From Anchorage to Tokyo · Asia · 34 nights
From Anchorage to Tokyo
Windstar’s new sister ships, Star Seeker and Star Explorer, will each have 112 suites and a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2, offering Windstar’s brand of laid-back luxury with some enhancements.
Each yacht will maintain the intimate atmosphere of Windstar’s
other ships, and will feature Windstar’s classic watersports
platform with new staircase access, as well an intimate forward
whirlpool and spacious open deck perfect for Windstar’s famous deck
barbecues, alongside a two-level spa and fitness centre. Dining
options include dishes from James Beard Foundation-affiliated
chefs, as well a Yacht Club café and lounge. Star Seeker joined the
fleet in December 2025, and Star Explorer will join in December
2026.
The charming port town of Otaru has a notable history, playing an important role in the herring trade during the 19th century, and this is reflected in the stone warehouses alongside the picturesque canal.
Osaka, Japan’s third largest city, is a pulsating commercial hub, famous for its food, and the cityscape rivals Tokyo for neon-lit futurism. If you need respite from the urban sprawl seek out Osaka Castle and the surrounding Nishinomaru Garden, a particularly pretty spot during the cherry blossom season.
The laid back port city of Takamatsu sits on the north coast of Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s major islands, and is home to the beautifully designed Ritsurin Koen, one of Japan’s most famous historical gardens.
On 6 August 1945 the world witnessed the terrifying power of nuclear weapons for the first time, unleashed on the unsuspecting Japanese city of Hiroshima. The modern city's sobering Peace Memorial Park commemorates that fateful day, which left more than 140,000 dead.
The coastal city of Karatsu was a key port for trade with China and Korea thanks to its proximity to the Korean peninsula, and is known for the quality of its pottery. Local attractions include the large hilltop castle, which served as a base for general Toyotomi Hidetoshi's 16th century invasion of Korea.
Busan is South Korea’s second biggest city and one of the world’s busiest container ports, but it’s an easygoing place with a discernibly different character to Seoul. Haeundae beach is a popular summer holiday destination for Koreans, while the pungent Jagalchi market sells every type of fish and sea creature imaginable.
Three days after Hiroshima was flattened by an atomic bomb, Nagasaki suffered the same horrifying fate. The reconstruction of both cities has been quite extraordinary; Nagasaki today is a vibrant, cosmopolitan place, with a fascinating history that goes back a lot further than 1945.
The friendly southern Japanese city of Kagoshima enjoys a balmy climate, and sits just across the bay from the very active Sakurajima volcano, which erupts so regularly that an ‘ash forecast’ is included in local weather reports.
Shimizu is one of the most spectacular ports in Japan, a sweeping bay in the shadow of the iconic Mount Fuji. You can spend some time admiring the views and wandering through peaceful pine groves, or visit the unique Shimizu Sushi Museum at the S-Pulse Dream Plaza shopping mall.
In a state of constant renewal and forever looking to the future, densely populated Tokyo is a dazzling introduction to Japan and its utterly unique culture. With more neon than Las Vegas and more Michelin stars than Paris, it’s a real assault on the senses.
