35 nights · BC Canada · Departs Vancouver (Canada) · Visiting Ketchikan, Klawock AK, Sitka, Glacier Bay, Kodiak Island, Dutch Harbor Unalaska, Kushiro City, Miyako-Iwate, Sendai, Hitachinaka, Tokyo, Kobe-Osaka, Busan, Sakaiminato-Matsue, Tsuruga, Toyama City, Sakata, Aomori City, Hakodate · Aboard Seabourn Cruises on the Seabourn Encore
Image courtesy of Seabourn Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Seabourn Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Seabourn Encore |
| Duration | 35 nights |
| Port calls | 20 |
| Departures | 3 sailings |
| From fare | $16,319 per person |
| Year built | 2016 |
| Guests | 638 |
| Cabins | 266 |
| Crew | 330 |
| Length | 210 m |
| Beam | 28 m |
| Cruising speed | 19.0 kn |
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.
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.
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.
Glacier Bay is Alaska at its most elemental: a vast marine wilderness where tidewater glaciers meet the sea. Cruise ships enter this protected national park, often with a park ranger aboard to interpret the landscape. Watch for calving ice, humpback whales, sea otters and bald eagles. The bay is also the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit, whose connection to this changing coast reaches back generations. Bring binoculars, and stay on deck.
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.
Dutch Harbor sits on Unalaska Island, where the Aleutian chain meets the Bering Sea. It is one of America’s busiest commercial fishing ports, yet its appeal reaches beyond the waterfront. Explore the Museum of the Aleutians to learn about the region’s Indigenous history. Visit the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, a landmark dating to the nineteenth century. World War II sites recall Unalaska’s strategic role in the Aleutian campaign. Expect steep green hills, working docks, and weather that can change quickly.
Kushiro is eastern Hokkaido’s working port city, known for the broad marshlands that begin just beyond its streets. At Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, boardwalks and viewpoints open onto Japan’s largest wetland, where red-crowned cranes may be seen. Back in town, browse Washo Market for crab and salmon, then cross the waterfront to Nusamai Bridge at dusk. This is a rewarding stop for wildlife, fresh seafood and a less-polished side of 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.
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.
Hitachinaka brings you to Japan’s Ibaraki coast, where beaches and working harbors sit within reach of historic Mito. At Hitachi Seaside Park, spring’s blue nemophila and autumn’s red kochia create a striking seasonal spectacle. Nearby Nakaminato offers a lively fish market, fresh seafood, and a glimpse of everyday life on the Pacific. Choose Hitachinaka for open-air scenery, local flavor, and an inviting alternative to Japan’s better-known urban ports.
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.
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.
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.
Tsuruga faces the Sea of Japan in Fukui Prefecture. Its working harbor and compact city bear the marks of centuries of trade. At Kehi Jingu, an 11-metre vermilion torii makes a striking first impression. The Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse recalls the port’s shipping era. At Kehi no Matsubara, pine trees frame a quiet stretch of coast. Come ashore for shrine architecture, coastal walks and seafood from Fukui’s waters.
Toyama sits between the Sea of Japan and the Northern Japan Alps, with a quiet confidence few ports can match. From the waterfront, reach a compact city known for glass art, contemporary design and excellent seafood from Toyama Bay. Season permitting, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route leads into high mountain scenery. Its celebrated snow corridor is a seasonal highlight. Back in town, explore the castle park, then sample masu-zushi, Toyama’s distinctive pressed trout sushi.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Published August 28, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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