15 nights · Kyoto, Japan · Departs Kobe-Osaka (Japan) · Visiting Himeji, Itsukushima Island Japan, Kitakyushu, Busan, Ulsan, Sakaiminato-Matsue, Kanazawa, Sadoshima Island Japan, Niigata City, Sakata, Aomori City, Sapporo-Otaru · Aboard Lindblad Expeditions on the National Geographic Resolution
Image courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions ©
| Cruise line | Lindblad Expeditions |
|---|---|
| Ship | National Geographic Resolution |
| Duration | 15 nights |
| Port calls | 13 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $20,900 per person |
| Year built | 2021 |
| Guests | 148 |
| Cabins | 69 |
| Crew | 112 |
| Length | 124 m |
| Beam | 21 m |
| Cruising speed | 17.0 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.
Step ashore in Himeji, where Japan’s most celebrated castle rises above a compact, welcoming city. Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famed for its white-plastered walls, sweeping defenses and remarkably intact wooden interiors. Allow time for Koko-en, a group of nine gardens beside the castle, and sample local specialties near Himeji Station. Together, they make Himeji a rewarding stop for travelers who value history, thoughtful design and an easy day ashore.
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.
Step ashore on Itsukushima, better known as Miyajima, and the Seto Inland Sea sets the scene. Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stands above tidal flats; its vermilion torii rises offshore at high tide. Explore the shrine’s corridors, browse local shops for maple-leaf cakes, or take the ropeway toward Mount Misen’s wooded summit. Ferries link the island with Miyajimaguchi for easy access; stay overnight to find quieter shores after day-trippers leave.
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.
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.
Ulsan is South Korea’s working coast at full scale: a major shipbuilding and automotive centre with a surprisingly green edge. Follow the Taehwagang River through its celebrated bamboo grove, or walk the coastal paths of Daewangam Park. At Jangsaengpo, a historic whaling port, the Whale Culture Village traces a complicated maritime past. Ulsan rewards travellers who look beyond the factory skyline for nature, history and a candid view of modern Korea.
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.
Off Niigata’s coast, Sado Island rewards the crossing with a Japan few visitors expect. Sado’s history spans Aikawa’s gold mines, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and temples linked to centuries of exile. Follow the rugged coastline, visit the traditional village of Shukunegi, or hear taiko performed by Kodo, the island-born ensemble. Sado is large, rural and best explored by car; allow time for its winding roads and quiet coves.
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.
On Yamagata’s Sea of Japan coast, Sakata rewards travelers drawn to history, gardens, and excellent seafood. The port’s mercantile past lives on at Sankyo Soko, rice storehouses shaded by towering zelkova trees. Explore the gardens of the Homma Museum, then sample seafood from local fishing grounds. Sakata also offers access to Shonai’s rice-growing landscapes and a quieter side of northern Japan.
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.
Otaru rewards a slow walk, with a canal, old warehouses and sea air recalling Hokkaido’s trading past. Built in 1923, Otaru Canal once carried cargo; today, its stone storehouses frame one of Japan’s most atmospheric waterfronts. Nearby Sakaimachi Street offers glass studios, music-box shops and seafood restaurants, all within an easy stroll of the center. Come for the craftsmanship, then settle in for Hokkaido seafood and sushi.
Published September 20, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!
