Pricing

per person twin share

Deluxe Balcony  –  $9,285

PR4 Prestige Balcony  –  $10,055

 DS4 Deluxe Suite  –  $13,955

Single

Deluxe Balcony  –  $12,985 **hurry very limited space available**

Inclusions

• Return economy class airfare** from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth to Osaka inc taxes
• One way transfer from Osaka airport to hotel
• 2 nights accommodation at the Hilton Osaka Hotel (or similar) including daily breakfast
• FREE!* Full day sightseeing tour from Osaka to Kyoto including: Transportation by coach, Guide Service, Entrance to Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Heian Jingu Shrine, Sanjusangendo Temple and Kiyomizu Temple, Lunch, • Return train tickets between Osaka station and Kyoto station.
• One way transfer from Osaka hotel to port
• 8 night `Best of Japan` cruise with Le Laperouse from Osaka to Maizuru including:
– All meals while on board the ship (from dinner on the day of embarkation to breakfast on the day of disembarkation)
– Captain`s welcome cocktail and gala dinner
– Open Bar (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands…list available upon request)
– Evening entertainment and events
– Room service 24h (special selection)
– Port taxes
• One way transfer from Osaka port to airport including lunch and touring to the Kinkakuji Temple, Ashikaga estate and Gion (Geisha district)

*Conditions Apply: All prices shown here are per person share twin (unless stated as single) in AUD, based on best available cruise fare at time of publication (21Feb18). All prices based on cash payment – credit card fees may
apply. **All airfare/taxes are based on 2018 dates/rates/schedules and are subject to change until bookable approx 10 months prior. Once booked, all airfare/taxes are due in full 24 hours from reservation and strict cancellation/change fees apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply.  All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Prices based on 25% Ponant Bonus fares (for lead in DEL only – limited space) with higher categories based on 20% PBF – which correct at time of print, but subject to change without notice by cruise line at any time. Offer ends 30Apr18 or until sold out/withdrawn and are subject to availability at time of booking. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. 

Itinerary

Day 1: Monday 7 October – AUSTRALIA TO JAPAN

Fly from Australia to Osaka, Japan

Day 2: Tuesday 8 October – OSAKA, JAPAN

Arrive in Osaka, transfer to Hilton Osaka Hotel (or similar). Like its big sister Tokyo, Osaka is the product of ancestral traditions and amazing technological innovations. And despite its size, its location on the Pacific Ocean give it a sense of serenity.ﾠThe main historic landmark is the 16th-century Osaka Castle, which stands proud in the midst of majestic skyscrapers. The lively streets of Dotomburi and the bizarre Shinsekai district attract thousands of locals and visitors. A multitude of restaurants offer menus full of regional specialities.

Day 3: Wednesday 9 October – OSAKA, JAPAN

Free day tour to Kyoto with lunch

Day 4: Thursday 10 October – OSAKA, JAPAN

Transfer to port today for cruise embarkation, departing 9:00pm

Day 5: Friday 11 October – TAMANO, JAPAN 6:00am to 8:00pm

Located on the island of Honshu, hugging the banks of the Sento Inland Sea, Tamano is a popular destination thanks to its sun-drenched climate. Upon arrival, marvel at the way in which the city has been built along the coast at the foot of a deep, dark forest. In the area surrounding Tamano, stroll down the streets of Kurashiki, known as the ‘white-walled city’ in a nod to the pretty façades of the houses that line the streets of this ancient Edo-period trading town. Another major regional attraction is the Seto Ohashi bridge. Its 12.5 kilometres make it the world’s longest double-decker bridge.

Day 6: Saturday 12 October – HIROSHIMA, JAPAN 6:00am to 7:00pm

Visiting Hiroshima is a moving experience. The town spreads along Honshu Island, along the inside coasts of Seto. While firmly focused on the future, Hiroshima doesnﾒt forget its past, and a visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Genbaku Dome is a must. Youﾒll enjoy the city’s modern, cosmopolitan atmosphere and effervescent nightlife just as much as the peaceful stillness of its natural parkland areas such as splendid Shukkei-en, the townﾒs historic garden.

Day 7: Sunday 13 October – UWAJIMA, JAPAN 7:00am to 1:00pm

Located on the west coast of Shikoku island, Uwajima will delight lovers of history and traditional customs. The magnificent Uwajima Castle was built in the 17th-century by the powerful Date clan and has a beautiful ornamental garden and bridge. The much-visited Taga Shrine is dedicated to fertility and is full of phalluses. Another interesting tradition is togyu, a Japanese variant of bull-fighting where two bulls are pitted against each other without a toreador.

Day 8: Monday 14 October – KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN 7am to 6pm

The seaside city of Kagoshima, at the south of Kyushu Island, ﾠis best known for Sakurajima, an active volcano that faces Kinko Bay. A visit to this busy metropolis will remind you just how much the volcano is part of the inhabitants everyday life: in the wake of the almost daily eruptions, a delicate layer of ash settles on everything. The top of a buried torii (traditional Japanese gate) measuring three metres that was swallowed up by a giant lava flow in 1914 can still be seen. The power of nature will send a shiver down your spine.

Day 9: Tuesday 15 October – NAGASAKI, JAPAN 8:50 to 6:00pm

Located on the north-west coast of Kyushu, Nagasaki will impress you by its rich heritage. Despite the destruction in 1945, you can visit several ancient sites, including the beautiful 19th-century Catholic Church of Oura and its garden, the sanctuary of Suwa Shrine as well as several Buddhist temples. A visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum gives you insight into the extent of the damage caused by the nuclear attack. Close by, a walk in the Memorial Peace Park leads you to a collection of objets dﾒart offered as a gift from Japan to the world.

Day 10: Wednesday 16 October – BUSAN (PUSAN), SOUTH KOREA 8:30am to 2:00pm

With around four million inhabitants, Busan is the second largest metropolis on South Korea, after Seoul. This dynamic harbour city, located in the south-east, surrounded by the warm waters of the Sea of Japan, benefits from a mild, pleasant climate. You’ll find delightful simply to stroll around the lively streets and explore the city’s outstanding cultural heritage of art galleries, museums, and Buddhist sites, such as the Haedong Yonggungsa temple, which elegantly sits on the waterfront. Rich too in magnificent beaches and superlative natural landscapes, Busan’s peaceful atmosphere will win you over, as will its inhabitants, whom you’ll have the pleasure of meeting.

Day 11: Thursday 17 October – SAKAIMINATO, JAPAN 7:00am to 7:00pm

Located on the south-west coast of Honshu Island, the busy fishing port of Sakaiminato celebrates the comic writer and artist Shigeru Mizuki, who was born here. As well as a museum a dedicated tourist route leads through streets and squares that feature 134 bronze statues representing his beloved characters. This isn’t the only thing Sakaiminato has to offer; enjoy the stunning views of Mt Daisen and the Yumigahama peninsula.

Day 12: Friday 18 October – MAIZURU, JAPAN 7:00am

Located on the western coast of Honshu island, in the province of Kyoto, the charming town of Maizuru boasts one of Japan’s most exquisite closed bays. A climb to the observatory will allow you to appreciate the splendour of this inlet scattered with tiny wild islands. You can also admire the treasures of traditional architecture by visiting the temple of Enryu-ji or the Tanabe-jo castle. The town also bears traces of a rich military past, which you can see in the old arsenals of the navy, red brick buildings that today house a museum. 

Your cruise ends today, disembarkation from 7:00am. Tour, lunch and transfer to airport.

Day 13: Saturday 19 October – ARRIVE AUSTRALIA TODAY

Only one date available 7 to 19 October 2019

Call us on 1300 689 461