1 - 2 persons
Owner's Suite
45m2 - Suite
Treasures of Japan by Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys with the Le Soléal
9-day cruise holiday from Kobe, Japan
Pricing may vary. Always request a quote for the lowest price!
- The lowest price
- Personal support from a cruise specialist
- Unforgettable travel experience
*) Price indication based on Cruise only price for 2 guests and 1 cabin.
This offer is covered by the STO Garant guarantee. You can find the conditions of this guarantee scheme on the STO Garant website.
Program and itinerary of this cruise
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys. This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture. Set sail with PONANT aboard Le Soléal for a 9-day cruise to discover the many traditions and emblematic sites of the Land of the Rising Sun. Your voyage begins in endearing Kobe, one of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade in the 19th century and home to its famous eponymous marbled beef. Arrive in the port of Takamatsu, the largest city on the island of Shikoku. You will find the splendid Ritsurin Garden here, a masterpiece constructed during the early Edo period as an escape from the bustle of daily life. Takamatsu is also renowned for its most famous dish – udon noodles – and you can try your hand at preparing them here. Continue to Hiroshima, whose UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hiroshima Peace Memorial bears witness to the horrific aftermath of the world’s first atomic bomb explosion on August 6, 1945. You may also choose to visit the Saijo sake brewing district for a tasting. Then call at Miyajima, the gateway to the majestic Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, whose magnificent vermillion torii gate appears to float on water. Le Soléal sails on to Hagi, whose contributions to Japan’s industrialization and modernization have been honored by UNESCO. At Hagi Castle Town, walk in the steps of the samurai as you stroll its beautifully preserved streets. The richness from which to choose is immediately apparent in, Sakaiminato, where options include Matsue Castle, built entirely of pine in 1611; the Adachi Museum of Art, displaying the great masters of modern Japanese painting and sculpture; a demonstration of the ancient craft of making paper (washi) from tree bark; and Yushien Garden, a landscape garden in traditional style, famous for its peonies. The South Korean port of Busan offers a similar range of experiences: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, built in 1376 overlooking the sea; the Busan Museum of Art, featuring an outdoor sculpture garden as well as exhibits of contemporary Korean artists; Gyeongju Historic Areas, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site representing the flowering of Silla culture between the 7th and 10th centuries; and a Korean Tea Ceremony at the Hongbeopsa Temple, famous for having the largest Buddha statue in Asia. Back in Japan, call in Moji, which enjoyed its heyday in the early 20th century as the center for Japanese trade with China. Nearby is Kozan-ji Temple, founded in the Kamakura period and the oldest Zen style temple in Japan. From the port of Uno, end your voyage in the small Japanese city of Tamano, a former feudal domain with a unique cultural heritage. From here you will be able to admire the famous Korakuen Garden, one of the country’s must-see landscaped gardens. Your voyage ends upon your return to Kobe.
Day 1 - Kobe
Day 2 - Takamatsu
Day 2 -
Day 3 - Hiroshima
Day 3 - Itsukushima
Day 4 -
Day 4 - Hagi
Day 5 - Sakaiminato
Day 6 - Busan
Day 7 - Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū
Day 8 - Uno
Day 9 - Kobe
Would you like to know more about this cruise?
Contact our sales team.
Office hours 08:30 - 18:00
T NL: +31 (0)10 6690270
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On cruise holiday with the Le Soléal
Like Le Boréal and L’Austral, the two sister ships that preceded it, Le Soléal further reaffirms PONANT's signature approach: to take passengers to the farthest reaches of the planet onboard five-star ships offering top-of-the-range services.
- 2013
- Launched
- 264
- Passengers
- 132
- Cabins
- 5
- Decks
- 18
- Width
- 142
- Length
- 145
- Crew
- 14
- Speed
Cabins
1 - 2 persons
Prestige Suite
37m2 - Suite
1 - 2 persons
Deluxe Suite
27m2 - Suite
1 - 3 persons
Superior Stateroom
21m2 - Outside
1 - 2 persons
Prestige Stateroom
18m2 - Outside
1 - 2 persons
Deluxe Stateroom
18m2 - Outside
Yacht Cruise Company
Experts in Small Ship Cruises
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Treasures of Japan by Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys holiday photo's
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*) Price indication based on Cruise only price for 2 guests and 1 cabin. Pricing may vary. Always request a quote for the lowest price!