
The best of Japan
- ItineraryOsaka to BusanDuration9 days
- Dates16 Mar 26 to 24 Mar 26Prices from
Come aboard Le Soléal for an unforgettable voyage.
Ponant invites you on a timeless journey around the fascinating and surprising Empire of the Rising Sun, where unbridled modernism and ancestral traditions form a delightful blend, where the history of the samurai rubs shoulders with the delicateness of the geisha, and where the aromas of the tea plantations intermingle with the fragrances of cherry blossom. In the legendary city of Osaka, embark on this unique 9-day cruise aboard Le Soléal to discover this unrivalled cultural heritage.
Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, explore the picturesque city of Chiran and its ancestral history from Kagoshima, discover the cultural heritage of Nagasaki, or admire the Itsukushima Shrine from the island of Miyajima. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).
On the Seto Inland Sea, Le Soléal will head west. At the foot of a tropical forest burgeoning with life, Tamano stands proudly in the middle of this enchanting environment. Last port of call of your journey, it still bears the traces of traditional Japanese life in the 18th century, as the particular architecture of the town demonstrates.
The jagged coastlines of the captivating Miyajima Island, also known as Itsukushima, come into view, and the vermillion Torii of the emblematic Shinto Shrine of Itsukushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, unfolds before you in a lush forest setting. Time here seems stuck in the feudal era: the frenetic energy and modernity of the large Japanese metropolises make way for striking serenity and tranquillity, and hundreds of deer wander between its spiritual and architectural treasures.
Hiroshima does not seek to elicit strong emotions. Opposite the Inland Sea, only the Hiroshima Peace Memorial bears witness to past events in the city known as a “City of Peace”. It is resolutely future looking and you will be able to appreciate its modern and cosmopolitan atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of its lively streets and the tranquillity of its natural settings, such as the splendid Shukkei-en, the city’s historic gardens.
Off the southern tip of the island of Kyushu, Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comes into view. Providing an unspoilt natural setting for endemic species such as the Yakushima monkey and deer, the island is home to an exceptional natural environment featuring forests of ancient cedars, bewitching waterfalls, and majestic peaks.
Further south, Nagasaki remains in the world’s imagination as the symbol of nuclear horror. Fortunately, in the same way as Hiroshima, the city has become one the archipelago’s most peaceful towns as well as one of its most attractive. The warm and cosmopolitan city unveils its many riches throughout its narrow streets: the Oura Catholic Church and its gardens, the Suwa Shrine, the sumptuous Buddhist temples...
For a grand finale, your cruise will end in South Korea’s second largest city. A city of contrasts, Busan offers spectacular views of its port and the old Chalgachi district.
Your voyage
All-inclusive

Destination
Asia
Osaka to Busan
Duration
9 days, 8 nights on board
Timeless
Offers
PONANT Bonus 20%
Ref: SO160326









Journey
Your daily itinerary
- Travel to the heart of Japan to discover its many facets: its history and ancestral traditions, its unbridled modernism, its magnificent landscapes.
- Exceptional heritage with numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Itsukushima Shrine from Miyajima Island, the mountainous island of Yakushima, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
- A few of the included excursions: visit the city of Chiran from Kagoshima, the historic city of Kurashiki, experience the cultural heritage of Nagasaki.

Customize your journey:

Date
12 Mar 26

Date
15 Mar 26

Date
12 Mar 26

Date
24 Mar 26
Staterooms and suites
Elegance and refinement

Superior Stateroom
Guests
3
Size
226 ft²

Deluxe Stateroom
Guests
2
Size
193 ft²

Prestige Stateroom
Guests
2
Size
193 ft²

Deluxe Suite
Guests
2
Size
290 ft²

Prestige Suite
Guests
4
Size
398 ft²

Owner's Suite
Guests
2
Size
484 ft²
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Details
More information
What's Included
Important travel details
In your luggage
Itinerary