Day 1 Osaka, JapanArrive Seoul

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, Conrad Seoul or Four Seasons Seoul. A transfer is included upon arrival from Incheon International Airport or Gimpo International Airport to the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, Conrad Seoul or Four Seasons Seoul, premier hotels ideally located in the heart of the city. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel.

Enjoy a panoramic orientation drive through the city past landmark sites. Visit the National Folk Museum of Korea and the ornate 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace, meaning "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven." An enduring symbol of Korea's rich history and the Joseon Dynasty, the palace offers a glimpse into Seoul's royal heritage and cultural traditions. Enjoy a different perspective on life during the Joseon Dynasty when you visit an open-air museum to view a typical hanok village. After a lunch of Korean specialties, enjoy free time to explore the city as you please. Dinner is included at leisure at your hotel this evening.

Sightseeing continues today with a visit to the War Memorial of Korea. Featuring poignant multimedia exhibits, monuments and memorials, and machinery and artifacts from various wars, the museum presents a sobering look at wartime events that took place from 1950 to 1953. Continue to Namdaemun Market, South Korea's largest traditional market, renowned for its variety of goods and food alley. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore as you wish. Note: Sightseeing on days 2 and 3 may alternate, schedule permitting, but all sites will be visited.

Board a high-speed train bound for the port city of Busan this morning and pause for lunch at a local restaurant before an orientation tour of local sights; discover Gamcheon Culture Village, known for its layered streets, twisted labyrinth-like alleys, and brightly painted houses. Nestled amidst mountains, beaches, and hot springs, Busan captivates with cultural treasures and scenic beauty everywhere you look. (Sightseeing may be adjusted based on final train schedules.) Embark your small ship this afternoon as you chart a course for Sakaiminato. Enjoy dinner onboard ship this evening at your leisure.

Spend the morning at sea before arriving in Sakaiminato. Disembark for a choice of activities, including a visit to Matsue's Black Castle, a striking 17th-century fortress surrounded by a peaceful moat, offering panoramic views of the city and Lake Shinji. Or explore the Adachi Museum, renowned for its modern art and breathtaking Japanese gardens, meticulously designed to harmonize with each season and ranked among the finest in Japan. Set sail for Hagi as you enjoy the Captain's welcome dinner.

Experience the charms of coastal Hagi today. A choice of excursions includes a walking tour through its former castle town and a visit to a wealthy merchant's mansion, followed by an opportunity to see prized Hagi pottery at the Yoshiga Taibi Museum with a visit to a workshop where you can see how the pottery is made completely by hand. Alternatively, visit a Shinto shrine and take part in a traditional calligraphy lesson, with tastings of fugu (puffer fish).

Dock in Beppu this morning, home to more than 2,000 onsen (hot springs), for your choice of activities. View two of the "Hells of Beppu" on a locally guided walking tour; experience the healing baths at a local onsen; or drive to Usuki town for a walking tour with a visit to a former samurai residence and an opportunity to see the Usuki Stone Buddhas, a national treasure. Cruise toward Uwajima this evening.

Visit Uwajima today and enjoy a choice of excursions. Visit a family-owned pearl farm and tour an open-air museum, or, enjoy a guided walk through Nanrakuen Garden, including a calligraphy demonstration and a tea experience. Your ship charts a course for Miyajima Island this evening.

Disembark ship in Miyajima for a locally guided excursion to Itsukushima Shrine. Board a ferry to the mainland and drive to Hiroshima. After a traditional okonomiyaki lunch, choose a visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Memorial, embark on a panoramic tour of the city with a photo stop at the A-Bomb Dome, or tour the Museum of Fude Art for an informative brush making experience.

Dock in Tamano for a choice of excursions. Travel to Kurashiki for a walking tour and visit the Kurashiki City Museum. A historic city with white-walled warehouses, willow-lined canals, and stone bridges, Kurashiki is renowned as the birthplace of denim jeans in Japan. Alternatively, ferry to the art island of Naoshima for a visit to the Benesse House Museum and River Gallery with a local guide; choose to sample local beer during a visit to a nearby brewery; or explore the sights of Tamano on a guided bicycle excursion.

Enjoy a choice of excursions when you dock in Kobe today. Visit Kobe's Sake Brewery Museum and Mt. Rokko Ropeway; drive to the ancient capital of Nara for a visit to Todaiji Temple, followed by lunch; or journey to Kyoto to see the Golden Pavilion and Sanjusangendo, with lunch at a local restaurant. All excursions include a hands-on lesson in taiko drumming.

Disembark ship in Kobe and board the Shinkansen bullet train bound for a two-night stay in Tokyo. Enjoy a traditional bento box lunch aboard as you travel. Arrive mid-afternoon and check into your ideally located city center hotel. The evening is free for you to explore the sights and have dinner on your own.

Visit Meiji Shrine this morning, set in a serene forested setting, on a locally guided tour, and enjoy an insightful tour of the newly renovated Edo Museum, schedule permitting. Enjoy time at leisure for lunch and independent exploration, before joining us for a farewell reception and dinner featuring traditional music and a sumo wrestling demonstration.

Tour ends: Tokyo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo or the Palace Hotel, Tokyo to Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.