North Pacific Passage

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Tokyo is a spellbinding blend of neon splendor and tranquil Shinto shrines, towering skyscrapers and meditative Zen gardens. Founded as the tiny fishing village of Edo, Tokyo's history was shaped by emperors and shoguns. As the Edo period progressed, it grew into one of the world's largest cities, as it remains today. Tokyoites embrace the traditional and the cosmopolitan here, both worshipping at the city's Asakusa Kannon Temple and frequenting the high-end retail stores of the Ginza district, all while the distant symmetrical cone of Mt. Fuji watches over the city.

Tokyo as a city was officially dissolved in 1943 and 23 independent municipalities were formed, known as ku. Each neighborhood is representative of a small city yet collectively, they are still recognized as Tokyo. Exploring this vast city is easy, thanks to Tokyo's excellent transport system. Look to the skies and admire its ever-changing skyline with towering buildings in every corner of the city. Observation platforms feature in many, including Mori Tower or the Metropolitan Government Building.

The Tsugaru Strait links the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean, flowing between Japan's two major islands—Honshū to the south and Hokkaidō to the north. At its narrowest point, just 12 miles wide, green slopes rise on the Tsugaru Peninsula to the south and the coastal Matsumae to the north. Halfway through, a broad channel flows into Honshū to form Mutsu Bay. At the strait's other narrow point, the small town of Ōma rests on the northernmost tip of Honshū; opposite, Hokkaidō's Hakodate, with its namesake mountain watching over, is one of Japan's most modern cities.

Sapporo is renowned for its traditional cuisine, green spaces, revered shrines and market culture. The city was developed with the help of President Ulysses S. Grant's commissioner of agriculture, who became an oyatoi gaikokujin, a foreign adviser, at Grant's request. Since then, Sapporo has been recognized for its ability to transform the natural world into the highest art. It is, however, perhaps better known as the city where miso ramen was invented; restaurants line the historic Original Sapporo Ramen Alley to celebrate the noodle's many forms.

Sapporo is located along the Ishikari Bay, an inlet of the Sea of Japan. It is not only the capital but also the largest city of Hokkaidō island, often referred to as the “Kingdom of Food.” As such, savvy travelers can be certain a visit to Sapporo will not leave them in want of tasty delights—particularly fresh seafood, for which the city has become nearly synonymous. From crab to salmon roe to sea urchin, some of the finest selection of seafood can be found in downtown Sapporo at the historic Nijo Fish Market, where visitors can indulge in sushi or a kaisendon.

The Okhotsk Sea, one of the world's most biologically productive seas, is considered the “heart” of the vast Pacific Ocean, supplying the larger body of water with life-enriching oxygen, cold seawater and nutrients.

The Mighty Pacific Leg is one of the most anticipated crossings of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The crossing of the North Pacific Ocean, one of the last great wildernesses on the planet, is one of the race's highlights.

The North Pacific Ocean features marine geological marvels such as the Aleutian Island chain, stretching 1,200 miles over 70 islands between North America and Asia, and the Mariana Trench, the deepest recorded point in the world.

Crossing the International Date Line is a time-honored travel milestone long marked by ceremony. Heading east across this imaginary line between the poles sets the clock back 24 hours, effectively gaining a day. While traversing this meridian, it is tradition to celebrate the occasion by raising a glass to the event.

Set sail into one of the world's most productive eco-systems. The Bering Sea boasts deep marine canyons that feature varied temperatures, creating upwellings of nutrients that attract countless hungry fish and predators.

The Gulf of Alaska stretches from the Aleutian Islands to the Inside Passage. Teeming with marine life, it meets dramatic shores lined with the pristine wilderness for which Alaska is celebrated. The state's famed soaring mountains dominate the landscape, their ravines and peaks draped with snow. Lush green forests spill down steep slopes and gleaming tidewater glaciers stand like white monoliths at the water's edge. The tiny outpost towns and villages that dot the shoreline still rely on the sea for their livelihood, offering a glimpse into life in this unspoiled region.

Kodiak plays an outsize role on its namesake island home, known as Alaska's “Emerald Isle” for its green hillsides. It is the only link to the outside world, so all goods enter and leave through its port. Inhabited by Alutiiq natives for more than 7,000 years, it became the capital of Russian Alaska in the 18th century. Sea otter pelts were the major commodity of export until the animal was almost hunted to extinction. For 150 years, the native people fought for the beloved creature, sacrificing their lives to protect them. Today, the sea otter thrives here once again.

Homer is a quaint town situated along the picturesque shores of Kachemak Bay that boasts a thriving art scene. Originally a failed gold mining settlement, Homer eventually found its industry in coal mining and halibut fishing, with its residents coming to call it “the halibut fishing capital of the world.” Beyond its charming small town atmosphere, it is best known as a gateway to admire the natural splendor of this region, from the impressive mountains that dot the horizon to the stunning bay that seals, otters and migratory birds call home.

Seward enjoys a magnificent setting between snowcapped peaks and Resurrection Bay, a pristine harbor ringed by mountains. The Alaskan city was named after Abraham Lincoln's secretary of state who defied public opinion to pursue the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Seward is steeped in marine culture, from its busy fishing port to the excellent exhibits and preservation efforts of the Alaska SeaLife Center. It is also the famed starting point of the Iditarod Trail, the dogsled race route originally laid to link Seward to inland Alaska.

Valdez enjoys a breathtaking setting at the tip of a deep-cut fjord in Prince William Sound. The glacial Chugach Mountains rise up all around the city, adding to its scenic allure. In its early days, the promise of gold attracted explorers and seekers of wealth, but the land proved barren. The town finally experienced its economic boom as North America's northernmost ice-free port. Today, it is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that carries oil south from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic coast.

Hubbard Glacier is one of Alaska's most dramatic icefields. This towering wall of ice at the water's edge began its long journey about 400 years ago, in the early 1600s. As it flows to the sea, Hubbard is met by Valerie Glacier. The combined surge pushes a wall of ice toward Bert Point, which threatens to close off Russell Fjord from the bay. The closure has happened before—in 1986 and 2002—transforming the fjord into “Russell Lake.” Each time, runoff and rainwater filled the lake, building up an enormous pressure and breaking through the ice wall with a thundering force.

Glacier Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a breathtaking alpine paradise at the northernmost reaches of the Inside Passage. The Sitakaday Narrows lead into its waters, passing the pristine Beardslee Islands to the east. The bay feeds several inlets that wind their way deeper into the mountains, all surrounded by soaring ice-capped peaks and forested shorelines. Glacier Bay is part of a national park, a haven for wildlife including sea lions and otters, brown bears, moose, bald eagles and, in summer, humpback whales.

Sitka has long been inhabited by the indigenous Tlingit people. Fur trading brought Russian settlers here in 1799 as part of a colonial merchant company. The town grew to become the capital of Russian Alaska, and remains of those days can be found in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and the Russian Bishop's House, the latter built by the Tlingit with guidance from Finnish carpenters in the 1840s. Today's Sitka is a delight to explore by foot, its streets dotted with inviting art galleries displaying artwork inspired by the region's natural beauty and rich heritage.

Ketchikan is set among the soaring coastal mountains and sloping woodlands of the Tongass National Forest. The gateway into America's 49th state, it is known to travelers journeying north by ship as Alaska's “First City” and the “Salmon Capital of the World” for its thriving fishing industry. Ketchikan also embraces its rich and enduring Tlingit heritage; it is home to the most standing totem poles anywhere in the world. The artful icons are sprinkled throughout the town as well as its parks and cultural centers.

Stretching some 500 miles along the Alaska Panhandle, the Inside Passage is a pristine wilderness of fjord-like channels. It winds its way through a vast maze of islands laden with emerald-green forests and strewn with glistening glaciers. Nature is at her most magnificent here, tranquil and hushed. Unspoiled waterways weave their way past tiny coastal villages and a breathtaking array of snowcapped mountains and pine-covered hills. Sea lions and otters reside in these waters, and moose and brown bears are often spotted as they wade along the coast.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.