Small Ship ASIA CRUISES

Experience Asia in Windstar Style.

Nowhere else in the world will you find such a stunning juxtaposition of ancient traditions and contemporary cultures. Mystic temples give way to soaring skyscrapers while tranquil, timeless villages neighbor pulsating, modern cities. Windstar brings you the best of both worlds, taking you to the heart of cosmopolitan marvels like Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Tokyo and the exotic shores of small villages and unspoiled islands of Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Windstar Knows the Way to Asia

The Japanese find beauty in simplicity and the everyday. The act of sharing tea becomes a performance, cuisine is as much about presentation as preparation, and even broken things become art through concepts like wabi-sabi, which honors imperfection and transience. Respect, harmony, and connection to nature are key, and you may find yourself with a renewed sense of mindfulness as you look at the world as they do: stare up at ancient, gnarled pine trees so sacred they’ve been given names, gaze across reflective waters at vermillion torii gates, and give meditation a try as you “sand bathe” in naturally heated volcanic sands while listening to the hypnotic sound of the wave.

Juxtaposition of Contrasts

Set course for the Seto Inland Sea, Japan’s secret Mediterranean, where rustic islands boast forgotten shrines and picturesque water towns. Let Japan’s incredible culture wash over you, igniting your senses and stirring your soul. Collect so many perfect memories. Your first glimpse of Mt. Fuji’s uncanny symmetry. The ”stairway to heaven” shrines of Shingu, set above a mist-shrouded valley and the tallest waterfall in Japan. Kagoshima castle town with its signature volcano and samurai district so meticulously preserved it’s unblemished by telephone poles or parked cars. The “ghost island” of Hashima with its haunting coal legacy, Nagasaki and Hiroshima with theirs. Fill the time in between with infinite precious moments, from biting into perfect Udon noodles or fork-tender Kobe beef to soaking in an open-air onsen.

Featured Port: Hiroshima, Japan

Largely destroyed by an atomic bomb during WWII, Hiroshima today is a modern city that honors its past. Fold a paper crane to leave at the Atomic Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit Hiroshima Castle to see three trees that survived the bombing that destroyed the castle itself. Or head to Miyajima, one of the most scenic spots in Japan, for a look at the vermilion Itsukushima Shrine that appears to float in the sea — yet another World Heritage Site.

Shore Excursion Must-Do: Shimizu: Mount Fuji Cultural Experience

Cultural rituals, traditional aesthetics, and an appreciation of nature are all important facets of the Japanese experience, and today you’ll sample them all. Begin in the quaint fishing town of Yui where the Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum displays more than 1,300 iconic landscape woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e, hugely popular during the Edo period. Participate in a traditional tea ceremony at Yui Honjin Park before making your way to Miho-no-Matsubara for dramatic views of Mount Fuji and a magnificently twisted 650-year-old Japanese black pine.

Get the Best of Land and Sea

Head inland on our Kyoto & The Zen of Japan Cruise Tour to examine Kyoto’s majestic temples and storied Nijo Castle in detail as part of a 2-night inland stay, or explore the Zen temple of Tenryuji in scenic and peaceful Arashiyama, one of the most popular destinations in the city. It’s a perfect journey for those who love Japan, and adventurous travelers who want to go further inland to explore the distinctive culture and history of Kyoto.