Kyoto, Japan Cruise from Osaka to Tokyo — 13 Days

12 nights · Kyoto, Japan · Departs Kobe-Osaka (Japan) · Visiting Kochi City, Sokcho, Kanazawa, Niigata City, Akita City, Aomori City, Hakodate, Miyako-Iwate, Tokyo · Aboard Seabourn Cruises on the Seabourn Encore

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Seabourn Encore
Osaka Cruise Port Guide: Shore Excursions & Expert Tips Kochi Cruise Port Sokcho Cruise Port: Seoraksan & Shore Excursion Expert Guide Kanazawa Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide
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Cruise lineSeabourn Cruises
ShipSeabourn Encore
Duration12 nights
Port calls10
From fare$6,374 per person
Year built2016
Guests638
Cabins266
Crew330
Length210 m
Beam28 m
Cruising speed19.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    Kobe-Osaka, Japan

    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.

  2. Day 2

    Kochi City, Japan

    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.

  3. Day 4

    Sokcho, Korea

    Sokcho sits between the East Sea and the granite peaks of Seoraksan National Park. Seoraksan’s trails, waterfalls and cable-car views lie a short drive inland. Along the waterfront, daily life still follows the catch. Fresh seafood is the obvious order. Abai Village adds a distinctive history, shaped by North Korean refugees who settled here after the Korean War. Come for the contrast: mountain air, working harbor and an East Coast town with a story beyond its scenery.

  4. Day 6

    Kanazawa, 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.

  5. Day 7

    Niigata City, Japan

    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.

  6. Day 8

    Akita City, Japan

    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.

  7. Day 9

    Aomori City, 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.

  8. Day 10

    Hakodate, Japan

    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.

  9. Day 11

    Miyako-Iwate, Japan

    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.

  10. Day 13

    Tokyo, Japan

    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.

Seabourn Encore Cruises

Published September 6, 2026
Last updated October 23, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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