Japan’s National Parks, Art & Culture: A Circumnavigation of Honshu, Osaka – Kobe to Kobe, Incl. South Korea

Heritage Expeditions, pioneers in authentic small ship expedition cruising, invite you to join them on an unforgettable circumnavigation of Japan's main island Honshu and exploration of its wilderness, arts, culture and rich history. This voyage has been specially designed to explore and experience Japan's seamless blend of ancient customs with ultramodern living, incredible wilderness, wildlife and renowned arts as we cruise from iconic cities to remote coastlines and islands. Highlights include Kanazawa's thriving centre of the arts, long known for its lacquerware, outstanding collectable pottery of the Kutani style, goldleaf workmanship, delicate hand painting of silk for kimonos and classical Noh theatre dramas performed since the 14th Century, and Naoshima Island - Japan's Art Island. Visit two of Japan's best contemporary art museums - the recently-opened Hachinhoe Art Museum and the Towada Art Center, celebrate Japan's internationally-renowned magna culture at Ishinomaki, explore the living museum Ise- Shima National Park and Japan's most sacred shrine complex Ise Jingū. Our voyage will see us visiting the iconic Japanese island-dotted seascapes of Matsushima and Argo Bays and discovering the unique plants, wildlife and wilderness hiking trails on UNESCO registered Global Geopark Dogojima Island and Izu Oshima Island, Bandai-Asahi National Park and the impressive lakes, hot springs and volcanic wonderland of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Also on our itinerary is the iconic the five-storey Pagoda of Miyajima, sobering Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with its eternal Flame of Peace, a day in South Korea's Ulsan visiting the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site Gyeongju - the 'museum without walls' and Karatsu's medieval heritage. We hope you can join us for this rare opportunity to sail around Japan exploring its unspoiled nature, world renowned arts scene, culture and history.