Asia
Japan's National Parks, Art & Culture
Heritage Expeditions, pioneers in authentic small ship expedition cruising, invite you to join an unforgettable circumnavigation of Japan's main island Honshu and exploration of its wilderness, arts, culture and rich history including Hokkaido, Kyushu and South Korea. Adding another level of appreciation to this voyage is the unique opportunity to travel with special guest, New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate and award-winning writer Emily Perkins (and her husband celebrated painter Karl Maughan). As featured on television's Luxury Escapes: The World's Best Holidays, this voyage has been specially designed to explore and experience Japan's seamless blend of ancient customs with ultramodern living, incredible wilderness, wildlife and renowned arts as we cruise from iconic cities to remote coastlines and islands. Highlights include Kanazawa's thriving centre of the arts, long known for its lacquerware, outstanding collectable pottery of the Kutani style, gold-leaf workmanship, delicate hand painting of silk for kimonos and classical Noh theatre dramas performed since the 14th Century, and Naoshima Island – Japan's Art Island. Discover Kyoto's famed 1,001 Senju Kannon statues, historic Pontocho Alley, Nishiki Market and Fushimi's sake heritage. Visit two of Japan's best contemporary art museums – the recently-opened Hachinohe Art Museum and the Towada Art Center, celebrate Japan's internationally-renowned manga culture at Ishinomaki, explore the living museum Ise-Shima National Park and Japan's most sacred shrine complex Ise Jingū. Our voyage will see us visiting the iconic Japanese island-dotted seascapes of Matsushima and Ago Bays and discovering the unique plants, wildlife and wilderness hiking trails on UNESCO-registered Global Geopark Izu Oshima Island. We will also explore Japan's national parks including Bandai-Asahi National Park and its impressive lakes and hot springs, the volcanic wonderland of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and Towada Hachimantai National Park featuring Lake Towada and Mount Akita-Komagatake.
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Voyage Overview
Heritage Expeditions, pioneers in authentic small ship expedition cruising, invite you to join an unforgettable circumnavigation of Japan's main island Honshu and exploration of its wilderness, arts, culture and rich history including Hokkaido, Kyushu and South Korea. Adding another level of appreciation to this voyage is the unique opportunity to travel with special guest, New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate and award-winning writer Emily Perkins (and her husband celebrated painter Karl Maughan). As featured on television's Luxury Escapes: The World's Best Holidays, this voyage has been specially designed to explore and experience Japan's seamless blend of ancient customs with ultramodern living, incredible wilderness, wildlife and renowned arts as we cruise from iconic cities to remote coastlines and islands. Highlights include Kanazawa's thriving centre of the arts, long known for its lacquerware, outstanding collectable pottery of the Kutani style, gold-leaf workmanship, delicate hand painting of silk for kimonos and classical Noh theatre dramas performed since the 14th Century, and Naoshima Island – Japan's Art Island. Discover Kyoto's famed 1,001 Senju Kannon statues, historic Pontocho Alley, Nishiki Market and Fushimi's sake heritage. Visit two of Japan's best contemporary art museums – the recently-opened Hachinohe Art Museum and the Towada Art Center, celebrate Japan's internationally-renowned manga culture at Ishinomaki, explore the living museum Ise-Shima National Park and Japan's most sacred shrine complex Ise Jingū. Our voyage will see us visiting the iconic Japanese island-dotted seascapes of Matsushima and Ago Bays and discovering the unique plants, wildlife and wilderness hiking trails on UNESCO-registered Global Geopark Izu Oshima Island. We will also explore Japan's national parks including Bandai-Asahi National Park and its impressive lakes and hot springs, the volcanic wonderland of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and Towada Hachimantai National Park featuring Lake Towada and Mount Akita-Komagatake.
