Discover the Islands of Japan

Discover the Islands of Japan 12 Days

Prices From £6,440pp
April Only | 11 nights

Single Cabins Available

Discover the Islands of Japan 12 Days

Aboard: Heritage Adventurer

From neon-lit Osaka to the cedar-scented forests of Yakushima, this voyage threads together the wild edges and cultural heartbeats of Japan, with a dash of South Korea’s coastal energy in Busan. Wander castle towers and samurai streets, stroll through living gardens and lantern-lit districts, and taste your way through markets where the sea sets the menu.

Along the way, encounter islands rich in wildlife and tradition, from Sado’s taiko drums and tub boats to rugged national parks and shoreline temples. With expert expedition guides, memorable shore excursions, and ever-changing coastal scenery, this is an adventure that blends nature, history and everyday local life into one remarkable journey.

Highlights

  • Discover Japan by sea, pairing headline icons with quieter, rarely visited islands and coastal towns
  • Experience an unforgettable expedition voyage blending comfort with immersive exploration
  • Enjoy a rich mix of castles, temple precincts and historic districts, bringing samurai-era stories to life
  • Wander some of Japan’s most beautiful gardens, from classic formal landscapes to vibrant seasonal blooms
  • Explore wild Yakushima on nature walks through UNESCO-listed forests beneath ancient cedar giants
  • Learn the craft of pearl cultivation in Uwajima and meet the communities shaped by Japan’s coastal industries
  • Reflect in Nagasaki through poignant WWII sites and the city’s fascinating role as Japan’s “window to the world”
  • Taste and see the energy of Osaka and Busan, with buzzing street life, markets, and unforgettable food culture
  • Guided throughout by expert speakers and local guides

What's Included

  • Transfers to and from ship for arrival and departure
  • One night's hotel stay in Osaka pre-voyage
  • All meals on board ship, with wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch & dinner
  • All excursions shown in itinerary
  • Programme of expert lectures and talks
  • Flight from Niigata to Osaka post-voyage

Single Cabins Available

This vessel offers single occupancy cabins, which is a perfect option for solo travellers. Travelling alone is often the best way to see the world. No responsibilities, no difficult choices and no trying to please anyone else…just you, your itinerary and your adventurous spirit!

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Osaka
1Day

Osaka

Arrive independently to Osaka, Honshu’s bustling port city where bold modern design and an outstanding food culture sit side-by-side with the storied Osaka Castle, a legacy of Japan’s shogunate era. Settle into your included hotel and take time to unwind after your journey, ahead of the adventure to come.

This evening, meet your expedition team and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at the hotel, where you’ll be introduced to your guides and the journey ahead.

Osaka - Embark
2Day

Osaka - Embark

After breakfast at the hotel, head out to discover the many faces of Osaka. The options may include a visit to Minoh Park, a compact but wildlife-rich national park best known for its graceful 33-metre Minoh Waterfall. Keep watch for local highlights such as the protected Minoh monkeys, and in the wider area, species like the elusive Japanese giant salamander.

Later, step into history at Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s most celebrated landmarks. Walk the castle grounds, soak up panoramic views from the Main Tower, and hear tales of powerful warlords and the city’s turbulent past. For lunch, we plan to stop in Dotonbori, Osaka’s lively district of neon-lit streets and legendary street food. This afternoon, meet your Captain and Expedition Team as you board your ship, ready to begin the voyage.

Tamano/Uno-Ko
3Day

Tamano/Uno-Ko

Arriving into Uno-ko, we’ll travel inland to Koraku-en which is widely celebrated as one of Japan’s great landscape gardens. Created in the 17th century and often described as a “garden of pleasure after,” it’s an elegant place to wander, with broad lawns, tranquil ponds, and tree-lined paths dotted with plum and cherry blossoms in season.

In the afternoon we’ll continue to Kurashiki, where time seems to slow in the beautifully preserved merchant quarter. Stroll beside the canal, shaded by weeping willows and bright with koi, and admire the striking whitewashed warehouses crowned with traditional black tiles. If time allows, there’s the option to visit the Ohara Museum of Art, home to an impressive collection spanning European masters such as Matisse, Picasso and Renoir, alongside important works from Japan’s Mingei folk-art tradition.

Uwajima
4Day

Uwajima

Today you arrive on Shikoku Island, sailing into Uwajima Bay where a jagged, sheltered coastline frames the approach to the port town of Uwajima. The city is gaining a reputation as one of Japan’s leading centres for pearl cultivation, and we plan to visit a local pearl farm to see how pearls are seeded, grown, harvested and graded.

There’s also time to explore some of Uwajima’s cultural highlights, including Uwajima Castle, perched on a hill with sweeping views across the town and harbour, and the serene Tenshaen Garden, created during the samurai era. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Yakushima
5Day

Yakushima

We now sail south to Kyushu’s remote neighbour, Yakushima, a lush, mountainous island celebrated for its extraordinary plant life and recognised as Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. With misty forests and a primeval atmosphere, it’s a destination made for nature lovers.

This afternoon, choose from a selection of walks in Yakusugi Land within Yakushima National Park. Look out for the island’s endemic Yakushima macaque as you explore forest trails among legendary ancient cedar giants, including names such as Buddha Sugi, Futago Sugi and Sennen Sugi, some believed to be more than 3,000 years old.

Nagasaki
6Day

Nagasaki

Arrive in Nagasaki this morning, a city marked by profound history and remarkable resilience. Visits today include the Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum, offering a moving insight into the events of World War II and the city’s commitment to peace.

We also explore Dejima, the man-made island created in the Edo period to control foreign influence and trade. For more than two centuries during Japan’s Sakoku era of isolation, Dejima served as the country’s sole gateway to the outside world, with Dutch traders the only permitted Western residents. This afternoon, see another side of Nagasaki’s international past at Glover Garden, where beautifully preserved 19th-century stone and clapboard homes overlook the harbour. The best known is Glover House (built in 1863), a celebrated Western-style residence and the inspiration for the setting of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.

Hagi
7Day

Hagi

Once a modest fishing town, Hagi rose to prominence after Mori Terumoto fortified the area in 1604. It later played a key role in the political upheaval of the mid-19th century, and today is equally admired for its beautifully understated Hagiyaki pottery tradition.

This morning, explore Hagi’s atmospheric historic districts, including Teramachi with its temples and shrines, and Jokamachi, where old samurai residences still line quiet streets. You’ll also visit landmarks such as the Hagi Castle ruins, Shizuki Park and Tokoji Temple. In the afternoon, travel to the Yoshika Taibi Memorial Museum to see an outstanding collection of Hagiyaki ceramics, once highly prized for Japanese tea ceremonies. Alternatively, opt for a very different experience with a visit to Akiyoshido Cave, an immense limestone cavern system formed over hundreds of millions of years.

Busan, South Korea
8Day

Busan, South Korea

Today you cross the Sea of Japan to Busan, South Korea’s dynamic coastal metropolis, and a place where beaches and mountains meet lively markets, lantern-lit temples and a proudly food-obsessed street culture. With its ocean views, cinematic connections and famously fresh seafood, Busan offers a punchy change of pace.

Sightseeing options may include a walk through Gamcheon Culture Village, a hillside maze of brightly painted homes brought to life with murals and community-made art, often nicknamed the “Santorini of South Korea.” Food lovers can browse the stalls of Jagalchi Fish Market, the country’s largest, and sample local specialities. You might also visit Haedong Yonggungsa, one of Korea’s few seaside Buddhist temples, reached by descending 108 steps, or take in skyline views from BUSAN X the SKY. Other highlights can include seeing the sweeping Busan Gwangandaegyo Bridge and exploring Dongbaekseom Island, where camellia trees, coastal scenery and the striking Nurimaru APEC House blend nature with modern design.

Matsue
9Day

Matsue

Arrive this afternoon into Sakaiminato, the gateway to Matsue, often called “the town of water,” thanks to its setting between Lake Shinji and Lake Nakaumi. From here, we plan to visit Matsue Castle, a designated national treasure and one of the few mostly original castles from the 17th century still standing in Japan.

There are also several enticing alternatives today. Venture into the scenic landscapes of Daisen-Oki National Park, known for its natural beauty and cultural history, and home to rare plant and animal life including the giant salamander. Garden lovers may prefer Yuushien Garden, with your visit timed to coincide with the celebrated Yuushien Peony Festival, while art enthusiasts can opt for the Adachi Museum of Art. You may also choose to learn about traditional Japanese papermaking at Yakumomura Village, or simply enjoy wandering Matsue’s charming streets and canals at your own pace.

Kanazawa
10Day

Kanazawa

Choose how you’d like to spend today, with two standout options on offer. One is an excursion to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed mountain village tucked deep in the Shogawa River Valley within Hakusan National Park. Enjoy easy walks in the surrounding landscape and discover the area’s distinctive culture, including its famous gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouses, some more than 250 years old, engineered to shed heavy winter snow and traditionally built with large attic spaces once used for silkworm farming.

Alternatively, immerse yourself in Kanazawa, a celebrated centre for Japanese arts and refined craftsmanship. The city is known for Kutani porcelain, exquisite lacquerware, gold-leaf artistry, hand-painted silk and the tradition of Noh theatre dating back centuries. Wander cobbled lanes and craft galleries, visit the superb Edo-period Kenrokuen Garden (counted among Japan’s Three Great Gardens), and browse Omicho Market with its colourful mix of fresh produce, flowers, local foods and handmade goods. This evening, gather with the expedition team in the Bridge, Observation Lounge or on deck as you set sail for Sado Island.

Sado Island
11Day

Sado Island

Your last full day of your wonderful Islands of Japan cruise will see you explore Sado Island, a rugged and lesser-visited gem off the coast of Niigata. Shaped by the Osado and Kasado mountain ranges with the Kokunaka Plain between them, Sado was once used as a place of political exile, and this legacy helped cultivate a distinctive cultural and spiritual identity. Traditions here include Okesa folk songs, puppet theatre, Ondeko drumming and demon dances, and even Noh theatre introduced by notable exiles.

Sado is also celebrated for wildlife and striking coastal scenery, from the dramatic views of Senkakuwan Bay to the Ogi Peninsula. Keep an eye out for the Japanese crested ibis, now absent from the mainland, and don’t miss the chance to ride in the island’s iconic taraibune tub boats. Alongside natural beauty, the island’s story includes gold and silver mining, samurai-era influences, and unique agricultural and aquaculture practices, earning it a reputation as a “miniature Japan.” Today’s visits include the beautifully preserved Shukunegi Village (a National Important Preservation Area) and the Sado Island Taiko Centre, where you’ll learn more about the power and precision of traditional taiko drumming.

Niigata - Osaka
12Day

Niigata - Osaka

Sail into Niigata this morning, a lively port city renowned for its winter snows, superb rice and sake, and nearby hot springs. One of the city’s most recognisable sights is the elegant Bandai Bridge, a six-arched structure with granite sides, officially designated a Nationally Important Cultural Property in 2004 and considered one of Niigata’s most photogenic landmarks.

After breakfast, disembark and transfer for your onward flight to Osaka Itami Airport.

A view from Above

All Aboard

Heritage Adventurer
Mid range vessel

Heritage Adventurer

Previously known as the MS Hanseatic, the Heritage Adventurer is a renowned authentic expedition ship. Purpose-built with ice-strengthened hull, the vessel combines the highest passenger ship iceclass rating (1A Super) with an impressive history of Polar exploration. Designed to match Heritage’s signature experiential expedition travel, the ship accommodates up to 140 guests in welcoming and spacious cabins that feature outside views, separate lounge areas, TVs, en-suite bathrooms and double or twin beds.

Communal areas include a lounge, two restaurant areas including an al-fresco bistro, gym and spa, lecture theatre, library, passenger lifts and outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Japan adventure for you.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

Simon’s deep passion for and first-hand knowledge of a vast range of destinations all over the world gives him the ideal skills to help you create a truly unforgettable wildlife inspired adventure to the most exciting places on the planet.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

With countless travel experiences and an enduring hunger for adventure, Sheena knows exactly what’s needed to craft a holiday of a lifetime. Her experience and generosity of spirit are legendary and she’ll help you build an itinerary that will make all your dreams come true.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us
0800 195 3385
Outside the uk
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

Chat Now

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

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