Konnichiwa, and welcome to Japan. Upon arrival in Osaka, make your own way to your hotel and check in. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore its many sights, before congregating with your fellow travellers for a meet and greet with your tour director at 5pm.

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before heading out by a private coach to explore Osaka Castle, a landmark once intended by samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi to unite Japan. From there, visit the Shinsekai District, a retro neighbourhood full of nostalgic charm with street food stalls and quirky shops.

Spend the afternoon strolling along Shinsaibashi, Osaka’s premier shopping arcade packed with boutique stores and local brands. Nearby, explore the food vendors of Dotonbori, illuminated by neon lights.

Enjoy a warm welcome dinner at a local Japanese restaurant and get to know your fellow travellers to celebrate the start of your tour. Then, return to your hotel for the evening.

Travel time: Driving – approx. 2.5 hours

A busy, active day of sightseeing and travel awaits for you today as you wave goodbye to Osaka and journey by coach to Nara, where Sika deer wander freely. Here, you will explore Todai-ji – a massive wooden temple containing one of Japan’s largest bronze buddhas. Next, explore Kasuga Taisha Shrine, famous for its hundreds of lanterns.

In the afternoon, journey to Kyoto and visit the famous Gion District, the heart of geisha culture, where you can wander its narrow streets lined with traditional wooden buildings.

Enjoy a restful evening at your hotel and be sure to pack one nights worth of luggage for the next mornings activities.

Travel time: Driving – approx. 2.5 hours

Your luggage will be sent to Tokyo as you board a private coach and start your day with a visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of vermillion torii gates. Next, admire the golden beauty of Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), its reflection shimmering in the surrounding pond.

Continue to Arashiyama, where you’ll stroll through the iconic Bamboo Grove and visit the serene Tenryu-ji Garden, a Zen temple surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens. Return to Kyoto for a relaxing evening.

Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours

Today, you will be making use of Japan’s incredible local trains and buses to board the bullet train to Tokyo. Your tour leader will assist with preparing your bus fare, train tickets and getting to the correct platform.

As you board a bullet train to Tokyo, experience the speed and efficiency of Japan’s rail system. Upon arrival, explore the city’s highlights, including the Imperial Palace, where you can stroll through its picturesque gardens. Visit the bustling Tsukiji Outer Market, filled with fresh seafood and local delicacies, and wander through the stylish Ginza shopping district.

Next, settle into your Tokyo hotel with the evening at leisure as you prepare for a busy and long day tomorrow.

Travel time: Bullet train – approx. two hours

Enjoy breakfast as you prepare for a busy day, as you explore Tokyo’s historic and modern attractions on a full-day sightseeing tour with a lot of walking and bus journeys.

Starting in Asakusa, where you’ll stroll along Nakamise Shopping Street to Senso-ji, the city’s oldest temple. Enjoy lunch at leisure before visiting the impressive Tokyo Skytree, offering panoramic city views. Next, heading to Meiji Shrine, a peaceful oasis in bustling Tokyo.

Continue to trendy Harajuku, renowned for its vibrant street fashion and vintage clothing stores, before experiencing the evening buzz at Shibuya Crossing with a walking tour of the surrounding area. Enjoy a memorable dinner at a popular restaurant known for its traditional Japanese cuisine.

Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours

Rise early for your extended trip to Nikko, home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Toshogu Shrine complex. Wander around the scenic Lake Chuzenji and visit Kegon Falls before returning to Tokyo for an evening at leisure.

Travel time: Driving – approx. 6.5 hours

Today is yours to explore the city at leisure. Perhaps visit Ueno Park, where you can wander through gardens and visit the historic Ueno Zoo. For lunch you may like to explore Yanaka Ginza, a charming street with local eateries and shops. A train ride to Odaiba will take you to TeamLab Borderless or enjoy stunning views of the Rainbow Bridge. End the day at Roppongi Hills or Tokyo Tower for breathtaking skyline views.

Take the day at your own pace and uncover another side of Tokyo – you may wish to begin the day in the quiet backstreets of Daikanyama, a stylish neighbourhood full of ivy-draped cafes and designer bookstores. Thanks to Japan’s efficient public transport, it’s only a 30-minute train ride away. From here, it’s easy to wander down to Nakameguro, where the Meguro River is lined with art galleries, vintage shops and relaxed lunch spots.

If you’re in the mood for something more cultural, you may like to visit the Nezu Museum in Aoyama, home to a refined collection of Japanese and East Asian art, surrounded by a serene landscaped garden.

Enjoy another morning in Tokyo at your own leisure. You may wish to start your morning with a quiet stroll through Kiyosumi Garden, a beautifully landscaped traditional garden featuring stone paths and koi-filled ponds. Afterwards, perhaps head to the nearby Fukagawa Edo Museum for a glimpse into Tokyo’s past with full-scale recreations of Edo-period streets.

In the afternoon, make your own way to the cruise terminal for check-in aboard your Azamara cruise. Spend the remainder of the day settling into your comfortable cabin, complete with a balcony, and make the most of the dining onboard with all your meals included, as well as free-flow select drinks. The ship will be docking overnight in the city, so you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy one of Tokyo’s many eateries should you prefer an evening out.

Please note:

• Port transfers are not included; guests must make their own way from the airport to the cruise terminal for cruise embarkation.

With the Azamara Pursuit docked in Tokyo today, enjoy another full day of discovery at your own pace in this bustling metropolis. You might like to visit Shimokitazawa, a suburb known for its second-hand boutiques and cosy coffee shops. From there, you can easily reach the Gotokuji temple, said to be the birthplace of the beckoning cat.

Back onboard, perhaps opt to explore the culinary experiences at specialty restaurants such as Aqualina, offering Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, or Prime C, the ship’s classic steakhouse, where you can use your bonus cruise credit as you wish.

Relax in the Sanctum Spa, take a dip in the pool, or join enrichment programmes that include expert lectures, wine tastings and cultural performances.

Today, the Pursuit makes its way to Nagoya, where you’ll dock in the morning for a day of exploration. This major port city in central Japan is known for its reconstructed 17th-century Nagoya Castle, deep samurai history and status as the birthplace of Toyota, with museums and factories showcasing its automotive legacy.

Choose to join an optional excursion with Azamara (surcharges apply), with a number available in and around Nagoya. You may wish to visit Inuyama Castle, one of Japan’s oldest surviving fortresses, and explore the nearby town or learn about fine porcelain craftsmanship at Noritake Garden.

Alternatively, delve into the city’s cultural and industrial heritage with a visit to the sacred Atsuta Shrine and the Toyota Museum of Industry and Technology. Other options include discovering the legacy of the Tokugawa Shogunate at the Tokugawa Art Museum, or combining historic highlights like Nagoya Castle and Shiratori Garden.

Indulge in a delicious breakfast onboard before the Azamara Pursuit arrives in Kobe early this afternoon. Famous for its exceptional beef, the city is also home to a fascinating historic port, excellent mountain gardens and charming hot springs.

With the ship docking overnight, you’ve got plenty of time to take in Kobe’s most famous sights – wander through Kitano-cho’s historic streets or admire the cascading waters of Nunobiki Falls. For an indulgent evening, perhaps enjoy a Kobe beef dinner, savouring one of the world’s most prized culinary specialties in the region where it originates.

Today, you’ll have the day to work your way around Kobe or its surrounding cities. Azamara offers a number of optional excursions (surcharges apply), whether you prefer to stay local or venture further afield. You may wish to glide above the city on the Nunobiki Ropeway and explore Japan’s largest herb garden.

In the evening, return to your vessel for easy comfort on the water.

Depart the island of Honshu for Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s major islands and arguably its spiritual centre. Stop at Kochi, capital of the prefecture of the same name and a city renowned for its friendliness and hospitality to visitors.

Visit the castle of Kochi-jo for a look at one of the country’s best-preserved historic castles, or join some optional activities (surcharges apply) from panoramic city tours to sake brewery visits or venturing into the subterranean Ryugado Cave. For lunch, be sure to try the city’s most famous dish: katsuo no tataki, or lightly grilled and sliced bonito tuna, served with spring onions, ginger, garlic and soy sauce.

Return to Honshu and stop in at Hiroshima. You can choose to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which today serves as a symbol of enduring peace. Built around the now-infamous Atomic Bomb Dome – the only structure left standing when the atomic bomb was dropped – the museum offers an extraordinary, if harrowing, glimpse into the horrors of nuclear warfare.

After working up an appetite, why not head to a local restaurant for one of the city’s signature dishes – okonomiyaki, a delicious savoury pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles, pork or seafood and lashings of delicious umami-rich sauce.

The Azamara Pursuit docks in Beppu today, a coastal city on Japan’s Kyushu Island famed for its dramatic hot spring landscape, where plumes of steam rise from geothermal vents – known as the ‘Hells of Beppu’ – and traditional bathhouses are dotted around the area. Join an excursion exploring the Hells, or soothe your muscles with the warm bubbling waters of a local onsen.

Back onboard, you can make the most of your hotel at sea’s exceptional facilities – visit Sanctum Spa for pampering (surcharges apply), keep fit at the onboard gym, shop at the ship’s boutiques or join enrichment programs and classes, such as wine tastings with sommeliers and shore excursion seminars with insider tips.

The ship ventures to Kagoshima today, arriving in the early afternoon. This city is known for its striking views of Sakurajima, an active volcano across the bay, its samurai-era gardens at the historic Sengan-en estate and a hot spring culture shaped by its volcanic landscape.

Visit the preserved samurai district of Chiran and the moving Chiran Peace Museum (surcharges apply), where a local storyteller shares the lives behind Japan’s wartime history. Alternatively, explore the city’s downtown on a panoramic tour (surcharges apply) with a local sake tasting or delve into Kagoshima’s past with a visit to its dedicated history and culture museum.

Dock in Nagasaki this morning, enjoying a delicious breakfast aboard before choosing your own adventure. Nagasaki has been shaped by centuries of international influence and is known for its poignant Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum and its historic Dejima trading post.

Choose to explore the region’s heritage with a variety of tours on offer (surcharges apply); reflect on Nagasaki’s war history, discover the artistry of porcelain ceramics, explore the ornate Glover Garden or ascend the heights of Mount Inasa by slope car for panoramic views over the area.

Arriving in Fukuoka this morning, you’ve got a whole day ahead to explore this vibrant city – the largest on Kyushu known for its historic Fukuoka Castle ruins, the tranquil Ohori Park and its food scene. Fukuoka is the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, characterised by its rich and creamy broth made by simmering pork bones – so make sure to get a hearty bowl for lunch.

If you’re called by the modern, ascend the Fukuoka Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city from its observation deck or shop ‘til you drop at the Canal City Hakata shopping complex. Aboard the Azamara Pursuit, make the most of your free-flowing drinks and toast your new travel friends at Discoveries Bar.

Your cruise crosses country borders overnight, arriving in Busan, South Korea this morning. One of South Korea’s most popular tourist destinations, this coastal city offers something for everyone, with beaches, temples and a world-class dining scene all on offer.

On arrival, begin your day of leisure in Busan with a visit to the Gamcheon Culture Village (surcharges apply) – a colourful slice of the city that’s famous for its vivid street art, charming atmosphere and profound history – or head to Haeundae Beach and soak up some time in the sun.

You may wish to delve into its coastal treasures including the Haedong Yonggungsa temple and the Jalchi Fish Market (surcharges apply), or discover a collection of 80,000 relics at the Gyeongju Museum.

Sail into Yeosu this morning, a beautiful coastal city boasting pristine beaches with clear, blue waters. Perfect for a day of kayaking or island-hopping, Yeosu – which directly translates to ‘beautiful waters’ – is surrounded by more than 300 islands.

Spend the day as you wish; post up on the sand with a good book, discover the area’s rich tea-growing heritage with a tour (surcharges apply) or tea ceremony at the UNESCO-listed Seonamsa temple, get a taste of local kimchi or visit the National Garden. Seafood lovers should head to a local restaurant – Yeosu is brimming with fresh fare from pike eel to egg cockles and oysters.

Finally, a full day at sea – the perfect time to really indulge in the facilities aboard Azamara Pursuit. Watch the turquoise waters pass you by as you lounge on deck, work out in the state-of-the-art onboard fitness centre, sip a drink poolside or visit Sanctum Spa (surcharges apply) for a moment of bliss.

Alternatively, take your tastebuds on a culinary journey at one of the on-board restaurants and end your day at sea with exciting live entertainment, from thrilling shows at Cabaret Lounge to intimate performances in the Living Room.

The Pursuit arrives in Seoul today, docking early this morning for disembarkation at 6am, where your journey comes to an end. Make your own way to Incheon International Airport (ICN) for your onward journey.