Experience all-inclusive luxury cruise travel on an unforgettable 10-day exploration of Japan, 'the Land of the Rising Sun' with Heritage Expeditions, pioneers in authentic small ship expedition cruising. Our voyage Sacred Japan & South Korea has been carefully curated to showcase Japan's seamless blend of ancient customs and ultramodern living, culinary creativity, arts and gardens. We will cruise from iconic cities to seldom visited remote coastlines and islands best explored by sea aboard our purpose-built expedition flagship Heritage Adventurer. Historic highlights on our journey include the five-storey Pagoda of Miyajima; the 17th Century Matsue Castle; the sobering Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with its eternal Flame of Peace; Kanazawa's Teramachi District with its temples and shrines, including the famed 'Ninja Temple'. We will also discover Fukuoka's trendy yatai food stalls, vibrant art installations, historic ruins and colourful coastal parks. We also plan to explore Japan's traditional and contemporary art as we visit galleries and meet local artists. One option includes a visit to Japan's 'art island' Naoshima, and a day in South Korea's Ulsan. Here we will explore UNESCO World Heritage Site Gyeongju - the 'museum without walls' alongside a visit to Haeinsa Temple, considered one of South Korea's three great temples. Our voyage also visits parts of Japan where relatively few tourists set foot such as Sado Island. Sado Island is widely considered a perfect miniature Japan and thriving cultural capital filled with performing arts, natural scenery, samurai history, and more. For those with a passion for nature, we plan to visit Daisen-Oki and Hakusan National Parks, Kenrokuen Garden – one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan alongside one of Japan's most famed gardens, the 28-acre formal 17th Century Koraku-en Garden. Explore one of Japan's main bonsai centres at Kinashi Garden and discover the wonders of Japanese circuit-style Yuushien Garden home to more than 250 types of Japanese Peony. Helping us understand all we will see and experience, and travelling with us throughout the voyage, will be our expert Guest Speakers and Japanese guides. They will add immeasurably to your enjoyment and understanding of this captivating country. We hope you can join us on this in-depth exploration around the coastline and islands of Japan, as we discover the unspoiled nature, primeval wilderness, incredible gardens, cultural treasures, traditional villages and futuristic cities resplendent with their unique charms.









Experience all-inclusive luxury cruise travel on an unforgettable 10-day exploration of Japan, 'the Land of the Rising Sun' with Heritage Expeditions, pioneers in authentic small ship expedition cruising. Our voyage Sacred Japan & South Korea has been carefully curated to showcase Japan's seamless blend of ancient customs and ultramodern living, culinary creativity, arts and gardens. We will cruise from iconic cities to seldom visited remote coastlines and islands best explored by sea aboard our purpose-built expedition flagship Heritage Adventurer. Historic highlights on our journey include the five-storey Pagoda of Miyajima; the 17th Century Matsue Castle; the sobering Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with its eternal Flame of Peace; Kanazawa's Teramachi District with its temples and shrines, including the famed 'Ninja Temple'. We will also discover Fukuoka's trendy yatai food stalls, vibrant art installations, historic ruins and colourful coastal parks. We also plan to explore Japan's traditional and contemporary art as we visit galleries and meet local artists. One option includes a visit to Japan's 'art island' Naoshima, and a day in South Korea's Ulsan. Here we will explore UNESCO World Heritage Site Gyeongju - the 'museum without walls' alongside a visit to Haeinsa Temple, considered one of South Korea's three great temples. Our voyage also visits parts of Japan where relatively few tourists set foot such as Sado Island. Sado Island is widely considered a perfect miniature Japan and thriving cultural capital filled with performing arts, natural scenery, samurai history, and more. For those with a passion for nature, we plan to visit Daisen-Oki and Hakusan National Parks, Kenrokuen Garden – one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan alongside one of Japan's most famed gardens, the 28-acre formal 17th Century Koraku-en Garden. Explore one of Japan's main bonsai centres at Kinashi Garden and discover the wonders of Japanese circuit-style Yuushien Garden home to more than 250 types of Japanese Peony. Helping us understand all we will see and experience, and travelling with us throughout the voyage, will be our expert Guest Speakers and Japanese guides. They will add immeasurably to your enjoyment and understanding of this captivating country. We hope you can join us on this in-depth exploration around the coastline and islands of Japan, as we discover the unspoiled nature, primeval wilderness, incredible gardens, cultural treasures, traditional villages and futuristic cities resplendent with their unique charms.
Before the cruise
Day-by-day stops
After the cruise

Heritage Expeditions
Heritage Adventurer is a true pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. Often referred to as the 'Grande Dame of Expedition Cruising' due to her celebrated history and refined design, she was purpose-built for adventure in 1991 at Finland's Rauma shipyard and specifically designed for Polar exploration. Setting a peerless standard in authentic expedition travel, Heritage Adventurer (formerly known as MS Hanseatic) combines the highest passenger ship iceclass rating (1A Super) with an impressive history of Polar exploration. Having held records for the most northern and southern Arctic and Antarctic navigations, and for traversing both the Northwest and Northeast Passages, makes Heritage Adventurer perfect for pioneering New Zealand-based Heritage Expeditions signature experiential expedition travel. Originally designed to accommodate 184 guests, Heritage Adventurer now welcomes just 140 expeditioners ensuring spacious, stylish and comfortable voyages, while a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensures all guests are able to maximise their expedition adventure. Heritage Adventurer proudly continues our traditions of exceptional, personalised expedition experiences as Heritage Expeditions flagship.
1 promotion applies to this voyage. Click any offer for full terms.
210+ days before departure: 10% penalty 121–209 days before departure: 25% penalty 0–120 days before departure: 100% penalty Heritage Adventurer: 25% non-refundable deposit, balance due 90 days before departure; Antarctic voyages — balance due 120 days, deposit forfeited 179-121 days, total loss within 120 days. Heritage Explorer: 25% non-refundable deposit, balance due 60 days before departure, total loss within 60 days. We strongly recommend travel insurance with cancellation cover (minimum USD $150,000 Subantarctic / USD $250,000 Antarctic). Name change fee: $0 USD
All guests must hold comprehensive travel insurance covering baggage loss, cancellation and curtailment, medical, accident, and repatriation / emergency evacuation. Minimum coverage: USD $150,000 per person for Subantarctic / South Pacific / Japan / New Zealand voyages; USD $250,000 per person for Antarctic voyages. Repatriation / emergency evacuation cover should include polar evacuation. Proof of insurance must be submitted before final payment, otherwise Heritage Expeditions reserves the right to cancel the booking.
Your booking is made with Gvoya — the terms shown above are the Gvoya platform terms applied to this voyage. Full details: Booking Terms·Cancellation Policy
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