Grand Japan with Nebuta & Summer Festivals Cruise

Day 1 - Tokyo

Arrive: Tue 27 July 2021 / Depart: Tue 27 July 2021 at 14:00

Yokohama and Edo began life as sleepy fishing villages. That changed in the early 17th century after Tokugawa Ieyasu became Shogun. Edo became the center of political power in Japan, a position the city retained even after the restoration of Imperial rule in 1866. Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza - an international shopping mecca - stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo, the "Eastern Capital," to distinguish it from the old imperial capital at Kyoto, the "Western Capital."

Day 2 - Ishinomaki, Japan

Arrive: Wed 28 July 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 28 July 2021 at 18:00

Day 3 - Hakodate

Arrive: Thu 29 July 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 29 July 2021 at 14:00

It took Commodore Perry and American gunboat diplomacy to open Japan to the outside world after two centuries of self-imposed isolation. In 1859, the port of Hakodate became the first Japanese city fully opened to Westerners under the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Foreigners soon flocked to Hakodate, and today visitors wandering the cobblestone streets of the city's Motomachi District can view their Western-style frame houses. Hakodate, once a fishing port famed for its high quality fish and shellfish, quickly became Hokkaido's largest city and one of Japan's most important ports. The Great Hakodate Fire of 1934 dealt the city a near fatal blow - a blow from which Hakodate was slow to recover. Today the city is Hokkaido's third largest - surpassed by Sapporo and Asahikawa - but retains its foremost position as the finest Japanese producer of sushi's raw product: the high quality seafood caught in Hokkaido's cold waters.

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - Vladivostok

Arrive: Sat 31 July 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 31 July 2021 at 14:00

The capital of Primorsky Territory, Vladivostok has served as Russia's bastion in the Far East since Czarist times. Located on the hills above Golden Horn Bay, the city is the terminus for the fabled Trans-Siberian Railroad, the longest continuous rail line in the world. The homeport of Russia's Pacific Fleet, Vladivostok was closed to the outside world until 1992.

Day 6 - At Sea

Day 7 - Aomori

Arrive: Mon 02 August 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 02 August 2021 at 14:00

The capital of the Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan, Aomori derives much of its beauty from the apple orchards and cherry blossoms that encompass its landscape and the snow-covered Hakkoda Mountains that look on from a distance. Throughout its history, the city has been stricken with misfortune time and time again - in 1910, a fire destroyed Aomori, and during World War II, the city was left in ruins following an air raid - yet it always prevails. Aomori is cherished by many who believe a local legend that the grave of Jesus Christ lies within the southern part of Aomori prefecture. However, Aomori is perhaps best known for its renowned Nebuta Festival, an elaborate yearly event in which participants illuminate giant paper representations of samurai warriors, animals, and popular cartoon characters while parading them through the streets.

Day 8 - At Sea

Day 9 - Tokyo

Arrive: Wed 04 August 2021 at 09:00 / Depart: Wed 04 August 2021

Yokohama and Edo began life as sleepy fishing villages. That changed in the early 17th century after Tokugawa Ieyasu became Shogun. Edo became the center of political power in Japan, a position the city retained even after the restoration of Imperial rule in 1866. Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza - an international shopping mecca - stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo, the "Eastern Capital," to distinguish it from the old imperial capital at Kyoto, the "Western Capital."

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - Akita

Arrive: Fri 06 August 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 06 August 2021

Day 12 - Aomori

Arrive: Sat 07 August 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 07 August 2021 at 14:00

The capital of the Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan, Aomori derives much of its beauty from the apple orchards and cherry blossoms that encompass its landscape and the snow-covered Hakkoda Mountains that look on from a distance. Throughout its history, the city has been stricken with misfortune time and time again - in 1910, a fire destroyed Aomori, and during World War II, the city was left in ruins following an air raid - yet it always prevails. Aomori is cherished by many who believe a local legend that the grave of Jesus Christ lies within the southern part of Aomori prefecture. However, Aomori is perhaps best known for its renowned Nebuta Festival, an elaborate yearly event in which participants illuminate giant paper representations of samurai warriors, animals, and popular cartoon characters while parading them through the streets.

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Busan, South Korea

Arrive: Mon 09 August 2021 at 09:00 / Depart: Mon 09 August 2021 at 14:00

The second largest city in South Korea, Busan is your gateway to a fascinating land whose culture is a unique amalgam of old and new. Modern high-rise towers dwarf ancient Buddhist temples. The city's bustling business district offers a stark contrast to the serene grounds of Yongdusan Park. In short, Busan is a microcosm of South Korea, a nation whose startling economic success often obscures one of Asia's most sophisticated and venerable cultures. Busan was the scene of bitter fighting during the Korean War. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery marks the final resting place for the troops from 16 nations who gave their lives during the conflict.

Day 15 - Kanmon Straits, Japan

Arrive: Tue 10 August 2021 at 09:00 / Depart: Tue 10 August 2021 at 14:00

Day 16 - Kochi, Japan

Arrive: Wed 11 August 2021 at 09:00 / Depart: Wed 11 August 2021

Day 17 - Tokushima, Japan

Arrive: Thu 12 August 2021 at 09:00 / Depart: Thu 12 August 2021 at 14:00

Day 18 - At Sea

Day 19 - Tokyo

Arrive: Sat 14 August 2021 at 09:00 / Depart: Sat 14 August 2021

Yokohama and Edo began life as sleepy fishing villages. That changed in the early 17th century after Tokugawa Ieyasu became Shogun. Edo became the center of political power in Japan, a position the city retained even after the restoration of Imperial rule in 1866. Contemporary Tokyo may be the most astonishing city on earth. It's a paradoxical mix of ancient tradition and postmodern culture. The Ginza - an international shopping mecca - stands near the serene grounds of the Imperial Palace, and the hyper-speed of 21st century consumerism is mysteriously reconciled with the elegance and serenity of traditional culture. Tokyo provides the traveler with a dizzying experience. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo, the "Eastern Capital," to distinguish it from the old imperial capital at Kyoto, the "Western Capital."