ASUKA III Cruises
Eight days round-trip from Kobe, calling at Kushiro, Hakodate and Miyako. Late September in Hokkaido already feels like autumn; Hakodate until 22:00 leaves time for the night view from the summit.
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
Kushiro faces the Pacific in eastern Hokkaido. Japan's largest marsh begins just beyond the town, its river winding through grassland; summers here are foggy and far cooler than Honshu.
The Marsh and the Harbour Market：Kushiro Marsh、Hosooka Observatory、Washo Market、Nusamai Bridge
Local flavours：Katte-don、Robatayaki、Pacific Saury、Horsehair Crab
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
Miyako stands on the Sanriku coast of Iwate. At Jodogahama, white rhyolite spires rise at the water's edge among pines and clear blue water; this coastline was formed as the land sank and the sea flooded its valleys.
Jodogahama and the Sanriku Rocks：Jodogahama、The Blue Cave、Ryusendo Cave、Sanno-iwa Rocks
Local flavours：Sea Urchin、Abalone、Bottled Sea Urchin、Sanriku Wakame