14 Night Cruise sailing from Tokyo to Osaka aboard Cystal Endeavor.

Every facet of the complex soul of Japan is on display during this journey through the island nation. Thousands of islands offer their own proud heritage and monumental sites, including shrines, gardens, natural marvels and metropolitan hubs. Feel the energy of Osaka, its towering skyscrapers framing the modern epicenter of culture and commerce, or venture beyond city limits to lovely Kyoto. Explore the contrasting history of peace and tragedy during an overnight to Hiroshima, today rich in lush greenery and fascinating tales told at monuments and museums.

Look for the iconic floating Itsukushima Shrine on the shores of Miyajima, the “Island of the Gods;” delight in the hugely charming character of tiny Senzaki, which inspired numerous children’s stories and poems; and explore the many sides of Hamada, where Zen Buddhism meets the legacy of the Samurai.

Highlights of this cruise:

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.

Kanazawa
It rivals Kyoto in historical significance and is virtually unrivaled in its beauty. Kanazawa is home to Japan’s most celebrated garden, Kenroku-en, an elaborate natural landscape of tranquility and color. A remarkably preserved samurai quarter, Higashi Chaya geisha district and Ninjadera temple with secret doors and traps juxtaposed with busting dining and shopping areas make this charming modern city an epicenter of intrigue.

Pohang
Pohang is home to the Juwangsan National Park in the Baekdu Mountain range, known for its many stone peaks, waterfalls, caves and the Daejeonsa Temple. It is also the gateway to the Bogyeongsa Temple, a Buddhist pilgrimage site constructed in 603 near the twin falls of the Sangsaeng Waterfall.

Hiroshima
Despite its brief period of travesty during the second World War, Hiroshima’s past and present are remarkably peaceful. Throughout the modern cosmopolitan city center lie cultural curiosities and a friendliness that permeates every facet of exploration here. Lush greenery is everywhere along the wide boulevards, as are monuments to 20th-century tragedies and historical Japanese temples and gardens that illustrate the city’s beautiful history of centuries past.

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.