Superior Kabine Deck 3
20% Ponant Bonus
21 m²
3
Auf dieser Kreuzfahrt ist die Bordsprache ausschließlich Englisch.
In Zusammenarbeit mit Smithsonian Journeys.
Diese Kreuzfahrt gehört zu einer besonderen Auswahl von PONANT Reisen, die speziell für englischsprachige Gäste konzipiert wurden. Neben den gewohnten Elementen einer PONANT Reise, umfassen die aufgeführten Preise für diese Kreuzfahrten Transfers zum und vom Schiff, Vorträge und Diskussionen an Bord mit Weltklasse-Experten, und einen Landausflug oder eine Aktivität in jedem Hafen, bei denen die Gäste die Sehenswürdigkeiten und vieles mehr entdecken und in die unbekannte Kultur eintauchen können.
Diese 8-tägige Reise ab Maizuru an Japans Nordküste entlang bietet eine hervorragende Einführung in die Traditionen und Bräuche Japans durch eine Vielzahl sorgfältig ausgewählter Landausflüge in jedem Anlaufhafen. Ergreifen Sie die Gelegenheit, feudale Schlösser, buddhistische Tempel, moderne Kunst, Teezeremonien, Kunsthandwerk, Landschaftsgärten und Wunder der Natur zu entdecken.
Von Ihrem ersten Anlaufhafen Sakaiminato aus können Sie die Burg Matsue besuchen, die 1611 vollständig aus Kiefernholz erbaut wurde, oder das Adachi Museum of Art, in dem die großen Meister der modernen japanischen Malerei und Bildhauerei ausgestellt sind. Sie können auch das traditionelle Handwerk der Papierherstellung (Washi) aus Baumrinde und den Yushien Garden, einen Landschaftsgarten im traditionellen Stil, der für seine Pfingstrosen berühmt ist, entdecken.
Die südkoreanische Hafenstadt Busan bietet ein ähnliches Spektrum an Möglichkeiten: Der 1376 erbaute Haedong Yonggungsa Tempel, mit Blick auf das Meer, das Busan Museum of Art mit einem Skulpturengarten im Freien und Ausstellungen zeitgenössischer koreanischer Künstler, Gyeongju Historic Areas, das von der UNESCO zum Weltkulturerbe erklärt wurde und die Blütezeit der Silla-Kultur zwischen dem 7. und 10. Jahrhundert repräsentiert, und eine Koreanische Teezeremonie im Hongbeopsa-Tempel, der die größte Buddha-Statue Asiens beherbergt
Ein Tag auf See bringt Sie nach Kanazawa und bietet Ihnen die Möglichkeit, den weltberühmten Kenroku-en zu erkunden, einer der Drei Großen Gärten Japans, der „die sechs Eigenschaften eines perfekten Gartens“ besitzt. Kanazawa ist auch für seine tadellos erhaltenen Samurai- und Geisha-Viertel und für sein Kunsthandwerk bekannt, insbesondere für Lack, Töpferwaren, Gold und Seide, die Sie erleben und genießen können.
In den letzten beiden Anlaufhäfen – Ogi auf der Insel Sado und die kleine Stadt Sakata – steht die Schönheit der Natur Japans im Mittelpunkt. Ein Ausflug zum Senkaku-wan Bay Ageshima Yuen Park auf der Insel Sado ist ein Traum für Landschaftsfotografen, ebenso wie Haguro-san, einer der drei heiligen Berge, die als Dewa Sanzan bekannt sind, und der Berg Chokai und die Tamasudare-Wasserfälle bei Sakata. Aber wie immer auf dieser Reise gibt es viele Alternativen, z. B. ein Volksmuseum und eine Sake-Brauerei in Ogi oder ein Fotomuseum und ein Aquarium mit Quallen in Sakata.
Die Kreuzfahrt endet in Hakodate auf der Insel Hokkaido.
Ref : MH1245US - SO210524
Eine speziell auf englischsprachige Reisende zugeschnittene Reise Gespräche mit Experten, Transfers vor und nach der Kreuzfahrt und ein Landausflug in jedem Anlaufhafen sind inbegriffen Spannende Diskussionen...
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Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
For men:
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
For men:
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
HEALTH CARE:
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT Aktivitäten
Smithsonian Journeys
Smithsonian Journeys ist das Reiseprogramm der Smithsonian Institution, eine bedeutende US-amerikanische Forschungs- und Bildungseinrichtung, das aus 21 Museen, dem National Zoological Park, Bildungszentren, Forschungseinrichtungen, Kulturzentren und Bibliotheken besteht. Die Kreuzfahrten in gemeinsamer Kooperation stützen sich auf die Ressourcen von Smithsonian, die auf eine 175-jährige Geschichte zurückblicken, und bieten bemerkenswerte Experten und Erfahrungen. Diese Reisen beziehen insbesonders die lokalen Kulturen mit ein und tauchen tiefer in die Geschichte, Küche, Sprache, Umwelt und Tierwelt eines Reiseziels ein. Seit mehr als 50 Jahren ist Smithsonian Journeys in der Kultur verwurzelt und konzentriert sich auf das Eintauchen und Entdecken von Kulturen - mit dem Ziel, Gäste zu inspirieren und zu einem tieferen Verständnis der Orte beizutragen.
Vorbehaltlich des Widerrufs im Falle von höherer Gewalt
Einschiffung 21.05.2024 von 16:00 bis 17:00
Abfahrt 21.05.2024 um 18:00
Das an der Westküste der Insel Honshu in der Präfektur Kyoto gelegene charmante Etappenziel Maizuru lässt Sie eine der schönsten geschlossenen Buchten Japans entdecken. Ein Aufstieg auf das Observatorium ermöglicht Ihnen, die Schönheit dieses mit unberührten Inseln übersäten Meeresarms zu betrachten. Sie können auch einige Schätze traditioneller Architektur bewundern, indem Sie den Tempel Enryu-ji oder die Burg Tanabe-jo besichtigen. Die Stadt weist zudem Spuren einer reichen militärischen Vergangenheit auf: die ehemaligen Marinewerften, rote Backsteingebäude, in denen sich heute ein Museum befindet.
Ankunft 22.05.2024 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 22.05.2024 am frühen Nachmittag
Die an der Südwestküste der Insel Honshu gelegene Stadt Sakaiminato zelebriert den hier geborenen Mangaka Shigeru Mizuki durch ein Museum und unter freiem Himmel durch eine ihm gewidmete touristische Straße. Die Strecke enthüllt Ihnen entlang der Straßen und Plätze 134 Bronzestatuen von den Figuren des japanischen Autors. Doch Sakaiminato hat noch mehr zu bieten: Der bedeutende Fischereihafen macht sie zu einer dynamischen Stadt mit zahlreichen lokalen Spezialitäten und regelmäßig stattfindenden Festlichkeiten. Bemerkenswert sind auch die einzigartigen Panoramaausblicke auf den Berg Daisen oder die Halbinsel Yumigahama.
Ankunft 23.05.2024 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 23.05.2024 am späten Nachmittag
Mit etwa vier Millionen Einwohnern ist Busan nach der Hauptstadt Seoul die zweitgrößte Metropole Südkoreas. Diese dynamische Hafenstadt im Südosten, die von dem warmen Wasser des Japanischen Meers umspült wird, zeichnet sich durch ein angenehmes und mildes Klima aus. Sie können durch die belebten Straßen schlendern und zwischen Galerien, Museen und buddhistischen Stätten ein einzigartiges Kulturerbe wie den elegant das Meer säumenden Tempel Haedong Yonggungsa entdecken. Auch an herrlichen Stränden und großartigen natürlichen Landschaften fehlt es nicht. Busan besticht durch seine Ruhe ganz wie dessen Einwohner, zu deren Begegnung Sie Gelegenheit haben.
Ankunft 24.05.2024
Abfahrt 24.05.2024
Genießen Sie während der Überfahrt auf See die zahlreichen Freizeitangebote an Bord. Gönnen Sie sich Entspannung im Spa oder halten Sie sich im Fitnessraum in Form. Lassen Sie sich je nach Jahreszeit zu einem Sprung in den Pool oder zu einem Sonnenbad verlocken. Dieser Reise ohne Zwischenstopp bietet auch Gelegenheit, einer Konferenz oder einer der an Bord angebotenen Vorstellungen beizuwohnen, abhängig von den angebotenen Aktivitäten, oder in der Boutique ein wenig zu shoppen oder die PONANT-Fotografen in ihrem eigenen Bereich aufzusuchen. Wer das offene Meer liebt, bewundert auf dem Oberdeck das Schauspiel der Wogen und kann mit etwas Glück Meerestiere beobachten. Eine zauberhafte kleine Auszeit mit Komfort, Entspannung und Unterhaltung.
Ankunft 25.05.2024 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 25.05.2024 am frühen Abend
Auf der Insel Honshu am Wasser des Japanischen Meers gelegen, ist Kanazawa eine von der Geschichte geprägte Hafenstadt. Von der Vorherrschaft des Clans Maeda bis zur Meiji-Zeit hat die Stadt zahlreiche politische und kulturelle Einflüsse erfahren, die sie geprägt haben. Quer durch die Stadt entdecken Sie zahlreiche Zeugnisse dieser reichen Vergangenheit: die Burg von Kanazawa, der Kenroku-en, einer der schönsten und berühmtesten Gärten des Landes, oder auch das ehemalige Viertel der Geishas, Higashi-Chayagai. Im Stadtzentrum können Sie den sehr geschätzten Markt mit Frischprodukten ?micho Ichiba besuchen. Sie finden dort so einige gerade gefangene Gaumengenüsse aus dem Meer.
Ankunft 26.05.2024 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 26.05.2024 am frühen Abend
Der Marktflecken Ogi befindet sich im Süden der Insel Sado, ein mit wilder Heide bedecktes Fleckchen Erde vor den Westküsten von Honshu. Sie können die Gassen durchstreifen, um das traditionelle Japan zu entdecken, und vielleicht einen Ausflug im Taraibune machen. Diese runden Kähne, eine Besonderheit des Ortes, dienten früher zum Sammeln von Algen und Muscheln. Sie können auch die fantastischen dunklen Holzverkleidungen des Dorfes Shukunegi westlich von Ogi bewundern. Die Umgebung bietet schließlich mehrere Wandermöglichkeiten durch eine bewahrte Natur.
Ankunft 27.05.2024 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 27.05.2024 am frühen Nachmittag
Am Ufer des Japanischen Meers, in der Region Tôhoku im Norden der Insel Honshû, verzaubert Sakata durch seine folkloristische Atmosphäre mit einer authentischen, traditionellen Architektur. In der symbolträchtigen Stadt sind die Düfte, Aromen und Traditionen der Epoche der Kitamae-Route, einer Seehandelsroute zwischen Otaru und Osaka, die die japanischen Händler im 18. Jahrhundert benutzten, immer noch gegenwärtig. Die aufeinanderfolgenden Sankyo-Lagerhäuser, in denen früher Reis gelagert wurde, sind Zeitzeugen und heute die Symbole eines starken industriellen Erbes.
Ankunft 28.05.2024 am frühen Vormittag
Ausschiffung 28.05.2024 um 08:00
Das an der Tsugaru-Straße gelegene Hakodate war lange die einzige Eingangspforte zur Insel Hokkaido im Norden des Archipels. Dank der seit geraumer Zeit bestehenden, bedeutenden Hafenaktivitäten mit Verbindung zum Ausland verfügt die Stadt über ein einzigartiges architektonisches Erbe, das sowohl japanische Gebäude als auch Bauten in einem westlicheren Stil umfasst. Genießen Sie einen angenehmen Bummel entlang der Bucht mit den dort befindlichen zahlreichenGeschäften und Restaurants, ohne zu vergessen, eine kulinarische Pause rund um eine Schale Ramen-Nudelsuppe einzulegen. Sie wird hier besonders geschätzt. Ein Muss, das Sie nicht auslassen können: die Besteigung des Bergs Hakodate. Der Blick von dort aus auf die Stadt ist fantastisch.
The Adachi Museum of Art, about an hour's drive from Sakaiminato, although an excellent modern art museum, is probably best known for its garden, which is consistently ranked as the best garden in Japan by the Journal of Japanese Gardening. Founded by Adachi Zenko in 1970 in an effort to showcase the two Japanese art forms about which he was most passionate—painting and landscape design—the Museum's collection includes some 1300 artworks by the great masters of modern Japanese art. The works of Yokoyama Taikan, which are displayed in a permanent exhibit, predominate, but other 20th-century artists—Takeuchi Seiho, Uemura Shoen, and Ito Shinsui, among others—are also represented. Five separate gardens, all of which are viewed from within the museum, are designed be seen as "living paintings" in accordance with the founder's belief that gardens may be appreciated in much the same way as oil on canvas.
After exploring the Adachi Museum, visit Yushien Garden, located on Daikon Island in the middle of Lake Nakaumi, between Sakaiminato and Matsue. This breathtaking garden of over 400,000 square feet, established in 1975, is beautiful in any season, featuring an array of landscape elements from flower gardens to waterfalls, streams, and rock gardens. But in springtime, when you will visit, Yushien's main attraction of over 250 different species of peonies in an array of colors will be in full bloom.
Inbegriffen
Je nach Verfügbarkeit Preis pro Person.
About 20 miles southeast of Sakaiminato, at the base of towering Mt. Daisen, is the Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park. Unlike traditional Japanese gardens that focus on landscaping and on integration with the natural environment, Tottori is designed as a museum of flowers. Outdoor beds showcase seasonal blooms, while a temperature-controlled Flower Dome is dedicated to tropical plants year-round. In addition to the orchids, hibiscus, and palm trees you will see in the tropical dome, when you visit in May, the spring blooms (cherry blossoms and tulips) will be giving way to summer plants like hydrangeas and sunflowers. And you will enjoy all of this against the backdrop of stunning views of Mt. Daisen, the tallest peak in the region and a holy place of Buddhist worship.
From Tottori, a short drive brings you to a favorite site of local residents, Kotobukijo, a self-described "confectionary theme park." Housed within a replica of a samurai castle, Kotobukijo is a working candy and pastry factory and houses a sweets shop, a seafood shop, a tea room, a window into the factory, and an observation deck with panoramic views of Mt. Daisen and the surrounding area. You will be invited to sample the wares and perhaps purchase a few of your favorites.
On your return to Sakaiminato, drive by Mizuki Shigeru Road, named for Sakaiminato's favorite son, one of Japan's leading manga artists. The half mile span of road is a famous shopping street, and is lined with bronze statues of more than 150 supernatural monsters from Mizuki's masterpiece graphic novel, Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro.
Inbegriffen
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Constructed in 1611 on the shores of Lake Shinji, Matsue Castle is the emblematic symbol of Matsue City and the only surviving feudal castle on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The castle donjon (keep) is made entirely of pine, and, with the exception of a partial reconstruction in 1692, has survived earthquakes, fires, and wars to remain much as it was in the 17th century. Explore the five-story façade that encloses six levels, including the uppermost floor, with views of the city, Lake Shinji, and distant mountains. You may also want to visit its small museum of samurai swords and armor.
A short drive south brings you to Abe Eishiro Memorial Hall, a municipal museum dedicated to the life and times of Abe Eishiro (1903-1985), a master craftsman in the art of washi. The term comes from wa (Japanese) and shi (paper), and is used to describe the traditional Japanese method of making paper by hand. It commonly utilizes fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub, or the paper mulberry, but bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat can also be used. Generally sturdier than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, washi is employed in many traditional arts and crafts, including Origami, Shodo, and Ukiyo-e. Washi paper has also been used to manufacture various everyday goods like clothes and toys, as well as vestments and ritual objects for Shinto priests. During your visit to the museum, you will have the opportunity to try making washi yourself.
On your return to Sakaiminato, drive by Mizuki Shigeru Road, named for Sakaiminato's favorite son, one of Japan's leading manga artists. The half mile span of road is a famous shopping street, and is lined with bronze statues of more than 150 supernatural monsters from Mizuki's masterpiece graphic novel, Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro.
Inbegriffen
Je nach Verfügbarkeit Preis pro Person.
During your 45-minute drive to the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, you will cross the Gwangan Grand Bridge. At 4.6-miles, it is Korea's longest suspension bridge and offers panoramic views of city and sea: a spectacular beginning to a deeply rewarding day of discovery, sampling the richly varied cultural tapestry of South Korea's second-largest city.
Unlike most Korean Buddhist temples, which are typically found in the mountains, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is built on rocky cliffs overlooking the sea — a dramatic setting that contributes to its popularity with both worshippers and secular visitors. The temple complex is centered on the Daeungjeon Main Sanctuary, which is reached via a stairway of 108 steps. It was restored in 1970 with great care taken to replicate the original colors, which had appeared to the initial architect in a dream. Next door is a magnificent three-story pagoda guarded by four stone lions symbolizing joy, anger, sadness, and happiness.
Back in Busan, you will have time to explore the Busan Museum of Arts and its annex, Space Lee Ufan. The Museum comprises five floors of exhibition halls, archives, and function rooms. Exhibitions change frequently and are drawn from a rich array of arts and genres. Space Lee Ufan is a sculpture garden and building, designed entirely by the artist, and devoted to the works of this much-heralded global master of minimalism, who was born in Hamun-gun, about 20 miles from this site.
After a buffet lunch at a restaurant with both Korean and international menus, your tour comes to an end at the Jagalchi Fish Market, located next to the Fisherman’s Wharf. Emblematic of Busan and famous throughout the country, the enormous Jagalchi Market offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of the people of Busan.
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This excursion will introduce you to the ancient kingdom of Silla, centered on Gyeongiu, which flourished between the 7th and 10th centuries. During these three hundred years of Silla dominance of the peninsula, Buddhism was introduced to Korea, along with printing, a refinement in porcelain production, and a written language still in use today.
Your 90-minute drive to this UNESCO World Heritage site, often referred to as "the world's largest museum without walls," brings you first to the Bulguksa Temple, located on the slopes of Mt. Tohamsan. The temple is a monument to Silla architectural skill and home to many cultural artifacts protected as national treasures, including the Dabotap and Seokgatap Stone Pagodas, the Yeonhwa-gyo and Chilbo-gyo Bridges, and the Golden Seated Vairocana Buddha. A gallery attached to the temple displays art produced by the monks.
After a typical Korean lunch at a local restaurant, your tour continues with a visit to Tumuli Park, a royal burial ground containing the tombs of 23 Silla kings. You will be able to visit inside the Cheonmachong (“Flying Horse Tomb”) to see how these huge mounds were constructed.
Your final stop of the day is the Gyeongju National Museum, a treasure trove of Silla relics, ranging from magnificent golden crowns to prehistoric stone implements. One of the museum's prized possessions is the massive bronze Bell of King Seongdeok. Cast in the 8th century, it weighs in at 25 tons and stands 12 feet tall.
Inbegriffen
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During your 45-minute drive to the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, you will cross the Gwangan Grand Bridge. At 4.6-miles, it is Korea's longest suspension bridge and offers panoramic views of city and sea: a spectacular beginning to a deeply rewarding day of discovery, sampling the richly varied cultural tapestry of South Korea's second-largest city.
Unlike most Korean Buddhist temples, which are typically found in the mountains, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is built on rocky cliffs overlooking the sea — a dramatic setting that contributes to its popularity with both worshippers and secular visitors. The temple complex is centered on the Daeungjeon Main Sanctuary, which is reached via a stairway of 108 steps. It was restored in 1970 with great care taken to replicate the original colors, which had appeared to the initial architect in a dream. Next door is a magnificent three-story pagoda guarded by four stone lions symbolizing joy, anger, sadness, and happiness.
Return to Busan and visit the Jagalchi Fish Market, located next to the Fisherman’s Wharf. Emblematic of Busan and famous throughout the country, the enormous Jagalchi Market offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of the people of Busan. Sample the traditional green onion pancake with or without seafood, along with a glass of Korean rice wine.
Inbegriffen
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Buddhism came to Korea from China in the 4th century, and by the time Silla unified the peninsula in 668, it had become the state religion. Although it is no longer the dominant religion in Korea, Buddhism still maintains as many as 20,000 temples throughout the country, many of them dedicated to the Zen tradition of meditation. One of these is the recently built (2003) Hongbeopsa Temple, famous for having one of the largest statues of Buddha in Asia. The highlight of your visit to Hongbeopsa will be the experience of a Buddhist Tea Ceremony, one of the six offerings—in addition to incense, flower, lantern, fruit, and rice—deemed appropriate gifts for the Buddha. The Tea Ceremony is practiced as a form of meditation with the aim of purifying the soul and becoming one with nature. After the ceremony, subject to his availability, you will be joined by a monk for a discussion of the ceremony and its relation to Buddhist teaching.
From Hongbeopsa, a short drive brings you to a place of a different sort of contemplation and meditation: the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea. The only United Nations cemetery in the world, it honors soldiers from 16 countries serving under UN command who were killed in battle during the Korean War. It is laid out over 35 acres of serene parkland and contains 2,300 graves, as well as monuments to the various nationalities represented.
Inbegriffen
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Korean cuisine has become increasingly popular in the West over the past several decades, and this excursion provides an opportunity for you to learn to make one of its most famous dishes—Bulgogi—from a master chef.
Travel to the center of town to one of Busan's best cooking schools, where the chef will greet you and talk about the origins of this savory dish of sliced beef in a soy-sesame-garlic-ginger sauce while demonstrating its preparation. Under chef's guidance, you will then prepare your own dish and sample it over rice, perhaps sharing with others in the group and comparing results.
Once finished with your self-made lunch, a detour on the way back to the ship brings you to Gamcheon Cultural Village, a neighborhood populated in the 1950s by refugees from the Korean War and long a poor backwater on the outskirts of fashionable modern Busan. The community experienced nothing short of an artistic renaissance beginning in 2009, when it was the site of a public art project that encouraged a cadre of young artists to transform the neighborhood from a downtrodden slum to a showcase of clever, colorful and quirky homes, shops, and galleries decorated with murals and sculptures along a maze of streets and alleyways. It has been heralded as one of Korea's most successful programs of urban renewal.
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This excursion introduces you to some of the variety of Kanazawa's neighborhoods and the richly varied legacy on which the city prides itself.
Begin with a walk through Omicho Market, established nearly 300 years ago as the center of community life. Omicho is still today Kanazawa's main market for fresh seafood, local vegetables, fruits, pickled vegetables, fried foods, and sweets. It is a colorful collection of some 200 shops and stalls and a lively introduction to the people of the city.
From the market, travel to Higashi Chayagai district, where geishas once entertained wealthy men. Most of the geisha teahouses have now been converted into exclusive restaurants and shops, but the district preserves the character of feudal times with its wooden latticed houses and winding, narrow streets. It is also home to workshops where artisans produce gold leaf in traditional ways.
With the encouragement and patronage from the Maeda family, who ruled the region for three centuries during the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603 to 1868), Kanazawa became an important center of cultural life and of arts and crafts of all sorts. Chief among those crafts was the art of working with gold leaf—Kanazawa literally translates to "marsh of gold"—and to this day Kanazawa produces 99% of the gold leaf in Japan. You will visit a gold leaf workshop where you will observe the process from smelting to pounding, as gold is turned into impossibly thin sheets with a thickness of approximately one-ten thousandth of a millimeter. And you will be given the opportunity to gild something for yourself.
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This full day excursion is designed to provide a sense of what life was like during the period of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603 to 1868) and of the wealth and cultural influence of the Maeda family, who ruled the region around Kanazawa for three centuries.
Kenrokuen Garden, recognized as one of "Three Great Gardens of Japan," is the Maeda family's contribution to the ancient Japanese tradition of landscape gardening. Originally a private garden next to the castle, it was developed over the centuries into a showcase of hills, streams, ponds, and fountains, containing all six of the elements considered central qualities of a perfect garden: extensiveness, artfulness, antiquity, abundant water, wide prospect, and quiet seclusion.
Overlooking Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle Park is home to the Gyokusenan Teahouse, once the office of the keeper of the grounds. Here you will enjoy lovely views of the garden as you participate in a performance of an authentic tea ceremony, one of the most important cultural legacies of the shogunate.
A short drive brings you to the Nagamichi Samurai District, a well-preserved neighborhood of samurai houses, where cobblestone streets and tiled walls evoke the lifestyle of wealthy samurai during the Edo period. Visit one of the larger of these houses, the Nomura Samurai Residence, home to generations of the Nomura family, who held important posts under the rule of the Maedas. Its garden has won numerous awards, and the heirlooms on display include a full set of samurai armor.
After a traditional Japanese lunch at a local restaurant, explore Higashi Chayagai district, where geishas once entertained wealthy men. Many of the geisha teahouses have now been converted into exclusive restaurants and shops, but some, like Kaikaro, have been preserved and provide a window into the life of the geisha.
A final stop will be made at Kutani Pottery Kiln, established in 1870, to see how handmade Kutani ware is produced.
Inbegriffen
Je nach Verfügbarkeit Preis pro Person.
On this full day tour, travel into the mountainous interior to the Shogawa River Valley and to the Villages of Shirakawago and Gokayama, a region designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 because of the unique architectural style of the farmhouses there and because so many of them have been so well preserved.
Visit Wada House, once the residence of the family who were the largest landowners in the village of Ogimachi, and the largest farmhouse in the area built in the traditional style. The style is called gassho-zukuri, meaning “hands clasped in prayer,” because of the characteristic steeply-pitched thatched roofs. Buildings in the village are all oriented along a north-south axis so that both sides of the roof receive equal sunlight and the region's heavy snowfalls melt evenly. You will have some free time to explore on your own, before enjoying a rustic Japanese lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, travel to the nearby village of Gokayama to learn about a traditional Japanese craft that is practiced here—the ancient art of washi. The term comes from wa (Japanese) and shi (paper), and is used to describe the traditional Japanese method of making paper by hand. It commonly utilizes fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub, or the paper mulberry, but bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat can also be used. Generally sturdier than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, washi is employed in many traditional arts and crafts, including Origami, Shodo, and Ukiyo-e. Washi paper was also used to manufacture various everyday goods like clothes and toys as well as vestments and ritual objects for Shinto priests. During your visit to Gokayama, you will have the opportunity to try making washi yourself.
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Located about 20 miles west of Honshu, Sado is a large island with a fascinating history. It was a port of call on a crucial trade route during the Edo period. It was a place where dissidents and political opponents of the regime were banished. And it was, until quite recently, a major mining center for gold.
This excursion focuses on the southern tip of the island, where you visit the old port town of Shukunegi, which has changed little since its time at the center of the coastal trade between Hokkaido and Osaka. In its prime, Shukunegi was home to shipbuilding yards and a large fishing fleet. Those businesses are gone now, but the old structures remain, and you will be able to stroll among the crowded alleyways of houses built from ship planks and get a sense of the bustle of activity that would have been here when ships were in port.
In the nearby Ogi Folk Museum, housed in what used to be an elementary school, you will find a surprisingly rich collection of over 30,000 folk materials, including tools and equipment belonging to fishermen and shipbuilders, as well as objects from the everyday life of the community. The prize exhibit of the museum is a ship that has been restored based on the design drawings of a sengokubune (wooden freight ship) that was built here in 1858.
On your return to the ship in Ogi port, stop at the Hokusetsu Sake Brewery, a local institution that has been in business for more than a century and a half. Hokusetsu produces a popular brand of sake called NOBU, about 30% of which is exported from the island. Enjoy some time at leisure here to sample different kinds of the Japanese national brew.
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Located about 20 miles west of Honshu, Sado is a large island with a fascinating history. It was a port of call on a crucial trade route during the Edo period. It was a place where dissidents and political opponents of the regime were banished. And it was, until quite recently, a major mining center for gold. This excursion focuses on the northern part of the island, a region known for its natural beauty—and also for the gold mines that made the island wealthy.
After a scenic drive through the island's countryside, you reach Senkaku-wan Bay and Ageshima Yuen Park on Sado's western coast. From the observation deck in the park, enjoy dramatic views of the steep and rugged cliffs that many visitors find reminiscent of Norwegian fjords, and of the five small bays that make up Senkaku-wan.
Leaving the coast, travel inland to Sado Kinzan Gold Mine, the largest of the mines dug after the discovery of large deposits of gold and silver in the early 17th century. During the early modern period, Sado was one of the largest producers of gold in the world and an important source of revenue for the Tokugawa Shogunate. The mine closed in 1989, having produced a total of 78 tons of gold and 2,330 tons of silver during its four centuries of operation. A tour of the mine takes you into the tunnels, where you will find displays illustrating the changes in mining technology over time and describing the living and working conditions of the miners.
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Taiko, the art of Japanese drumming, has its origins in ancient religious ceremonies and in its use as a means of military communication. But it is now a performance art that is known and practiced around the world. Sado Island has been an important center of the taiko tradition since 1969, when Za Ondekoza founded a community of artists on the island and formed the world-renowned taiko group, KODO. This excursion introduces you to the art of taiko in preparation for a Kodo performance later in the day.
Begin with a short drive to the Sado Island Taiko Center, where drums of various sizes and tones are on display, and where a former member of KODO will talk with you about the history of the drumming tradition and demonstrate some of its variety. He will also invite you to take a turn on the drums to produce the powerful sounds of taiko for yourself.
Before returning to the ship, enjoy another unique Sado Island experience as you take a ride in the emblematic tarai bune boat. These small craft are modeled on washtubs and propelled and steered by a single oar, the flat bottom and easy maneuverability making them ideal for harvesting abalone and mollusks.
In late afternoon, join fellow travelers for a performance by Japan's premiere taiko ensemble, as Kodo entertains you with their skill and enthusiasm.
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The coastal town of Sakata owes its prosperity to the high-quality rice produced on the fertile plains of its hinterland and to the port's role in coastal shipping during the Edo period. This excursion introduces you to three of Sakata's most significant highlights.
The Honma Museum of Art, opened in 1947 as the first privately-owned museum in postwar Japan, is on an estate originally designed as a vacation home for the head of the Honma clan, at one time among the richest families in Japan. Its serene gardens and spacious villa, both built in 1813, are the original home of the museum and display selected pieces of lacquerware, sculptures, and pottery from the collection. A new, larger structure, was erected next to the garden in 1968 and now serves as the main museum, featuring additional items from the Honma collection in rotating exhibitions.
Ken Domon was one of postwar Japan's most influential photographers, a leading proponent of realism and an unflinching recorder of daily life. His 1957 study of Hiroshima, now in the Met in New York, is a landmark in photo-journalism. A native of Sakata, Domon gifted his entire collection of photographs to his hometown, and in response, the city built the Ken Domon Museum of Photography to house them.
Sankyo Rice Warehouses are emblematic of Sakata, an enduring symbol of the source of the city's wealth. Constructed in 1893, the storehouses are a remarkable example of building to purpose—thick whitewashed walls, double roofs, soil floors, and a barrier of zelkova trees to provide shade create an ideal environment, where each of the dozen storehouses, nine of which are still in use, hold up to 5,000,000 pounds of rice. Nine of the storehouses are still in use, while the remaining three have been converted into shops and a museum illustrating the history of rice cultivation.
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An hour's drive south of Sakata brings you to Mt. Haguro, one of three sacred mountains known as the Dewa Sanzan, where you will visit the site of a five-story pagoda and a shrine to the gods of the three mountains.
Go-Jyu-No-Toh, the five-story pagoda, has been designated as one of Japan’s National Treasures—a wooden structure standing over 95 feet tall built entirely without nails. It has remained standing for more than 600 years, in part because of a pendulum in the center that allows the building to sway during tremors—a remarkable feat of engineering that has informed modern techniques for constructing earthquake-proof buildings.
At the top of the mountain, visit the Sanjin Gosaiden Shrine. Because Mt. Haguro, unlike the other two mountains, remains accessible throughout the year, this shrine represents all three of the deities of the scared mountains. Pilgrims reach this scarlet-colored shrine, one of the holiest in Japan, by following a path of 2,446 steps up the mountainside.
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This excursion is designed to highlight the natural beauty of the northern end of Honshu on a panoramic drive into the undeveloped mountainous region northeast of Sakata.
Your drive begins along the scenic coast and then turns inland as you make your way to Mt. Chokai, which at 7,335 feet, towers over the surrounding plain. Disembark your coach at the trailhead for a half-mile hike to the 4th station on the mountain climbing route, where you will be rewarded with spectacular views over the Sea of Japan. Back on the coach and down the mountain, pause at intriguing Maruike-sama, an emerald-green pond fed by spring-water from the mountain top.
Your final stop before returning to the ship is at Tamasudare Falls. Legend has it that the Buddhist monk and master calligrapher, Kobo Daishi, discovered the falls and gave them their name, which means "beaded curtain." Worshipped ever since as a sacred location, the falls are accessed via a 15-minute walk on a paved path. It is possible to walk right up to the base of the falls, which are about 18 feet wide and plunge some 200 feet straight down, where the spray of falls is said to purify visitors’ bodies and souls.
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This excursion showcases Sakata's relationship with both land and sea, as you visit the local aquarium and a fascinating group of rice warehouses.
The Kamo Aquarium hosts a collection of fresh and saltwater fish from local waters, as well as an outdoor pool for seals. But the clear highlight is the aquarium's collection of jellyfish—the largest collection of these ethereal sea creatures in the world. Their rhythmic motions are curiously calming to watch, particularly against the colored backlighting of the Jellyfish Dream Theater, an enormous, five-meter-wide, tank specially designed to showcase the 'jellies' .
Sankyo Rice Warehouses are emblematic of Sakata, an enduring symbol of the source of the city's wealth. Constructed in 1893, the storehouses are a remarkable example of building to purpose—thick whitewashed walls, double roofs, soil floors, and a barrier of zelkova trees to provide shade create an ideal environment, where each of the dozen storehouses, nine of which are still in use, hold up to 5,000,000 pounds of rice. Nine of the storehouses are still in use, while the remaining three have been converted into shops and a museum illustrating the history of rice cultivation.
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Je nach Verfügbarkeit Preis pro Person.PONANT has organized the following included program for you, which starts the day of embarkation.
Included Features:
Not included:
Notes:
Lektor
An Bord Ihres Schiffes bieten Ihnen ausgewählte Lektoren kulturelle und historische Einblicke, damit Sie noch mehr über Ihr Reiseziel erfahren können: den Ursprung der lokalen Traditionen, die Geschichte symbolischer Orte, berühmte Persönlichkeiten und historische Helden... Die Experten begleiten Sie während der gesamten Kreuzfahrt, an Bord und bei den Ausflügen an Land, um ihr Know-how und ihre Einsichten mit Ihnen zu teilen.
Unsere Zusatzleistungen
Japan is a country pulled in two radically different directions, deeply honoring its past while rushing headlong into the future. Hyper-modernity exists side by side with the quiet serenity of ancient shrines and gardens. Nowhere is this contrast more apparent than in the experience provided by this 5-day program in Tokyo and Kyoto, as you move between the steel and glass of modern skyscrapers and the wood and bamboo structure of Zen temples. From the gleaming storefronts of Tokyo's Ginza district to the serene gardens of Kyoto, you will have the opportunity to see how Japan has managed to blend tradition and modernity.
Day 1 - Tokyo
Arrive at Tokyo International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the Hotel New Otani in the center of the city, your home for the next two nights. A local representative will be present at a hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and answer any questions you may have. Relax and enjoy the many amenities of this stunning complex before joining your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception this evening. Dinner is independent.
Day 2 - Tokyo
After breakfast at the hotel, join a full day excursion that samples some of best that Tokyo has to offer. Explore the Tokyo National Museum, one of the largest art museums in the world, with a rich and extensive collection of Asian art and cultural artefacts. Lunch at a local restaurant is followed by a visit to Sensoji Temple, first built in 645 to house a tiny statue of the goddess of mercy, where the temple precincts bustle with people praying, shopping and sightseeing. Stroll the Asakusa and Nakamise shopping arcade, one of the oldest shopping districts in Tokyo. Later in the afternoon, visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine, which is dedicated to the great-grandparents of the present emperor and whose vast grounds of more than 100,000 trees serves as both a sacred Shinto space and as an oasis of tranquility within the fast-paced city. Dinner is independent.
Day 3 - Tokyo | Kyoto
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a morning excursion to Tokyo's Ginza district. Named for the silver mint located here in the 17th and 18th centuries, Ginza is now the city's largest upmarket shopping district. After a short guided walking tour of the area's landmarks, explore the myriad department stores, boutiques, and art galleries, and enjoy an independent lunch in one of Ginza's many restaurants. Leaving Ginza, transfer to the train station to catch the bullet train to Kyoto, where you check in to the Kyoto Brighton Hotel for two nights. Independent dinner.
Day 4 - Kyoto
Explore Kyoto on a full day tour, starting with a visit to the Kinkakuji Temple complex to see the Golden Pavilion, so named because of the gold leaf covering its two upper stories. Built by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a villa, it was converted to a Zen temple following his death in 1408. Also visit the nearby Ryoanji Temple, home to Japan’s most famous rock garden. Following lunch at a local restaurant, travel to the Arashiyama district on the western edge of Kyoto, once popular with nobles who enjoyed its natural setting. Walk through the famous bamboo groves and visit Tenryuji Temple, built in the 13th century and one of Kyoto’s greatest Zen temples. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore Kyoto on your own. Dinner is independent.
Day 5 - Kyoto | Maizuru | Embark
Travel this morning to Nijo Castle, built in 1603 as the?Kyoto?residence of?Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the?Edo Period?(1603-1867). After exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit a traditional?machiya?residence and participate in a tea ceremony, learning the history of this iconic Japanese custom and experiencing the spirit of Japanese hospitality. Following lunch at a local restaurant, relax during the two hour drive to Maizuru to embark Le Soléal.
Your hotels:
Your program includes:
Your program does not include:
Please note:
Hotel contact information:
Hotel New Otani Tokyo
4-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 102-8578,
Japan
Phone: + 81-3-3265-1111
Kyoto Brighton Hotel
602-8071 Nakadachiuri, Shinmachi-dori,
Kamigyo-ku (Imperial Palace West)
Kyoto, Japan
Phone: +81-075-441-4411
Gesamtpreis inkl. Steuern- und Gebühren : 2.050 €
Preis pro Person auf Basis einer Doppelkabine. Dieser Preis gilt vorbehaltlich Verfügbarkeit.
The Adachi Museum of Art, about an hour's drive from Sakaiminato, although an excellent modern art museum, is probably best known for its garden, which is consistently ranked as the best garden in Japan by the Journal of Japanese Gardening. Founded by Adachi Zenko in 1970 in an effort to showcase the two Japanese art forms about which he was most passionate—painting and landscape design—the Museum's collection includes some 1300 artworks by the great masters of modern Japanese art. The works of Yokoyama Taikan, which are displayed in a permanent exhibit, predominate, but other 20th-century artists—Takeuchi Seiho, Uemura Shoen, and Ito Shinsui, among others—are also represented. Five separate gardens, all of which are viewed from within the museum, are designed be seen as "living paintings" in accordance with the founder's belief that gardens may be appreciated in much the same way as oil on canvas.
After exploring the Adachi Museum, visit Yushien Garden, located on Daikon Island in the middle of Lake Nakaumi, between Sakaiminato and Matsue. This breathtaking garden of over 400,000 square feet, established in 1975, is beautiful in any season, featuring an array of landscape elements from flower gardens to waterfalls, streams, and rock gardens. But in springtime, when you will visit, Yushien's main attraction of over 250 different species of peonies in an array of colors will be in full bloom.
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About 20 miles southeast of Sakaiminato, at the base of towering Mt. Daisen, is the Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park. Unlike traditional Japanese gardens that focus on landscaping and on integration with the natural environment, Tottori is designed as a museum of flowers. Outdoor beds showcase seasonal blooms, while a temperature-controlled Flower Dome is dedicated to tropical plants year-round. In addition to the orchids, hibiscus, and palm trees you will see in the tropical dome, when you visit in May, the spring blooms (cherry blossoms and tulips) will be giving way to summer plants like hydrangeas and sunflowers. And you will enjoy all of this against the backdrop of stunning views of Mt. Daisen, the tallest peak in the region and a holy place of Buddhist worship.
From Tottori, a short drive brings you to a favorite site of local residents, Kotobukijo, a self-described "confectionary theme park." Housed within a replica of a samurai castle, Kotobukijo is a working candy and pastry factory and houses a sweets shop, a seafood shop, a tea room, a window into the factory, and an observation deck with panoramic views of Mt. Daisen and the surrounding area. You will be invited to sample the wares and perhaps purchase a few of your favorites.
On your return to Sakaiminato, drive by Mizuki Shigeru Road, named for Sakaiminato's favorite son, one of Japan's leading manga artists. The half mile span of road is a famous shopping street, and is lined with bronze statues of more than 150 supernatural monsters from Mizuki's masterpiece graphic novel, Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro.
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Constructed in 1611 on the shores of Lake Shinji, Matsue Castle is the emblematic symbol of Matsue City and the only surviving feudal castle on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The castle donjon (keep) is made entirely of pine, and, with the exception of a partial reconstruction in 1692, has survived earthquakes, fires, and wars to remain much as it was in the 17th century. Explore the five-story façade that encloses six levels, including the uppermost floor, with views of the city, Lake Shinji, and distant mountains. You may also want to visit its small museum of samurai swords and armor.
A short drive south brings you to Abe Eishiro Memorial Hall, a municipal museum dedicated to the life and times of Abe Eishiro (1903-1985), a master craftsman in the art of washi. The term comes from wa (Japanese) and shi (paper), and is used to describe the traditional Japanese method of making paper by hand. It commonly utilizes fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub, or the paper mulberry, but bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat can also be used. Generally sturdier than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, washi is employed in many traditional arts and crafts, including Origami, Shodo, and Ukiyo-e. Washi paper has also been used to manufacture various everyday goods like clothes and toys, as well as vestments and ritual objects for Shinto priests. During your visit to the museum, you will have the opportunity to try making washi yourself.
On your return to Sakaiminato, drive by Mizuki Shigeru Road, named for Sakaiminato's favorite son, one of Japan's leading manga artists. The half mile span of road is a famous shopping street, and is lined with bronze statues of more than 150 supernatural monsters from Mizuki's masterpiece graphic novel, Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro.
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During your 45-minute drive to the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, you will cross the Gwangan Grand Bridge. At 4.6-miles, it is Korea's longest suspension bridge and offers panoramic views of city and sea: a spectacular beginning to a deeply rewarding day of discovery, sampling the richly varied cultural tapestry of South Korea's second-largest city.
Unlike most Korean Buddhist temples, which are typically found in the mountains, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is built on rocky cliffs overlooking the sea — a dramatic setting that contributes to its popularity with both worshippers and secular visitors. The temple complex is centered on the Daeungjeon Main Sanctuary, which is reached via a stairway of 108 steps. It was restored in 1970 with great care taken to replicate the original colors, which had appeared to the initial architect in a dream. Next door is a magnificent three-story pagoda guarded by four stone lions symbolizing joy, anger, sadness, and happiness.
Back in Busan, you will have time to explore the Busan Museum of Arts and its annex, Space Lee Ufan. The Museum comprises five floors of exhibition halls, archives, and function rooms. Exhibitions change frequently and are drawn from a rich array of arts and genres. Space Lee Ufan is a sculpture garden and building, designed entirely by the artist, and devoted to the works of this much-heralded global master of minimalism, who was born in Hamun-gun, about 20 miles from this site.
After a buffet lunch at a restaurant with both Korean and international menus, your tour comes to an end at the Jagalchi Fish Market, located next to the Fisherman’s Wharf. Emblematic of Busan and famous throughout the country, the enormous Jagalchi Market offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of the people of Busan.
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This excursion will introduce you to the ancient kingdom of Silla, centered on Gyeongiu, which flourished between the 7th and 10th centuries. During these three hundred years of Silla dominance of the peninsula, Buddhism was introduced to Korea, along with printing, a refinement in porcelain production, and a written language still in use today.
Your 90-minute drive to this UNESCO World Heritage site, often referred to as "the world's largest museum without walls," brings you first to the Bulguksa Temple, located on the slopes of Mt. Tohamsan. The temple is a monument to Silla architectural skill and home to many cultural artifacts protected as national treasures, including the Dabotap and Seokgatap Stone Pagodas, the Yeonhwa-gyo and Chilbo-gyo Bridges, and the Golden Seated Vairocana Buddha. A gallery attached to the temple displays art produced by the monks.
After a typical Korean lunch at a local restaurant, your tour continues with a visit to Tumuli Park, a royal burial ground containing the tombs of 23 Silla kings. You will be able to visit inside the Cheonmachong (“Flying Horse Tomb”) to see how these huge mounds were constructed.
Your final stop of the day is the Gyeongju National Museum, a treasure trove of Silla relics, ranging from magnificent golden crowns to prehistoric stone implements. One of the museum's prized possessions is the massive bronze Bell of King Seongdeok. Cast in the 8th century, it weighs in at 25 tons and stands 12 feet tall.
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During your 45-minute drive to the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, you will cross the Gwangan Grand Bridge. At 4.6-miles, it is Korea's longest suspension bridge and offers panoramic views of city and sea: a spectacular beginning to a deeply rewarding day of discovery, sampling the richly varied cultural tapestry of South Korea's second-largest city.
Unlike most Korean Buddhist temples, which are typically found in the mountains, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is built on rocky cliffs overlooking the sea — a dramatic setting that contributes to its popularity with both worshippers and secular visitors. The temple complex is centered on the Daeungjeon Main Sanctuary, which is reached via a stairway of 108 steps. It was restored in 1970 with great care taken to replicate the original colors, which had appeared to the initial architect in a dream. Next door is a magnificent three-story pagoda guarded by four stone lions symbolizing joy, anger, sadness, and happiness.
Return to Busan and visit the Jagalchi Fish Market, located next to the Fisherman’s Wharf. Emblematic of Busan and famous throughout the country, the enormous Jagalchi Market offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of the people of Busan. Sample the traditional green onion pancake with or without seafood, along with a glass of Korean rice wine.
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Buddhism came to Korea from China in the 4th century, and by the time Silla unified the peninsula in 668, it had become the state religion. Although it is no longer the dominant religion in Korea, Buddhism still maintains as many as 20,000 temples throughout the country, many of them dedicated to the Zen tradition of meditation. One of these is the recently built (2003) Hongbeopsa Temple, famous for having one of the largest statues of Buddha in Asia. The highlight of your visit to Hongbeopsa will be the experience of a Buddhist Tea Ceremony, one of the six offerings—in addition to incense, flower, lantern, fruit, and rice—deemed appropriate gifts for the Buddha. The Tea Ceremony is practiced as a form of meditation with the aim of purifying the soul and becoming one with nature. After the ceremony, subject to his availability, you will be joined by a monk for a discussion of the ceremony and its relation to Buddhist teaching.
From Hongbeopsa, a short drive brings you to a place of a different sort of contemplation and meditation: the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea. The only United Nations cemetery in the world, it honors soldiers from 16 countries serving under UN command who were killed in battle during the Korean War. It is laid out over 35 acres of serene parkland and contains 2,300 graves, as well as monuments to the various nationalities represented.
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Korean cuisine has become increasingly popular in the West over the past several decades, and this excursion provides an opportunity for you to learn to make one of its most famous dishes—Bulgogi—from a master chef.
Travel to the center of town to one of Busan's best cooking schools, where the chef will greet you and talk about the origins of this savory dish of sliced beef in a soy-sesame-garlic-ginger sauce while demonstrating its preparation. Under chef's guidance, you will then prepare your own dish and sample it over rice, perhaps sharing with others in the group and comparing results.
Once finished with your self-made lunch, a detour on the way back to the ship brings you to Gamcheon Cultural Village, a neighborhood populated in the 1950s by refugees from the Korean War and long a poor backwater on the outskirts of fashionable modern Busan. The community experienced nothing short of an artistic renaissance beginning in 2009, when it was the site of a public art project that encouraged a cadre of young artists to transform the neighborhood from a downtrodden slum to a showcase of clever, colorful and quirky homes, shops, and galleries decorated with murals and sculptures along a maze of streets and alleyways. It has been heralded as one of Korea's most successful programs of urban renewal.
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This excursion introduces you to some of the variety of Kanazawa's neighborhoods and the richly varied legacy on which the city prides itself.
Begin with a walk through Omicho Market, established nearly 300 years ago as the center of community life. Omicho is still today Kanazawa's main market for fresh seafood, local vegetables, fruits, pickled vegetables, fried foods, and sweets. It is a colorful collection of some 200 shops and stalls and a lively introduction to the people of the city.
From the market, travel to Higashi Chayagai district, where geishas once entertained wealthy men. Most of the geisha teahouses have now been converted into exclusive restaurants and shops, but the district preserves the character of feudal times with its wooden latticed houses and winding, narrow streets. It is also home to workshops where artisans produce gold leaf in traditional ways.
With the encouragement and patronage from the Maeda family, who ruled the region for three centuries during the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603 to 1868), Kanazawa became an important center of cultural life and of arts and crafts of all sorts. Chief among those crafts was the art of working with gold leaf—Kanazawa literally translates to "marsh of gold"—and to this day Kanazawa produces 99% of the gold leaf in Japan. You will visit a gold leaf workshop where you will observe the process from smelting to pounding, as gold is turned into impossibly thin sheets with a thickness of approximately one-ten thousandth of a millimeter. And you will be given the opportunity to gild something for yourself.
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This full day excursion is designed to provide a sense of what life was like during the period of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603 to 1868) and of the wealth and cultural influence of the Maeda family, who ruled the region around Kanazawa for three centuries.
Kenrokuen Garden, recognized as one of "Three Great Gardens of Japan," is the Maeda family's contribution to the ancient Japanese tradition of landscape gardening. Originally a private garden next to the castle, it was developed over the centuries into a showcase of hills, streams, ponds, and fountains, containing all six of the elements considered central qualities of a perfect garden: extensiveness, artfulness, antiquity, abundant water, wide prospect, and quiet seclusion.
Overlooking Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle Park is home to the Gyokusenan Teahouse, once the office of the keeper of the grounds. Here you will enjoy lovely views of the garden as you participate in a performance of an authentic tea ceremony, one of the most important cultural legacies of the shogunate.
A short drive brings you to the Nagamichi Samurai District, a well-preserved neighborhood of samurai houses, where cobblestone streets and tiled walls evoke the lifestyle of wealthy samurai during the Edo period. Visit one of the larger of these houses, the Nomura Samurai Residence, home to generations of the Nomura family, who held important posts under the rule of the Maedas. Its garden has won numerous awards, and the heirlooms on display include a full set of samurai armor.
After a traditional Japanese lunch at a local restaurant, explore Higashi Chayagai district, where geishas once entertained wealthy men. Many of the geisha teahouses have now been converted into exclusive restaurants and shops, but some, like Kaikaro, have been preserved and provide a window into the life of the geisha.
A final stop will be made at Kutani Pottery Kiln, established in 1870, to see how handmade Kutani ware is produced.
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On this full day tour, travel into the mountainous interior to the Shogawa River Valley and to the Villages of Shirakawago and Gokayama, a region designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 because of the unique architectural style of the farmhouses there and because so many of them have been so well preserved.
Visit Wada House, once the residence of the family who were the largest landowners in the village of Ogimachi, and the largest farmhouse in the area built in the traditional style. The style is called gassho-zukuri, meaning “hands clasped in prayer,” because of the characteristic steeply-pitched thatched roofs. Buildings in the village are all oriented along a north-south axis so that both sides of the roof receive equal sunlight and the region's heavy snowfalls melt evenly. You will have some free time to explore on your own, before enjoying a rustic Japanese lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, travel to the nearby village of Gokayama to learn about a traditional Japanese craft that is practiced here—the ancient art of washi. The term comes from wa (Japanese) and shi (paper), and is used to describe the traditional Japanese method of making paper by hand. It commonly utilizes fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub, or the paper mulberry, but bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat can also be used. Generally sturdier than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, washi is employed in many traditional arts and crafts, including Origami, Shodo, and Ukiyo-e. Washi paper was also used to manufacture various everyday goods like clothes and toys as well as vestments and ritual objects for Shinto priests. During your visit to Gokayama, you will have the opportunity to try making washi yourself.
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Located about 20 miles west of Honshu, Sado is a large island with a fascinating history. It was a port of call on a crucial trade route during the Edo period. It was a place where dissidents and political opponents of the regime were banished. And it was, until quite recently, a major mining center for gold.
This excursion focuses on the southern tip of the island, where you visit the old port town of Shukunegi, which has changed little since its time at the center of the coastal trade between Hokkaido and Osaka. In its prime, Shukunegi was home to shipbuilding yards and a large fishing fleet. Those businesses are gone now, but the old structures remain, and you will be able to stroll among the crowded alleyways of houses built from ship planks and get a sense of the bustle of activity that would have been here when ships were in port.
In the nearby Ogi Folk Museum, housed in what used to be an elementary school, you will find a surprisingly rich collection of over 30,000 folk materials, including tools and equipment belonging to fishermen and shipbuilders, as well as objects from the everyday life of the community. The prize exhibit of the museum is a ship that has been restored based on the design drawings of a sengokubune (wooden freight ship) that was built here in 1858.
On your return to the ship in Ogi port, stop at the Hokusetsu Sake Brewery, a local institution that has been in business for more than a century and a half. Hokusetsu produces a popular brand of sake called NOBU, about 30% of which is exported from the island. Enjoy some time at leisure here to sample different kinds of the Japanese national brew.
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Located about 20 miles west of Honshu, Sado is a large island with a fascinating history. It was a port of call on a crucial trade route during the Edo period. It was a place where dissidents and political opponents of the regime were banished. And it was, until quite recently, a major mining center for gold. This excursion focuses on the northern part of the island, a region known for its natural beauty—and also for the gold mines that made the island wealthy.
After a scenic drive through the island's countryside, you reach Senkaku-wan Bay and Ageshima Yuen Park on Sado's western coast. From the observation deck in the park, enjoy dramatic views of the steep and rugged cliffs that many visitors find reminiscent of Norwegian fjords, and of the five small bays that make up Senkaku-wan.
Leaving the coast, travel inland to Sado Kinzan Gold Mine, the largest of the mines dug after the discovery of large deposits of gold and silver in the early 17th century. During the early modern period, Sado was one of the largest producers of gold in the world and an important source of revenue for the Tokugawa Shogunate. The mine closed in 1989, having produced a total of 78 tons of gold and 2,330 tons of silver during its four centuries of operation. A tour of the mine takes you into the tunnels, where you will find displays illustrating the changes in mining technology over time and describing the living and working conditions of the miners.
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Taiko, the art of Japanese drumming, has its origins in ancient religious ceremonies and in its use as a means of military communication. But it is now a performance art that is known and practiced around the world. Sado Island has been an important center of the taiko tradition since 1969, when Za Ondekoza founded a community of artists on the island and formed the world-renowned taiko group, KODO. This excursion introduces you to the art of taiko in preparation for a Kodo performance later in the day.
Begin with a short drive to the Sado Island Taiko Center, where drums of various sizes and tones are on display, and where a former member of KODO will talk with you about the history of the drumming tradition and demonstrate some of its variety. He will also invite you to take a turn on the drums to produce the powerful sounds of taiko for yourself.
Before returning to the ship, enjoy another unique Sado Island experience as you take a ride in the emblematic tarai bune boat. These small craft are modeled on washtubs and propelled and steered by a single oar, the flat bottom and easy maneuverability making them ideal for harvesting abalone and mollusks.
In late afternoon, join fellow travelers for a performance by Japan's premiere taiko ensemble, as Kodo entertains you with their skill and enthusiasm.
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The coastal town of Sakata owes its prosperity to the high-quality rice produced on the fertile plains of its hinterland and to the port's role in coastal shipping during the Edo period. This excursion introduces you to three of Sakata's most significant highlights.
The Honma Museum of Art, opened in 1947 as the first privately-owned museum in postwar Japan, is on an estate originally designed as a vacation home for the head of the Honma clan, at one time among the richest families in Japan. Its serene gardens and spacious villa, both built in 1813, are the original home of the museum and display selected pieces of lacquerware, sculptures, and pottery from the collection. A new, larger structure, was erected next to the garden in 1968 and now serves as the main museum, featuring additional items from the Honma collection in rotating exhibitions.
Ken Domon was one of postwar Japan's most influential photographers, a leading proponent of realism and an unflinching recorder of daily life. His 1957 study of Hiroshima, now in the Met in New York, is a landmark in photo-journalism. A native of Sakata, Domon gifted his entire collection of photographs to his hometown, and in response, the city built the Ken Domon Museum of Photography to house them.
Sankyo Rice Warehouses are emblematic of Sakata, an enduring symbol of the source of the city's wealth. Constructed in 1893, the storehouses are a remarkable example of building to purpose—thick whitewashed walls, double roofs, soil floors, and a barrier of zelkova trees to provide shade create an ideal environment, where each of the dozen storehouses, nine of which are still in use, hold up to 5,000,000 pounds of rice. Nine of the storehouses are still in use, while the remaining three have been converted into shops and a museum illustrating the history of rice cultivation.
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An hour's drive south of Sakata brings you to Mt. Haguro, one of three sacred mountains known as the Dewa Sanzan, where you will visit the site of a five-story pagoda and a shrine to the gods of the three mountains.
Go-Jyu-No-Toh, the five-story pagoda, has been designated as one of Japan’s National Treasures—a wooden structure standing over 95 feet tall built entirely without nails. It has remained standing for more than 600 years, in part because of a pendulum in the center that allows the building to sway during tremors—a remarkable feat of engineering that has informed modern techniques for constructing earthquake-proof buildings.
At the top of the mountain, visit the Sanjin Gosaiden Shrine. Because Mt. Haguro, unlike the other two mountains, remains accessible throughout the year, this shrine represents all three of the deities of the scared mountains. Pilgrims reach this scarlet-colored shrine, one of the holiest in Japan, by following a path of 2,446 steps up the mountainside.
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This excursion is designed to highlight the natural beauty of the northern end of Honshu on a panoramic drive into the undeveloped mountainous region northeast of Sakata.
Your drive begins along the scenic coast and then turns inland as you make your way to Mt. Chokai, which at 7,335 feet, towers over the surrounding plain. Disembark your coach at the trailhead for a half-mile hike to the 4th station on the mountain climbing route, where you will be rewarded with spectacular views over the Sea of Japan. Back on the coach and down the mountain, pause at intriguing Maruike-sama, an emerald-green pond fed by spring-water from the mountain top.
Your final stop before returning to the ship is at Tamasudare Falls. Legend has it that the Buddhist monk and master calligrapher, Kobo Daishi, discovered the falls and gave them their name, which means "beaded curtain." Worshipped ever since as a sacred location, the falls are accessed via a 15-minute walk on a paved path. It is possible to walk right up to the base of the falls, which are about 18 feet wide and plunge some 200 feet straight down, where the spray of falls is said to purify visitors’ bodies and souls.
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This excursion showcases Sakata's relationship with both land and sea, as you visit the local aquarium and a fascinating group of rice warehouses.
The Kamo Aquarium hosts a collection of fresh and saltwater fish from local waters, as well as an outdoor pool for seals. But the clear highlight is the aquarium's collection of jellyfish—the largest collection of these ethereal sea creatures in the world. Their rhythmic motions are curiously calming to watch, particularly against the colored backlighting of the Jellyfish Dream Theater, an enormous, five-meter-wide, tank specially designed to showcase the 'jellies' .
Sankyo Rice Warehouses are emblematic of Sakata, an enduring symbol of the source of the city's wealth. Constructed in 1893, the storehouses are a remarkable example of building to purpose—thick whitewashed walls, double roofs, soil floors, and a barrier of zelkova trees to provide shade create an ideal environment, where each of the dozen storehouses, nine of which are still in use, hold up to 5,000,000 pounds of rice. Nine of the storehouses are still in use, while the remaining three have been converted into shops and a museum illustrating the history of rice cultivation.
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