Autumn Colours of Japan

Welcome to Tokyo. You have 2 nights to explore the city.

A full free day in Tokyo before you head to the ship. Autumn is one of the best times to see the city, with the ginkgo trees along Icho Namiki Avenue turning gold and Rikugien Garden lit up for its evening momiji viewing. If you’d rather stay central, Shinjuku Gyoen’s maples are an easy park visit, or spend the day between Shibuya’s crossing and the quieter shrine grounds of nearby Meiji Jingu.

Check out of your hotel and make your way to Yokohama to board Spectrum of the Seas. Yokohama itself is worth a look if you’ve got a spare hour before boarding, the waterfront Minato Mirai district mixes futuristic architecture with a view back over the bay. Once you’re onboard, take some time to explore the ship, the Seaplex, the pool deck and the dining options are all worth scoping out before sail away.

Today’s sailing brings you past Japan’s most famous mountain, and autumn gives you good odds of a clear view, cooler air tends to mean fewer of the summer haze days that hide the summit. Fuji-san has drawn pilgrims and artists for centuries, immortalised in Hokusai and Hiroshige’s woodblock prints, and it’s worth being out on deck for it. At 3,776 metres it’s Japan’s tallest peak and one of its three sacred mountains.

Your first of two days in Kobe, and a good one to head further afield. Osaka is a short train ride away and worth it for kuidaore, the local tradition of eating your way around the city, think street-side takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Closer to port, Kobe’s own reputation for Wagyu beef means dinner’s sorted wherever you end up.

Your second day in Kobe, and a chance to slow down and take in the city itself. Ride up Mt Rokko for one of the best views in Japan, especially good on a clear autumn day, or wander the Kitano district’s old foreign merchant houses. If gardens are more your pace, Sorakuen’s autumn colour is a quieter alternative to the crowds in Kyoto.

A day to ease into the trip before Japan’s ports start coming thick and fast. With Kagoshima, Sasebo and Busan all ahead of you, it’s worth pacing yourself, a slow morning by the pool, lunch somewhere onboard you haven’t tried yet, and maybe a wander through the shops if the autumn sea air has you after a coffee and a browse.

Kagoshima sits in the shadow of Sakurajima, an active volcano locals call the Vesuvius of Japan, and the views only get better as the surrounding hills turn to autumn colour. Take the short ferry over to Sakurajima Yogan Nagisa Park for a soak in the 100-metre natural hot spring with the volcano as your backdrop, or visit Sengan-en, the old Shimadzu samurai estate, where the gardens are especially good this time of year. If you’d rather stay by the water, Yurigahama Beach’s shifting sandbar appears in a different spot each month depending on the tides.

Sasebo is a quiet gateway to the Nagasaki prefecture, ringed by calm bays and small emerald islands. Hike up Mount Ishidake for the view from Ishidake Observatory, or if the timing lines up, look out for one of the town’s autumn festivals, the Yosakoi Sasebo festival brings dancing through the streets each year around this time. For something different, Huis Ten Bosch recreates a Dutch town in the middle of Kyushu, complete with theme park rides.

Busan’s skyline of skyscrapers against green mountainside is at its best in autumn, when the hills above the city start to turn. Gamcheon Culture Village’s colourful hillside houses and murals make for an easy wander, or head to Haedong Yonggung Temple, dramatically set against the coastal rocks. Finish with a stroll along Haeundae Beach as the sun goes down.

Your first of two sea days heading toward Hong Kong, and a good one to catch up on the ship rather than the itinerary. Book a spa treatment while the timeslots are still open, take a proper crack at the Seaplex, or just find a spot on deck and watch Korea disappear behind you.

The last sea day before Hong Kong, and the natural one to start winding down. Pack a little early so tomorrow’s arrival isn’t rushed, catch the last of the onboard entertainment, or book a final specialty dinner while the ship’s quieter than it’ll be once everyone’s thinking about disembarkation.

Your ship arrives into Hong Kong today, the start of two nights based in the city. Take a harbour cruise to get your bearings and see the skyline from the water, then head up to Victoria Peak on the Peak Tram for views over the city from 1,800 feet, the air’s noticeably cooler up top too. Later, the Temple Street Night Market is the spot for noodles and people-watching after dark.

A full day to see more of the city before you head home. Stanley, on the other side of Hong Kong Island, has a fishing village feel with a seaside promenade and a well-known street market, an easy contrast to the city centre. If you’re up for a longer outing, the Dragon’s Back trail on the Hong Kong Trail gives you a proper hike among the hills with sea views the whole way. Back in the centre, the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island is worth the trip out if you haven’t already made it there.

Your holiday comes to an end today. Interested in extending you stay? Ask us about our amazing range of packages available or speak with a Cruise Travel Advisor who will be able to customise your holiday with you.