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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Releases Japan Voyages Aboard EUROPA 2

By Staff Writer

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has announced its luxury vessel EUROPA 2 will be heading to Japan for the first time in 2019, with two new itineraries on offer: a 15-day ocean cruise from Hong Kong to Tokyo and an 18-day voyage from Tokyo to Singapore.

The journey out of Hong Kong will take you to Taipei, before journeying to Jeju in South Korea where you’ll take a trip across the volcanic island to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak.

Your first port in Japan will be Nagasaki, where you’ll learn all about the city’s turbulent past on a tour, before visiting the historic Sofukuji temple and the Peace Park. This route will take you up the Inasayama hill by cable car giving you spectacular views of Unzen, Amakusa and the Goto Islands.

Continuing the historic adventure, visit Hiroshima and the holy island of Miyajima to discover the moving details of Japan’s involvement in the Second World War. You will also find out all about traditional Japanese life and the vermilion Itsukushima-jinja Shrine.

On this voyage you’ll also get to visit one of the best-known spa resorts in Japan and melt into the hot thermal springs of Beppu and the Tatsumaki Jigoku geyser on an a shore excursion.

With two full days to spend in Kobe, you can head off on shore excursions to the ancient imperial city of Kyoto, famous for its countless shrines and temples; Nara, the legendary city of myths and traditions; or bustling Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city.

Wrapping up your Japanese journey is a vital visit to the county’s sprawling capital city of Tokyo. Here, visit the imperial palace and the Ginza district at your own pace or enjoy a view over the city on a helicopter flight. There are shore excursions on offer to world-famous Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, and you’ll get to experience the high-speed Shinkansen train.

On the lengthier 18-day voyage aboard EUROPA 2 from Tokyo to Singapore, guests will not only get to know the metropolis of Japan’s capital, but also some of Japan’s natural wonders. On the itinerary are trips to Ago Bay with its fjord-like waters and Mikimoto Pearl Island, where the first cultured pearls were created at the end of the 19th century.

Ishigaki, the main island of the Yaeyama archipelago, is famed for its idyllic swimming spots and fine sandy beaches, and guests on board EUROPA 2 will get to discover its beauty on a tour, with the fast ferry also taking you to the neighbouring island of Taketomi with its long sandy beaches and picturesque town.

Other highlights include an excursion to the Shuri Castle where fascinating impressions of Okinawa Prefecture await, a visit to the Shikinaen Royal Garden, and a trip to the ruins of Nakagusuku Castle, which dates back to the 15th century.

 

hl-cruises.com

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