Japan's autumn charms with Seabourn

Enjoy included UK airport lounge access before your overnight flight to Japan's capital, Tokyo.

On arrival, you’ll be met for a private transfer to your five-star Tokyo hotel, where you’ll spend the next two nights. Take today to unwind and acclimatise, relaxing in the comfort of your hotel or perhaps heading out to explore Tokyo at your own pace.

Stay: Tokyo accommodation (Deluxe)

Spend today exploring Tokyo at your own pace, or speak to one of our travel specialists to arrange a guided excursion. Japan’s vibrant capital is the world’s largest city, a thrilling blend of cutting-edge technology and fashion alongside centuries of tradition. Discover its heritage at the Imperial Palace gardens or on a rickshaw ride through Asakusa. Food lovers will delight in Tsukiji Market, the world’s biggest fish market, while beer enthusiasts can sample a rice lager at the Asahi Beer Hall. For sweeping views of Mount Fuji, head to the rooftop garden at Shibuya Scramble Square. As night falls, Tokyo truly comes alive – browse gadget shops in Akihabara or enjoy karaoke in Roppongi’s lively bars.

Spend the morning exploring Tokyo at leisure. This afternoon, you’ll be privately transferred to Seabourn Encore for embarkation. With departure scheduled for later this evening, you’ll have time to settle into your suite and perhaps enjoy a final stroll through Tokyo before setting sail. Dinner will be served on board.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

After your exciting days in Tokyo, take a day at sea to settle into the luxurious surroundings of Seabourn Encore. Indulge in a soothing spa treatment or energise in the fitness centre. Savour gourmet dining in one of the ship’s many restaurants or enjoy a perfectly mixed cocktail at one of several bars. Socialise with fellow guests at Seabourn Square and simply watch the horizon drift by as you sail towards your next destination.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Today you’ll arrive in Japan’s second-largest city, Osaka, renowned for its striking Osaka Castle and the spectacular spring blossoms of its surrounding orchards.

Take time to explore the city’s historic shrines and temples, including Shitenno-ji – Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple – and Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of the country’s earliest Shinto shrines. The Peace Pagoda, though built in 1963, reflects a timeless Japanese theme. Osaka also boasts an array of fascinating museums, from the National Museum of Modern Art with its post-war collection to the five-storey Science Museum and the Oriental Ceramics Museum, home to an extensive collection of works from Japan, China and Korea.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Spend today aboard Seabourn Encore, making the most of its superb amenities as you enjoy scenic cruising through the Kanmon Strait, best admired from the deck or one of the ship’s many vantage points. This narrow channel separates Honshu and Kyushu, two of Japan’s main islands, with twin lighthouses marking each port city across the water. Steeped in maritime and military history, the strait still bears remnants of past naval campaigns, including cannons on Honshu’s shores. Today, it’s a bustling waterway, with around 700 ships passing daily, while underground tunnels allow cars and pedestrians to cross between the islands.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Today, you’ll dip into South Korea with a visit to Busan – known locally as Pusan – the country’s largest city and a key link between Japan and the West. Busan offers a fascinating snapshot of South Korea, a nation whose modern success often masks its rich and enduring culture. Highlights include its celebrated beaches, the renowned Pusan International Film Festival, nearby hot springs and striking urban landscapes that make this city so compelling.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Return to Japan today with a visit to Sakaiminato, a charming fishing town famed for its fresh seafood and framed by the mountains of Honshu. Explore the six-storey black Matsue Castle, one of the oldest surviving Tokugawa Samurai fortresses, or visit Izumo Grand Shrine, among Japan’s most significant Shinto temples. Sakaiminato also celebrates its most famous son, manga artist Mizuki Shigeru, with statues of his Yokai characters dotted throughout the town. Art lovers can admire modern works at the Adachi Museum, while nature enthusiasts will enjoy the blooms at Tottori Flower Road, a 124-acre garden. Alternatively, discover the intricately carved Hinomisaki temples, unwind in Kaike Onsen’s seaside hot springs, or marvel at snow-capped Mount Daisen.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Tsuruga, a historic trading hub, offers something for every interest. Admire its striking architecture, from the ornate Kehi Shrine and its torii gate to Museum Street’s machiya – traditional wooden townhouses now home to charming shops and cafés. During World War II, Tsuruga was the only Japanese port open to Polish orphans and Jewish refugees; learn their remarkable stories at the Port of Humanity Museum. For palaeontology enthusiasts, the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is a must, showcasing over 40 full-sized skeletons. Stroll through tranquil Yokokan Garden, bathe among pines at Kehi no Matsubara, craft your own washi paper at Papyrus House or marvel at the dramatic Tojinbo Cliffs. Food lovers should sample Tsuruga’s renowned ramen and sushi.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Set along Honshu’s west coast, Toyama is the historic heart of Japan’s pharmaceutical industry. At Folkcraft Village, uncover 300 years of medicinal heritage alongside traditional crafts, and pick up authentic remedies at the historic Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten shop downtown.

On the grounds of the city’s former Edo-period castle, explore Takaoka Kojo Park with its fortress wall ruins, admire the Imizu Shrine and its torii gate, and, in season, enjoy some of Japan’s most celebrated cherry blossom views. For a different perspective, take a boat ride along moats lined with cherry trees.Toyama is also famed for its crafts – from exquisite glassware showcased at the striking Glass Art Museum to the delicate ink paintings of suibokuga displayed in the Suiboku Museum.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Bustling Sakata was once the 17th-century shipping hub for premium ‘Shonai rice’, a trade dominated by the Honma clan during the Edo period. Explore their legacy at the Honma Museum of Art, which includes the merchants’ former residence and lavish villa. The Sankyo Warehouses also tell the story of rice here, with 15 historic storehouses now transformed into a fascinating museum.

Beyond the city, visit the Kamo Aquarium, famed for its remarkable jellyfish collection and farm. Or make the pilgrimage to Dewa Sanzan – three sacred mountains symbolising the stages of reincarnation. Mount Haguro, representing birth, is accessible year-round, offering a climb of 2,446 stone steps through a cedar forest to the Sanjingosaiden Shrine.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Continue your journey around Honshu with a stop in Aomori, the traditional gateway to Hokkaido. The city is famed for its vibrant Nebuta Matsuri Festival, celebrated each summer, and a dedicated museum brings its colour and spectacle to life year-round. Step back into prehistoric Japan at the Sannai Maruyama archaeological site or explore modern creativity at the Aomori Museum of Art. Nearby Hirosaki offers a glimpse of history with its 17th-century castle, while food lovers can craft their own donburi rice bowl using fresh seafood at the Auga or Furukawa public fish markets.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Hakodate, an important port on Hokkaido, was the first to open to European and American trade, leaving a legacy of Western-style architecture in Motomachi – a suburb with a movie-set charm. For traditional design, visit 150-year-old Goryokaku, home to the Magistrate’s Office, and climb its tower for panoramic views. It’s also worth stopping at the Haristo Greek Orthodox Church to hear its bell, honoured as one of Japan’s treasured ‘100 soundscapes.’

Hokkaido is perhaps best known for its hot springs, cherished throughout Japan. Yunokawa Hot Spring offers stunning sea views and is particularly famous for its Japanese macaques – the ‘snow monkeys’ – who live in the botanical gardens and soak in the steaming waters during the northern winter.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

Once Japan’s main seaport, Miyako lost much of its historic architecture to tsunamis, but its natural beauty more than compensates. Explore Sanriku Fukkō National Park, stretching over 110 miles of coastline, home to Japanese red pine, Tabu trees and seabirds nesting on its cliffs and beaches. Birdwatchers should visit Sanganjima Island, a haven for Swinhoe’s storm petrels, or simply relax on Jodogahama Beach, one of Japan’s finest.

In nearby Morioka, discover the 17th-century Hachimangu Shrine and sample sake at Asabiraki Brewery. North of the city, Ryusendo Cave reveals a subterranean world of lakes and stalagmites.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

As your cruise nears its end and you sail back towards Tokyo, enjoy a final day at sea reflecting on your unforgettable journey through Japan. Make the most of Seabourn Encore’s superb amenities – share stories with new friends in elegant bars and lounges, take in engaging onboard entertainment, and savour exceptional dining as you prepare for your journey home.

Stay: Seabourn Encore

After a final breakfast on board, disembark Seabourn Encore and enjoy a private transfer to Tokyo airport for your flight back to the UK, arriving later the same day.