Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan – departs 08:00 PM Yokohama is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū. It is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area. Yokahama offers a wide variety of attractions. The historic port area is Kannai. Next to the waterfront Yamashita Park is Yokohama Marine Tower, the tallest inland lighthouse in the world. Further inland lies Yokohama Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Japan and one of the largest in the world. Nearby is Yokohama Stadium, the Silk Center, and the Yokohama Doll Museum. The Isezakichō and Noge areas offer many colourful shops and bars. The futuristic Minato Mirai 21 harbourside redevelopment offers many points of interest. The highlights are the Landmark Tower which is the tallest building in Japan, Queen's Square Yokohama (a shopping mall) and the Cosmo Clock 21, which was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world when it was built in 1989 and which also doubles as "the world's biggest clock". Things to See & Do * Chinatown * Bay Stars Stadium * Minato Mirai Area * Marine Tower * Yamahsita Park

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One of the greatest things about Japan is its attention to detail. Nothing is too small for consideration. Nailheads on temple walkways are hidden by inlaid metal covers. If the train schedule says the train arrives at 11:05, it will not be there at 11:04; and if it’s more than 10 minutes late, you can get the rail line to give you an excuse form to present back at the office, explaining your tardiness. Shops sell combs and hairpins made with the same patterns and in the same way as 500 years ago. So maybe this attention to detail explains what happened in 20th-century Kobe. Some farmer was looking at his cow, thinking, “What possibilities of perfection am I missing?” Cows were still a new thing; they were banned as food almost until WWII, so cow rules were in flux when this farmer began massaging his herd with sake. The cows got pleasantly drunk on local beer and listened to classical music—and in return for the pampering, they produced, and continue to produce, heavily marbled, melt-in-the-mouth cuts of meat that can easily sell for a hundred bucks a dish. Like everything else in town, Kobe beef is all in the details. Among the Japanese, Kobe is considered exotic: “If you can’t go to Paris, go to Kobe.” And it does make a nice break from Osaka’s relentless pace. Order a steak, find a window booth and watch the details.

High atop a hill in Kochi sits 17th-century Kochi Castle, once the seat of the Yamauchi lords. Explore this historic site and enjoy panoramic views of the city, then dine on sushi at Hirome Market.

Located in the southwest of Japan, Hiroshima, the main city of the Chugoku region, is set within a striking natural landscape of mountains, sea and rivers. Home to more than one million inhabitants, it’s famous as the site of the explosion of the world’s first atomic bomb, dropped by the U.S. in August 1945. This cataclysm is sensitively documented at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and associated Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The city offers visitors a great deal more than the tragedy of the recent past. In addition to the memorials to the events of World War II, there are an array of shrines and temples, as well as the city’s reconstructed castle, which was originally founded in the 16th century.Nature lovers will be charmed by the historic Shukkei-en Garden, commissioned in 1620, and Miyajima island, one of the most scenic spots in Japan. The city is home to a number of art institutions, including the Hiroshima Museum of Art, which houses a collection of Impressionist and Japanese oil paintings, the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art and the quirky Mazda Museum. There is also an array of excellent restaurants and bars—the city is known for its okonomiyaki, a type of savory pancake—as well as a popular oyster festival each year.

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South Korea’s second-largest city (after the capital, Seoul), Busan is located in the southeastern corner of the country along the Sea of Japan. It combines a vibrant, big-city atmosphere with a famously laid-back attitude and subtropical landscapes. Often described as the "San Francisco of Korea," thanks mainly to its hilly terrain and close-knit neighborhoods, it offers visitors a little of everything: fashionable boutiques, dynamic culture and buzzy nightlife, as well as sandy beaches, hot springs and nearby mountains crossed with hiking trails and dotted with temples. Cultural highlights include the Gamcheon Cultural Village; the spectacular Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, built into the side of a cliff; and Art Street in Sinchang-dong, which hosts art competitions, exhibitions and cultural events such as the annual Busan International Film Festival. Those who enjoy hiking can explore the famed cliffs of Taejongdae Park, while the white sand beaches at Gwangalli and Haeundae are ideal places to relax by the seashore. Foodies will love Busan, too, not just for its excellent restaurants but also for the many atmospheric markets: the low-key Millak Hoe Town Market, tourist spots like Jagalchi Fish Market and the market at Haeundae with its ramshackle stalls selling gukpab (a traditional rice soup).

Sakaiminato is home to Shigeru Mizuki, creator of GeGeGe no Kitaro (a character who’s everywhere in contemporary Japan), and gateway to the ancient region of Honshu, site of the famous “Black Castle.”

This sleepy little port city is home to the intimate Kehi Shrine, with its red-lacquered Torii gate and koi pond. Learn about the fascinating history of the town at the Tsuruga Museum. Dine on grilled seafood like a local at Nihonkai Sakana Machi.

Japan’s lush natural splendors are on full display as you cruise Toyama. Freshwater springs feed the spectacular bay, a bay so scenic, it belongs to the UNESCO-endorsed Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club. Toyama’s enchanting, ridge-lined scoop of glistening sea is just the beginning. Visitors from around the globe come to this region to see the ancient villages, thatched-roof farmhouses, and incredible snow corridor. Even if you don’t make it out to the countryside on a Toyama cruise, there’s plenty to see and do in this coastal city. Visit the Toyama Castle, an impressive reconstruction of the 1543 original. Take the railway up to Mount Tateyama, the highest mountain in the range, or cruise through a cherry blossom tunnel on the Matsukawa River. Whatever activity you do, take time to savor the region’s renowned seafood, elegantly presented in many forms.

Sakata is a riverside jewel in the Yamagata Prefecture. Located in the shadow of Mount Chōkai, it is known for its sublime natural scenery and historical sites. Yamagata is nicknamed “the Fruit Kingdom” because the growing conditions there produce tantalizing fruit. Stop to sample ruby red cherries and mouthwatering French pears. A fantastic seafood market is also a quick stroll from the port if you’re still hungry. Carry yen to make purchases. Take the shuttle (roughly 1,000 yen) or a taxi into town. Sakata was a prosperous port during the Edo era due to its location on the Mogami River. Encounter several styles of traditional Japanese architecture from the 1700s at the Homma Historical Residence. Another place to explore old Japan is the Sankyo Soko Storehouse, a rice warehouse with 12 attractive storehouses dating back to 1893. Watch daily dance performances at Sōmarō, a Maiko tea house. Visit Japan’s first museum of photography – the Ken Domon Museum. It houses the works of Ken Domon, a photographer who redefined realism. A scenic drive along the coast or into the mountains is a lovely way to get to know Sakata.

Aomori is the capital city of the Aomori Prefecture, located in the Tohoku region of Japan. It lies between the Mutsu Bay and the beautiful Hakkoda Mountains. While Aomori has four distinct seasons, it boasts one of the highest amounts of snowfall for large cities in Japan. Attractions include Sannai-Maruyama historical site tours, believed to have been first settled 5500 years ago. Guided tours are available year round. The annual Nebuta Festival is said to be the biggest “fire festival” in Japan. Taking place over several weeks in August, a big parade with lit lantern floats and dancers in costumes ends each day. The Yotei-maru Ferry connected Aomori to Hokkaido before the Seikan Tunnel was opened. Today, it’s a slightly dilapidated, but charming, museum near the train station. The real deck area is a beer garden during the summer. Things to See & Do * Nebuta Festival – Aug 2 - 7 * Aspam Center * Aomori Prefectural Museum * Nebutanosato Museum * Sannai-Maruyama historical site tour

Hakodate is a city and port located in Oshima, Hokkaido, Japan. It the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture, and the biggest city in south Hokkaido. The port was opened in 1859 and faces out onto the Tsugaru Strait that divides Hokkaido and Honshu. There are many attractions available for visitors to Hakodate, including Mount Hakodate, which offers breathtaking views of the city and the sea. Other attractions include Motomachi, the city’s historic district. It contains many historical buildings such as churches and public halls. Fort Goryōkaku in the Port of Hakodate was Japan’s first western-style fortress. Visitors will find a small museum there featuring local history. The nearby Goryōkaku Tower (Japanese) is a 90-meter viewing platform that offers views of the star-shaped fort and contains dioramas describing the Enomoto and Ezo Republic as well as the fort’s place in the city’s history. At the Port of Hakodate’s are Red Brick Warehouses which were constructed in the late Meiji era. Today, they house seafood restaurants and commercial facilities. Visitors can board The Blue Moon, a wonderful bay cruise, near the warehouse area. Things to See & Do * Mt Hakodate viewing deck * Goryokaku-koen Park * Motomachi historic district * Fort Goryokaku * Red brick warehouses at the port of Hakodate

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Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan