*VISA-FREE* JAPAN & SOUTH KOREA, THE PEARL OF THE FAR EAST WITH COSTA SERENA - 2026
COSTA SERENA with THE PEARL OF THE FAR EAST JAPAN & SOUTH KOREA
**VISA-FREE**
Tokyo – Kobe (1) – Kochi – Kagoshima – Nagasaki – Busan –
Kanazawa – Hakodate – Tokyo (2)
**2 NIGHTS HOTEL STAY IN TOKYO**
WITH TURKISH AIRLINES – 13 NIGHTS 15 DAYS
06 OCTOBER 2026
DAY 01 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – TOKYO 06.10.2026
Meeting at 12:00 PM in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal with our valued guests. After passport, ticket, and baggage procedures, we depart on Turkish Airlines flight TK50 at 15:50 to Tokyo Narita Airport. Overnight on board.
DAY 02 YOKOHAMA (TOKYO) (BOARDING SHIP) 07.10.2026
Arrival in Tokyo at 08:55 local time. Transfer to our ship via private vehicle waiting for us at the airport. After boarding Costa Serena, we settle into our cabins and enjoy free time. Guests who wish may join the "Tokyo Shopping Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. We will visit Tokyo's largest shopping streets. On this tour, you can buy many electronic items at very affordable prices, as well as products from clothing brands like Uniqlo that are not available in Turkey. We will meet at the time specified by the guide and transfer back to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 19:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 03 KOBE (KYOTO) 08.10.2026
Our ship will dock at Kobe Port at 18:00 in the evening. Free time for personal activities and shopping after dinner. Guests who wish may join the "Osaka & Kobe Night Tour Under the Lights" organized by our guides as an extra option. Our tour begins first with a departure to Osaka. Upon arriving in Osaka, the magnificent lights of the city will be breathtaking. Our first stop will be the garden area of Osaka Castle. Since the last entry time to the castle is 17:00, we will not enter. After taking photos in the surrounding area, garden, and outer courtyard of the castle, we begin sightseeing. Our second stop will be the Dotonbori area. In this famous area with its sparkling streets, you will feel all the energy of Osaka thanks to neon signs, the joy of walking along the canal, and restaurants full of street food. At the end of our tour, we return to our ship. Then we head back to Kobe. Our first stop in Kobe is Mt. Maya Kikuseidai. This place has one of the three great night views of Japan. You can enjoy the magnificent lights of both Kobe and Osaka. Afterward, after some free time in central Kobe, we set off towards our ship. Our ship will anchor in Kobe port tonight. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 04 KOBE (KYOTO) 09.10.2026
Free time for personal activities after breakfast. Guests who wish may join the "Kobe City Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. Kobe is a city located in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, also known for its famous Kobe beef. It stands out with its modern structures, beautiful views, and historical richness. Our tour will first visit the unique, red-painted steel structure that has become the symbol of the port and the city, Kobe Port Tower. Then we will go to Ikuta Jinja Shrine, one of Japan's oldest shrines and part of Kobe's historical heritage. Here we will see traditional Japanese worship rituals. Finally, our journey by cable car will begin to the highest peak of the Rokko mountain range, which provides a nice green ground to Kobe city. You will enjoy the panoramic view of the heavily urbanized Hanshin region (Kobe and Osaka) and take photos. After visiting Kobe Nunobiki Botanical Gardens, where Japan's largest botanical garden is located and where we will see seasonal plants and flowers that change constantly, we return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 20:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 05 KOCHI (JAPAN) 10.10.2026
Our ship will dock at Kochi port at 07:00 in the morning. After breakfast, we depart for the "Kochi Castle & Kochi City Tour" via private vehicle waiting for us at the port. While visiting the two most respected symbols of the city, learn how Kochi became the center of pro-imperial ideology at the end of the feudal period. We go from the pier to Kochi Castle. The "donjon" or main tower, built over 400 years ago by feudal lord Yamanouchi Kazutoyo, is worth climbing to the top as it offers famous panoramic views of the entire city. Your tour will take you through the beautifully restored Tsumemon Gate connecting the castle's second keep to the inner shrine, and you cannot say your visit is complete without seeing the living quarters or "honmaru" that house local and historical treasures. After a walk on the castle grounds, you will board your bus and go to the beautiful Katsurahama Beach. Here stands the statue of Sakamoto Ryoma, one of Japan's most beloved historical figures, known for transforming feudal Japan into a modernized, unified nation. At the end of our tour, we return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 16:30 in the evening. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 06 KAGOSHIMA 11.10.2026
Our ship will dock at Kagoshima port at 09:00 in the morning. After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the "Kamikaze & Sanganen Japanese Garden Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. In this impressive tour, our first stop will be the Chiran Peace Museum, which tells the story of Kamikaze pilots and their planes who, during World War II, knew it was their last mission and went to death without blinking for their country, despite the Americans being unable to reveal this to the public until the end of the war. Afterwards, we will enjoy a pleasant walk at Sengan-en, considered one of the most beautiful traditional Japanese gardens in the country, gaining a better understanding of this fine art. Inside this garden, we will visit the house loved by the Shimadzu family for generations. We will enjoy the special views of Kagoshima Bay and the Sakurajima volcano while experiencing Japanese gardens. We will learn about the lifestyle of Prince Shimadzu Tadayoshi. We will see how distinguished guests from Japan and overseas countries were welcomed by the Shimadzu family at Sengan-en. Sengan-en and Shoko Shuseikan Museum were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. Shoko Shuseikan Museum is located in Japan's oldest stone factory building, constructed in 1865. This museum is right at the entrance of the gardens, and inside, we will follow the 800-year trajectory of the Shimadzu family and see how the international relationships they established led to the development of industrial modernization in Kagoshima, Kyushu, and Japan. Return from Kagoshima's main street to the port. Our ship will depart from the port at 19:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 07 NAGASAKI 12.10.2026
Our ship will dock at Nagasaki port at 08:00 in the morning. After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the "Nagasaki City Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. Nagasaki is the capital and largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Historically, Nagasaki was the second and last city to suffer a nuclear attack. At the first stop of our city tour, we remember the nuclear war, one of the most painful memories in history, with a visit to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. Afterwards, we will visit Glover Garden, located inside the oldest surviving Western-style house in Japan, built by Scottish merchant Thomas Blake Glover. Finally, we will visit Nagasaki Chinatown, have free time in the city center, and then return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 19:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 08 BUSAN (SOUTH KOREA) 13.10.2026
Our ship will dock at Busan port at 07:00 in the morning. After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the "Busan City Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. In this city that has witnessed temples, royal tombs, Japanese occupation, and the Korean War, we will first visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, one of the few coastal Buddhist temples owned by South Korea. Then we will visit Haeundae Dalmaji-gil Road, famous for its blue ocean, white sandy beach, camellia forest, and pine tree forest views; Haeundae Beach; Dongbaekseom Island; the Mermaid Statue representing the legendary heart-wrenching love story of the princess of Ayutthaya; and then we will visit the UN Memorial Cemetery where soldiers from 16 countries who lost their lives in the Korean War between 1950-1953 are buried, including the Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery and monument within it. Busan Gamcheon Culture Village is also known as "Busan's Machu Picchu." Busan Tower is located in Nampodong, the old central district of Busan, offering various brands as well as reasonably priced local shops. Among the streets, there is a paradise of street food. Afterwards, we visit Gukje Market, which has become Busan's largest market. After free time at the market, we return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 16:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 09 KANAZAWA 14.10.2026
Our ship will dock at Kanazawa port at 15:00 in the afternoon. After lunch, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the "Kenrokuen Gardens & Samurai Village Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. Our tour begins with a visit to Kenrokuen Garden, one of the most important symbols of the city. Kenrokuen, one of Japan's "Three Great Gardens," is designed to be beautiful in every season according to the six principles of sublimity in Chinese landscape garden design. Afterwards, we visit Nagamachi, Kanazawa's famous samurai district, and Nomura Samurai House, one of the most important residences in this area. This house has hosted several generations of the Nomura samurai family. As you explore the house, you can feel the simple elegance of the family's life, see armor and weapons passed down from ancestors, and enjoy the beautiful view in the magnificent rear garden. After discovering Japan's little-known hidden treasures, we return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 23:00 at night. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 10 AT SEA 15.10.2026
On this day spent cruising at sea, our ship will offer you many alternatives. Those who wish can enjoy the open and closed pools, jacuzzis, and sunbathing areas of the ship. Others can shop in duty-free stores, try their luck in the casino, or enjoy various music and entertainment performed at the bars. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 11 HAKODATE 16.10.2026
Our ship will dock at Hakodate port at 07:30 in the morning. After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the "Hakodate City Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. We leave the ship to explore the city. Our first stop will be Goryokaku Tower. From here we will enjoy the panoramic view of Goryokaku and get to know the city's history more closely. Then we will have the opportunity to take a walk in Goryokaku Park. Afterwards, we will visit Hachimanzaka to breathe the old Hokkaido atmosphere and see historical buildings. We will move to Ekini Market to taste local flavors and shop. At this point, we can experience Hokkaido's famous seafood and other local products. We will climb Hakodate Mountain. We descend by cable car. Enjoy time in the beautiful pedestrian city center where you will be amazed by the influence of other cultures in the city (Russian Orthodox and Christian churches). Continuing our tour, we move to Daimon Yokocho to taste local dishes in the city's traditional restaurants. Then we will visit Funadama Shrine to have the chance to get to know Japanese traditions and culture more closely. We will find peace in the quiet atmosphere of the shrine. We will take a break at Cha Cha Nobori Daisan-saka (South Hill Monument) to explore the natural beauty of the city and rest at this point. Our ship will depart from the port at 18:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 12 AT SEA 17.10.2026
On the last day of our tour at sea, as we sail from the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean, you can enjoy our ship. You can relieve fatigue at the spa center, participate in activities organized by the animation team, or enjoy the view on the deck. A pleasant day awaits you for the farewell dinner and final preparations. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 13 TOKYO (HOTEL STAY) 18.10.2026
Our ship will dock at Tokyo Port at 08:00 in the morning. After breakfast and disembarkation procedures, we depart for the 'Hakone & Fuji View Ashi Lake Tour' via private vehicle waiting for us. After approximately 2 hours of travel, our first stop is Owakudani Valley, formed by an eruption 3000 years ago, where active volcanic gas emissions can still be seen. Here we will have the chance to see the famous 'Black Eggs' and photograph the unique view of Mount Fuji (depending on weather conditions) from above. After a lunch break in the area, we embark on a boat tour on Lake Ashi, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. After enjoying the cruise in the peaceful atmosphere of the crater lake, we have free time. At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel. After check-in procedures, we have free time. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 14 TOKYO (HOTEL STAY) 19.10.2026
Free time after breakfast. Guests who wish may join the "Tokyo City Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. The first place we will see is the Imperial Palace, which includes many buildings such as the official residence of the Imperial Family, archives, museums, and administrative offices. The Tokyo Imperial Palace was built on the site of an old castle where the Shogun resided in the 15th century. In the 19th century, when Emperor Meiji moved the royal family from Kyoto to Tokyo, this also became the property of the royal family. Since most of the buildings were destroyed during World War II, the oldest items remaining from the palace today are only 50 years old. Our second stop will be the Ginza area, one of the city's most popular shopping districts filled with luxury boutiques, first-class cocktail bars, and sushi bars. Ginza hosts countless tourists from all over the world as one of the most luxurious shopping districts in the world. Then we will visit Asukasa Temple, also known as Sensoji Temple, a Buddhist temple considered one of Tokyo's oldest and most colorful temples. Also called Santa-jama (Temple of Three Gods), Asakusa attracts great interest from both tourists and locals. It is one of the rare temples that survived the bomb attacks in the final year of World War II in Tokyo, so the original structure of the building remains unaltered. The temple also hosts the Santa Festival held every May. According to legend, after the Asukasa Temple, built by two fisherman brothers to pay respect to the goddess of mercy Kannon, we see Nakamise, a shopping street. Then we continue our tour with a visit to Akihabara, one of Tokyo's most famous neighborhoods worldwide. Akihabara is an extremely crowded shopping district famous for its variety of electronic stores, from small stalls to large shopping malls. After free time following the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 15 TOKYO - ISTANBUL AIRPORT 20.10.2026
After breakfast and check-out procedures from the hotel, we transfer to Tokyo Narita Airport via private vehicle waiting for us. After passport and check-in procedures, we depart for Istanbul on flight TK51 at 10:25. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 17:40 local time and end of our tour.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND CONDITIONS
Based on the reservation date; up to 180 days before: 10% per person / 179-150 days: 15% / 149-120 days: 25% / 119-90 days: 30% / 89-60 days: 50% / 59-45 days: 60% / 44-30 days: 75% / 29-10 days: 90% / less than 9 days: 100%
What's Included
- Economy class flights between Istanbul Airport and Narita // Narita – Istanbul Airport with Turkish Airlines.
- 11 nights 12 days all-inclusive accommodation in the selected cabin category on the Costa Serena ship.
- 2 nights accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Tokyo, room + breakfast.
- Transfers as specified in the program.
- Airport and port taxes.
- Hotel accommodation tax.
- Professional Turkish tour leadership service (applicable when the group has at least 15 people).
- Morning, lunch, dinner meals and snacks on board the ship.
- Beverages from buffets and various vending machines located throughout the ship.
- Entertainment and shows on board the ship.
- Access to fitness & sports facilities.
- Mandatory travel insurance (professional liability insurance).
Not Included
- Service fees. Approximately 11€ per person per day. (Paid on board.)
- All land tours specified in the program
- Ket-a Visa
- Health services. / Personal expenses.
- Alcoholic / special drinks purchased from bars and restaurants
- Domestic connecting flights.
- Foreign departure fee (You can pay this to relevant banks or the treasury counter at the airport).