ASUKA III Cruises
The same voyage as Course A, embarking and disembarking in Kobe. Marking thirty-five years of service, twenty-four days link twelve ports from Ogasawara to Shiretoko. Shimabara is a maiden call.
In Kobe the mountains and the sea are only a few streets apart. The Kitano houses were built for foreign merchants in the Meiji era, the stone buildings of the old foreign settlement are now shops, and the waterfront lights up after dark. From the terminal, Sannomiya is a walk or a short ride away.
From the Airport to the Pier：Kansai International Airport、Kobe Airport、Sannomiya
Half a Day Before Boarding：Kitano Ijinkan、Kobe Port Tower、Former Foreign Settlement、Nankinmachi
One More Day After Disembarking：Nada Sake Breweries、Arima Onsen、Mount Rokko
Local flavours：Kobe Beef、Akashiyaki、Nada Sake、Western Pastries
Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands is a World Natural Heritage site accessible only by ship, often called the 'Galapagos of the East.' Its uniquely evolved subtropical ecosystem and the crystal-clear 'Bonin Blue' sea make it a living paradise in winter.
Ogasawara Nature: Day Route：Weather Station、Kominato Beach、Miyanohama、Endemic Species Forest、Minamijima (Restricted)
Local flavours：Island Sushi、Turtle Cuisine、Passion Fruit、Island Lemon
Naha is the former capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, where Shureimon Gate and Shuri Castle carry the memory of the kingdom. The emerald sea, Churaumi Aquarium, and the vibrant Kokusai-dori are representative of the southern islands' 'urizun' spring.
Ryukyu Kingdom and Southern Islands: Day Route：Shureimon Gate、Shuri Castle、Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium、Kokusai Dori、Shikinaen Garden
Local flavours：Okinawa Soba、Goya Champuru、Sea Grapes、Awamori
Motobu sits on the north of Okinawa's main island, facing the East China Sea. Whale sharks swim in the aquarium's great tank, and at Bise rows of fukugi trees form green walls along the lanes.
Churaumi and the Fukugi Lanes：Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium、Bise Fukugi Tree Lane、Nakijin Castle Ruins、Ocean Expo Park
Local flavours：Okinawa Soba、Sea Grapes、Agu Pork、Brown Sugar
Hirara is the port of Miyakojima. With no rivers running into it, the sea here holds an unusually clear colour, and three bridges link the surrounding islands.
Island Bridges and White Sand：Irabu Bridge、Yonaha Maehama Beach、Cape Higashi-Hennazaki、Kurima Bridge
Local flavours：Miyako Soba、Sea Grapes、Miyako Beef、Yukishio Salt
Shimabara lies below Mount Unzen, a castle town fed by springs. Carp swim in the channels through the streets, and a watercourse runs between the stone walls of the samurai quarter.
Castle and Spring Water：Shimabara Castle、The Town Where Carp Swim、Samurai Residences、Mount Unzen
Local flavours：Guzoni、Kanzarashi、Shimabara Somen、Ariake Sea Seafood
Tsuruga was a transfer port in the age of the kitamaebune traders, and the point where the trans-Eurasian rail link met the Japan Sea route. The wooden torii of Kehi Jingu is one of the three great wooden gates in Japan.
The Great Torii and a Port's Memory：Great Torii of Kehi Jingu、Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse、Kanegasaki-gu、Port of Humanity Tsuruga Museum
Local flavours：Echizen Crab、Tsuruga Oroshi Soba、Grilled Mackerel Sushi、Kombu
Funakawa is the port of the Oga Peninsula. On New Year's Eve, masked namahage visit the houses and ask the children whether they have been idle — not a show, but a custom still alive.
Namahage and the Cape：Namahage Museum、Shinzan Shrine、Cape Nyudozaki、Mount Kanpu
Local flavours：Ishiyaki、Sailfin Sandfish、Akita Rice、Inaniwa Udon
Otaru was a financial and shipping hub during Hokkaido's pioneering era, with canals and stone warehouses preserving its former prosperity; glass crafts, music boxes, and famous sushi restaurants gather here, and the port town is close to the city center, ideal for strolling.
Canal & Port Town Day Trip：Otaru Canal、Sakaimachi Street、Kitaichi Glass、Music Box Museum、Mount Tengu
Local flavours：Otaru Sushi、Sea Urchin、Hokkaido Fresh Confectionery、Fried Half Chicken
Abashiri faces the Sea of Okhotsk, the southern limit of winter drift ice and the gateway to the World Natural Heritage site Shiretoko in summer; drift ice, prison history, and pristine nature create a unique northern travel experience.
Shiretoko World Heritage Day Trip：Shiretoko (Utoro)、Shiretoko Sightseeing Boat、Oshinkoshin Falls、Roadside Station Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri
Abashiri City Half-Day Trip：Abashiri Prison Museum、Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum、Tentozan Observatory
Local flavours：Okhotsk Seafood Don、Scallop、Salmon、Shiretoko Local Beer
Hakodate is one of Japan's earliest port towns, where Motomachi's hillside streets blend Japanese and Western influences, red-brick warehouses, and a world-class night view come together; the early-morning Hakodate Morning Market is a microcosm of northern seafood. July reference temperatures: average approx. 24°C, high approx. 27°C, low approx. 22°C.
Port Town Stroll & Night View Day Trip：Hakodate Morning Market、Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse、Motomachi Slopes、Old Hakodate Ward Public Hall、Hakodate Ropeway
Goryokaku & Outskirts Day Trip：Goryokaku and Goryokaku Tower、Trappistine Monastery、Onuma Quasi-National Park
Local flavours：Sea Urchin、Squid、Shio Ramen、Hakodate Seafood Bowl
Ofunato is located on the Sanriku ria coast, where the strange rocks and raging waves of Goishi Coast are nature's sculptures; you can also reach the World Cultural Heritage site Hiraizumi, offering both mountains, sea, and faith.
Goishi Coast Day Trip：Goishi Coast、Kaminari Rock、Anatoiso、Goishi Coast IC Park
World Heritage Hiraizumi Extension Route：Chuson-ji Konjikido、Motsuji Temple、Hiraizumi
Local flavours：Sanriku Seafood、Pacific Saury、Oyster and Scallop、Sea Urchin
Tokyo's cruise berths lie around Takeshiba and Harumi, close to the centre. Old Asakusa and new Odaiba sit across the Sumida River and the bay from each other — both are possible in a day.
Old Town and Bayside：Sensoji、Tokyo Tower、Ginza、Odaiba
Local flavours：Edomae Sushi、Tempura、Soba、Ningyoyaki