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                                    Sensoji Temple, TokyoTorii Gate, MiyajimaOkayama Castle, Koraku-en GardensSuncheon Bay Wetland Reservethe name. The city and surrounding area has a rich history paired with beautiful scenery and coastline. We will use Yeosu as our base to explore the local area with a choice of tours this morning. You can choose to visit the historic Naganeupseong Walled Town which contains a fortress town of over 59,504 square metres in size. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered the best preserved fortress town in the country. We will walk through this preserved town learning of its history, witness the traditional craftsmen at work and see the traditional houses, some of which are still occupied. Many families have lived in the village for generations keeping this traditional lifestyle alive. Alternatively we will delve into the natural beauty of the area with a visit to Suncheon. We will start at Suncheon Bay National Garden, a stunning landscape of themed gardens, flower fields and ecofriendly design showcasing Korea%u2019s commitment to sustainability. From here we will travel by Skycube (a driverless electric train) to Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve, one of South Korea%u2019s most important ecological sites, home to reed fields, mudflats and migratory birds. We will walk along the boardwalks taking in this stunning setting hoping to catch sight of some of the wildlife that inhabits the area. After lunch on board the afternoon is free to explore Yeosu and a shuttle bus will run from the ship to a central point in the city. Day 9 Kitakyushu, Japan. After a morning at sea sailing back to Japan, we arrive into the city of Kitakyushu, located on the island of Kyushu. Here we will visit the Kokura Castle, which was originally built in 1602 but rebuilt in 1959 and is surrounded by a beautiful Japanese Garden. From here we will stop at the Moji Port Retro Area which is home to a number of historic buildings from the 19th century. The port was designated a special trade port due to its proximity to China and flourished with financial institutions and merchant companies. The architecture is a mix including western style buildings which always come as a bit of a surprise. There will also be the chance to visit the TOTO Museum which showcases the company%u2019s products, the most famous being its electronic toilets which are hard to miss when visiting Japan, and Japan%u2019s passion and drive for electronics.Day 10 Hiroshima & Miyajima. Arrive this morning in Hiroshima for our visit to the compelling Peace Memorial Park. The park is dotted with memorials, including the Cenotaph which contains the names of all the known victims of the atomic bomb and the permanently lit %u201cFlame of Peace%u201d. Just outside the park, the Atomic Bomb Dome is a haunting reminder of the destructive forces that were unleashed on the city being one of the few original buildings to survive. In the museum we will see photos, videos and victim%u2019s personal effects relating to the bomb. Over lunch we sail to Miyajima. Considered one of Japan%u2019s top scenic wonders, Miyajima provides a picture postcard vista of the scarlet Torii gate, the giant camphor wood gates at the entrance to the Shinto Shrine. We will use the vessel%u2019s Zodiacs to go ashore and explore the Itsukushima Jinja Shrine, founded in the 6th century and dedicated to three sea goddesses.Day 11 Uno-Ko. From the port of Uno-Ko we will visit one of Japan%u2019s most famed gardens, Koraku-en, which translates as %u2018Garden of pleasure after%u2019. windows hiding elegant restaurants and craft galleries. Around each bend is a traditional house, museum, art gallery, craft shop, historic samurai residence and even a geisha house to explore. The fascinating openair market displays a vast variety of items from flowers to fish and local handicrafts. Next to the Kanazawa Castle ruins, we will visit one of Japan%u2019s premier highlights, the famed Kenroku-en Garden, ranked among the country%u2019s top three gardens. Alternatively, you can choose to head towards the mountains and explore the town of Inami, built by expert wood carvers, whose magnificent craftsmanship can be seen in Zuisenji Temple. Today the town is home to 120 woodworking studios, with craftsmen keeping the traditional practice alive. From here we will drive to Gokayama where we will see the traditional gassho-zukuri style houses, which are still used today as homes. Walking through the village here we will experience the history and heritage of Japan.Day 5 Matsue. From the port of Sakaiminato we visit Matsue, the %u2018town of water,%u2019 which nestles between a scenic lake and a large lagoon. We will visit the cultural attractions of the town including the 17th century Matsue Castle before enjoying a boat ride on the local canals. Alternatively visit the Adachi Museum of Art which is set in a beautiful natural environment and well known for both its superb Japanese gardens and its collection of contemporary Japanese paintings, comprising approximately 1,500 of the country%u2019s most highly regarded paintings produced after the Meiji period. Return to the ship for lunch as we sail for South Korea this afternoon. Day 6 Ulsan, South Korea. Crossing over to South Korea we embark on a full day excursion to magnificent Gyeongju, a World Heritage Site, which is often described as the world%u2019s finest open-air museum embracing ancient Korean history and Buddhist culture. As the ancient capital of the Shilla Dynasty, Gyeongju%u2019s cultural heritage dates back to the first millennium. Today, as we stroll through some of the hundreds of excavated monuments, temples, tombs and pagodas, there will be time to explore the National Museum with its exceptional collection of finely worked gold jewellery, metal weapons and distinctive pottery. At lunchtime, we will sample Korean delicacies and enjoy a cultural performance of traditional dance.Day 7 Masan for Haeinsa. From our berth in Masan we head inland to the Haeinsa Temple. Regarded as one of the three great temples in Korea, it was first settled in 802 AD and its name derives from a verse in a Buddhist Sutra as %u2018reflections on a smooth sea%u2019. In the 13th century when Korea was at war with the Mongols, the government commissioned the Triptaka Koreana, a complete copy of Buddhist scriptures, in the hope of Buddha%u2019s intervention in the war. They were carved onto 81,258 double sided wooden blocks and stored on floor to ceiling shelves in the Janggyeong Panjeon building. After a traditional Korean lunch we will visit the Hapcheon Museum. On our way back to Masan we will stop in Okjeon to explore the ancient tombs that give an insight into Korea%u2019s early history and customs. Day 8 Yeosu. This morning, we arrive into Yeosu whose name means %u2018beautiful (Yeo) waters (su)%u2019 and this picturesque coastal city lives up to Peace Memorial, Hiroshima Haeinsa Buddhist Temple, South Korea
                                
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