Islands of Japan & Southeast Asia
Japan is a seamless blend of ancient customs, ultramodern living, temples and shrines, incredible gardens, rich culture and wildlife-filled national parks.
With the world's sixth longest coastline and more than 6,800 islands and islets, Japan's archipelago of volcanic islands and dramatic landscape is best explored by sea.
Our small ship luxury cruises to Southeast Asia offer the ultimate exploration of Japan with some of the most intriguing treasures of the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea.
Join us aboard the luxurious 140-guest Heritage Adventurer as we discover remote coastlines and islands, unspoiled nature, cultural delights and futuristic cities resplendent with their unique charms.
SPECIAL PROMO
SAVE AU$1,700 per person + 15% discount*
Applicable Cruises: Eternal Japan & South Korea, Beyond Japan's National Parks, Discover Eternal Japan, Exploring Asia’s Subtropical Islands & Undiscovered Philippines & Indonesia. *T&Cs apply
Japan Season 2023
Join us on one of these extraordinary voyages
Eternal Japan and South Korea: A Voyage from Kanazawa to Kobe
11 DAYS
28 April – 8 May 2023 PROMO
Kanazawa to Kobe, Japan
Aboard Heritage Adventurer
- Discover Kanazawa's master craftsmanship, lacquerware and Kutani pottery and Kenroku-en Garden, one of Japan's top three gardens
- Delve into Samuari and Geisha history and visit historic residences
- Visit Matsue, ‘the town of water,' and tour the Matsue Castle, a national treasure and 17th century castle
- Hagi's ancient temples and shrines, including ‘Ninja Temple', and old Samurai houses
- Wander among the excavated Buddhist temples, tombs and monuments at South Korea's Gyeongju 'museaum without walls'
- Haeinsa Temple,one of Koreas top temples and the Tripitaka Koreana carvings in the Janggyeong Panjeon building
- Iconic five-storied Pagoda Rurikoji Temple
- Visit Uwajima Castle and Japan's premier pearl producing farm
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima's famous Torii gate, Shinto Shrine and the Itsukushima Jinja Shrine
- Explore famed Koraku-en garden and Ohara Museum of Art featuring rare works by Matisse, Picasso and Renoir
PROMO: SAVE AU$1,700 per person + 15% discount
Beyond Japan's National Parks: Japan Cruise Kanazawa to Otaru including Hokkaido & South Korea
16 DAYS
18 May – 2 June 2023 PROMO
Tokyo, Japan to Otaru, Japan
Aboard Heritage Adventurer
- Circumnavigate Japan’s enchanting, northernmost and least developed island
- Hokkaido’s rugged landscape of mountains, volcanoes and hot springs
- Explore outlying Rebun Island, Japan’s ‘island of flowers,’ and its rich flora of unique alpine flowers
- Kushiro, the largest wetland in Japan and home to Red-crowned Crane (world’s largest and rarest cranes)
- Visit South Korea’s Ulsan and fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site Gyeongju – the ‘museum without walls’
- Picturesque and otherworldly Dogojima Island in the Sea of Japan and a UNESCO registered Global Geopark
- Explore unspoiled nature, primeval wilderness, astounding rare wildlife and limpid lakes
- Discover the rich art centre of Kanazawa and one of the unique styles of Japanese art, and visit historic mountain settlement of Shirakawa-go
- Visit Matsue, ‘the town of water,’ and tour the Matsue Castle, a national treasure and 17th century castle
- Learn of the traditional pottery making traditions of Hagi and visit the temples and shrines of the Teramachi District
- Enjoy birdwatching excursions on Rishiri Island, looking for Japan’s famed Black Woodpecker and Long-tailed Tit
- Discover Kushiro’s natural history and beauty of the indigenous Ainu culture
PROMO: SAVE AU$1,700 per person + 15% discount
Discover Eternal Japan: Expedition Cruising Sapporo to Kobe, Including South Korea
15 DAYS
1 – 15 June 2023 NEW VOYAGE!
Osaka, Japan to Kobe, Japan
Aboard Heritage Adventurer
- Remote stretches of coastline and islands tourists rarely have the opportunity to experience
- Visit historic castles such as 17th Century Matsue Castle, Karatsu Castle, Uwajima Castle and Hiroshima Castle
- Explore the famed flower farms of Hokkaido, tranquil Tenshaen Garden, the leading bonsai centre of Kinashi, impressive Edo-period Kenrokuen Garden and Onuma Park in Hakodate
- Discover beautiful landscapes unspoiled nature, primeval wilderness including the Ogi Peninsula, Towada-Hachimantai National Park and Kaze no Matsubara, Japan’s largest pine forest
- Learn about Japan's strong cultural history
- Visit remote stretches of coastline and islands tourists rarely have the opportunity to experience
- Culturally rich Sado Island – puppet theater, okesa folk songs, ondeko drumming and Noh theater
- Art centre of Kanazawa exploring some of the unique styles of Japanese art.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gyeongju in Ulsan, South Korea and its ancient Korean history and Buddhist culture
- Learn about the traditional process of producing pearls during a visit to Uwajima, a pearl farm
- Hagi’s ancient temples and shrines, including ‘Ninja Temple’, and old Samurai houses
PROMO: SAVE AU$1,700 per person + 15% discount
Exploring Asia's Subtropical Islands: Expedition Cruising the Subtropical Islands of Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines
15 DAYS
14 Jun 2023 to 28 Jun 2023 PROMO
Osaka, Japan to Manila, Philippines
Aboard Heritage Adventurer
- Explore the eco-paradise and UNESCO World Heritage Yakushima Island, home to the Japanese Cedar and almost 2,000 species of flora
- Travel with multi-award-winning BBC and National Geographic wildlife filmmakers Neil Nightingale (former head of the BBC Natural History Unit) and Karen Bass.
- Discover the beauty and history of the ‘Hawaii of Japan’ Okinawa Island
- Visit Pure Water Temple Kiyomizudera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to 780
- Tour Kinashi, one of Japan’s main bonsai production centres
- Takamatsu's Ritsurin Park, considered one of Japan’s finest gardens
- Admire fascinating architecture and art museums, including Chichu Art Museum and Benesse House
- Miyamjima, home Japan’s famous Itsukushima Shrine and giant torii gate
- On Japan’s Shikoku Island, visit Uwajima Castle and Japan’s premier pearl producing farm
- Encounter rare and diverse birdlife and primeval subtropical Kinsakubaru Virgin Forest on Amami Oshima
- Observe and learn about the revered Oshima Tsumugi silk which has been used to make high-quality kimonos
- Explore the lush Valley of Gangala, a limestone cave system and working excavation site, where pre-historic humans lived some 20,000 years ago
- Idyllic subtropical Ishigaki Island with its pristine beaches, coral reefs, jungle-clad mountains, and prolific butterflies and birdlife
- Discover the ancient Shurijo Castle, the former residence of the Ryukyu kings
- Experience Keelung, Taiwan's iconic street food and world-famous Yehliu Geopark, Taroko National Park and Marble Gorge
- In the Philippines, visit picturesque Batan Island, learn of its harrowing WWII history and UNESCO city of Vigan
PROMO: SAVE AU$1,700 per person + 15% discount
Undiscovered Philippines and Indonesia: Cruising the Remote Islands of the Philippines and Indonesia
15 DAYS
27 Jun - 11 Jul 2023 NEW VOYAGE!
Manila, Philippines to Darwin, Australia
Aboard Heritage Adventurer
- Discover tropical islands, snorkel pristine reefs, visit historic sites and experience forgotten cultures and incredible wildlife encounters
- Travel with multi-award-winning BBC and National Geographic wildlife filmmakers Neil Nightingale (former head of the BBC Natural History Unit) and Karen Bass.
- Explore the 'Galapagos of Asia' Sibuyan Island
- Visit the 'Whale Shark Capital of the World' and swim with these gentle giants at Donsol
- Experience the power of Catandayagan Falls
- Discover the 'eight wonder of the world', Bohol Island's Chocolate Hills
- Snorkel the 'mother of all living coral reefs'
- Tojoman Lagoon/Sohoton Jellyfish Sanctuary
- Bucas Grande Island's iconic Blue Lagoon
- See the smallest primate in the world the saucer-eyed Tarsier
- Visit the Sultan of Ternate's palace and learn history of the Spice Islands
- Wildlife-filled Tangoko Nature Reserve, Banggai, Taliabu, Buru, Banda Neira and Tanimbar Islands
PROMO: SAVE AU$1,700 per person + 15% discount
