38 nights · Kyoto, Japan · Departs Kobe-Osaka (Japan) · Visiting Kochi City, Hiroshima City, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki City, Busan, Sakaiminato-Matsue, Kanazawa, Niigata City, Akita City, Aomori City, Tokyo, Oarai, Sendai, Miyako-Iwate, Hakodate, Kodiak Island, Seward, Whittier, Valdez, Hubbard Glacier, Haines, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Ketchikan, Klawock AK, Nanaimo BC, Victoria BC, Vancouver · Aboard Azamara Cruises on the Azamara Pursuit
Image courtesy of Azamara Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Azamara Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Azamara Pursuit |
| Duration | 38 nights |
| Port calls | 29 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $13,889 per person |
| Year built | 2001 |
| Guests | 774 |
| Cabins | 352 |
| Crew | 400 |
| Length | 181 m |
| Beam | 25 m |
| Cruising speed | 18.0 kn |
Osaka rewards travellers who look beyond its famous appetite. Japan’s third-largest city blends merchant heritage, bold architecture and everyday energy. At Osaka Castle, stone walls and broad moats frame a defining chapter of the city’s past. Follow locals to Dotonbori, where neon reflects on the canal and takoyaki comes hot from the grill. Excellent rail links make Osaka a practical gateway to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
Kochi rewards curious visitors with Shikoku’s history and easygoing, open-air pleasures. At its heart, Kochi Castle is one of Japan’s twelve castles to retain its original keep. Nearby, the Sunday market and Hirome Market reveal local life through seasonal produce and katsuo no tataki, seared bonito. Follow the coast to Katsurahama, where a statue of samurai reformer Sakamoto Ryoma faces the sea.
Hiroshima is a modern city with a history that reaches far beyond the events of 1945. At Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and museum offer a moving, carefully documented account of the bombing. Across the city, local trams make it easy to reach Shukkeien Garden, lively Hondori and the riverside. A short train and ferry journey reaches Miyajima, famed for Itsukushima Shrine and its great torii gate.
Kitakyushu sits at Kyushu’s northern tip, facing Honshu across the Kanmon Strait. Its waterfront tells two stories: Mojiko’s restored Meiji-era port buildings and the steelworks that helped shape modern Japan. Explore Kokura Castle, then browse Tanga Market, where local cooks and shoppers keep the city’s food culture in view. Come for a port city with substance: industrial history, waterside architecture and a lively gateway to western Japan.
Few Japanese cities combine harbor scenery and layered history as compellingly as Nagasaki. Its steep streets rise above a sheltered harbor that once linked Japan with Dutch and Chinese traders. At Dejima, the former Dutch trading post, exhibits trace the city’s unusual role during centuries of restricted foreign contact. The Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum offer a moving, carefully documented account of 1945. Come for the history; stay to see how a resilient port city lives beside its past.
Busan pairs the scale of a modern port city with easy access to temples, markets and broad beaches. Visit Gamcheon Culture Village, browse Jagalchi Fish Market or ride Songdo’s cable car over the sea. The city’s best-known sights are spread across several districts, so plan your day around one area. For a quieter pause, visit Beomeosa Temple on the forested slopes of Geumjeongsan.
Your arrival at Sakaiminato opens a quieter side of Japan, where fishing-town character meets samurai history. Follow Mizuki Shigeru Road past bronze figures from the manga artist’s supernatural world, then sample fresh crab and seafood. Matsue lies about 40 kilometres away, its original castle among Japan’s National Treasures, with canals and Lake Shinji nearby. A day ashore can move from lively local flavour to the measured elegance of old Japan.
Kanazawa rewards visitors who look beyond Japan’s best-known cities. On the Sea of Japan, it preserves a samurai quarter, historic castle and teahouse district. Stroll Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, then explore Omicho Market for seafood from nearby waters. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art and gold-leaf workshops reveal a modern city with a rich craft tradition.
Niigata faces the Sea of Japan, where waterways and a fertile rice plain have shaped the city’s character. One of Japan’s leading rice-producing regions, it is celebrated for fine sake brewed with local grains and pristine water. Walk the waterfront, cross graceful Bandai Bridge, then explore Furumachi’s old merchant quarter. Nearby, the Northern Culture Museum reveals the elegance of a prosperous rural estate. At table, local rice, Sea of Japan seafood and sake make a persuasive case for staying awhile.
Akita offers a quieter, distinctly Japanese day ashore, with samurai-era history and celebrated regional food. Senshu Park occupies the former grounds of Kubota Castle. At the Akita Museum of Art, a striking mural by local-born painter Tsuguharu Foujita commands attention. Try kiritanpo, rice mashed, shaped around cedar skewers and grilled, alongside local sake. In August, the Kanto Festival brings towering lantern poles into the streets, carried with remarkable balance.
Aomori brings Japan’s northern frontier within easy reach, with the Tsugaru Strait beyond its harbor and mountains on the horizon. The city is known for crisp apples, fresh seafood and Nebuta, its dramatic summer festival of illuminated warrior floats. At Wa Rasse museum, the floats command attention year-round. Travelers can visit the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site or journey to Hirosaki for its castle and celebrated cherry trees.
Tokyo is a city of contrasts best explored one neighborhood at a time. In Asakusa, Senso-ji’s lantern gates lead to a centuries-old Buddhist temple; nearby, the Sumida River frames the skyline. Ride the efficient rail network to sleek Ginza, quiet Meiji Shrine, or the high-rise streets of Shinjuku. Come hungry: sushi counters, ramen shops, and department-store food halls make eating well remarkably easy. Tokyo’s scale is immense, but its details reward curiosity.
Oarai brings you to Ibaraki’s Pacific coast, where fishing-town life meets one of Japan’s most striking seaside shrines. At Oarai Isosaki Shrine, the Kamiiso torii stands offshore, framed by waves and changing light. Nearby, Aqua World Ibaraki offers a close look at marine life, while local restaurants serve fresh seafood. For a wider excursion, historic Mito and the landscaped gardens of Kairakuen lie inland.
Sendai is Tohoku’s largest city, a welcoming gateway to northern Japan’s history, cuisine and Pacific coast. Explore Aoba Castle’s hilltop ruins and Zuihoden, the richly decorated mausoleum of the city’s founder, Date Masamune. Stroll leafy Jozenji-dori, then try gyutan, Sendai’s celebrated grilled beef tongue. Beyond the city, island-dotted Matsushima Bay offers an easy excursion and one of Japan’s most admired coastal panoramas.
Miyako brings you to Iwate’s Sanriku coast, where deep bays and forested headlands shape the journey. At Jodogahama, white volcanic rocks, pine trees and clear water frame one of Japan’s most striking beaches. In town, sample Sanriku seafood and explore the waterfront, rebuilt after the 2011 tsunami. Boat trips reveal the rugged coastline from the water; shore excursions reward travelers who prefer a quieter pace.
Hakodate rewards travellers who look beyond the waterfront. At the morning market, vendors serve Hokkaido crab, sea urchin and squid caught in local waters. The star-shaped ramparts of Goryokaku tell a sharper story: Japan’s final years of samurai rule. Ride the ropeway up Mount Hakodate for a celebrated view of the city and its twin bays. Below, Motomachi’s churches and former consulates reflect the port’s opening to foreign trade in 1859.
Kodiak sits on the island of the same name, where the Gulf of Alaska meets a working fishing town. Fishing boats fill the harbor, and seafood remains central to the local economy. Russian America left its mark at Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church and the Baranov Museum. Beyond town, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge protects wilderness famed for brown bears, often reached by guided air or boat trips.
Set between the Kenai Mountains and Resurrection Bay, Seward brings Alaska’s wild coast within easy reach. Tour boats reach Kenai Fjords National Park, where glaciers meet the sea and whales, otters, and seabirds thrive. The Alaska SeaLife Center brings marine life into view; nearby, Exit Glacier shows the forces shaping this landscape. Seward rewards a day outdoors, with time left to explore its historic waterfront.
Whittier sits between the steep Chugach Mountains and the sheltered waters of Prince William Sound. Most visitors arrive through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, a 2.5-mile passage shared by cars and trains. From the harbor, boats venture among tidewater glaciers, forested islands and waters frequented by sea otters, whales and seabirds. Spend time on the water, and Alaska’s scale becomes unmistakable.
Valdez sits at the head of Prince William Sound, where steep Chugach peaks rise above sheltered water. From the harbor, boat tours reach tidewater glaciers and wildlife-rich coves; on land, waterfalls line the Richardson Highway. The town is also near the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, a striking feature of Alaska’s modern history. Explore by sea or road, then return to a working harbor framed by mountains.
At Hubbard Glacier, your ship becomes a front-row seat to one of Alaska’s great natural spectacles. More than six miles wide at its face, this tidewater glacier descends from the Saint Elias Mountains into Disenchantment Bay. Listen for ice cracking, then watch bergs drift across the water. Unlike many glaciers, Hubbard has advanced in recent decades, at times constricting the entrance to Russell Fiord. Bring binoculars and a warm layer; the open deck offers the clearest views.
Haines occupies a striking position on Lynn Canal, where forested mountains rise straight from the water. Its compact streets lead to Fort William H. Seward, a restored military post with galleries, shops, and local history. Beyond town, the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve protects a major winter gathering place for bald eagles. Explore by road, river, or trail, with wildlife, Tlingit heritage, and expansive Alaskan scenery close at hand.
Icy Strait Point sits beside Hoonah on Chichagof Island, Alaska. A restored salmon cannery anchors the waterfront, with exhibits, local shops and Tlingit cultural experiences. Whale-watching boats venture into Icy Strait, where humpbacks feed in summer and sea lions and eagles are often seen. Ashore, forest trails, a gondola and a long zipline offer a change of pace. Hoonah brings an authentic community within easy reach of the cruise dock.
Set between forested mountains and the Pacific, Sitka occupies the west coast of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska. Here, Tlingit history and Russian influence meet in a compact town reached chiefly by air or sea. Walk Sitka National Historical Park’s coastal trail among carved totem poles. The park interprets the 1804 conflict between Tlingit people and Russian forces. St. Michael’s Cathedral and the Sheldon Jackson Museum add depth, while nearby waters invite wildlife watching.
Set on Revillagigedo Island in southeast Alaska, Ketchikan is a working fishing town framed by the Tongass National Forest. Its waterfront rises steeply above the Inside Passage, where fishing boats and floatplanes share the harbor. Walk Creek Street, a former red-light district built over Ketchikan Creek. At the Totem Heritage Center, see Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian art. For wilderness, boat or fly to Misty Fjords National Monument.
On Prince of Wales Island, Klawock offers a close look at Alaska’s Tlingit culture and island life. At Totem Park, carved poles recall clan histories and the community’s deep roots. Beyond town, forested roads lead through the Tongass to fishing coves, quiet beaches, and views across the Inside Passage. Come ashore ready to slow down, meet a small island community, and see Southeast Alaska beyond its best-known ports.
Nanaimo gives you a practical gateway to Vancouver Island, with a handsome harbour and compact downtown close to the water. Follow the Harbourfront Walkway past marinas and cafés, then explore the Old City Quarter for heritage buildings and independent shops. Nanaimo is closely associated with its namesake bar, layered with chocolate, custard and coconut. A short passenger-ferry ride reaches Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) Marine Provincial Park, with forest trails and shoreline paths.
Victoria, British Columbia, sits at the southern end of Vancouver Island, with a harbour at its heart. From the cruise terminal, reach the Inner Harbour by shuttle, taxi, or a pleasant waterfront walk. Here, the Parliament Buildings and Fairmont Empress frame the water. The compact centre is easy to explore on foot. Browse Government Street, visit the Royal BC Museum, or head north to Butchart Gardens, about 23 kilometres away.
Vancouver puts mountains, ocean and a working harbour within easy reach of the city centre. From the cruise terminal at Canada Place, walk to Gastown’s brick lanes, the waterfront and the shops of Robson Street. Stanley Park offers seawall views and towering cedars, while Granville Island brings a lively public market and artisan studios. Beyond downtown, ferries cross to North Vancouver, where the Capilano Suspension Bridge and mountain trails reveal the region’s wilder side.
Published September 15, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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