Heritage Expeditions recently welcomed a select group of Australia’s top travel advisors on an exclusive 11-day VIP famil cruise through Japan, sailing from Osaka to Tokyo.
The familiarization voyage featured 11 hand-picked advisors representing key partners from Heritage Expeditions’ new Virtuoso partnership, Luxury Travel Collection’s senior team, and other leading distribution networks. Guests traveled aboard the Heritage Adventurer, the company’s 140-guest flagship vessel, enjoying a unique blend of iconic Japanese destinations and rarely visited coastal regions.
Commercial Director and Expedition Leader Aaron Russ said the voyage provided a firsthand look at Heritage Expeditions’ immersive, all-inclusive cruise experiences—particularly timely, as Japan saw a record-breaking 36.9 million visitors in 2024.
“People don’t necessarily consider Japan an expedition cruising destination, but with 6,852 islands—many of them wild and remote—it’s ideal for discovery,” Russ said. “When you combine that with Japan’s futuristic cities, historic temples, rich traditions, and world-class cuisine, it becomes an extraordinary expedition cruise.”
The VIP journey was hosted by Heritage Expeditions’ Australian Sales Manager, Chris le Roux, and visited three of Japan’s main islands—Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku—as well as a stop in South Korea. Highlights included Naoshima, Japan’s renowned art island; the historic city of Hiroshima; Miyajima’s iconic floating Torii Gate; ancient castles; and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Advisors also immersed themselves in Japan’s rich cultural heritage, from samurai and geisha traditions to modern-day culinary experiences including sake tastings and the country’s signature omotenashi hospitality.
These Japan expeditions, ranging from 11 to 16 days, operate between Tokyo and Osaka and were recently featured in Season 7 of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays. Travel advisors are encouraged to take advantage of flexible pre- and post-cruise extension opportunities to further tailor unforgettable journeys for their clients.
