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Alaska to Japan: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture Expedition Cruise

Alaska to Japan: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture Expedition Cruise

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Description

Trace the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire” between Alaska’s volcanic Aleutian Islands and the rugged island of Hokkaido, Japan. Discover the wild, seldom-visited islands of the Bering Sea, encountering millions of seabirds as well as northern fur seals and bears in the Pribilof and Aleutian Islands. View the towering volcanic cones that frame Hokkaido—home to more than 51 volcanoes—and explore how these dramatic landscapes have shaped Ainu and Shinto traditions and centuries of Japanese history.

Trip Name
Alaska to Japan: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture Expedition Cruise
Days
20
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Ship Passenger Capacity: 126 Built: 2020 One of two next-generation ships purpose-built for polar exploration, National Geographic Resolution is named in tribute to Captain James Cook’s legendary second voyage aboard HMS Resolution. With a Polar Code Category A ice-class hull and a pioneering X-Bow® design, she offers unmatched comfort, stability, and quiet passage through even the most challenging polar waters—opening access to remote corners of the Arctic, Antarctica, and beyond. Designed for immersive exploration, the ship’s interior is warm, modern, and elegantly Scandinavian, with expansive windows throughout that keep the wild, ice-bound world always within view. Her six decks house 76 spacious cabins, inviting public spaces, and a full complement of expedition tools. Guests can relax in the observation lounge, library, or spa; enjoy flexible dining across three venues; or gear up in the Expedition Base before heading out in Zodiacs or kayaks. From polar bear sightings in Svalbard to navigating ice-choked channels in the Southern Ocean, Resolution is a state-of-the-art platform for discovering the planet’s most astonishing frontiers.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Sapporo, Japan
 Arrive in Sapporo and transfer to your hotel. 
Day 2 - Day 2 Sapporo / Otaru / Embark Ship
 The capital of Hokkaido, Sapporo is known for its relaxed atmosphere compared to Japan’s more bustling cities. Enjoy the city of Sapporo and the culinary delicacies of the region before embarking the ship in Otaru this afternoon.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 3 - Day 3 Southern Hokkaido Island
 Today the ship arrives at the southern tip of Hokkaido Island. Rapid modernization in the late 1800s transformed this region, creating a unique blend of contemporary development, traditional fishing villages, and historic castles and fortifications from earlier eras of Japanese history. Explore the preserved buildings and walls of these landmarks or simply soak in the natural beauty overlooking the Tsugaru Strait.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 4 - Day 4 Aomori
 On the northern coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu is Aomori City. With the Hakkōda mountains in the distance, this bountiful countryside is known for its apple orchards, world-famous seafood, local treasures of Tsugaru lacquerware and painted kites. Explore the tranquil Seiryu-ji Temple with its impressive bronze statue of Dainichi Nyorai. Learn about Nebuta Matsuri, the summer festival with colorful papier-mâché floats, and see the amazing artistry up close.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 5 - Day 5 Muroran
 Dock at Muroran and choose to drive to Shikotsu-Tōya National Park, filled with mirror-like lakes and forest-covered hills set against the silhouette of the Mount Yōtei stratovolcano. Alternatively, drive to the lush town of Shiraoi to visit the newly opened National Ainu Museum and Park, an open-air museum where visitors can experience various elements of Ainu culture.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 6 - Day 6 Kushiro
 Arrive on the northeastern shore of Hokkaido. With a deep connection to the sea, Kushiro is known for a variety of seafood, fresh from the sea. Experience the bustle of the local market, where the daily catch is on display. Explore the Kushiro City Museum and delve into the rich history of the city and the traditions of the Ainu people. Following your morning of exploration, enjoy a meal loved by locals: robata-yaki, or “fireside grilling.” You will select your favorite seafood and grill it over the hot coals at your seat—a very special treat.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 7 - Days 7-11 At Sea
 As the ship sets a course for the Aleutian Islands, enjoy discussions with your naturalists. Join them on deck to identify the seabirds that follow the ship and the volcanic cones in the distance that make up the “Ring of Fire.” Be on the lookout for unexpected visits from whales and other marine mammals. There is also an array of shipboard activities to enjoy: attend a photo workshop with your National Geographic photographer, treat yourself to a massage or a wellness class or cozy up in the library with a good book. As you make your way toward North America, you will gain a day crossing the International Date Line.International Date Line note: This itinerary crosses the International Date Line, resulting in the repeat of one calendar day (July 19) as you sail from Japan to the Aleutian Islands.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 8 - Days 12-15 Exploring the Aleutian Islands
 With 69 islands, countless islets and tens of millions of seabirds, the Aleutians offer much to discover. Spend four days exploring these rugged and remote volcanic islands—some of which still harbor active volcanoes. Learn about the culture of the Aleuts, fishing and hunting people who have inhabited these islands for millennia. Observe marine mammals such as northern fur seals, Steller sea lions and a variety of whales, as well as prolific birdlife. Witness how the weather—wind, rain, fog and glorious sunshine—impacts all aspects of life in this spectacularly scenic region.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 9 - Day 16 Baby Islands / Dutch Harbor
 The westernmost tip of the Alaska mainland gives way to a 1,100-mile-long string of islands that separate the Bering Sea from the northern Pacific: the Aleutian Islands. Explore this wildlife-rich archipelago in the Baby Islands, east of Unalaska. Here, dynamic tides offer the chance to look for sea otters and fur seals, as well as rare seabirds. Stand on deck as the ship navigates Baby Pass and be on the lookout for the islands’ wildlife. Arrive at Dutch Harbor, site of a fierce World War II battle and now one of the world’s most important fishing ports.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 10 - Days 17-19 Pribilof Islands / St. Paul and St. George Islands / At Sea
 A naturalist’s paradise, the Pribilof Islands welcome three million seabirds and a million marine mammals each summer during the breeding season. Cruise beneath the cliffs of St. George, rocky outcrops that harbor one of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Hemisphere. Watch for horned and tufted puffins, red-legged kittiwakes, crested auklets and rare Asian vagrant species seldom seen in North America. Go ashore on St. Paul, home to the majority of the Pribilofs’ more than half a million northern fur seals. After two days exploring these remote islands, strike off across the Bering Sea toward Nome, Alaska.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Day 11 - Day 20 Nome, Alaska / Disembark Ship / Anchorage
 This day has a recommended group flight.Arrive in the remote city of Nome, on the coast of the Bering Sea. Enjoy breakfast on board and disembark to explore the town prior to your flight to Anchorage. Lunch is included in town before boarding the flight. In Anchorage, transfer to the airport for flights home.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 
Day 12 - Please Note:
Itoneraries are subject to change. 
Day 13 - Please Note:
Itoneraries are subject to change. 

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Explore the dramatic Aleutian Islands, where volcanic cones rise from the sea and wildlife thrives—from pods of orcas and porpoises to otters and seals
    • Search for the sacred red-crowned crane on a visit to the wetlands of Kushiro on Hokkaido
    • Learn about the culture of Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people on visits to a village and a living history museum
    • Experience the Pribilof Islands, remote seabird enclaves teeming with whiskered auklets, red-legged kittiwakes and horned and tufted puffins
    • Enjoy a rich program of lectures by an expert team of naturalists, historians and photographers

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