Japan in Bloom

Your journey begins. Check in to your five-star Tokyo hotel and let the city set the tone. Two nights to explore at your own pace, from the neon-lit laneways of Shinjuku to the quiet temples of Yanaka.

A full day in one of the world’s great cities. Consider a day trip to Nikko or Kamakura, a morning at Tsukiji, or simply getting beautifully lost.

A private transfer delivers you to the port, where Silver Muse is waiting. Settle into your butler-attended suite as the ship departs at 7:00pm, Tokyo Bay slipping away behind you.

In port 7:30am to 3:00pm. On a clear morning, Mount Fuji rises behind the city in near-perfect symmetry. Beyond the mountain, Shimizu offers green tea country, ancient shrines and the elegant Nihondaira plateau.

Arrives 12:30pm. Sophisticated, cosmopolitan and quietly confident, Kobe has long been one of Japan’s most internationally influenced cities. Afternoon arrivals leave just enough time to find your footing before dinner.

Departs 6:00pm. A full day to make the most of it. Kyoto is 30 minutes by bullet train, Osaka not much further. Or stay closer and explore the Kitano-cho foreign settlement, Kobe beef restaurants and the views from Rokko Mountain.

In port 8:00am to 6:00pm. Kochi sits on the southern coast of Shikoku, unhurried and unapologetically itself. Kochi Castle, the Sunday Farmers’ Market and Japan’s longest covered shopping arcade all reward a day well spent here.

The East China Sea rolls past as Silver Muse carries you south. A day for the spa, a long lunch, a good book and nothing in particular.

In port 8:00am to 6:00pm. Few cities carry history quite like Nagasaki. Portuguese traders, Dutch merchants, Dejima Island and the weight of 1945 all exist here alongside colorful festivals, excellent champon noodles and some of Japan’s most striking harbour views.

In port 7:00am to 5:00pm. A brief and brilliant detour across the Korea Strait. Busan is all contrasts: the vivid Gamcheon Culture Village stacked against rugged coastal cliffs, fresh seafood at Jagalchi Market, and a city that moves at an entirely different pace to Japan.

In port 8:00am to 6:00pm. A small city with an outsized personality. Sakaiminato is the birthplace of manga artist Shigeru Mizuki and sits at the edge of the San’in coast, with Tottori’s extraordinary sand dunes and the sacred island of Oki within reach.

In port 8:00am to 11:00pm. One of Japan’s finest cities and, until now, one of its best-kept secrets. Kenroku-en garden, the samurai and geisha districts, and a contemporary art scene that punches well above its weight. A late departure means a full day and an evening to linger.

The Sea of Japan stretches north as Silver Muse heads toward Hokkaido. Another day to breathe, reflect and enjoy the ship.

In port 6:00am to 4:30pm. Japan’s northernmost stop on this voyage and one of its most atmospheric. An early arrival gives you the full day: the morning fish market, the star-shaped Goryokaku fort, and the city views from Mount Hakodate that are among the most celebrated in the country.

In port 8:00am to 5:00pm. A quieter, more contemplative stop on the Sanriku coast. Miyako offers rugged sea cliffs at Jodogahama, a landscape of extraordinary natural drama, and a chance to see a part of Japan that few international visitors ever reach.

The final day at sea. The Japanese coastline drifts in and out of view as Silver Muse makes her way back to Tokyo. A last dinner, a last sunset, a last glass of something good.

Silver Muse arrives in Tokyo at 8:00am. A private transfer takes you onward, and Japan stays with you long after you leave.