Spiritual Shrines – Hong Kong To Tokyo - INS230602 Insignia departing 2 Jun 2023

Experience old and new Hong Kong with its ultra-modern high-rise buildings beside street markets and lovely temples. Visit the boat people in Aberdeen and shop in Stanley Market or stroll through the bustling Temple Street night market. Visit Hollywood Road with its temple and antique shops or take a junk cruise and explore the magnificent bay. Travel to the New Territories to see family shrines, the wishing tree and the preserved wetlands. Or visit Lantau Island and the Po Lin Monastery with its giant Buddha statue.

Xiamen has been a major seaport since ancient times and is known today as one of China’s most livable and most romantic cities. The natural beauty of the island and the clean environment have attracted thousands of egrets to the area. Visit South Putuo Temple, a beautiful complex built in the 17th century, and Gulangyu Island, a lovely and serene community that only allows electric-powered vehicles.

Xiamen has been a major seaport since ancient times and is known today as one of China’s most livable and most romantic cities. The natural beauty of the island and the clean environment have attracted thousands of egrets to the area. Visit South Putuo Temple, a beautiful complex built in the 17th century, and Gulangyu Island, a lovely and serene community that only allows electric-powered vehicles.

See the amazing contrasts of this burgeoning city, from the broad European-style Bund to the soaring ultra-modern buildings. Visit the magnificent art museum and the renowned 16th century Yu Yuan Gardens. Enjoy the city by night, see an acrobatic show, browse in local markets or take a trip to one of the famed garden cities of Suzhou or Wuxi.

See the amazing contrasts of this burgeoning city, from the broad European-style Bund to the soaring ultra-modern buildings. Visit the magnificent art museum and the renowned 16th century Yu Yuan Gardens. Enjoy the city by night, see an acrobatic show, browse in local markets or take a trip to one of the famed garden cities of Suzhou or Wuxi.

Travel to Beijing and stroll through the amazing Forbidden City and infamous Tiananmen Square. Visit the beautiful Temple of Heaven, where the emperor annually celebrated the harvest, and walk on the centuries-old Great Wall of China. Or venture to Xian and see the great terra cotta warriors.

Travel to Beijing and stroll through the amazing Forbidden City and infamous Tiananmen Square. Visit the beautiful Temple of Heaven, where the emperor annually celebrated the harvest, and walk on the centuries-old Great Wall of China. Or venture to Xian and see the great terra cotta warriors.

Head to Tiger Beach, Jinshitan Beach or Fujiazhuang Beach, some of the best in China, and then stroll through Xinghai Square, built in 1998 to honor the city’s centennial. Visit the Lushun Museum and see its extensive collection of mummies, take a scenic drive on Binhai Road, watch a dolphin show at the aquarium or enjoy the spectacular view from Haizhiyun Park.

An international trading port since the 19th century, Moji is a seaside town with a nostalgic flair that’s easy to explore on foot. Numerous historic structures have been well-preserved, so you’ll spot architecture dating to the Meiji and Taisho periods from 1868-1926. Go for a stroll along the waterfront promenade lined with historic buildings, cafés, restaurants and museums. Stop at the former Moji Customs Building, which now houses a free art gallery or Kaikyo Plaza, where you’ll find local handicrafts and artisanal goods. Don’t miss Mojiko Station, built in 1914 and one of the only remaining wooden rail stations in Japan.

Discover remnants of old Nagasaki beside the modern city. Visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. Or travel to Arita, home of magnificent Japanese ceramics, and tour famous Kakiemon Kiln, which continues a 400-year-old tradition. Experience feudal Japan and the natural wonders of Shimabara Peninsula with its volcanoes and hot springs.

Visit the exquisite Iso-Teien Garden and its villa, built in 1660, and enjoy its gorgeous views before a short ferry ride to smoking Sakurajima for a close-up view of the volcano and its lava fields. Or journey into the countryside to Chiran and its well-preserved streets lined with samurai homes. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of Lake Ikeda and the stunning vistas of the Satsuma Peninsula.

Visit the skeletal A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Park and Museum and the statue dedicated to the children who died after the atomic bomb was dropped on this city in 1945. Stroll through beautifully landscaped Hiroshima Gardens, visit the rebuilt Hiroshima Castle or journey to the exquisite sacred island of Miyajima and see the extraordinary Itsukushima Shrine.

Visit the breathtaking temples and shrines of Japan’s old imperial capital, Kyoto, or explore ancient Nara, the cradle of Japanese arts, literature and crafts, with its magnificent shrines and temples that predate Kyoto’s. Stroll through Nara Park, famed for its deer and impressive Kasuga Grand Shrine. Then travel on to Osaka and its famed castle. In Kobe, visit historic Himeji Castle, a huge edifice built entirely of wood and tile.

Visit the breathtaking temples and shrines of Japan’s old imperial capital, Kyoto, or explore ancient Nara, the cradle of Japanese arts, literature and crafts, with its magnificent shrines and temples that predate Kyoto’s. Stroll through Nara Park, famed for its deer and impressive Kasuga Grand Shrine. Then travel on to Osaka and its famed castle. In Kobe, visit historic Himeji Castle, a huge edifice built entirely of wood and tile.

In the shadow of Mount Fuji, Shimizu is one of the most beautiful ports in Japan. Walk through the pine groves of Miho, home to a 650-year-old Japanese black pine, or enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji from the lush, forested hill of Nihondaira. Take in the seascapes on a bay cruise, or learn of undersea delights at Japan’s first sushi museum. For a historic angle, get a glimpse at feudal life in Japan in 200 BC at the archaeological site of Toro.

Dazzling cityscapes await your exploration; visit Asakusa for the bright lights, street fairs and Senso-ji Temple; the Tsukiji Market, the largest open-air fish market in the world with on-the-spot sushi; and the Imperial Palace’s East Garden for some calm. Spend the evening in the bright, active Ginza District, where the night comes alive.