Kyoto, Japan Cruise from Osaka to Otaru — 13 Days

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.

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.

Yakushima Island Japan, Japan

Miyakojima, in Okinawa’s southern island chain, offers a quieter Japan of sugarcane fields, coral shores and turquoise water. Hirara Port puts the island’s main town, beaches and coastal viewpoints within reach. Cross the 3.5-kilometre Irabu Bridge for sweeping sea views. Yonaha Maehama’s pale sand and clear shallows reward an unhurried stop. Try Miyako soba, then take in the limestone landscape that gives this reef-fringed island its distinctive character.

Shimabara (Ask Travel Agent)

Busan, 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.

Sakaiminato-Matsue, Japan

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.

Oki Islands Japan (Scenic Stop)

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.

Sadoshima Island Japan, Japan

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.

Noshiro, Japan

Noshiro sits on Akita Prefecture’s Sea of Japan coast, where cedar timber helped shape the town’s identity. Walk beneath Kaze no Matsubara’s pines, planted to protect the shore from wind and shifting sand. The town’s high-school basketball tradition is another point of local pride. For a longer outing, head inland to Shirakami-Sanchi, whose ancient beech forests are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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.

At Sea (At Sea)

Sapporo-Otaru, Japan

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.