7 Night Expedition in the Seto Inland Sea Cruise from Kobe

Ship: Le Jacques Cartier

Cruise Line: Ponant Cruises

Sailed: Saturday, Mar 30, 2024 from Kobe, Japan

Ended: Saturday, Apr 6, 2024

The itinerary information below reflects the original day-by-day port of call schedule for the Saturday, Mar 30, 2024 departure of the Le Jacques Cartier. If Ponant Cruises modified this itinerary for weather or operational reasons after departing , the modified schedule would not be reflected here.

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Itinerary

Day by Day Summary and Map

Day 1 - Saturday - Mar 30, 2024

Kobe, Japan

Depart: 11:59 pm

A coastal city on the main island of Honshu, Kobe is a vital Japanese port. You will be inspired by the authenticity, way of life, and heritage of the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, which is bordered by the sea. Its beef is internationally renowned, but there is much more to the city's attractions than this delicate speciality. As soon as you arrive, you will be welcomed by the Kobe Port Tower, located, along with the Maritime Museum, in the much appreciated Meriken Park. The Mount Rokko National Park is a real island of greenery in the very heart of the vibrant city. Long frequented by Shinto monks, then popular with the expatriates who flocked to Kobe during the second half of the 19th century, it is one of the symbols of the city.

Day 2 - Sunday - Mar 31, 2024

Inujima,, Japan

A small verdant island in the Seto Inland Sea, Inujima charms lovers of rugged landscapes and art. A flourishing center of the mining industry more than a century ago, particularly for copper extraction, the island is now a favorite destination of modern art enthusiasts, due to the activities developed since the 1980s. It is notably home to the Seirensho Art Museum, designed around the remaining blackened walls of a former copper refinery. Inujima offers an ideal mix of wild landscapes, industrial past, and contemporary art. The island will be the perfect port of call for relaxing, enjoying this exceptional panorama, and admiring singular and ambitious works of art.

Day 3 - Monday - Apr 1, 2024

Tomonoura, Japan

Anchored to the south-eastern end of the Numakuma Peninsula, facing the calm and clear waters of the Seto Inland Sea, Tomonoura is a destination particularly appreciated for its authentic and old-fashioned atmosphere that gives it an incomparable charm. In the past used as a port where boats would moor while waiting for a favorable wind, the charming and picturesque village now serves to inspire many filmmakers and artists. With good reason, since its craggy landscapes, cherry trees in blossom, gentle way of life, traditional wooden houses, and port, preserved since the Edo era, notably enabled the artist Hayao Miyazaki to make the animated film Ponyo.

Onomichi, Japan, Japan

Anchored on the northern shores of the Seto Inland Sea, in the Hiroshima prefecture, the historical city of Onomichi extends from the main island of Honshu to certain neighboring islands, linked by the bridges of the Shimanami Kaido motorway. Before becoming this peaceful town with its charming, sloping little streets, Onomichi established itself in the 7th century as a nerve center of the rice trade for the entire Japanese archipelago. Although its activity is diminished today, the port remains at the center of the town's culture. Onomichi now stands out for its exceptional heritage. With good reason, since it can boast over twenty temples and shrines, saved from the bombing of the Second World War. Among them are Senko-ji, offering an outstanding panoramic view over the whole town, Saikoku-ji and its three-storied pagoda, and Jodo-ji and its emblematic eleven-faced statue of the goddess Guanyin.

Day 4 - Tuesday - Apr 2, 2024

Mitarai, Osaki Shimojima, Japan, Japan

A charming fishing village nestling in the east of Osaki Shimojima island, on the edge of the Seto Inland Sea, Mitarai is appreciated for its traditional charm and authentic character. A trip back in time to the Edo Period, where the hustle and bustle of modern cities is replaced by the gentle sound of fishing boats. Thanks to its 19th-century wooden dwellings lining the small, narrow streets, great causeway, centuries-old sanctuaries, and gangi stairs, a stone structure giving on to the sea, the old town was classed as a Preservation District by the Japanese state in 1994.

Shimokamagari, Japan

The island of Shimokamagari stretches into the heart of the Seto Inland Sea, off the coast of the town of Kure, in the Hiroshima prefecture. A historical city during the feudal period, the island was the theater of major diplomatic missions for the future and the empire's trade relationships, notably with repeated visits from mainly Korean, but also Chinese and Dutch, emissaries. Registered since 2017 on the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, documentary heritage of these encounters is conserved in the Shotoen Garden, one of the emblems of this lush islet. A magnificent Japanese garden with perfectly kept grounds, interspersed with raked pebbles and surrounded with majestic trees, it is home to a Rantokaku Museum complex, consisting of four exhibition rooms tracing the island's naval history.

Day 5 - Wednesday - Apr 3, 2024

Miyajima, Japan

At the heart of the Inland Sea, Miyajima, the "island sanctuary", will reveal its treasures. In the background, you will see the Shinto Grand Sanctuary, whose entrance is guarded by a magnificent vermillion "torii". Considered to be one of the most beautiful sites in the Japanese islands, you will be transported by the unique character and the serenity of this sacred site.

Day 6 - Thursday - Apr 4, 2024

Hagi, Japan

In the south of Honshu island, surrounded by mountains, Hagi is a city of water. For good reason; it was built on the delta of the Abu-gawa river. Its castle was built in the 17th century and its outer walls remain in the lovely Shizuki Park. The old town was one of the cradles of the Meiji revolution. You will discover its rich past in streets lined with old houses and samurai manors, or within the walls of the many museums and Hagi-yaki ceramics workshops.

Day 7 - Friday - Apr 5, 2024

Yeosu, Korea

Yeosu is a charming coastal city in South Korea's South Jeolla Province. It is part of an archipelago comprising more than 317 verdant islands. Yeosu is known for being a hidden gem with picturesque scenery, but also for its strong naval history. And with good reason since, in the early 14th century, the city became home to naval headquarters during the Joseon Dynasty. This destination, with a mix of modern architecture and vestiges of a strong past, will enthrall you with its stunning beaches edged by the pure and warm waters of the Sea of Japan.

Day 8 - Saturday - Apr 6, 2024

Fukuoka, Japan

At the northern tip of the subtropical island of Kyushu, Fukuoka stands proudly at the center of a veritable natural setting, between lush mountains and the crystal-clear and calm waters of Hakata Bay. A modern city and high-tech hub, which has earned it the nickname of the Japanese "Silicon Valley" in particular, the seventh town in Japan stands out for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Promoted as one of the nerve centers of maritime trade from the 15th century onward, it experienced long decades of prosperity. A period of splendor which, among other things, saw the construction of many spiritual buildings, including the Sumiyoshi-jinja shrine and the Tochoji temple, as well as its emblematic Maizuru Castle, erected in the 17th century.