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Kyoto & the Zen of Japan Cruise Tour
Oct 14, 2026 — Oct 26, 2026
Starting from
Beyond Inclusive Package
OSAKA, KYOTO → TOKYO
12 Nights on Star Seeker
From the tranquil Zen beauty of Kinkaku-ji Temple to the neon plasma screens and incessant press of pedestrians throughout Tokyo’s Shibuya Station, this tour throughout Japan combines pristine natural beauty with cosmopolitan contrasts. Nibble on the freshest of fish paired with soy sauce and wasabi in the famous Shimizu Fish Market. Meander among East Asian relics and prehistoric stone tools in Busan’s museums, and royal tombs in Gyeongju, one of South Korea’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Sip green tea in the peaceful shade of the scenic Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, or participate in a formal tea ceremony. Examine Kyoto’s storied Nijo Castle in detail as part of an inland stay, or explore the Zen temple Todai-ji in Nara. This is a perfect journey for those who love Japan, and adventurous travelers who want to go further inland to explore the culture and history of Kyoto.





Popular Highlights
From Shimizu, view the artistic inspiration that is Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain.
With extra time to discover Kyoto's sites, enjoy guided tours of Kinkaku-ji’s Golden Pavilion and Nijo Castle, a UNESCO site with ornate wood carvings.
Discover the scenic beauty of Japan’s Inland Sea, exclusive to small yachts.
Visit Shingu’s Kumano Hayatama Taisha, a UNESCO site, part of the Sacred Sites of Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.
Highlights to find in Busan include 1,500-year-old Tongdosa Temple, a UNESCO site in Gyeongju.
Don a kimono and participate in a traditional tea ceremony.

Osaka is the gateway to Kyoto with great street food, bright lights and delightful night life. Its main historic landmark is the 16th century Osaka Castle surrounded by a moat and many flowering trees. Kyoto is famous for its numerous Buddhist temples, gardens, imperial Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It is also known for formal traditions like kaiseki dining (multiple courses of precise dishes) and geisha entertainers.
Available Excursions
Osaka
Time
8:30 AMDuration
6 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$179
Osaka
Time
8:30 AMDuration
4.25 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$149

The main gateway to Shikoku Island and an important focal point for the island's rail and road transit systems, Takamatsu, on Japan's scenic Inland Sea, has been a political and economic center since the Edo period. Among the attractions here is Ritsurin Garden, created during the Edo period, and especially popular during spring for the cherry blossoms and autumn for the fall foliage. Takamatsu Symbol tower has several observation decks providing panoramic views of the sea and landscapes.
Available Excursions
Takamatsu
Time
9:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$249
Takamatsu
Time
9:15 AMDuration
3.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$229
Takamatsu
Time
10:00 AMDuration
3.75 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$249
Takamatsu
Time
9:45 AMDuration
4.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$249

Fold a paper crane to leave at the Atomic Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit Hiroshima Castle to see three trees that survived the bombing that destroyed the castle itself. Or head to Miyajima, one of the most scenic spots in Japan, for a look at the vermillion Itsukushima Shrine floating in the sea - yet another World Heritage Site.
Available Excursions
Hiroshima
Time
8:30 AMDuration
4.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$249
Hiroshima
Time
9:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$249
Hiroshima
Time
9:15 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$199
Hiroshima
Time
9:30 AMDuration
2.5 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$199
Hiroshima
Time
8:30 AMDuration
7.5 HoursActivity Level
Moderate-StrenuousAdd during booking
$299

Located on the island of Kyushu, Karatsu is one of the closest Japanese cities to the Korean Peninsula. Karatsu Castle is the main attraction here. Built in 1608, it houses a museum of the castle's history and Karatsu ceramics. Karatsu is also known for its pottery which can be viewed at the Karatsu-yaki Pottery Gallery. Also worth visiting is the Karatsu Hikiyama Exhibition Hall which displays the 14 floats used in the annual Karatsu Kunchi Festival in November.
Available Excursions
Karatsu
Time
12:45 PMDuration
3.75 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$199
Karatsu
Time
1:00 PMDuration
3.75 HoursActivity Level
Moderate-StrenuousAdd during booking
$229
Karatsu
Time
12:30 PMDuration
3.75 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$229

The second largest city in South Korea is a popular leisure destination due to the nearby hot springs. It is home to many famous beaches that lure visitors from around the world and the UNESCO site of Gyeongju an outdoor museum that was once the capital of the Silla Kingdom and holds many architectural points of interest including ornate temples. Also of interest is South Korea's largest temple, Tongdosa Temple, renowned for having no outdoor statues.
Available Excursions
Busan
Time
7:30 AMDuration
3.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$139
Busan
Time
7:30 AMDuration
7 HoursActivity Level
StrenuousAdd during booking
$189
Busan
Time
7:30 AMDuration
7 HoursActivity Level
StrenuousAdd during booking
$199
Busan
Time
7:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$189
Busan
Time
7:30 AMDuration
4.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$169
Busan
Time
7:30 AMDuration
4.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$129

Cruise around the island of Hashima, abandoned over 50 years ago when the coal mining that flourished there suddenly ran out. The mining company shut the mine down and the island has been a ghost town ever since.

Notable for the nuclear attack it suffered during WWII, Nagasaki has memorialized the event at the city's Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Memorial Park. The museum tells the story of the events leading up to the bombing and the park, located at the center of the bomb blast, houses a beautiful 30-foot tall fountain symbolizing peace. Other highlights to see are the Glover Gardens and Dejima Museum, which was originally an artificial island.
Available Excursions
Nagasaki
Time
10:30 AMDuration
3 HoursActivity Level
Moderate-StrenuousAdd during booking
$129
Nagasaki
Time
10:30 AMDuration
4.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$159
Nagasaki
Time
10:30 AMDuration
8 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$249
Nagasaki
Time
10:30 AMDuration
3.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$199
Nagasaki
Time
10:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$149

The seaside city of Kagoshima is best known for Sakurajima, an active volcano facing Kinko Bay. Take a tour to the Shiroyama Observatory or to the peaceful Edo-period Sengamen Japanese Garden. Visit the Ishibashi Park and the three Edo-period stone bridges or travel to the nearby village of Chiran to see the well-preserved Samurai Houses and the Chiran Peace Museum, exploring the background of kamikaze pilots.
Available Excursions
Kagoshima
Time
9:30 AMDuration
7 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$349
Kagoshima
Time
9:30 AMDuration
7 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$329
Kagoshima
Time
9:30 AMDuration
3 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$199
Kagoshima
Time
9:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$219

For over 1,000 years pilgrims have traveled to the Kumano Region to pray at the three Sacred Kumano Shrines. In Shingu you can see the Hayatama Shrine and the Kamikura Shrine. Both of these shrines are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Sacred Sites of Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. The Kamikura Shrine sits on Mount Kamikurayama and requires climbing 538 steps to reach it.
Available Excursions
Shingu
Time
7:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
StrenuousAdd during booking
$249
Shingu
Time
7:30 AMDuration
3.75 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$199
Shingu
Time
7:30 AMDuration
3.5 HoursActivity Level
N/AAdd during booking
$219

Most notably known as the city you can see the UNESCO site of Mount Fuji from. This small port city considered one of the three most beautiful ports in Japan has many historical building like Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, Sumpugo Park, and Shizuoka Sengen Shrine. The 65-foot Shiraito Waterfall, located near Mount Fuji looks like it could be silk. Enjoy tuna from Japan's largest fishery here or a cup of maccha, a Japanese green tea.
Available Excursions
Shimizu
Time
8:30 AMDuration
4 HoursActivity Level
Easy-ModerateAdd during booking
$249
Shimizu
Time
8:30 AMDuration
6.5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$299
Shimizu
Time
8:30 AMDuration
3.5 HoursActivity Level
Moderate-StrenuousAdd during booking
$199
Shimizu
Time
8:30 AMDuration
5 HoursActivity Level
ModerateAdd during booking
$279

There are as many Tokyos to discover as there are interests. Cuisine? It has more Michelin stars than any other city. Culture? Kabuki theater and sumo wrestling are just the beginning. Shopping? The posh boutiques of Ginza lie on one end of the spectrum, workshops that hand-craft samurai swords at the other
Staterooms
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