Iconic Japan: Sacred Cultures & Nature

Welcome to South Korea. Enjoy your one night stay in Seoul.

This morning board the KTX bullet train and travel to Busan. 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. Transfer to Scenic Eclipse where your journey into wonder begins with a warm greeting by the crew as you step on board. Raise your glass this evening and toast the start of your ultra-luxury cruise. (B/D)

Crisscrossed with fast-flowing rivers and mountain trails, Shingu is a small seaside city located in Wakayama's sacred south. Nestling inside verdant mountains, this secret place is a treasure trove of lush greenery and a unique religious culture. Shingu is home to many UNESCO World Heritage sites, including one of the three Kumano Sanzan Shrines connected by the network of Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, prominently standing out on the riverbanks with its bold red colouring and sweeping roofs.

Freechoice: Explore the shrines of Shingu, before the Doro-kyo Gorge, or discover the Sacred Land of Kumano and the Nachi Falls. (B/L/D)

Enjoy breakfast on your verandah or at one of the outdoor dining venues this morning as you sail into Shimizu. You will soon see why it is considered one of Japan’s most beautiful ports, with Mount Fuji dominating the horizon, and history dating back to the Nara Period (710-784). Shimizu is blessed with stunning natural scenery such as the Shiraito Falls, flowing in thin white streams from the foothills of Mount Fuji, and rich Japanese culture and history reflected throughout the bright red buildings and gold accents.

Freechoice: Open Shizuoka’s treasure box with this excursion to Fujisan Hongu Sengen-taisha Shrine, Shiraito Falls, and Mihono Matsubara, or discover the culture of Shimizu at the Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum. Alternatively, visit the Fuji Five Lake region, at the hot springs St Qwakudani Geothermal Area followed by a cruise on Lake Ashinoko. (B/L/D)

Welcome to the city that captivates. With some neighbourhoods shining bright with neon lights and filled with futuristic architecture, others boasting glowing lanterns and traditional wooden buildings, and dozens of art galleries and cocktail bars hidden amidst concrete blocks, no two experiences in Tokyo are the same. Previously a small castle town, and now the world’s most populous metropolis, this capital city is always on the move and buzzing with energy. With Scenic Eclipse docked overnight, experience the best of Tokyo by both day and night.

Freechoice: Visit the main highlights of Tokyo, or walk through the fantastic collection of folk architecture at the open air museum. Choose to explore the picturesque Shinjuku-Gyoen and Imperial Gardens, or visit Shinjuku and the Imperial Shinto Meiji Shrine before walking across the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world in Shibuya. Alternatively, try your hands a sushi cooking class. Enrich: Experience the Japanese culture at a cocktail function with a Shinto ceremony and a sake Kagami-biraki ceremony at a local shrine. (B/L/D)