Before or after Tokyo, Yokohama or Osaka

Japan, three ways

The Art Islands of the Seto Inland Sea, classic Kyoto and beyond, and the Kyushu road trip Marc drove himself.

Choose a direction
Length3 nights, or 5
SeasonMarch–May, October–November
StaysNaoshima Ryokan Roka; Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto; The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto; Gora Kadan Hakone; The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka; Ryotei Hanzuiryo Unzen
BudgetThe Art Islands: $550 – $950 USD per day per person

The Classic, Kyoto and Hakone: $750 – $1,400 USD per day per person

Northwest Kyushu: $500 – $900 USD per day per person

Why this page exists

Japan cruises turn around at Yokohama and Osaka, and most passengers just add two nights in Tokyo. Instead, we have built three curated routes that are almost impossible to plan alone: the quirky art islands of the Seto Inland Sea with their complex ferry timetables, a crowd-beating look at the classic core of Kyoto and Hakone, and an off-the-beaten-path escape into the volcanic springs and hidden pottery towns of northwest Kyushu. This is the shape of them.

First-hand

Art Islands itinerary planned for a client this year — the order is built around the Monday closures

Explored northwest Kyushu behind the wheel himself; having your own car is hands down the best way to get around.

His Kyushu journal →

Three ways

The art islands, the classic, or the road trip.

  • Red Pumpkin by the world-renowned avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, located at Miyanoura Port on Naoshima.

    1 · The Art Islands

    3 nights · Most requested. From Osaka in under two hours, or from Tokyo in four: a night at the port, then Naoshima — the underground museum, the island ryokan, the gallery with tea.

    See the days
  • Vermilion torii gates on the path at Fushimi Inari, Kyoto.

    2 · Kyoto and Hakone

    5 nights. Two hours from Yokohama or thirty minutes from Osaka; Kyoto, Nara, a ryokan under Fuji, out through Haneda.

    See the days
  • Stone steps up to a shrine in a town in northwest Kyushu.

    3 · Northwest Kyushu

    5 nights. Fukuoka, the pottery towns of Saga, Nagasaki, an onsen ryokan at Unzen — ryokans, onsen, almost no other visitors.

    See the days

The routes, day by day

1The Art Islands: Seto Inland Sea3 nightsMost requested
Illustrated route map of the Art Islands: Okayama, Uno and Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea.

Illustrative route, not to scale.

Day1Journey to the portTake the Shinkansen to Okayama—under two hours from Osaka or roughly four from Tokyo—before catching the local line down to Uno Port. Spend your evening relaxing at a coastal hotel to avoid rushing the next day, and enjoy the town’s local onsen, which stays open late.
Day2Contemporary NaoshimaBoard the first morning ferry for the quick 20-minute crossing to Naoshima. Spend your day exploring the island’s architectural masterworks, including the subterranean Chichu Art Museum, the Lee Ufan Museum, the Naoshima New Museum of Art, the localized Art House Project, and the intimate Ando Museum. Check into Naoshima Ryokan Roka by late afternoon to enjoy a private open-air bath before a multi-course kaiseki dinner.
Day3The Benesse Coast Spend your morning exploring the Benesse House Museum, the Valley Gallery, and Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Time Corridors gallery. Walk past the iconic outdoor seaside sculptures on your way to the lunchtime ferry back to Uno Port to catch your train onward.

The order matters: two of the best museums close on Mondays, the ryokan serves dinner at a set hour, and the ferry timetable for spring is published only weeks ahead. Teshima, one island east, adds a day for anyone who wants it.

2The Classic: Kyoto & Hakone5 nights
Illustrated route map of Honshu: Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hakone, Mount Fuji, Yokohama and Tokyo.

Illustrative route, not to scale.

Day1Arrival in KyotoCatch a fast Bullet Train directly to Japan’s cultural capital, located just two hours from Yokohama or a quick 30 minutes from Osaka.
Days2–3Icons and Hidden KyotoSpend your first day ticking off the essentials: walking through the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari at dawn, wandering the wooden halls of Nanzen-ji, and exploring the historic streets of Gion at dusk. Dedicate the second day to a quieter side of the city with a private tea ceremony, a tour of the tranquil northwestern temples, and an intimate visit to a master craftsman’s private workshop.
Day4Ancient Nara, or UjiTake a short day trip south. Choose Nara to stand before the towering Great Buddha at Todai-ji and wander among the free-roaming park deer, or head to Uji to sample world-class matcha and admire the elegant, riverside Byodo-in temple.
Day5Mountain Onsen in HakoneTravel by train into the forested volcanic hills of Hakone National Park. Check into a premium luxury ryokan to soak in natural hot spring waters (onsen) and indulge in an elaborate kaiseki banquet, keeping an eye out for views of Mount Fuji across the lake.
Day6Departure via HanedaConclude your journey with a smooth 90-minute transfer directly up to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport for your flight home.
3Northwest Kyushu: Fukuoka, Saga & Nagasaki5 nights
Illustrated route map of northwest Kyushu: Fukuoka, Karatsu, Arita, Nagasaki and Unzen.

Illustrative route, not to scale.

Day1Fukuoka Food SceneFly into Fukuoka—a quick two-hour flight from Tokyo—and spend your evening strolling along the central river canals to dine at the city’s legendary open-air yatai street food stalls.
Day2Historic Pottery TownsSecure a private car to explore the historic ceramic centres of Saga Prefecture. Spend your day visiting the ancient kiln villages, boutique studios, and artisan shops tucked into the hillsides of Karatsu and Arita.
Day3Cosmopolitan NagasakiJourney south to Nagasaki, a historic port city shaped by centuries of global trade. Explore the old Dutch trading post at Dejima, walk through the 19th-century western estates of Glover Garden, and spend a quiet afternoon at the moving Nagasaki Peace Park.
Day4Volcanic UnzenDrive up into the rugged, steaming mountain valleys of Unzen-Amakusa National Park. Check into a historic luxury hot spring resort to walk among the bubbling sulphur “hells” before relaxing in the mineral-rich waters.
Day5Return to FukuokaWind your way back down the mountains to Fukuoka for a final evening of relaxing and shopping before flying out the following morning.

Securing Kyoto for the blossoms or fall leaves requires planning a year out, and space at Roka is incredibly tight; let’s check your dates first to see what’s realistic.

“Whether you want to slow down on the quirky “art islands”, dive into Japan’s classic cultural side in Kyoto, or head completely off the beaten path to volcanic hot springs, each route turns your cruise into a tailor-made, epic second half to your trip.”
— Marc Vitria · Expeditioner Travel

Ready when you are

Tell Marc where the ship starts and where it stops.

He’ll take it from there.

Plan this with Marc
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