This departure is from Osaka to Osaka.

Heritage Expeditions, pioneers in authentic small ship expedition cruising, invite you to join an unforgettable circumnavigation of Japan’s main island Honshu and exploration of its wilderness, arts, culture and rich history including Hokkaido, Kyushu and South Korea. Note: our 2027 voyage visits Sado Island instead of Niigata, see brochure for full details.
Adding another level of appreciation to our 2026 voyage is the unique opportunity to travel with special guest, New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate and one of New Zealand’s foremost painters and printmakers John Reynolds. Experience the extraordinary sights of Japan alongside Reynolds, enjoy artist interpretations, presentations and the opportunity to create your own watercolour postcards in an exclusive, artist-led workshop.
As featured on television's Luxury Escapes: The World's Best Holidays, this voyage has been specially designed to explore and experience Japan’s seamless blend of ancient customs with ultramodern living, incredible wilderness, wildlife and renowned arts as we cruise from iconic cities to remote coastlines and islands. Highlights include Kanazawa’s thriving centre of the arts, long known for its lacquerware, outstanding collectable pottery of the Kutani style, gold-leaf workmanship, delicate hand painting of silk for kimonos and classical Noh theatre dramas performed since the 14th Century, and Naoshima Island – Japan’s Art Island. Visit two of Japan’s best contemporary art museums – the recently-opened Hachinohe Art Museum and the Towada Art Center, celebrate Japan’s internationally-renowned magna culture at Ishinomaki, explore the living museum Ise-Shima National Park and Japan’s most sacred shrine complex Ise Jingū. 
Our voyage will see us visiting the iconic Japanese island-dotted seascapes of Matsushima and Ago Bays and discovering the unique plants, wildlife and wilderness hiking trails on UNESCO-registered Global Geopark Izu Oshima Island. We will also explore Japan’s national parks including Bandai-Asahi National Park and its impressive lakes and hot springs, the volcanic wonderland of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and Towada Hachimantai National Park featuring Lake Towada and Mount Akita-Komagatake.

***Note: Some voyages will operate the itinerary in reverse.***

Heritage Adventurer is a true pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. Often referred to as the 'Grande Dame of Polar Exploration' due to her celebrated history and refined design, she was purposebuilt for adventure in 1991 at Finland's Rauma shipyard and specifically designed for Polar exploration.

Setting a peerless standard in authentic expedition travel, Heritage Adventurer (formerly known as MS Hanseatic) combines the highest passenger ship iceclass rating (1A Super) with an impressive history of Polar exploration. Having held records for the most northern and southern Arctic and Antarctic navigations, and for traversing both the Northwest and Northeast Passages, makes Heritage Adventurer perfect for pioneering New Zealand-based Heritage Expeditions signature experiential expedition travel.

Originally designed to accommodate 184 guests, Heritage Adventurer now welcomes just 140 expeditioners ensuring spacious, stylish and comfortable voyages, while a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensures all guests are able to maximise their expedition adventure. Heritage Adventurer proudly continues our traditions of exceptional, personalised expedition experiences as Heritage Expeditions flagship.

Every year Heritage Expeditions voyages with small groups of between 18 and 140 intrepid travellers to some of the most unique and remote islands, coasts and shorelines on earth aboard their expedition ships Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Explorer on voyages ranging from 5 – 28 days.

Founded in 1985 by the Russ family in Christchurch, New Zealand, Heritage Expeditions is still proudly family-owned and operated. Contributing to conservation through experiential learning and providing funds for research and management, they are pioneers in environmentally-responsible expedition travel offering intimate group excursions to Antarctica and the Subantarctic Islands, through the Pacific, and around New Zealand on their purpose built expedition ships.

Each expedition is meticulously planned and led by a team of botanists, ornithologists, naturalists and experts in their field, ensuring guests maximise every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible, while minimising the impact of their visit and returning as ambassadors for these very special places.