Japan's Cherry Blossoms with Silversea

Start your holiday in style with included UK airport lounge access before boarding your overnight flight to Tokyo.

Arrive in Japan’s capital and transfer to your city-centre hotel. You’ll then have the rest of the day at leisure so, after checking in and freshening up, why not head out into the city for your first taste of life in Japan. Our specialists can arrange a guide who’ll take you to the best spots – there’s everything from traditional teahouses and 7th-century temples to neon-lit mega-malls and the sky-piercing Tokyo Skytree. Be sure to try out the city’s food scene too, showcased in everything from street markets to Michelin-starred sushi bars.

Stay: Tokyo hotel

Your ship doesn’t depart until 11pm, so take the opportunity for more exploration, perhaps taking the Shinkansen bullet train out to Hakone to take in ancient Shinto shrines and magnificent views of Mt. Fuji, flanked by pretty cherry blossoms. Then, in the evening, head to your ultra-luxury Silversea ship where you’ll settle into your butler-served suite to begin your cruise around Japan.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

With a day at sea, you’ll have the chance to acquaint yourself with the ship’s myriad facilities. Perhaps enjoy a workout at the gym, relax at the spa or browse the boutique for that special outfit. Whatever you choose, you’ll arrive at tour next port well rested and ready to explore.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Japan's third-largest city is a treasure trove of neon signs, bustling restaurants, lively markets, temple-dotted parks and great, glass-fronted skyscrapers. This is Japan as its most friendly and extroverted, making it a delight to explore. For your day here, a choice of six exciting excursion options await, from culture-packed sightseeing tours taking in the city's temples and markets to Sake Museum visits and trips out to explore nearby Nara's World-Heritage treasures. Alternatively, you might choose to upgrade for the likes of Bullet Train trips to Kyoto and special Teppantaki cookery demonstrations, complete with dinner.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Enjoy a day at sea to relax and enjoy all the luxuries of your Silversea ship.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Spend today in Hiroshima, a city synonymous with the devastation suffered by Japan at the end of World War 2. Today, while some scars still remain, it’s a city rebuilt and with an ongoing commitment to peace and contemplation, showcased in the leafy boulevards of the Peace Memorial Park and its UNESCO-listed monument. Take it all in on an included city tour, or head further afield to Miyajima Island and its famous Tori Gate. There’s also the chance to learn about the intricacies of Japanese art or, for a supplement, to take a peek inside the city’s vibrant culinary scene and enjoy an Okonomiyaki-making class. 

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Boasting a heady cocktail of hot springs, gourmet food, abundant nature and spiritual history, Kyushu Island has all the advantages of the mainland, while enjoying its own, unique identity. You'll have the chance to take in the best of it with today's menu of excursions, which include the chance to compare ancient and modern Fukuoka on a guided sightseeing tour, or to take the subway out to nearby Hakata for a walking tour amongst its temple monuments. Otherwise, take the chance for a look round the excellent Kyushu National Museum, or take a coach trip to Karatsu to explore the former home of Koreyoshi Takatori – a late 19th-century coal baron. This tour will also see you visit Nakazato Taroemon Kiln where one of Japan's three great tea ceramics is made.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

You’ll leave Japan’s shores behind today, crossing the sea to visit the South Korean city of Busan with its seaside temples, bustling fish markets and pretty mountain surrounds. Explore the best of the city and its countryside and coast with a choice of five complimentary excursions. Highlights include a visit to a Buddhist temple followed by a Oryukdo Skywalk while for a supplement you’ll have the chance to delve into Korean cuisine, kimchi and all.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Enjoy a day at sea to relax and enjoy all the luxuries of your Silversea ship.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Home to one of the ‘three gardens of Japan’ – awash with cherry blossom at this time of year – as well as a host of ancient temples which miraculously escapes damage during the war, Kanazawa is a close rival to Tokyo and Kyoto when it comes to cultural achievement. Today, you’ll find out why as you choose between exploring the city’s Samurai and Geisha districts, comparing the city’s modern and ancient quarters in the company of an expert guide or tasting your way through its culinary landscape on a foodie tour. Otherwise, why not consider an upgrade to join a chef-led cooking experience or for the chance to experience a traditional tea ceremony?

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Enjoy a day at sea to relax and enjoy all the luxuries of your Silversea ship.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

From fiery festivals to spectacular mountain scenery, soaring temples to castles surrounded by cherry blossom blooms, Aomori is one of Japan’s most enchanting destinations. Framed by forest-clad mountains, the city enjoys one of Honshu's most picturesque settings, while its pretty parks and tiered castles are particularly stunning, dressed in the pinks and whites of cherry blossom season. Your excursion options today take in everything from the Seiryu-ji Temple & Warasse Museum to the delightfully atmospheric Hirosaki Castle Town, with its cherry-tree-framed moats, making it something of a photographer's dream.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

As one of the first ports to open up Japan to the world in the mid 19th century, Hokodate has a rich and fascinating recent history. The foreign influences are clear to see, from the redbrick warehouses to the onion domes of the Russian Orthodox church. Your excursion options today include city tours, museum visits and the chance to head out of the city to for a walking tour of Onuma National Park, an hour’s drive away. 

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Enjoy a final day at sea and a last chance to make the most of your Silversea ship as you cruise back to Tokyo.

Stay: Silver Muse or Silver Nova

Arrive in Tokyo this morning and, after breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home, arriving back in the UK on day 15.