A recent cruise aboard the SH Minerva offered passengers an opportunity to explore Japan’s lesser-known western coastline, highlighting quiet ports and cultural experiences away from the country’s more crowded tourist hubs. The journey began in Hiroshima and traced a route through the Seto Inland Sea to the Sea of Japan, calling at several small towns and islands along Honshu Island’s coast.

The cruise unfolded over ten days, departing from Hiroshima, where the Peace Memorial Museum was overwhelmed by visitors reflecting on the city’s history as the site of the atomic bombing in 1945. Contrasting sharply with this, the voyage itself prioritized destinations offering a more tranquil and authentic encounter with Japan’s culture and landscapes.

Passengers experienced warm local welcomes at ports such as Sakaiminato, a town of approximately 30,000 people known for its snow crab delicacies. There, travelers visited traditional onsen baths, often free of tourists, and explored Mizuki Shigeru Road, enjoying artisanal shops and local treats like matcha ice cream. The nearby Chiyomusubi distillery, dating back to 1865, provided an opportunity to sample regional sake in a relaxed setting.

Other excursions included the Adachi Art Museum and Yuushien gardens, notable for their expansive art collection focused on nature-themed Nihonga paintings alongside meticulously designed dry landscape gardens. Unlike heavily trafficked sites such as Kyoto, these gardens offered plenty of space and serenity.

Further along, the group sailed to Maizuru, renowned for its post-World War II repatriation center, before visiting Amanohashidate, a natural sandbar crossing Miyazu Bay. Visitors ascended via chairlift to vantage points where traditional viewing practices were introduced, though some customs, including an upside-down gaze called matanozoki, proved challenging. The experience was marked by lively local performances and traditional cuisine.

The cruise also included a stop at Sado Island, a volcanic isle with historical ties to coastal rice trade and distinctive fishing methods. Here, passengers had the chance to try fishing coracles historically used by locals, offering insight into regional livelihoods shaped by natural conditions.

Concluding near Hokkaido Island in Sakata, a town visited by only about 20,000 tourists annually, the cruise revealed scenic landscapes dominated by Mount Chokai and encompassed a pilgrimage route on Mount Haguro. The ascent included more than 2,400 stone steps through ancient cedar forests to a Shinto shrine, providing a reflective experience disconnected from more commercialized sites.

Throughout the voyage, onboard lectures helped contextualize Japan’s complex language and cultural traditions, with presenters emphasizing the challenges and depth of Japanese linguistic heritage.

The cruise, operated by Swan Hellenic, covers 11 nights on an itinerary titled “Japan and Korea: Cultural Shores and Northern Landscapes.” It begins in Hiroshima, includes a brief visit to South Korea, and concludes in Otaru, Hokkaido. The next scheduled departure is June 18, 2027, with fares starting at £8,650 per person, excluding international flights.