From: South Korea, Busan
To: Japan, Osaka
Dates: 19.05.2026 - 31.05.2026
Duration: 13 Nights
Ship: LE SOLÉAL

Authentic Japan

With this itinerary, PONANT invites you aboard Le Soléal for a unique expedition cruise between Osaka and Busan. A 13-day escapade discovering a traditional Japan shaped by age-old traditions, natural wonders and mythical legendary sites. Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, explore the picturesque city of Chiran and its ancestral history from Kagoshima, discover the cultural heritage of Nagasaki, or appreciate the natural jewels of Uwajima. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab). At the whim of the trade winds in the Sea of Japan, Le Soléal will sail eastbound for the charming feudal city of Karatsu. Further south, Nagasaki remains in the world’s imagination as the symbol of nuclear horror. Fortunately, in the same way as Hiroshima, the city has become one the archipelago’s most peaceful towns as well as one of its most attractive. The warm and cosmopolitan city unveils its many riches throughout its narrow streets: the Oura Catholic Church and its gardens, the Suwa Shrine, the sumptuous Buddhist temples... Following the currents, clinging to the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, Le Soléal will sail east. At the foot of a tropical forest burgeoning with life, Tamano stands proudly in the middle of this enchanting environment. Last port of call of your journey, it still bears the traces of traditional Japanese life in the 18th century, as the particular architecture of the town demonstrates. Then, you will visit Itozaki, a charming coastal town surrounded by green hills. The jagged coastlines of the captivating Miyajima Island, also known as Itsukushima, come into view, and the vermillion Torii of the emblematic Shinto Shrine of Itsukushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, unfolds before you in a lush forest setting. Time here seems stuck in the feudal era: the frenetic energy and modernity of the large Japanese metropolises make way for striking serenity and tranquillity, and hundreds of deer wander between its spiritual and architectural treasures. Hiroshima does not seek to elicit strong emotions. Opposite the Inland Sea, only the Hiroshima Peace Memorial bears witness to past events in the city known as a “City of Peace”. It is resolutely future looking and you will be able to appreciate its modern and cosmopolitan atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of its lively streets and the tranquillity of its natural settings, such as the splendid Shukkei-en, the city’s historic gardens. After a unique port of call in the historic city of Himeji, walk the ancient pilgrimage routes of Kumano Kodō in Shingu, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, connecting several religious sites nestling in tropical nature. The gateway to the enchanting Ise Bay and its sumptuous ria coast, Toba invites you to enjoy a unique moment in this historic city, residence of the Imperial family. Among other things, you will have the opportunity to admire the most important Shinto shrine in Japan, Ise-jingu. Finally, for a grand finale, your journey will end in Osaka, your disembarkation port.  *The land-based activities and excursions can be conducted in English with a translator if required.

LE SOLÉAL

  • Guests: 264
  • Suites: 132
  • Crew: 145
  • Spa: 1
  • Restaurants: 2
  • Length: 466 ft
  • Beam: 59 ft
  • Draft: 15.3 ft
  • Ice class: 1C
  • Classification: Bureau Veritas
  • Flag: French
  • Decks: 6
  • Zodiacs: 11
  • Tonnage: 10 944 UMS
  • Motors: 2 x 2300 KW
  • Power: 6 400 KW
  • Construction: Fincantieri-Ancône-Italy
Ship in Details

Cruise Itinerary

Day
Date
Location
Arrival
Departure
1
May 19, 2026
South Korea, Busan
16:00*
19:00
2
May 20, 2026
Japan, Karatsu
-
-
3
May 21, 2026
Japan, Nagasaki
-
-
4
May 22, 2026
Japan, Kagoshima
-
-
5
May 23, 2026
Japan, Miyazaki
-
-
6
May 24, 2026
Japan, Uwajima
-
-
7
May 25, 2026
Japan, Tamano
-
-
8
May 26, 2026
Japan, Onomichi
-
-
8
May 26, 2026
Japan, Mitarai
-
-
9
May 27, 2026
Japan, Miyajima Island
-
-
9
May 27, 2026
Japan, Hiroshima
-
-
10
May 28, 2026
Japan, Himeji
-
-
11
May 29, 2026
Japan, Shingu
-
-
12
May 30, 2026
Japan, Toba
-
-
13
May 31, 2026
Japan, Osaka
-
08:00**
The itinerary is subject to change without prior notice at the discretion of the cruise line or due to operational, weather, port, or safety considerations. The cruise operator reserves the right to substitute ports, alter the order of calls, or modify the program as necessary to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.

Cabins & Accomodations

Window or Porthole Stateroom

  • Cabin: 21 m²
  • Pax: 3
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Lower deck balcony stateroom

  • Cabin: 21 m²
  • Pax: 3
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Upper decks balcony stateroom

  • Cabin: 21 m²
  • Pax: 3
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Deluxe Suite

  • Cabin: 27 m²
  • Pax: 2
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Prestige Suite

  • Cabin: 37 m²
  • Pax: 4
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Owner's Suite

  • Cabin: 45 m²
  • Pax: 2
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