Kyoto (Kobe)

Discover the soul of Japan’s Kansai region where the dazzling energy of Osaka meets the timeless grace of Kyoto. Journey through merchant-era streets, atmospheric shopping arcades, and the storied grandeur of Osaka Castle before venturing to Kyoto’s most iconic treasures—Fushimi Inari Taisha’s vermilion torii gates, the scenic serenity of Arashiyama, and the shimmering Golden Pavilion. This enriching program offers a graceful introduction to Japan’s heritage, beauty, and hospitality before your voyage begins.

DAY 1

Upon arrival at Kansai or Itami International Airport (Osaka), you will be warmly met after clearing Customs and Immigration and transferred to your hotel in Osaka. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax and settle in after your journey, or to begin exploring the vibrant surroundings at your own pace. Meals are on your own.

Please note that hotel check-in time is 4:00pm. While every effort will be made to have rooms available prior to this time, *this cannot be guaranteed*. Should your flight arrive early in the morning, you may wish to consider booking an additional night to ensure immediate room access upon arrival.

Located in one of Osaka’s premier dining and shopping districts, the InterContinental Osaka offers luxury accommodation with sweeping views of the glittering city skyline. Guests can enjoy an exceptional culinary experience, including Michelin-starred Pierre, and unwind at the spa, indoor pool, jet bath, sauna, and traditional Japanese bathhouse. Additional charges apply for spa facility use.

Note: Couples or pairs will be transferred by private van or SUV (max 4 large bags total plus 1 carry-on per person); solo guests will use a sedan (2 large suitcases plus a carry-on). Extra luggage may require a larger vehicle at additional cost—notify your RSSC booking agent at least 14 days before sailing with this information. Transfers include a driver only.

DAY 2

Following breakfast, meet your guide and explore Osaka, a city with a rich merchant history and long known as “the nation’s kitchen” for its role as a center of trade and commerce.

Begin at the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, where detailed reconstructions bring to life the streets and homes of the Edo period (1603–1868). Walk through recreated neighborhoods and observe how townspeople once lived, shopped, and interacted.

Continue to Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, Japan’s longest covered shopping arcade, stretching nearly 3 kilometers. Originally developed as an approach to nearby Tenmangu Shrine, it remains a lively hub filled with local shops, eateries, and traditional businesses.

Conclude your tour at Osaka Castle, first built in the late 16th century by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan’s great unifiers. The castle played a pivotal role in the country’s feudal history. Today, its impressive structure, surrounded by massive stone walls and moats, stands as a symbol of Osaka’s historical importance.

Return to your hotel in the afternoon. The evening is at leisure—perhaps take the opportunity to indulge in Osaka’s famed dining scene, celebrated as “the kitchen of Japan.” Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Operations Note:

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is closed on Tuesday. In the event of site closures, visits may be adjusted or substituted to ensure a seamless guest experience.

DAY 3

After breakfast, meet your guide and depart for Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital for over 1,000 years and the cultural heart of the nation.

Begin at Fushimi Inari Taisha, a Shinto shrine dating back to the 8th century and dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice, prosperity, and business. Walk through the seemingly endless tunnels of vermilion torii gates—each donated by individuals or companies—creating one of Japan’s most iconic spiritual landscapes.

Continue to Arashiyama, a district that has been a popular retreat since the Heian period (794–1185), when nobles would visit for its natural beauty. This picturesque area remains known for its riverside views and tranquil atmosphere. Here, enjoy a leisurely lunch at a carefully selected local restaurant, highlighting regional flavors and seasonal ingredients.

In the afternoon, visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), originally built in the 14th century as a shogun’s retirement villa before becoming a Zen temple. Covered in gold leaf, the structure is reflected perfectly in the surrounding pond, symbolizing harmony between architecture and nature—a hallmark of Japanese aesthetics.

Return to Osaka in the early evening and enjoy dinner at your leisure.

DAY 4

After breakfast and check-out, meet our representative for a seamless transfer to Kobe Port. Relax aboard your comfortable motor coach as you travel through the Kansai region en route to the port where you will embark the ship. Your enriching land journey concludes as your voyage continues in signature style.

Land Program Details Step by Step:

•Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed.

•Itineraries with the most up to date details (at the time) will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive one last final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that Welcome Letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests not arriving on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 4:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 4:00pm.

If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

DAY 1

Arrive at Kansai or Itami International Airports in Osaka

You are met near the exit of the Customs area and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel

The afternoon and the evening at your leisure and meals are on your own

4:00pm Check-in time at your hotel. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed

Overnight at InterContinental Osaka or similar hotel

Meet & Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet & Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date are not entitled with the transfer to the hotel.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

Day 2

AM Breakfast at your hotel

9:00am Meet for a half day tour including the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, Tenjinbashi-suji

Shopping Street and Osaka Castle

2:00pm Return to your hotel - the afternoon is at your leisure with lunch and dinner on your own

Overnight at InterContinental Osaka or similar hotel

DAY 3

AM Breakfast at your hotel

8:00am Meet for a full day tour to Kyoto including Fushimi Inari Taisha

1:00pm Lunch at a local restaurant

6:00pm Return to your hotel - the evening is at your leisure with dinner on your own

DAY 4

AM Breakfast at your hotel and check-out, settle any incidentals before departing.

11:00am Transfer to Kobe Port for embarkation

12:00pm Approximate arrival time to the port for embarkation

Important Information:

•This program involves moderate walking on uneven surfaces such as gravel paths, cobblestones, inclines, and steps, particularly at temples, shrines, and gardens.

•Guests with mobility limitations must travel with a companion capable of providing full assistance throughout the program. Guides and drivers are not permitted to offer physical support.

•This program may not be suitable for wheelchair users or guests with limited mobility, and guests are advised to consult prior to booking.

•When visiting shrines and temples, respectful attire is required. Clothing should cover shoulders and knees; comfortable, easy-to-remove shoes are recommended.

•Japan is a popular destination, and sites may be crowded during peak travel periods.

•In general, hotel rooms in Japan are smaller than hotel rooms elsewhere around the world. Should you require two beds, kindly make sure to advise this when booking your program. Also, please note that guests on group bookings are not eligible to earn IHG hotel loyalty members benefits.

•If you require special dietary accommodation for medical or religious reasons (not simply personal preference), please reach out to the Regent Reservations Team at least 95 days before your departure. Ensuring that your land program extension includes this information helps our local vendors provide a seamless and pleasant dining experience.

What to Bring & Wear

Bring comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket or clothing that can be layered according to the weather, an umbrella or raincoat in case of rain. For shrine and temple visits, please wear modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered). Sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen are also recommended for daytime touring.

Some hotels do not provide distilled water. While we can certainly request this for you, we cannot guarantee that it will be available. If received in a timely manner, at least 95 days before sailing, requests will be sent on the final manifest that our ground operators and hotels receive. We highly recommend packing your own supply, especially on programs that travel to more remote locations in order to avoid not having it. Many hotels will charge for distilled water. If there is a fee, this will be added to your hotel incidental account to be paid at check-out. Fees will vary from hotel to hotel.

Local currency:

Japanese yen

USD are not accepted

Electricity:

100 volts. We recommend bringing your own travel adaptor for electronic devices

Documents and visa requirements:

Valid passports are required.

Please consult your local Japanese embassy for visa requirements for your nationality for Japan

For streamlined immigration and customs clearance, register on the Visit Japan Web system before departure to complete your customs declaration and immigration card.

The above information is subject to change and serves as a guide only. We would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our guests that it is the ultimate and sole responsibility of the guest to ensure they meet the entry requirements for each destination.

If traveling internationally, the countries you are flying to and/ or connecting through may have different document requirements and as such we encourage you to visit the government and airport websites of every country you will be traveling to throughout the journey to familiarize yourself with their requirements for your nationality.

Accommodation:

InterContinental Osaka

3-3-60 Ofukacho, Kita Ward,

Osaka 530-0011, Japan

Hotel Contact: +81-6-6374-5700 (24-hour front desk)

Note: In general, hotel rooms in Japan are smaller than hotel rooms elsewhere around the world. Should you require two beds, kindly make sure to advise this when booking your program. Also, please note that guests on group bookings are not eligible to earn IHG hotel loyalty members benefits.

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If a similar hotel is required, it will be of equal ratings and standards, and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotel listed in this program.

Program Includes for Guests

•3 nights at the InterContinental Osaka, or a similar hotel, in a Premium Room

•Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary, accompanied by a professional English-speaking guide

•Transportation throughout the program by comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach.

•Private airport transfer on Day 1

•Group transfer to the port on Day 4

•Complimentary bottled water is provided during sightseeing days

Program Excludes for Guests

•Gratuities for drivers and guides.

•Meals and beverages not specified in the itinerary.

•Personal expenses, including minibar, laundry, and room service.

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program.