This tour will be all about the internationally acclaimed Kobe Beef. From the pier, the coach will bring you directly to the restaurant for dinner to experience this prestigious delicacy.  The Kobe beef is renowned for its mouth-watering flavor, tenderness, and high amount of intramuscular fat, giving the meat a marbled appearance. It is often cited that the cows are given beer to induce appetite, massaged daily, and given the utmost treatment in its raising.   Overall, a must-try experience in its most authentic form at its heartland of Hyogo Prefecture. Afterward, return to your coach and back to your cruise ship.

Please note: Bring local currency.

The tour will begin with a visit to Ikuta Shrine located in the Sannomiya District.  This shrine which dates back to 201 A.D. is one of the oldest shrines in the country.  To the Japanese, this shrine is known to bring wellness in marriage. Afterward, the tour will continue to the Nada District, Japan's top sake producing region. You will visit one of the most well-known Sake Brewery Museums where guests can get a feel of the "heart of Japan" through the art of sake. Sake tasting will be held as well as the tour of its production facility. Afterwards, you will be welcomed at the Teppanyaki Restaurant to get a taste of the famous Kobe local beef.  

Please note: Bring local currency and wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat.

The first destination of this tour is the beautiful Himeji Castle.  Due to its clear white colored exterior, the castle is also known as the "white heron castle" because of its resemblance to the white heron.  The entire castle ground spans to approximately 568 acres and is equipped with eye-catching moats that surround and protect the castle. After the castle, the tour will then visit the Kokoen Garden which is approximately 8.5 acres in size with nine different gardens. The garden features ponds and springs against the backdrop of the World Cultural Heritage Himeji Castle. After having lunch at a local restaurant, the tour will drive to the Nadagiku Sake Brewery for sake tasting as well as a visit to its facility. Carrying over the 100 years of tradition, the brewery and their fine sakes are sure to touch all the five senses. Afterward, board your coach and return to the pier.

Please note: This tour includes approximately 2.5 hours of walking with a number of steps to negotiate. There are approximately 200 steps at the Himeji Castle. Shoes must be removed to enter Himeji Castle and the steps inside the castle are very steep. Those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. Casual clothing and comfortable, flat walking shoes are recommended. Bring local currency for shopping.

Explore Japan's third largest city, Osaka, on this intriguing half-day tour. One of the gateways to ancient Japan for traders from China, Korea and the Asian continent, Osaka played a vital role in the introduction of new technologies in ceramics, forging, construction, and engineering. Today, this modern port city combines historical and cultural attractions with all the delights of a Japanese urban marvel. Following a 60-minute drive, see the impressive landmark, Osaka Castle. One of Japan's most famous castles, it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century. Built on a plot of land almost 1 mile square, the castle compound contains 13 structures, designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government. The central castle building is 5 stories on the outside and 8 stories on the inside, built atop a massive stone foundation that protected its occupants from sword-bearing attackers. Of particular interest are the tower's ornamental ride-end roof tiles, and bas-reliefs carved in the shape of crouching tigers, all gilded with gold. An engaging museum occupies the interior of the building, tracing the history of the castle from the late 1500s to the present day, and housing Osaka's most significant historical and cultural artifacts. After a guide tour of the castle, proceed to the Shitennoji Temple which was constructed over 1,400 years ago to commemorate the victory of the war and to provide relief and settlement the king. Today, the Shitennoji Temple remains as one of the oldest architectural styles that are preserved today in Japan.  

Please note: This tour includes approximately 3 hours of walking with a number of steps to negotiate. Photography and video are not permitted inside Osaka Castle (3rd & 4th floors). Those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina.  From the parking to Osaka Castle is approximately a 15-minute walk.

Explore three of Kyoto's marquee attractions: the impressive Golden Pavilion, Sanjusangendo and formidable Nijo Castle, a quintessential example of Momoyama architecture, which flourished 400 years ago. Depart from the pier and drive inland toward Kyoto, an immensely historical city renowned for spectacular architecture, which includes thousands of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Your first visit is Sanjusangendo, which is the popular name for Rengeo-in, a temple in eastern Kyoto which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after original structure had been destroyed in a fire. The temple hall, measuring 394 feet (120 meters), is the longest Japanese wooden structure. Next is Nijo Castle, a fortification of cypress wood built in 1603 as the residence of the Tokugawa clan. An esteemed UNESCO World Heritage Site, the castle is protected by a moat, stone walls, and ingenious nightingale floors, which chirp like a bird when walked upon to alert the guards of potential intruders. Despite its defensive elements, the castle was primarily a home. It's adorned with wooden carvings, artistically painted sliding doors and expansive tatami rooms, decorated in the traditional style at the time. After having lunch, you will be headed to Kyoto's most famous landmark, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion). Built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a villa in 1397, the 3-story home was converted to a temple by Yoshimitsu's son. The Golden Pavilion follows the Shinden style of the Heian Period by being positioned at the edge of a tranquil pond. It has delicately curving roofs, with the walls and eaves of the second and third stories covered in shimmering gold leaf. View the exterior of the pavilion and walk through the peaceful gardens, marveling at the mirror reflection of the temple on the still pond.

Please note: This tour includes approximately 3 hours of walking with a number of steps to negotiate. There are 30 steps at the Kinkakuji Temple. Those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. Casual clothing and comfortable, flat walking shoes are recommended. Bring local currency for shopping. Photography and video are not permitted inside Nijo Castle (Ninomaru Palace) and Sanjusangendo. Shoes must be removed to enter Nijo Castle and Sanjusangendo. Nijo Castle is under a 20-year restoration project therefore some parts of castle may be closed. The order of sites visited may vary.