Grand Japan with Fall Foliage 2026
YOUR ITINERARY
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TOKYO (YOKOHAMA), JAPAN
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."
Points of Interest
- Imperial Palace Plaza
- Meiji Shrine
- Sensoji Temple
- Tokyo Tower
- Great Buddha of Kamakura (Diabutsu)
- Hakone Ropeway-Owakudani-Lake Ashi
- Mount Fuji
- Sankeien Gardens
AOMORI, JAPAN
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 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.
Points of Interest
- Hirosaki Castle
- Seiryuu-ji Temple (Grand Buddha)
- Tsugaru-han Neputa-mura (Tsugaru Province Neputa Village)
- Tachineputa no Yakata
- Tsugaru Kanayama Kiln
- Hakkoda Mountains
- Seibi-en (Japanese Garden)
- Lake Towada
SAKATA JAPAN
Sakatais a medium-sized city in Yamagata Prefecture. Sakata is located in the fertile Shonai Plain that is known for its high-quality rice. The city grew as an important stop along the coastal shipping route that connected Hokkaido with Osaka via ports along the Sea of Japan and Seto Inland Sea during the Edo Period.
A local merchant family, the Honma clan, came to dominate trade in the city and accrued a vast fortune that made them wealthier than some of the country's feudal lords. Due to their power and influence, the clan developed close ties with the local lords and had a number of lavish buildings built. Some of these buildings still stand today along with museums and other attractions.
Points of Interest
- Go-jyu-No-Toh of Haguro
- Kamo Aquarium
- Yuza Town
- Shonai Movie Studio
- Yamagata prefecture
- Gassan-dam
- Sankyo Rice Storehouses
- Mogami River
KANAZAWA, JAPAN
Kanazawa, which means "marsh of gold," draws its name from an old legend in which a Japanese peasant, digging for potatoes, found flakes of gold in the ground. Today, gold leaf is a major art form synonymous with the city, and even has a designated museum. A City of Crafts and Folk Art, Kanazawa is also known for its intricate kaga-nui embroidery and delicate kutani porcelain, among other handicrafts, making it a shopper's paradise! There's also no shortage of history in this coastal city. Once boasting geisha houses and a labyrinthine samurai village, the city was built around Kanazawa Castle. Fire destroyed all but a few small 16th-century castle structures - namely the elegant Ishikawa Gate and some watchtowers that have become a focus of many a photograph today. Just outside the castle park blooms the enchanting Kenroku-en Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and the home of the country's oldest fountain.
Points of Interest
- Kenrokuen Garden
- Higashichaya Machi
- 21st Century Museum
- Shirakawago
- Nagamachi Samurai House Row
- Tateyama & Kurobe Alpine Route
- Eiheiji Temple
- Omicho Market
SAKAIMINATO, JAPAN
Wedged between sea, sky and mountains, this small fishing port has been esteemed for centuries for its superb seafood. Here, the Sea of Japan yields up both crab and hon-maguro, the prized Bluefin tuna esteemed by gourmets around the world. Sakaiminato is also your gateway to a very ancient region of Honshu. West of the city lies Izumo-taisha, one of the oldest and holiest shrines in Shinto. This area is dotted with burial mounds from Japan's Bronze Age. The town of Matsue boasts the celebrated "Black Castle," a six-story, black-walled castle that home to a clan of the mighty Tokugawa dynasty that ruled Japan for over 250 years. And to the east rises the great snow-capped summit of Mt. Daisen, considered one of the four most scenic mountains in all Japan.
Also a common sight ashore are the Yokai - approximately 100 bronze statues of supernatural characters as imagined by famed manga comic author Shigeru Mizuki, who was born in Sakaiminato. The Yokai have become synonymous with the town and delight visitors at every turn.
Points of Interest
- Izumo Grand Shrine
- Hinomisaki Shrine and Light house
- Matsue Castle
- Okuizumo Tatara & Katana Museum
- Adachi Museum of Art
- Tottori Flower Road (Hanakairo)
- Mizuki Shigeru Museum
- Yushien Garden
BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA
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.
Points of Interest
- Beomeosa Temple
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
- Ja-Gal-Ch'i Fish Market
- UN Memorial Cemetery
- Gyeong-Ju:Bulguksa Temple & Tumuli Park
- Tongdosa Temple
- Cultural Experience
- Bokcheon Museum and Tombs
NAGASAKI, JAPAN
For most travelers, Nagasaki is a symbol of the horror and the inhumanity of war. An estimated 75,000 people perished in 1945 when the city became the second target of a nuclear attack. Today, Nagasaki's Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum draw visitors from around the world.
But this beautiful city on Kyushu offers other sights. Often described as the San Francisco of Japan, the city occupies verdant hills surrounded by a deep-water bay. For three centuries, Nagasaki was Japan's sole window on the world. The city is also celebrated as the setting for Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly."
Points of Interest
- Peace Memorial Park
- Atomic Bomb Museum
- Glover Garden
- Oura Catholic Church
- Shimabara Castle and Village
- Arita
- Dejima
- Mt. Inasa
KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN
From the 12th century to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Kagoshima was the chief stronghold of the mighty Shimazu clan. The city lies at the top of the Satsuma Peninsula, a mountainous, geothermal wonderland of hot springs and geysers. The area is also rich in modern Japanese history: Saigo Takamori and the Satsuma samurai were leaders of the Meiji Restoration that toppled the shogun and restored the Emperor to power in 1868. In 1877, dissatisfied with the direction of the new government, Saigo led the Satsuma Rebellion, which ended in his death and the final defeat of the samurai.
The symbol of Kagoshima is Sakura Jima - the volcanic island that sits just offshore. The volcano has erupted over 30 times in recorded history.
Points of Interest
- Chiran
- Ibusuki
- Sakura Jima
- Lake Ikeda
- Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots
- Senganen (Iso Garden)
- Kirishima Onsen
- Ishin Furusato-kan Museum
BEPPU, JAPAN
Ominous steam rises from the Japanese island of Kyushu where Beppu lies in wait. But not to worry - this legendary tourist town is renowned for its healing geothermal waters and spas. Overlooking Beppu Bay to its east and protected from the west by dramatic mountain peaks, this exotic city is blanketed with misty turquoise waters and elegant Japanese foliage. Its main attraction is the "Hells of Beppu," a collection of nine stunning onsen, or hot springs, some of which feature geysers and colorful waters in shades from white to copper to sapphire. The springs' names, including Kamado-Jigoku (Boiling Hell) and Oniyama-Jigoku (Demon Mountain Hell), are somewhat misleading as all of the hot springs are breathtakingly beautiful rather than frightening - though your nose may cower and crinkle at the sulfurous odor they emit!
Points of Interest
- Jigokumeguri
- Yufuin Onsen
- Mt. Takasaki Monkey Park
- Usa Jingu Shrine
- Usuki Stone Buddha Statues
- Usuki Castle Ruins
KOCHI, JAPAN
Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.
Kochi is one of the wettest places in Japan - and a frequent target for cyclonic storms or typhoons. Southeast of the city, warm oceans currents washing against the Aki Mountains create a subtropical landscape of hibiscus, palm and ficus at Muroto-Anan Quasi-National Park.
Points of Interest
- Kochi Castle Museum of History
- Kochi Castle
- Katsurahama Beach
- Kochi Municipal Ryoma's Memorial Museum
- Mikurodo Cave
- Murotomisaki Cape Observatory
- Kazurabashi Bridge & Oboke Gorge
- Ryugado Cave
Stateroom Type
Suite from $8,339/person
Mini-Suite from $4,639/person
Balcony from $3539/person
Oceanview from $3,039/person
Interior from $2,239/person
Please note that prices are listed as an average per person based on stateroom occupancy selected, non-air cruise-only, and in USD
Cruise Fare is subject to change until this cruise is booked.
OSAKA (KYOTO), JAPAN
For centuries, Osaka was Japan's cultural and commercial gateway to Asia - the point of entry both for trade goods and, most importantly, cultural influences that shaped Japanese society. From tea to Zen, from art to science and philosophy, Osaka was Japan's contact with the great East Asian cultures that flourished in China and Korea. The city reached its zenith in the late 16th century, when the great feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi made Osaka his capital. Toyotomi was master of Japan, and an immense administrative and commercial center rapidly developed around Osaka Castle. After Toyotomi's death, the nation's seat of power shifted from Osaka to a sleepy little fishing village called Edo - modern Tokyo. While overshadowed by Tokyo, Osaka remains Japan's second largest city and a vital commercial center.
Modern Osaka is home to monuments from Japan's past including Toyotomi's immense castle and the Sumiyoshi Shrine. The city is also your gateway to Kyoto, Japan's ancient imperial capital and the nation's cultural and spiritual center.
Points of Interest
- Kiyomizu Temple
- Kinkakuji: Golden Pavilion
- Nijo Castle
- Todai-Ji Temple
- Osaka Castle
- Fushimi-Inari Shrine
- Ryoanji Temple
- Shorenin
SHIMIZU (MT. FUJI), JAPAN
A mesmerizing landscape, a revered cultural history, and Japan's most sacred volcano are just a few of the many delights beckoning you to come and explore this ancient city. While Shimizu may have the reputation as being bustling and modern, its cultural and spiritual side is on display in the form of ancient and enthralling shrines. Of course, it may be the sacred and snow-capped Mount Fuji that garners the most attention. Towering over the region at approximately 12,388 feet above sea level, the active volcano, designated a "place and source of artistic inspiration" by UNESCO is just one of the many unforgettable adventures Shimizu inspires.
Points of Interest
- Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum
- Miho-no-Matsubara
- Nihondaira Park Outlook
- Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
- Sunpu Castle Park
- Shizuoka Sengen Shrine
- Mt. Fuji
- Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine