updates.

+All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. Specialty restaurants require a reservation, enquire on board.

^Experiences on board our two helicopters and submersible are at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather conditions.

~Kayak and stand-up paddleboard not available in all locations.

Helicopter and submersible not in operation in Japan.

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