Explorer, Ancient Shrines & Bright Skylines ex Tokyo Return

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12 Night Cruise sailing return from Tokyo onboard Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

12 Night Cruise sailing return from Tokyo onboard Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

Seven Seas Explorer® is spaciously intimate, breathlessly elegant and perfectly staffed to offer Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ special brand of all-inclusive luxury. The summer of 2016 will herald not only the launch of the most luxurious ship to sail the seven seas, but also the moment when you can experience the new standard in elegance and sophistication. Journey to the world’s most beautiful places in spacious designer suites, indulge in a decadent treatment at the world renowned Canyon Ranch SpaClub®, enjoy a musical performance in a plush lounge, and delight in extensive gourmet dining throughout the day and night.

Highlights of this cruise:

Tokyo
Because it is the seat of the Japanese government and the home of the Imperial Family, Tokyo is the de facto capital of Japan. The firebombings of WWII in 1945, with 75,000 to 200,000 killed and half of the city destroyed, were almost as devastating as the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. After the war, Tokyo was completely rebuilt. Today, Tokyo is one of the three world finance "command centers," along with New York and London.

Okinawa
Explore this beautiful island and visit imposing Shuri Castle, home of the Ryukyu royal family for 400 years. Enjoy the scenic countryside, the WWII memorials, the magnificent limestone caves and a reconstructed Ryukyu village where the island’s heritage and crafts are on display. Take home exquisite Bingata fabric, handmade paper, colorful tsuboyayaki pottery and other craft items. Foods to suite any palate can be found here.

Naze (Oshima Island)
Call it concentrated paradise. Between Okinawa and Japan’s mainland sits Amami Oshima, an island of lush hills ringed in white beaches boasting verdant coral reefs, mangroves, virgin forests and a collection of fauna and flora that invite comparisons to Galapagos (keep an eye out for Amamino-kurousagi hare, a rare black hare). Swim, dive, fish and snorkel in Amami Oshima’s turquoise waters or take a kayak tour of Kuroshio no Mori Mangrove Park, Japan’s second-largest mangrove forest. Indulge on local favorite keihan, a comforting chicken rice dish, and miki, a drink fermented from rice, sugar and sweet potatoes. Bring home a piece of Oshima Tsumugi, a silk that that’s been locally produced for 1,300 years.

Hiroshima
Nagasaki is the capital and largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. It was a center of European influence in feudal Japan from first contact through the isolationist era until the opening of Japan and the modernization of Japan during the Meiji Restoration. It became a major Imperial Japanese Navy base during the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War. The city became the second city in the world to be bombed by a nuclear weapon, following Hiroshima.

Busan
Located on the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula just two-and-a-half hours from Seoul, Busan is South Korea’s second-largest city. With its deep harbor, it’s also one of the largest commercial ports in the world. Often referred to as “the summer capital of South Korea,” Busan is known for its exceptional beaches, scenic cliffs and ancient temples high in the mountains.

Kochi
Kochi boasts beautiful and abundant natural landscapes, from an expansive coastline running with the Kuroshio Current to the clear Shimanto River and the deep green forests that surround it. Located in the south of Shikoku, Kochi is ringed by rugged mountains to the north, and its arc-like southern coastline traces the outline of Tosa Bay. To the east is Cape Muroto, and to the west, Cape Ashizuri, with gently undulating sandy beaches stretching between these two extreme points. The prefecture also boasts the mystical limestone caves of Ryu-ga-do, and the beautiful sands and green pines of Katsura-hama Beach.

Shimizu
On a clear day, you can see magnificent Mount Fuji from the lively Port of Shimizu. Visit The S-Pulse Dream Plaza to tour the Shimizu Sushi Museum with informative displays and models that show the history and variations of Japan’s most famous fare. Stroll through the Kashi-no-Ichi Market, where some of the port's fresh seafood is sold and be sure to enjoy a delicious cup of tea.