Optional tours are available from most ports for an additional charge.
Itinerary
Day Yokohama, JapanDeparts 06:00 PM "Until the mid-19th century, Japan lived in isolation, closed off from the rest of the world, and Yokohama was a mere fishing village. But in 1853, American naval officer Matthew Perry demanded the country open to foreign trade, and Yokohama was changed forever. The city quickly emerged as an international trading center, and while today it is often overshadowed by nearby Tokyo, it continues to be one of Japan's liveliest, and most international, destinations. With its microbreweries and international restaurants, Yokohama has a decidedly different feel from many other Japanese cities.
From Yokohama, it's a quick trip to peaceful Kamakura, home to Daibutsu, Japan's second-largest bronze Buddha, and to the important Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Head to Hakone National Park on a clear day and you'll be rewarded with picture-postcard views of majestic Mt. Fuji. "
Day At Sea
Day Kobe, JapanArrives 08:00 AM "One of the greatest things about Japan is its attention to detail. Nothing is too small for consideration. Nailheads on temple walkways are hidden by inlaid metal covers. If the train schedule says the train arrives at 11:05, it will not be there at 11:04; and if it's more than 10 minutes late, you can get the rail line to give you an excuse form to present back at the office, explaining your tardiness. Shops sell combs and hairpins made with the same patterns and in the same way as 500 years ago.
So maybe this attention to detail explains what happened in 20th-century Kobe. Some farmer was looking at his cow, thinking, âWhat possibilities of perfection am I missing?â Cows were still a new thing; they were banned as food almost until WWII, so cow rules were in flux when this farmer began massaging his herd with sake. The cows got pleasantly drunk on local beer and listened to classical musicâand in return for the pampering, they produced, and continue to produce, heavily marbled, melt-in-the-mouth cuts of meat that can easily sell for a hundred bucks a dish. Like everything else in town, Kobe beef is all in the details.
Among the Japanese, Kobe is considered exotic: âIf you can't go to Paris, go to Kobe.â And it does make a nice break from Osaka's relentless pace. Order a steak, find a window booth and watch the details.
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Day Kobe, JapanDeparts 04:00 PM "One of the greatest things about Japan is its attention to detail. Nothing is too small for consideration. Nailheads on temple walkways are hidden by inlaid metal covers. If the train schedule says the train arrives at 11:05, it will not be there at 11:04; and if it's more than 10 minutes late, you can get the rail line to give you an excuse form to present back at the office, explaining your tardiness. Shops sell combs and hairpins made with the same patterns and in the same way as 500 years ago.
So maybe this attention to detail explains what happened in 20th-century Kobe. Some farmer was looking at his cow, thinking, âWhat possibilities of perfection am I missing?â Cows were still a new thing; they were banned as food almost until WWII, so cow rules were in flux when this farmer began massaging his herd with sake. The cows got pleasantly drunk on local beer and listened to classical musicâand in return for the pampering, they produced, and continue to produce, heavily marbled, melt-in-the-mouth cuts of meat that can easily sell for a hundred bucks a dish. Like everything else in town, Kobe beef is all in the details.
Among the Japanese, Kobe is considered exotic: âIf you can't go to Paris, go to Kobe.â And it does make a nice break from Osaka's relentless pace. Order a steak, find a window booth and watch the details.
"
Day At Sea
Day Naha, JapanArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "Naha, the capital of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture and its biggest city, also serves as the region's key political, economic and transportation hub. With a fascinating past as the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom and a working port that dates back to the 15th century, this city of 300,000 residents manages to be both a compelling city and a laid-back one.
Because it was largely destroyed during World War II, there aren't many old buildings here; however, a few restored remains from the Ryukyu Kingdom era provide historic interest, including Shuri Castle, the royal residence, and its extraordinary gardensâboth of which are included in a local group designated together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other legendary sites include the Royal Mausoleum (burial tombs set inside caves) and the Shurei Gate, so magnificent that its image appears on the 2,000-yen note. "
Day Ishigaki Island, JapanArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "Talk with the Japanese a while about the Japanese and you're going to hear the word shimagunikonjo. The breakdown is simple: shimaâisland; guniânation; konjoâconsciousness. In one word, it's the firm belief that people who live on islands are different from people who live on continents, and anyone who's done both is likely to agree. American culture may be the strongest influence in Japan now, but the Japanese will understand the motivations of the Brits a whole lot better. Islands require a different mind-set than continents. Islands require manners.
But what if your island was never meant to be part of another bunch of islands? That's what's happened with today's Okinawa Prefecture. The people who've always been there are Okinawan, one of the healthiest, longest-living people on earth. But now they're part of Japan and seriously outnumbered by the Japanese. (And they're not at all happy that the Japanese interlopers gave so much of their land over to U.S. military bases.) "
Day Hualien, TaiwanArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "Hualien is the main city on the East Coast of Taiwan. Most people who only have a day or two to visit this part of the island usually spend a night here to arrange a day-trip to nearby Taroko Gorge, then head straight back to Taipei City.
You'll love this port! It has an energy that's hard to find elsewhere in the city. Just walk around the docks and observe the harbor life unfold quietly between the colorful boats, fishing nets and the sound of the ocean. Fishermen from distant lands will give you curious looks while Taiwanese folks will invite you to join them for a beetle nut and a smoke."
Day Keelung (Taipei), TaiwanArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM Keelung is the second largest port in Taiwan, and a booming trade industry has turned it into a very prosperous city and international seaport. However, the main reason for calling here is to travel inland to visit the contemporary metropolis of Taipei. Not long ago, the scenic valley of the Tanshui River was home to rice and vegetable farmers, but today it is the site of Taiwan's bustling center of culture, commerce and government.
Day At Sea
Day Jeju (Cheju) City, South KoreaArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "Jeju, formerly Cheju, may not be familiar to most Americans, but for Korean travelers the country's largest island and home to one of 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites is a popular destination. The island is roughly the size of Maui and has much in common with the Hawaiian islands. Like them, it is a volcanic islandâit first emerged from the sea some two million years ago and the volcano Hallasan, which reaches a height of 1,950 meters, is the tallest peak in South Korea. It also shares the mild subtropical climate of Hawaiiâeven in winter, temperatures rarely drop below freezingâand offers a similar broad range of activities whether in the warm ocean water or exploring the island's interior on well-marked and maintained trails.
Jeju has long been known as the ""Island of Gods"" after a legendary lost race from whom the island's inhabitants are said to have descended. Perhaps this history helps explain the super-human feats of the haenyeo, women divers who harvest abalone from the sea floor without the use of scuba gear. Remarkable giants can still be spotted here with humpback and orca whales common in this part of the East China Sea.
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Day Fukuoka (Hakata), JapanArrives 07:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "Located on the northern tip of Japan's Kyushu Island, Hakata harbor's location close to the Asian mainland made it an important port from very ancient times, serving the early administrative center at Dazaifu near by. In the 13th century, the Mongol Kublai Khan tried twice to subdue the city, but his attacks were both foiled by typhoons, which earned the last one the name Kamikaze, meaning âDivine Wind.â In the late 19th century, Hakata and the nearby samurai city of Fukuoka were merged.
Today Fukuoka is a large, modern and eminently livable city that still benefits from its proximity to Korea and other âAsian Tigerâ economies. Attractions for visitors include a park surrounding the ruins of the samurai Fukuoka Castle; the Shokufuji Temple, Japan's first Zen temple; and the Japanese Garden and Gokoku Shrine in Ohori Park. The Genko Historical Museum holds displays of Japanese and Mongol armor from the period of the Mongol invasions. Modern highlights include the shopping and entertainment complex of Canal City and the waterfront Momochi Seaside Park development. Near by, the old 7th Century city of Dazaifu offers the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine with 6,000 flowering plum trees, the tranquil Komyozenji Temple with a lovely Zen garden, and the impressive, modern Kyushu National Museum."
Day Hiroshima, JapanArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "Hiroshima means âwide islandâ in Japanese. The city was established in the 16th Century on Japan's largest island, Honshu, and grew into an important shipping center and prefecture capital, boasting a fine castle. Although it was an important city in Japan throughout the imperial period, its reputation in the greater world was burned into history when it became to target of the first atomic bombing of a civilian target in August of 1945.
Within a few years, Hiroshima had begun to rebuild, and the city became the focus of an international movement to eliminate nuclear weapons from future wars. Relics of its past such as the impressive Hiroshima Castle and the tranquil Shukkeien Garden were rebuilt, and the city undertook the construction of a Memorial Peace Park, which today attracts visitors from around the world. The park, which holds a museum and a memorial âAtomic Domeâ constructed on the closest remaining building to the blast site, is a moving and impactful place of pilgrimage in this re-born City of Peace. One notable feature is a colorful memorial to Sadako Sasaki, a young woman whose dying wishes for world peace were recounted in the story A Thousand Paper Cranes."
Day At Sea
Day Yokohama, JapanArrives 06:30 AM "Until the mid-19th century, Japan lived in isolation, closed off from the rest of the world, and Yokohama was a mere fishing village. But in 1853, American naval officer Matthew Perry demanded the country open to foreign trade, and Yokohama was changed forever. The city quickly emerged as an international trading center, and while today it is often overshadowed by nearby Tokyo, it continues to be one of Japan's liveliest, and most international, destinations. With its microbreweries and international restaurants, Yokohama has a decidedly different feel from many other Japanese cities.
From Yokohama, it's a quick trip to peaceful Kamakura, home to Daibutsu, Japan's second-largest bronze Buddha, and to the important Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Head to Hakone National Park on a clear day and you'll be rewarded with picture-postcard views of majestic Mt. Fuji. "