Compagnie Du Ponant Japan: 8 nights from Osaka with Le Soléal
Mar 16, 2026

Hiroshima

Beppu

Beppu is a Japanese city in the prefecture of Ôita, located in a wide and deep bay on the northeastern coast of the island of Kyüshû.

Famous for its breathtaking hot springs, Beppu is one of the three main hot springs in Japan. There are approximately 3,000 different chemical properties that produce over 100,000 liters of water per day, bathing the city in a cloud of smoke. It also offers an unparalleled range of spa activities, including ordinary hot water baths, mud baths, sand baths, and steam baths. The entire central part of Beppu, therefore, between the station and the coast, is necessarily very humid.
In the backcountry, don't miss over 60 stone Buddhas carved into the rock classified as a national heritage.
The port of Usuki populated by old houses in the style of "samurai district" dating back to 1600-1868. At the foot of Mount Takasaki, more than 1,700 Japanese monkeys live in the forest where they can be observed in some protected structures.
On the Ajimu plateau there is the largest zoo in Asia: about 1,300 animals, including bears, lions, giraffes, elephants, and zebras. The park can be visited on a "Jungle Bus" for people who don't own a car.

Miyazaki

Kagoshima

Yakushima

Yakushima is an island located south of Kyūshū, in the prefecture of Kagoshima, Japan. It covers an area of about 500 square kilometers and is home to a population of about 15,000 inhabitants. The island of Yakushima is separated from the island of Tanegashima by the strait called Yakushima Kaikyō. The highest point on Yakushima is Miyanoura-dake, which rises 1,935 meters above sea level. The island is covered by a dense forest, famous for cryptomeria plants (called sugi in Japan) and rhododendrons. What remains of this ancient forest was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. As early as 1993, it had been declared a biosphere reserve. A popular saying claims that it rains here for 35 days a month: in fact, statistics say that this is one of the places with the most frequent and intense rainfall in the world, with phenomena that amount to between 4 and 10 meters per year. The rainy season is concentrated in spring and summer, often accompanied by landslides and landslides, while in the rest of the year there may also be some relatively dry periods. Yakushima is the southernmost place in Japan where snowfall occurs, which especially in the mountainous area can accumulate for months before melting, while the ocean temperature never drops below 19 degrees. The forest on the island is visited by a large number of tourists, about 300,000 per year. It is said to have inspired the setting of the animated film Princess Mononoke, by Hayao Miyazaki. The forest also appears in the 1996 film Mothra. Yakushima has been a center for research on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for Honda. 50% of the electricity produced on the island comes from hydroelectric sources and a small part of it has been used to produce hydrogen during an experiment conducted by the University of Kagoshima.

Nagasaki

Busan

Busan: Between Beaches, Temples, and Lively Markets

During a stop in Busan, you can visit the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, perched on the coast and overlooking the sea, which offers a unique atmosphere of peace and spirituality. Those looking for moments of relaxation can enjoy the famous Haeundae beach, famous for its crystal clear waters and lively local life. For an authentic experience, the Jagalchi Fish Market is a must: here you can taste fresh seafood dishes and observe Korean gastronomic culture in a picturesque and lively setting.

In Busan you have the opportunity to discover the best of South Korea, a city that combines tradition and modernity in a harmonious way.