Japan/South Korea
A Voyage of Discovery Through Japan & South Korea
Program No. 25378RJ
Discover Japan and South Korea on this Floating Campus voyage, from iconic Tokyo to South Korea’s bustling markets and historic landmarks, with a scenic sail through the Kanmon Strait.
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Protecting the Environment
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13 days
12 nights
31 meals
11B 10L 10D
At a Glance
Experience the rich culture and history of Japan and South Korea on this exclusive Floating Campus voyage. Beginning in Tokyo, explore Japan's bustling capital, including the Imperial Palace, then enjoy the bullet train experience from Tokyo to Osaka. Sail along Japan’s scenic shores to discover lesser-known treasures like Hagi and Yakushima. In Busan, South Korea, enjoy a day at the lively Jagalchi Fish Market and Haedong Yonggunsa Temple. Sail through the Kanmon Strait and uncover the rich maritime history, culture and natural beauty that stretches from Tokyo to Osaka. Throughout your voyage, engage with onboard instructors who offer insight into the history and culture of the region and get to know other Road Scholars who love learning as much as you do!
Activity Level
Choose Your Pace
This program offers two activity levels to choose from: one Keep the Pace that has more walking and standing and one On Your Feet covering slightly shorter distances at a slower pace. Must be comfortable getting in & out of tender boats and zodiacs, feel comfortable navigating around the ship and handle stairs while on board. PLEASE NOTE: The ship is not suitable for wheelchair/electric scooter use.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy exclusive access to experts who will be with you throughout your journey and learn from them as you take in onboard lectures and educational activities.
- Experience Tokyo’s vibrant culture, including a visit to the Imperial Palace.
- Wander through the lively Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan, South Korea, and explore the Haedong Yonggunsa Temple.
- Discover Yakushima Island, Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore the National Park, home of the endemic Yakushima Macaque, and populated by several of the island’s ancient cedar trees.
Suggested Reading List
(14 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
A Voyage of Discovery Through Japan & South Korea
Program Number: 25378
Tokyo, A Biography
In his 500-year history of Tokyo, Mansfield presents the Japanese capital as an "indestructible organism" that has survived bombs, earthquakes and radiation and continues to thrive. An easy introduction to a fascinating city.
Where the Dead Pause, and the Japanese Say Goodbye
When her American father passes away, Mockett seeks consolation in her mother’s home country of Japan. She visits a radiation zone, a Buddhist school, temples and festivals in an effort to understand the Japanese way of grieving, to bury her dead and find healing.
Super Sushi Ramen Express
Using keen insight and sarcastic wit, Booth describes the cuisine and culture of Japan as he recaps the nearly three months-long foodie road trip he and his family took through the island nation. A fun journey, sure to both entertain and inform.
Memoirs of a Geisha, A Novel
The runaway best-selling novel about a geisha in the celebrated Gion district of Kyoto. A major feat of literary impersonation, the novel is rich in period detail and ceremony.
Thousand Cranes
This novella by the great Kawabata may be Japan's best-known literary work, a story of love, grief and redemption. Kawabata's prose is as economical as the tea ceremony itself and very beautiful.
Culture Smart! Japan
A concise, no-nonsense guide to local customs, etiquette and culture, this is a helpful travel tool for visitors to Japan.
A Traveler's History of Japan
A lively and concise narrative history of Japan and its transformation from Shinto, Shogun and Samurai traditions to 20th-century powerhouse.
Japan's Cuisines
This illustrated overview charts the transformation of Japanese cuisine over the ages, revealing the influences of private and public institutions, exploring the rise of tea and showing how lunch became a gourmet meal.
The Samurai
This historical novel by one of Japan's best-known modern writers is set in the world of the 17th-century Samurai. A Roman Catholic, Endo explored Christianity and morals in his many novels and stories.
Eyewitness Guide Japan
Dazzling illustrations, architectural cutaways and color photographs, along with useful local maps, give this guide to Japan's many attractions a distinct edge.
The Book of Tokyo: A City in Short Fiction
This anthology of contemporary Japanese short stories was edited with the traveler in mind. The ten pieces of literature, mystery, science fiction and horror form an imaginary tour of the city of Tokyo.
The Dog Shogun
Arguably one of the most notorious figures in Japanese history, Tsunayoshi (1646 to 1709) was viewed as a tyrant with eccentric policies, including the Laws of Compassion, which made maltreatment of dogs an illegal offense, punishable by death. Bodart-Bailey delves deep into the shogun’s life, offering an engaging and brilliantly researched biography of the fifth Tokygawa shogun.
Learning to Bow, Inside the Heart of Japan
As surprising, helpful and informative as it is funny, this is an insightful account of travels and teaching in Japan. Feiler presents anecdotes on the rituals, personality traits and cultural peccadilloes of the Japanese.
Walking the Kiso Road: A Modern-Day Exploration of Old Japan
William Scott Wilson travels along the ancient Kiso Road, historically used by samurai and warlords and relatively unchanged today. As he makes his way, Wilson engagingly ruminates on Japanese history, culture and folklore.