Sacred Japan & South Korea

Historic highlights on our journey include the five-storey Pagoda of Miyajima; the 17th Century Matsue Castle; the sobering Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with its eternal Flame of Peace; Kanazawa’s Teramachi District with its temples and shrines, including the famed ‘Ninja Temple’. We will also discover Fukuoka’s trendy yatai food stalls, vibrant art installations, historic ruins and colourful coastal parks. We also plan to explore Japan’s traditional and contemporary art as we visit galleries and meet local artists. One option includes a visit to Japan’s ‘art island’ Naoshima, and a day in South Korea’s Ulsan. Here we will explore UNESCO World Heritage Site Gyeongju - the ‘museum without walls’ alongside a visit to Haeinsa Temple, considered one of South Korea’s three great temples.

Our voyage also visits parts of Japan where relatively few tourists set foot such as Sado Island. Sado Island is widely considered a perfect miniature Japan and thriving cultural capital filled with performing arts, natural scenery, samurai history, and more.

For those with a passion for nature, we plan to visit Daisen-Oki and Hakusan National Parks, Kenrokuen Garden – one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan alongside one of Japan’s most famed gardens, the 28-acre formal 17th Century Koraku-en Garden. Explore one of Japan’s main bonsai centres at Kinashi Garden and discover the wonders of Japanese circuit-style Yuushien Garden home to more than 250 types of Japanese Peony.

Helping us understand all we will see and experience, and travelling with us throughout the voyage, will be our expert Guest Speakers and Japanese guides. They will add immeasurably to your enjoyment and understanding of this captivating country.

We hope you can join us on this in-depth exploration around the coastline and islands of Japan, as we discover the unspoiled nature, primeval wilderness, incredible gardens, cultural treasures, traditional villages and futuristic cities resplendent with their unique charms.

Excludes

All items of a personal nature, laundry, drinks, gratuities. International/domestic flights, visas and travel insurance.