Japan's Cherry Blossoms, Seoul & Shanghai on Seven Seas Explorer

Enjoy complimentary airport lounge access before boarding your overnight flight from the UK to Tokyo.

On arrival in Japan's capital city, a private transfer will take you to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure acclimatising to your new surroundings, recharging and, if you fancy, getting an initial feel for Tokyo at your own pace. The following day, after breakfast, you'll be met by your guide for a half-day tour including a visit to the Tokyo National Museum. This museum is the oldest national museum in Japan and also features the country’s largest art collection. Your tour will also cover the Ginza area of Tokyo, which is one of the city’s most upmarket shopping districts, full to the brim with chic boutiques and cocktail and sushi bars. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure. 

On your third day in Tokyo, you'll set out on another half-day guided tour. Visit the Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest established temple, which is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion. You’ll also enjoy a photo stop at the Imperial Palace Plaza.

Stay: Hilton Tokyo or similar

Enjoy one last breakfast at your hotel and check out this morning before you set off on a half-day tour to the Meiji Shrine, Hamarikyu Gardens and Tokyo’s ultra-modern Odaiba area with your guide.

Early this afternoon, you’ll be transferred to the port to board the Regent Seven Seas Explorer and set off on your luxury cruise. Settle into your plush lodgings onboard as you set sail from Tokyo’s shores. Dinner is served onboard this evening.

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

Nagoya isn’t as well-known as Japanese cities like Tokyo and Osaka, but you’ll find a cosmopolitan hub teeming with interesting museums, temples and peaceful green spaces. It's the birthplace of Toyota, but it’s also full of the feeling of ancient spirituality, particularly at the Atsuta Shrine, one of Japan’s three most important Shinto shrines and a wonderful place to enjoy a lunch of kishimen (flat noodles), which are a local speciality. The Tokugawa Art Museum features over 10,000 pieces of Japanese art, theatre, fashion, and samurai culture. If you’d rather learn more about post-war Japan, head to SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, a fascinating hands-on museum featuring real trains and simulators.

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

Choose to spend today in temple-filled Kyoto, Japan’s old imperial capital, or in Nara, the cradle of Japanese arts, literature, and crafts. If you opt for the later, take a stroll through Nara Park to spot its famous deer and impressive Kasuga Grand Shrine. Alternatively, take a tour to Osaka to marvel at its majestic castle. It's also possible to visit Kobe, from which you may bring home exotic keepsakes like silks, ceramic teapots, paper parasols, artworks, and more. Savour traditional Japanese fare or indulge in the succulent and world-famous Kobe beef.

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

After several days in Japan's cities, you’ll appreciate Kochi’s picturesque natural landscapes, from an expansive coastline running with the Kuroshio Current to the glass-clear Shimanto River and the deep-green forests surrounding it. Kochi is ringed by rugged mountains to the north, with its arc-like southern coastline tracing Tosa Bay’s outline. To the east, Cape Muroto; to the west, Cape Ashizuri, whose undulating sandy beaches stretch between these two extreme points. You’ll also find the mystical limestone caves of Ryu-ga-do in the area, along with the sands and green pines of Katsura-hama Beach. Everywhere you look in the Kochi area is simply a feast for the eyes.

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

You’ll spend most of today in Beppu, a haven for those who love hot spring resorts. Perched on the hills of the southern Japanese Island of Kyushu, Beppu is home to numerous onsens (hot springs), which has made it one of the country’s most popular spots for a soothing soak. Enjoy a variety of rejuvenating bath types, from heated sand and traditional steam to hot mud. Beppu provides a delightful chance for you to absorb the relaxing side to Japan. Spend the rest of the day cruising the Kanmon Strait and enjoying the onboard amenities. 

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

Enjoy a day onboard as your make your way across the Yellow Sea toward South Korea. The Seven Seas Explorer offers plenty of top quality amenities for you to enjoy. Along with numerous excellent culinary offerings, you can also relax by the pool, indulge in a spa treatment, get competitive with trivia or bocce ball, enjoy afternoon tea, listen to a fascinating lecture, visit the teaching kitchen for a cooking class, or simply relax with a good book.

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

You’ll dock in Incheon to enjoy two full days in nearby Seoul, South Korea’s capital city that effortlessly and artfully balances modernity and tradition. Admire Korean architecture at Cheong Wa Dae, which means ‘Blue House’ and is the official residence of the President of the Republic of Korea. Head to Insadong in Seoul’s art district to find charming antique shops, art galleries, and craft shops. Seoul’s National Museum will teach you all about Korean history, while World Heritage-listed Changdeokgung is replete with truly stunning palaces. 

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

Enjoy another day at sea after your busy two days in Seoul. Relax and unwind by the pool, in the spa, or in the ship’s lounges and common spaces, or take advantage of the fabulous onboard programme. 

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

Enjoy two full days exploring Shanghai, which dazzles on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China. This historic, glamorous city beckons with its impressive architecture, plethora of dining options and buzzing streetscapes. Stroll ‘The Bund,’ Shanghai’s legendary waterfront, for colonial-era buildings and stunning skyline views. Spot the famed pair of Buddhas at the Jade Buddha Temple downtown, learn the city’s history at the Shanghai History Museum in the Pudong district and head to the 400-year-old Yuyuan Garden in the Old City. Sample Shanghai’s fabled street food wherever you go, from paper-thin soup dumplings to crab shell pies. It’s a simply delectable city to discover.

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

As you make your way back towards Japan, enjoy a day at sea to relax after your Shanghai adventures. 

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

For your last stop, discover Kagoshima, Japan’s southernmost major city. It’s referred to as ‘the Naples of the eastern world,’ for its caldera bay location, hot climate and imposing volcano. Take in majestic views of Mount Sakurajima, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, which dominates the city’s landscape, towering as it does over the lovely Kinko Bay. Kagoshima also abounds in historic sightseeing spots. One favourite is the memorial sites of Saint Francisco Xavier, who landed in Kagoshima and introduced Christianity to Japan.

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

Wind down with one last day at sea to take in anything onboard you haven’t yet or repeat the things you’ve loved so far throughout your journey. Treat yourself to another day of delectable meals, guest lecturers, or poolside relaxations. Book a massage or simply watch the world go by with a drink in-hand as you make your way back to Tokyo.

Stay: Seven Seas Explorer

You’ll arrive in Tokyo this morning. After breakfast onboard, disembark the Seven Seas Explorer and take a private transfer to the airport for your flight home, arriving back in the UK on the same day.