Two Civilisations Divided by a Sea, Explored in Fourteen Days: Seoul, Japan's Coast and Tokyo
13 Nights – Seoul, Small-Ship Cruise Along Japan's Coast & Tokyo – Japan & South Korea
- • Duration: 14 days
- • Countries: South Korea, Japan
- • Cities: Osaka, Uwajima, Hagi, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Busan, Kobe, Miyajima Island, Tamano, Seoul, Beppu, Sakaiminato
- • Valid Travel Dates: 4 January 2017 - 30 April 2027
Trip Summary
Fourteen days moving between two countries at the edge of the Pacific — Seoul to Tokyo, with eight nights aboard Le Soléal tracing Japan's coast between them. Seoul opens the journey with three nights in South Korea's capital: guided exploration of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum, the colour and energy of Namdaemun Market, and the War Memorial of Korea. High-speed rail to Busan to join the ship. Le Soléal is intimate by design — a small vessel built for destinations that larger ships cannot reach. The coastal route is extraordinary: Sakaiminato, the castle towns of Hagi, Beppu's hot spring landscape, the pearl farms of Uwajima, Miyajima Island's floating torii gate at high tide, the weight and beauty of Hiroshima, Tamano's art island of Naoshima, and Kobe. Every port has its own character, and every included shore excursion goes deep rather than wide. The Shinkansen carries you from Osaka to Tokyo for two final nights: Meiji Shrine in the morning, a farewell dinner with traditional music and a sumo demonstration in the evening. Every transfer is handled. All meals are covered. Every gratuity is included.
Countries
- South Korea
- Japan
Cities
- Osaka
- Uwajima
- Hagi
- Hiroshima
- Tokyo
- Busan
- Kobe
- Miyajima Island
- Tamano
- Seoul
- Beppu
- Sakaiminato
Accommodation
- Aboard Le Soléal – 8 Nights
- Post-cruise (Tokyo): Shangri-La Tokyo, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, or Palace Hotel Tokyo
- Pre-cruise (Osaka/Seoul): St. Regis Osaka, Ritz-Carlton Osaka, or Conrad Osaka
Inclusions
- ✓Premier hotels, handpicked for location, service and style
- ✓Fine dining, onboard and onshore
- ✓All gratuities to ship & hotel staff, drivers, local guides and experts – handled for you
- ✓All accommodations, on land and at sea
- ✓Airport transfers, on arrival & departure
- ✓All taxes, port charges and fees, luggage handling and more
- ✓No options sold, no hidden costs
- ✓All shore excursions, private to Le Soléal and offering insights not available on your own
Exclusions
- ✗Travel insurance or cruise protection plans
- ✗Passport and visa fees
- ✗Personal expenses (e.g., spa services, laundry, room service outside included dining, personal shopping)
- ✗Medical expenses or emergency evacuation costs
- ✗Any independent arrangements made outside the published itinerary
- ✗Pre- or post-tour hotel nights not included in the scheduled program
- ✗International airfare to and from Japan (unless separately arranged)
Optional Add-Ons(Not Included in Package Price!)
- Travel protection / insurance plans
- Pre- or post-tour hotel nights beyond the scheduled itinerary
- Private charter or full buyout of the cruise (subject to availability and separate quotation)
- International airfare
Day-by-Day Itinerary
City: Seoul
Arrive in Seoul. A transfer is included from Incheon International Airport or Gimpo International Airport to your hotel — Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, Conrad Seoul, or Four Seasons Seoul. This evening, join a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel.
City: Seoul
Enjoy a panoramic orientation drive past landmark sites. Visit the National Folk Museum of Korea and the 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace. Continue to an open-air museum featuring a traditional hanok village. After lunch of Korean specialties, enjoy free time to explore independently. Dinner is included at leisure at your hotel.
City: Seoul
Visit the War Memorial of Korea with multimedia exhibits and monuments. Continue to Namdaemun Market, South Korea’s largest traditional market. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
City: Busan
Board a high-speed train to Busan. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy an orientation tour including Gamcheon Culture Village. Embark Le Soléal in the afternoon. Dinner onboard is at leisure.
City: Sakaiminato
Spend the morning at sea before arriving in Sakaiminato. Choose between visiting Matsue’s Black Castle or the Adachi Museum. Enjoy the Captain’s welcome dinner onboard.
City: Hagi
Choose between a walking tour of the former castle town with a visit to a merchant’s mansion and Hagi pottery workshop, or visit a Shinto shrine with a calligraphy lesson and fugu tastings.
City: Beppu
Choose between visiting two of the “Hells of Beppu,” experiencing a local onsen, or traveling to Usuki for a walking tour and visit to the Usuki Stone Buddhas.
City: Uwajima
Choose between visiting a family-owned pearl farm and open-air museum, or a guided walk through Nanrakuen Garden including a tea experience.
City: Miyajima Island, Hiroshima
Visit Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima. Travel to Hiroshima for lunch and choose between the Atomic Bomb Museum & Peace Memorial, a panoramic city tour with A-Bomb Dome stop, or the Museum of Fude Art.
City: Tamano
Choose between visiting Kurashiki for a walking tour, ferrying to Naoshima art island, sampling local beer at a brewery, or a guided bicycle excursion in Tamano.
City: Kobe
Choose between visiting Kobe’s Sake Brewery Museum and Mt. Rokko Ropeway, traveling to Nara for Todaiji Temple, or visiting Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion and Sanjusangendo. All excursions include a hands-on taiko drumming lesson.
City: Osaka, Tokyo
Disembark in Osaka and board the Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo with a traditional bento box lunch onboard. Check into your hotel. Evening at leisure.
City: Tokyo
Visit Meiji Shrine and the Edo Museum (schedule permitting). Enjoy free time before a farewell reception and dinner featuring traditional music and a sumo wrestling demonstration.
City: Tokyo
Tour ends in Tokyo. A transfer is included to Narita or Haneda Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.
Terms and Conditions
• This program operates as a scheduled group departure. Guests will travel with other participants unless a full private buyout of the sailing is secured. • All pricing is per person based on double occupancy and is subject to availability at the time of booking. • All shore excursions, accommodations, gratuities, port charges, airport transfers, and taxes are included as described under the Small Ship All-Inclusive model. • The itinerary, routing, ports of call, and timing are subject to change due to maritime conditions, weather, local regulations, or operational requirements. • International airfare is not included unless separately arranged. • Travel insurance is not included unless specifically purchased. • Passports, visas, and health documentation remain the responsibility of the traveler. • Any services not specifically described as included form part of the traveler’s personal expense. • By confirming a reservation, guests agree to the full booking conditions provided at the time of confirmation.
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