There is hardly another Asian country in which so many conflicting aspects are intertwined. In the "land of the rising sun" modernity and tradition coexist in a very special way. Centuries-old pagodas and temples, as well as sparkling neon lights in modern urban centers such as the capital city of Tokyo, are all on a cruise to Japan.
A cruise is the best wayto learn as much as possible about the many aspects of this country. The Asian cruise market is expanding. Previously, cruises to Japan were offered primarily by American cruise lines, companies and tour operators, while today the Asian cruise market is dominated by local cruise lines. Therefore, please note that if you are booking a cruise with a Japanese cruise line, you should check what currency and language are on board. Otherwise, it may happen that while traveling with a Japanese cruise company, you will not be able to communicate freely with the ship's crew.
Tokyo, a metropolis and high-tech hub, is well worth the trip. Due to the many attractions and size of Tokyo, many cruise lines and tour operators are planning a multi-day stay in the capital of Japan. However, Tokyo is not the only interesting place for shore excursions on the Japanese coast. The port city of Fukuoka is considered one of the busiest cities in the country. It is located on the Genkai Sea on the Kyushu island of Japan. The city's attractions include many temples, pagodas and a university. Fukuoka is best known for making handmade dolls here. Hakata dolls are the perfect souvenir for a cruise to Japan. Cruise ships often dock at Kagoshima Port. Due to its Mediterranean climate and the imposing Sakurajima volcano, the city is sometimes called the "Japanese Naples".
The largest cruise lines are increasing the number of offers every year. Among the mastodons sea \u200b\u200bcruises you can select Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Oceania Cruises. For those who prefer more exclusive conditions and routes, there is a large selection of cruise and expedition ships from luxury companies such as Silversea Cruises or Star Clippers sailboats.
Conventionally, the region can be divided into several sub-regions:
- East Asia, which includes cruises to ports in Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan;
- Southeast Asia, which includes cruises to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Features of cruises in East and Southeast Asia
Speaking about the duration of cruises, it is worth clarifying an important detail. There are quite a few short cruises from 3 to 5 days in the region. These cruises are designed mainly for local tourists (most of them vacationers from China), and all the entertainment and service can be tailored to their needs. Some cruise lines allocate a specific ship and do all service on chinese.7- or 8-day cruises are a pretty good deal, allowing you to relax comfortably at a reasonable price. Longer routes, as already mentioned, are the best offer to explore the region.
East Asia - cruise from China or cruise to Japan
They are essentially the same type of cruise. Usually, cruises in Japan and China start or end in China in Tianjin (huge seaport near Beijing), Hong Kong or Shanghai. Routes include several iconic Japanese and Chinese cities and Busan or Seoul in South Korea.Step on the land of Dalian (Dalny port), covered with glory and courage of Russian sailors during the Russo-Japanese War, visit Okinawa, Tokyo or Kyoto, learn all about the history of the nuclear bombing in Nagasaki. Climb the Great Wall of china, discover all the greatness of the terracotta army or visit Forbidden City in Beijing - a complex of palaces of Chinese emperors.
Cruises around Japan are a little apart - they start and end in Japan and go mainly only in japanese ports... This is the best and perhaps the most convenient way to get to know Japan in detail. Cruises are especially impressive during the Hanami cherry blossom season, which runs from late March to early May, or the Momiji red maple season, from October to late November.
Southeast Asia Cruises
Usually start in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. While cruising in Southeast Asia, you can visit Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Sometimes liners call in Myanmar and Cambodia. In the latter, it is best to think about land travel and combine it with a cruise. This is an amazing corner of the World! With your own eyes you will see the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur or the monitor lizards on Komodo Island. You will be dazzled by the gold of Bangkok's palaces and pagodas. All Southeast Asia cruises combine well with shore-based relaxation before or after the cruise.Japan: a trip to such a vibrant country is an absolutely unforgettable event in the life of a tourist! Moreover, if a very special, specially created cruise train is intended for such a trip!
Cruise Japan: east of the country
On May 1, 2017, a completely new train was launched for cruising in Japan - Train Suite Shiki-Shima, which is in charge of the Japanese railway company JR East. With its help, luxury travel in the east of the land of the rising sun will become available.
Through the windows of the Japanese cruise train Shiki-Shima, travelers will have an excellent view of the beautiful natural landscapes of Japan, during the trip they will discover the techniques and technologies of local art, Japanese traditional crafts, taste the food of each region visited, get acquainted with the unique culture that manifests itself in each step into the daily life of the Japanese.
The completely unimaginable seasonal landscapes of Japan can now be seen simply from the window of a luxury cruise train. Translated, the name of the train Suite Shiki-Shima means "Island of the four seasons". It will consist of 10 carriages modeled as cars, four of which are designed for relaxation, dining, watching videos and movies, and the remaining six are 17 luxury hotel rooms on wheels, which can simultaneously accommodate up to 34 passengers. There will even be a cypress bath in the top-class hotel salon!
Where do train cruises in eastern Japan start from?
The route starts from Ueno Station in Tokyo, then continues through the northeastern Tohoku region to Hokkaido Island.
Having bought a train ticket, the passenger does not have to go to the final station - he can get off at any station along the route and explore local areas along the railway route.
Top places to visit along the East Japan cruise
1. Temple and shrine Nikko Tosho-gu in the city of Nikko (Tochigi prefecture) - dedicated to the founder of the Tokugawa dynasty, shogun and commander Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Shinto shrine was built in 1617, during the reign of Ieyasu's son, Tokugawa Hidetada, in 1999 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2. Mountains Shirakami Sanchi - or (translated from Japanese) "mountain lands of the white god" - a mountain range that extends from the southwest of Aomori Prefecture to northwest Akita prefecture. Height mountain peaks Shirakami reaches 1243 m.In 1993, both Shirakami Mountains and Yakushima Island were included in the list World heritage UNESCO.
3. Objects associated with the culture of the Ainu people in Hokkaido - the most ancient population Japanese islands, whose number in Japan is currently about 25 thousand people.
4. Hot thermal springs onsen and fish markets in Japan.
Eastern Japan Cruise Price
Eastern Japan cruise on the Shiki-Shima 4-day, 3-night train starts at 320,000 yen ($ 287) per person.
How to book cruises in eastern Japan
Applications for participation in the first Shiki-Shima flight in May and June 2017 are accepted from May 10 to June 30, 2017. The application form is provided only in Japanese, therefore, in order to fill it out, you need to seek help from a specialist who knows the Japanese language, or use the services of tour operators that provide cruise tours.
Their coordinates can be found on the Japan National Tourism Organization website. Foreign tour operators will be able to sell train tickets only next year, 2018.
Cruise Japan: west of the country
For those tourists who would like to know more about Japan, we suggest another cruise rail route. Twilight Express Mizukaze, operated by JR West, kicks off on June 16, 2017.
The cruise train will travel through the traditional and unspoiled Japanese landscape of Western Japan. His itinerary will cover the opportunity to get to know rich history and culture of Kyoto, will open to tourists the city of Matsue (Shimane Prefecture), the historical province of Izumo on west coast Honshu Island, and Temple Island - Miyajima (Itsukushima) - Inner Island Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan, which today is part of Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima Prefecture).
A train cruise in western Japan allows you to look at daisen, the beautiful natural scenery of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan and admire the islands Inland sea - Seto.
Where do western Japan train cruises start?
Cruise train express trains will depart from stations in the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Shimonoseki (a city in the southwestern tip of Honshu Island, Yamaguchi Prefecture).
Western Japan Cruise Price
Four days and three nights of travel will cost from 270,000 yen ($ 2,430) per passenger. A three-day tour in a separate compartment for two people will cost 500 thousand yen ($ 4,500).
Cruise Japan: Kyushu Island
Since October 2013, another tourist cruise train runs on the island of Kyushu. Its name is Seven Star Kyushu. This is a kind of Japanese "oriental express", the interior decoration of which is made in fusion style - a successful combination of Western and Japanese design in one object.
The Japan - Kyushu cruise route is a four-day trip. It is laid through five prefectures of the island - Fukuoka ( north coast Kyushu), Oita (southwestern part of the Inland Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan), Miyazaki, Kagoshima (south of the island) and Kumamoto. The whole trip is about acquaintance with the sights of Kyushu, which includes walks in popular areas of the island, such as Yufuin (hot springs in Ufa city, Oita Prefecture), observation of unusual natural phenomenon - sunset in the East China Sea.
During the journey, guests of the cruise train are offered an overnight stay thermal spa around the volcanic peaks of Kirishima, where you can swim in the famous Japanese hot springs Kurokawa, several traditional relaxation and spa treatments.
The Kyushu cruise express includes 14 compartments of apartments, each of which is designed for two passengers. The decoration of the compartment is impressive - genuine leather, expensive fabrics, comfortable comfortable furniture, complemented by high-quality expensive plumbing, shower cabins, panoramic windows, high rounded ceilings that create an atmosphere virtual travel across the universe!
Cruise price Kyushu Japan
A two-day trip will cost from 300,000 Japanese yen ($ 2,700) for 2 people, a 4-day trip from 630,000 yen.
How to book a cruise in Kyushu, Japan
You can plan a trip by using the services of Seven Star Kyushu directly, by visiting its official website, or by pre-booking a trip through the official tourism organization Kyushu - Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization.
How to get to Kyushu island
Most big city on the island - Fukuoka. It has international and domestic airport... IN international Airport Fukuoka have direct flights international airlines from several countries in Asia and Europe. From cities in Japan to Kyushu island regularly run high-speed trainsarriving at the main railway terminal - Hakata, located in Fukuoka city.
The flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka will take 1 hour 40 minutes, by train - 5 and a half hours. From Osaka and Kyoto by train from Fukuoka can be reached in two and a half hours.
We invite you to an exciting cruise in the Land of the Rising Sun with a stop in the atmospheric city of South Korea - Busan. You will embark on a journey aboard the brand new Le Laperouse cruising yacht, which will be launched in 2019. During the cruise, you will visit the historic Tamano and can walk in its famous Korakuen Garden ("Garden of the Last Pleasure"), get through the Torii floating gate to the Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, see the Sakurajima stratovolcano from the southern coast of Kyushu, see the 16th century Shintoist the Suwa Shrine and Peace Memorial in Nagasaki; and the traditional samurai houses in Sakaiminato. The trip will end in the northern part of the Japanese prefecture of Kyoto.
If this route did not suit you, we suggest you create your individual journey together with our specialists.
Write to us, s stink or come visit!
Cruise in Japan on the new Le Laperouse. The May holidays
Cruise duration: 9 days / 8 nights.
Cruise dates in 2019: 15.04, 23.04, 1.05, 9.05, 10.10.
Cruise dates in 2020:7.05, 15.05, 7.06, 5.10, 13.10.
Cruise cost per person *:
Superior cabin - from 4830 €.
Deluxe cabin - from 5200 €.
Prestige cabin - from 5820 €.
Deluxe Suite Suite - from 8940 €.
Cruise itinerary
| the date | Port | Time arrival | Time dispatch |
| 1 day | Osaka (Japan) | Boarding the ship from 19:00 to 20:00 | 21:00 |
| 2 day | Tamano, Okayama (Japan) | 06:00 | 20:00 |
| Day 3 | Hiroshima (Japan) | 06:30 | 19:00 |
| Day 4 | Uwajima (Japan) | 07:00 | 13:00 |
| Day 5 | Kagoshima (Japan) | 07:00 | 18:00 |
| 6 day | Nagasaki (Japan) | 08:50 | 18:00 |
| Day 7 | Busan (South Korea) | 08:30 | 14:00 |
| Day 8 | Sakaiminato (Japan) | 07:00 | 19:00 |
| Day 9 | Maizuru (Japan) | 07:00 | - |
Cruise program
Day 1. Osaka, Japan
Accommodation on the cruise yacht Le Laperouse. Boarding will take place from 19:00 to 20:00. The journey starts at 21:00.
Day 2. Tamano, Japan
Arrival in the small town of Tamano. Despite its modest size, it has enormous historical value and keeps a large layer cultural heritage... You can spend the whole day in a city that was once a feudal region. Explore the city's famous landmarks and walk through garden of Korakuen.
Day 3. Hiroshima, Japan
Arrival to the island of Miyajima, namely to the city of Hiroshima. Here you will see beautiful floating torii gate... This UNESCO-protected site leads to itsukushima Shrine... The gate is red during high tides, sea \u200b\u200bwaves.
Day 4.Uwajima, Japan
On the fourth day of the cruise, the yacht will drop anchor at small town Uwajima. From morning until lunchtime, you can walk along its atmospheric streets and see interesting sights. The ship will leave at 13:00.
Cruise itinerary
Day 5.Kagoshima, Japan
Arrival to south bank Kyushu Islands, Kagoshima City. Great visas for sakurajima stratovolcano.
Day 6.Nagasaki, Japan
On this day, you will reach the western part of Kyushu Island and the city of Nagasaki. It is known for the fact that a nuclear bombardment was carried out on its territory during the Second World War. Despite these events, a lot of ancient sights have been preserved on its territory. For example, you will be able to view the building built in the 16th century shinto shrine Suwadating back to the 17th century Meganabashi Bridge and Buddhist temple complex Sofukuji.
In addition, you will visit Peace Memorialbuilt to commemorate the victims atomic bomb 1945 of the year.
Day 7.Busan, South Korea
On this day, you will briefly leave the Land of the Rising Sun to see the hospitable city of South Korea - Busan. It will amaze you with magnificent views of the port, amazing contrasts and a very special atmosphere.
Day 8. Sakaiminato, Japan
On Day 8, explore medieval Japan with traditional samurai homes and ancient Sakaiminato castles.
Day 9. Maizuru, Japan
The cruise will end in the northern part of the Japanese prefecture of Kyoto, namely in the city of Maizuru. The vessel will anchor off the coast at about 7 am.
Kagoshima, Japan
Description of the liner Le Laperouse
New Deluxe cruising yacht Le Laperouse will be launched in 2019. Traveling on it will give guests a lot of pleasant emotions, because this compact ship is not much different from a five-star hotel in terms of comfort. There are fully equipped cabins, swimming pools, two gourmet restaurants and shops.
general information about the liner
- Year of construction: 2018.
- Lenght: 128 meters.
- Width: 18 meters.
- Number of decks: 6.
- Number of passengers: 184.
- Language on board: English.
- Currency on board: Euro.
Japan and South Korea cruise on Le Laperouse
In each cabin:
- individually controlled air conditioner;
- large double bed or twin beds;
- shower / bath;
- mini bar;
- flat screen TV;
- satellite television;
- desk with office supplies;
- Ipod;
- safe for storing valuables;
- bathrobes;
- satellite phone;
- sockets 110/220 volts;
- french cosmetics;
- Wi-Fi;
- video (on demand);
- own balcony.
What you can see on a cruise to Japan
The number of cruise routes to Japan, Korea, China and Far East not very large - this is a rather exotic destination. Nevertheless, the liners of the most popular cruise companies in the world make regular cruises to Japan and the Far East. On sea cruises around Japan and to others eastern countries you can visit such famous cities like Tokyo, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Busan, Kobe, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Korsakov, Otaru, Hakodate, Aomori, Kochi, Nagasaki, Naha. Most popular destinations From this region, tourists from all over the world have cruises to Japan from Singapore. No less interesting and exciting routes - cruises to Japan and the Far East from Hong Kong and cruises to Japan from Shanghai, Tokyo, Tianjin and Vladivostok, cruises in Southeast Asia and cruises to Australia with a call to the ports of Japan.
A sea cruise to Japan or around Japan is much more convenient than traveling by land, as tourists travel essentially on a five-star floating hotel and every day find themselves in a new Asian country or Asian port. Very often, cruise companies offer cheap cruise packages or arrange seasonal cruise ticket sales, as well as make special offers, reducing the cost of cruises Japan-Korea-China-Far East. It is always possible to purchase a cheap cruise to Japan with a promotion. The duration of the cruises is very diverse: from mini-cruises Japan-Korea-China-Far East to round-the-world cruises that start and end in one of the seaports of Japan.
Most of Asian ports stopping at cruise liners cruise lines Royal Caribbean Int., Costa Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Holland America Line, PONANT, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises are more than worthy of travel attention. Cruises to Japan, Korea, China and the Far East on the liner allow you to get acquainted with several countries and the culture of various peoples at once. For example, to see one of the most important Japanese natural beauties - the Fujiyama volcano sung by poets, to touch the ancient walls of the "Raven Castle" - the national treasure of Japan, surrounded by cherry blossoms in the medieval fort of Kumamoto, to watch seals and sea lions, who have chosen sandy beaches Tyuleny Islands.
When to cruise around the region
The climate of Japan is very mild - even in winter, temperatures are rarely very low. You can go here at any time of the year - each season has its own charm. But the most popular among tourists, of course, is spring - the time when sakura blooms in Japan, and parks, squares and gardens of all cities turn pink and pale purple.
The country is also interesting in autumn, when the foliage changes color from monotonous green to bright red-yellow shades.
The rainy season, when gloomy weather is observed, lasts only two months - June and July (May-June - in Okinawa).
If your plans include a vacation with a visit to the most beautiful Japanese beaches, choose cruises to Japan and China, with a visit to the southern ports - Osaka, Fukuoka, Naha.
What liners go on cruises to Japan
A number of standard, premium and luxury cruise lines organize routes in the region. Cruises to China, Japan and the Far East are very popular with cruise companies such as Costa Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Int. Interesting routes offered by premium and luxury companies - Azamara Club Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, PONANT, Holland America Line. The difference between cruises of different companies is in routes, cost and level of service.
Exclusive cruises to Japan and the Far East are offered by the luxury company Silversea Cruises, whose routes include not only several of the most interesting Japanese cities, but also remote corners of the Russian Far East, which can only be reached by water.
Also noteworthy are the Celebrity Cruises premium cruises around Japan, featuring original routes with two- and three-day stops in the most interesting ports in Japan and China.
Russian tour operator Cruise House "MK" offers cruises to Japan from the tour operator on the liners of the most popular sea cruise companies of various classes: standard, premium and luxury class, as well as cruises to Japan and the Far East under the "Ultra All Inclusive" system. Cruise House "MK" offers not only to buy a cruise ticket for any ship, but also to arrange a cruise package with transfer, air travel and excursions - the cost of cruises to Japan under such a system can be up to 15% cheaper compared to choosing a cruise separately.
Sea cruise to Japan and the Far East - great option family travel. One of the most innovative liners in the world, Ovation of the Seas ( cruise line Royal Caribbean Int.) Is huge entertainment center on the water with the level of service of a five-star hotel, offering a lot of opportunities for a comfortable stay on board for young and adult travelers, making cruises to Japan from Tianjin.
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