Cruise Line |
Crystal Cruises |
Ship |
Crystal Endeavor |
Destination |
Asia |
Nights |
14 |
Departure Date |
29 May 2021 |
Description |
14 Night Cruise sailing from Osaka to Otaru aboard Crystal Endeavor.
Wonders of nature reign over this intensive expedition through the islands of Japan. From the flowing waterfalls and volcanoes cloaked in forest on the Shiretoko Peninsula to the contrasting ice floes and wildflowers in Abashiri, Japan’s coastlines are gateways to some enchanting adventures. Explore the convergence of Japanese and Russian cultures in Wakkanai and Korsakov, where road signs and architecture cross national boundaries.
Walk along gas lamp-lit avenues in Otaru’s canal district, sampling the local cuisine and immersing yourself in the historic harbor town. Mount Yotei and Mount Hakodate invite adventurists to their summits with invigorating trails and reward them with sprawling views. Throughout the journey, world-class seafood is showcased in distinct styles of the many fishing villages and towns.
Highlights of this cruise:
Osaka
As it has been for centuries, Osaka remains a city of commerce, one of the original Japanese towns at the core of a developing society that grew around trade with China. Although the nature of the city hasn’t changed, it is presently undergoing an architectural revolution with a dazzling display of gleaming skyscrapers. Its prime geography makes it an excellent gateway to famed locales – including the sacred site of Kyoto and the majestic tranquility of Nara.
Tokyo
From the timeless beauty of the Meji Shrine to the glittering Ginza District and impressive Tokyo Tower, Tokyo is a complex blend of East and West where houses of wood and paper stand beside soaring steel skyscrapers while kimono-clad women stroll along trendy teenagers. Here in this city of more than 11 million people, the timeless Imperial Palace bears testament to Japan’s enduring traditions, existing in a verdant parkland of isolation.
Hakodate
Whether you reach the spectacular summit of Mt. Hakodate by gondola or invigorating hike, sprawling vistas of the town below offer a beautiful reward. Venture further into the rich natural wonders to Lake Onuma Park, where trails in every direction lead to adventure and tiny lake islands are just a canoe quest away. In town, the local fish market, modern Motomachi neighborhood and Russian Orthodox Church express the storied past and varied present-day culture of Hakodate.
Korsakov
The Russian city of Korsakov is nestled on the southern end of Sakhalin Island in the Sea of Okhotsk, just north of Japan’s Hokkaido Island. Korsakov is a gateway to the capital of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, where the architectural style recalls an earlier Japanese presence. The Sakhalin Regional Museum, with elements of European and Japanese design, is the best example of this east-meets-west atmosphere and worth a visit. Other attractions include the Church of St. Nicholas, Lenin Square, and more.
Otaru
A small harbor city, Otaru once played a pivotal role as a fishing and trade port, its main canal still a beautifully preserved representation of that era. Today, the canal district is illuminated with character by old-fashioned gas lamps, lined with warehouses that have been transformed into museums, shops and restaurants. Adventure seekers have an easy quest from Otaru to Mount Yotei, the active stratovolcano that offers challenging hikes and extreme crater skiing. |
|
Itinerary |
Cruise Itinerary
Day | Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
1 |
29/05 |
Osaka, Japan |
|
06:00 PM |
2 |
30/05 |
Toba, Japan |
|
|
3 |
31/05 |
Shimizu (Shizuoka), Japan |
|
|
4 |
01/06 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
|
5 |
02/06 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
|
6 |
03/06 |
At sea |
|
|
7 |
04/06 |
Hakodate, Japan |
|
|
8 |
05/06 |
Kushiro, Japan |
|
|
9 |
06/06 |
At sea |
|
|
10 |
07/06 |
Abashiri, Japan |
|
|
11 |
08/06 |
Korsakov, Russia |
|
|
12 |
09/06 |
Korsakov, Russia |
|
|
13 |
10/06 |
Wakkanai, Japan |
|
|
14 |
11/06 |
Otaru Ko, Japan |
|
|
15 |
12/06 |
Otaru Ko, Japan |
|
|
|
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
|