Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun – Southbound
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Overview
Highlights
- 8-night cruise aboard the yacht Le Soléal
- 3 nights in Kyoto and 2 nights in Tokyo at premier hotels
- special Tauck Experiences featuring local cultural entertainment including a sumo wrestling demonstration
- geisha and taiko performances
- a tea ceremony
- and calligraphy
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Trip includes
- Private Tauck Shore Excursions – $2,267 Value! All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers 8-night cruise aboard the yacht Le Soléal 3 nights in Kyoto and 2 nights in Tokyo at premier hotels Special Tauck Experiences featuring local cultural entertainment include a sumo wrestling demonstration, geisha and taiko performances, a tea ceremony, and calligraphy Onboard bar and restaurant beverages throughout the day, including house wines and spirits Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 35 meals on land and at sea, service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, and porterage
Itinerary
Tour begins: The Westin Miyako Kyoto. A transfer is included from Osaka's Kansai Int’l Airport or Itami Airport to The Westin Miyako Kyoto. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening.
MEALS : D
LODGING : The Westin Miyako Kyoto
Immerse yourself today in the loveliness of classic Kyoto, city of 2,000 temples and shrines. Like a divine dream the Zen Golden Pavilion, bathed in gold leaf and capped by a golden phoenix, sits in a landscape design meticulously preserved since the 1400s, with a str...
This morning get to know traditional Japanese arts with a taiko performance (drumming as athletic as it is artful); a tea ceremony; and a calligraphy lesson. Your afternoon and evening are free to explore Kyoto independently. Our coach again makes a circuit of desirable areas so you can get on and off where you like.
MEALS : B
LODGING : The Westin Miyako Kyoto
Say good-bye to Kyoto today with a visit to the Heian shrine, a powerful symbol of civic pride dedicated to the first and last emperors who ruled when Kyoto was the country’s capital. Inside the shrine’s massive torii gate, stands a partial replica of the Heian-period...
Arrive this morning in Sakaiminato, Western Japan’s fishing industry center, for an excursion to Matsue, known as “the water city” for its river, canals, and setting on two lakes and the Sea of Japan. Weather permitting, take in the great view of the city and beyond f...
Your crossing of the Strait of Korea to Busan, South Korea, today is a perfect time to enjoy some of the amenities aboard Le Soléal. After docking in Busan, tour the renowned Jagalchi Fish Market, a traditional seafood market on Busan's waterfront, and the largest in ...
Arrive in Nagasaki for a day filled with historic sights: the Nagasaki Peace Park, graced with notable monuments and memorials; the Atomic Bomb Museum; and Glover Gardens, an al fresco museum memorializing the Europeans who settled in Nagasaki in the late 19th century.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Soléal
Called the “Naples of Japan” for its location on a bay, Kagoshima lies on the southwestern tip of Japan’s southernmost main island, Kyushu. Ferry across the bay to see the volcano Sakurajima up close. A shoju distillery tour reveals all about sake’s prime rival; shoju...
Today provides a rare chance to spend a morning in a rural Japanese community. Visit a pearl farm, stroll through a market, and check out the Flying Squirrel Temple on a fascinating tour led by a Buddhist monk. The squirrels fly only at night!
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Soléal
In your next port, Hiroshima, take in the iconic Miyajima-Itsukushima Shrine that seems to float on water (a photographer’s dream); have lunch at a restaurant serving regional fare; and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Soléal
Anchor in Tamano and board a ferry to the unique little island of Naoshima – it’s exclusively devoted to art installations and the work of the world-class architect Tadao Ando. Wander through the Art Houses Project, traditional houses transformed into stand-alone art ...
Disembark in Osaka for a walking tour of Dotombori, the energetic neighborhood famous for its dazzling array of neon and mechanical signs. Then take a ride on the Bullet Train to Tokyo. Walking from your premier Tokyo hotel, your guide introduces the luxury shopping d...
Plunge into an eclectic day in cosmopolitan Tokyo with visits to the Senso-ji Temple – devoted to the Buddhist deity of compassion – and the Meiji Shrine, plus a guided tour of the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Lunch is at a local restaurant before an afternoon of poking around o...
Tour ends: Tokyo. Fly home anytime. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo or Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo to Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.
In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.
Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.
Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.
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Logistics
LE SOLEAL Sophisticated styling, cutting-edge “green” technology and service that is welcoming and attentive combined for unsurpassed small ship cruising when Le Soléal joined her sister ships, Le Boréal and L’Austral, in 2013. Like the award-winning Le Boréal, this luxe mega-yacht features six decks, a choice of two dining venues and all-included bar and restaurant beverages throughout the day aboard ship, including house wines and spirits. Le Soléal’s facilities and observation areas make your time at sea a pleasure; they include three lounges, bars with access to the open decks and evening entertainment. A state-of-the-art theatre provides an intimate space for lectures and entertainment, while a fitness and beauty complex and medical center provide for travel with ease. 132 staterooms (200 to 226 sq. ft.) and suites (290 to 398 sq. ft.) have sea views; 95% have private balconies. Staterooms offer individually controlled air conditioning, two twin beds that convert to a king-size bed or, a sofa converting to a queen-size bed. Amenities include video on demand, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, electronic safe, hair dryer, iPod Dock and minibar. Superior staterooms and Prestige suites can accommodate triples.
LE SOLEAL Built: 2013 Length: 466 ft. or 142 m. Draft: 15.3 ft. or 4.7 m. Beam: 59 ft. or 18 m. Tonnage: 10,944 gross tons Cruising Speed: 14 knots Air Conditioned: Yes Elevator: Yes Number of Guests: 224 - 264 Crew Members: 139 Registry: France Crew Nationality: French / International Internet: Send / Receive
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