Welcome aboard. In Tokyo your journey begins, full of discovery, rest and unforgettable moments. As the city skyline slowly disappears on the horizon, the endless expanse of the sea opens before you, and ahead lie inspiring encounters, fascinating destinations and extraordinary musical experiences. Sea & Music Highlight: Welcome to Sea & Music Our journey begins with a Sea & Music welcome cocktail, the perfect occasion to meet your fellow travellers and the Sea & Music team. In this relaxed setting you may well find yourself meeting some of the musicians accompanying Sea & Music 2027.

Nagoya tells a story of power and tradition, shaped by centuries of cultural influence. Nagoya Castle, crowned with golden shachihoko ornaments, conjures a feudal past of elegance and strength, while the sacred Atsuta Shrine preserves one of Japan's most revered imperial treasures. Close by, the lively Ōsu district invites you to explore vintage shops, temples and street stalls, with specialities such as miso katsu and hitsumabushi to delight the palate. Nagoya combines spiritual depth with a pulsing everyday life, offering both cultural richness and a dynamic urban atmosphere.

Sea & Music Highlight: Jan Lisiecki, piano recital

Our first concert belongs to Jan Lisiecki, one of the outstanding pianists of his generation, celebrated on the world's great stages for his poetic sensibility and remarkable musical clarity. In the intimate atmosphere of the Journeys Lounge you have the extraordinary privilege of hearing an artist of this standing from only a few metres away.

Osaka follows a rhythm entirely its own, confident, vivid and proudly rooted in its culinary heritage. The neon-lit Dōtonbori district pulses with energy and offers an abundance of street food, while away from the bustle Osaka Castle and its tranquil gardens invite you into the age of the samurai. Just beyond the city lie the elegant temples of Kyoto and the sacred deer of Nara, Osaka combines dynamic city life and timeless tradition to perfection.

Sea & Music Highlight: A musical day in Kyoto
An extraordinary day in Kyoto brings together the beauty and traditions of Japan's ancient imperial city with musical experiences created especially for Sea & Music. After a sightseeing tour and a typically Japanese lunch, the traditional musicians Nobutaka Yoshizawa and Junya Okochi perform on the Noh stage of the Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple, before the legendary violinist Maxim Vengerov carries you into another musical world with Bach's profoundly moving Chaconne, followed by Mozart together with a Japanese violist, in the temple's magnificent hall.

Kochi joins the heritage of the samurai to the beauty of nature. Its Edo-period castle is among the few original structures of that era still standing, while the Chikurin-ji Temple on Mount Godai radiates spiritual calm. At Katsurahama beach you look out across the Pacific, watched over by the bronze statue of the local hero Sakamoto Ryōma. At the Hirome Market, friendly traders serve freshly prepared katsuo no tataki (seared bonito), while Cape Muroto reveals nature at its fullest with volcanic cliffs and sea-carved rock formations. Kochi offers a harmonious blend of rich history, breathtaking coastline and warm hospitality.

Sea & Music Highlight: Marina Rebeka, a night at the opera

Marina Rebeka, one of the leading sopranos of our time, brings the magic of the international opera stage aboard our ship. With her radiant, warm voice and compelling stage presence she enchants us with an intimate recital of beloved operatic highlights in the Journeys Lounge.

Hiroshima is a chapter of world history that carries deep sorrow, and also a message of hope. The Peace Park and Peace Memorial Museum stand as quiet witnesses to the past and, at the same time, as powerful symbols of a more peaceful future. A short ferry crossing brings you to the island of Miyajima, where the iconic red torii gate of the Itsukushima Shrine appears to float above the water, surrounded by nature and stillness. Hiroshima Castle invites you back into the age of the samurai, while riverside paths and resilient trees speak quietly of renewal and of the enduring power of hope.

Sea & Music Highlight: The sacred island of Miyajima
On this day the experience itself becomes music. As part of an included Sea & Music excursion we travel to the UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine, where the head Shinto priest welcomes our group personally on the mystical island of Miyajima, a rare encounter with the spiritual heart of Japan.

Steam rises above the hills and streets of Beppu, welcome to Japan's onsen capital. The "hells of Beppu" fascinate with their vividly coloured hot springs, while traditional baths, sand baths and mud treatments invite complete relaxation. The city's culinary imagination shows itself too, for instance in jigoku mushi, dishes gently steamed over natural geothermal vents. Beppu is a place of powerful earth energy and a true refuge of restoration.

Sea & Music Highlight: Violin recital with Bomsori
The Korean violinist Bomsori, celebrated for her brilliant technique, her expressive intensity and her appearances on the great international stages, plays exclusively for Sea & Music. Another opportunity to experience an artist of world standing in the intimacy that makes our musical journeys so special.

Busan brings together culture, nature and modern energy along South Korea's southern coast. The Haedong Yonggungsa Temple sits on a dramatic cliff above the sea with breathtaking ocean views, while the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village invites exploration with its vivid houses and artful murals. Nearby lies Gyeongju, an ancient royal city known as the museum without walls. Whether over a cup of tea in a quiet temple or wandering through busy markets, Busan reveals the warmth of South Korea and the lively spirit of its coast in every season.
 

Nagasaki's history is marked by resilience, openness to the world and quiet beauty. The Peace Park and the museum are a powerful reminder of the events of 1945, while the abandoned buildings of Gunkanjima bear witness to Japan's former industrial strength. At the same time life continues to flourish, with breathtaking views over the harbour from Mount Inasa and international influences reflected in the city's streets and cuisine. In Nagasaki, history, reflection and renewal are inseparably interwoven.

Sea & Music Highlight: The Vengerov Trio
A particularly personal musical encounter: Maxim Vengerov and his daughters take the stage together as the newly formed Vengerov Trio. To hear one of the great violinists of our time make music with the next generation of his own family promises to be among the most intimate moments of our journey.

Shimonoseki is a place where seas meet and cultures merge. The Karato Market offers an abundance of maritime delicacies, among them the famous pufferfish (fugu), prepared with great skill by experienced masters. The luminous red torii gates of the Motonosumi Inari Shrine descend towards the sea, while the five-storey pagoda of the Rurikō-ji Temple is regarded as a national treasure. Close by, the Akiyoshidō Cave impresses with its vast underground chambers and extraordinary natural formations. Shimonoseki combines vivid maritime energy with a sense of spiritual calm.

Sea & Music Highlight: A Sea & Music premiere in Japan

Especially for this journey, our long-standing musical companion Mikio Unno brings together the first ever Japanese Sea & Music Orchestra. At the Umi no Hall, Japanese musicians play a Mozart programme created exclusively for our international community of music lovers, a true Sea & Music premiere and a concert that will exist for this one voyage alone. It is also Culture Day (Bunka no Hi), one of Japan's most significant public holidays.

Our last day at sea invites you to pause before the journey draws to its close. Take the time for the excellent amenities of the Explora III, from the wellness facilities to the many culinary experiences on board, and let the past days of encounters and discoveries pass through your mind once more.

Sea & Music Highlight: Two farewell concerts at sea

Our final day at sea brings not one but two farewell concerts. The celebrated cellist Chu Yi-Bing, accompanied at the piano, and the Mexican tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz each take the stage as we mark the finale of our first Sea & Music journey through Asia.

At the end of our journey we return to Tokyo, our hearts full of impressions, inspiring encounters and extraordinary musical moments. After days of discovery, rest and shared experience, it is time to take our leave of the ship, carrying with us the memory of a remarkable journey through Japan and Korea.