Perth To Tokyo Grand Voyage

Perth, once an Australian backwater, is now at the vanguard of cool, with cutting-edge art, miles of stunning beaches, and a culture that’s both relaxed and impatient for the future. Situated beside the Swan River, Perth is a magical place to explore. Start in Kings Park on Mount Eliza for the best views and an enchanting treetop walk. To indulge in some retail therapy, visit the high-end fashion boutiques of King Street. Art lovers will want to get acquainted with the center of Perth's art scene—the Art Gallery of Western Australia which features the best collection of Aboriginal art in the country.

Bali is enchanting – a lush, verdant isle where rice terraces color every available acre with the brilliant green of young shoots, and volcanic peaks said to house the gods tower above. It is a deeply spiritual place, where artful offerings of flowers and incense are ever present, and on any given day at least one of the thousands of temples scattered around the island will be hosting a colorful festival. Culturally rich, each village has its own artistic specialty – music, dance, painting, and sculpture. The beaches are tempting, but if you want the real Bali, head for the hills – the Balinese occupy that middle ground, and demons reside in the sea.

Bali is enchanting – a lush, verdant isle where rice terraces color every available acre with the brilliant green of young shoots, and volcanic peaks said to house the gods tower above. It is a deeply spiritual place, where artful offerings of flowers and incense are ever present, and on any given day at least one of the thousands of temples scattered around the island will be hosting a colorful festival. Culturally rich, each village has its own artistic specialty – music, dance, painting, and sculpture. The beaches are tempting, but if you want the real Bali, head for the hills – the Balinese occupy that middle ground, and demons reside in the sea.

Celukan Bawang, Bali, Indonesia. In this important port, you may see numbers of the famous high-prowed Bugis schooners, the traditional trading vessels of the archipelago. They carry timber, cement and other goods

The city of Surabaya has some fascinating places here to explore. The Arab quarter is like a Middle Eastern medina - a warren of narrow lanes with stalls selling prayer beads next to perfume next to dates. Keep following the lanes to the Masjid Ampel, a historic mosque built in 1421.

This commercial port, busily exporting the island’s most important products (including of course the beans for your next cup of java), is your gateway to two amazing religious sites. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world – a 3D mandala (diagram of the universe), and perhaps a gigantic textbook to guide mortals striving to attain enlightenment. Prambanan is a complex of lofty, sharply sculpted towers honoring the Hindu triumvirate of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. Both religions traveled this way with Indian traders in the early centuries AD.

Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions meld in this island-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The site of the world's busiest port, Singapore offers the Mustafa Centre, a 24-hour mall and Sunte, the world's largest fountain. Play evening golf on lighted fairways; experience the nightlife on Mohamed Sultan Road; or relax at an outdoor spa. Be certain not to miss the savory seafood.

Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions meld in this island-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The site of the world's busiest port, Singapore offers the Mustafa Centre, a 24-hour mall and Sunte, the world's largest fountain. Play evening golf on lighted fairways; experience the nightlife on Mohamed Sultan Road; or relax at an outdoor spa. Be certain not to miss the savory seafood.

Located on the edge of the Mekong Delta, this dynamic metropolis also features the ageless beauty of an ancient culture. French colonial architecture mixes with modern and Asian influences, providing a diverse backdrop for the many motorbikes, scooters, pagodas and street markets. Stroll the wide boulevards of this city, formerly known as Saigon, and visit The History Museum, which houses artifacts from two thousand years of Vietnamese history.

Located on the edge of the Mekong Delta, this dynamic metropolis also features the ageless beauty of an ancient culture. French colonial architecture mixes with modern and Asian influences, providing a diverse backdrop for the many motorbikes, scooters, pagodas and street markets. Stroll the wide boulevards of this city, formerly known as Saigon, and visit The History Museum, which houses artifacts from two thousand years of Vietnamese history.

Vietnam’s third largest city, Da Nang is the perfect home base for day trips to both imperial Hue and charming Hoi An, two vastly different but equally worth-a-visit destinations. Perched on the picturesque Perfume River, the main attraction in Hue is its immense imperial city, a sprawling complex of temples, pavilions, moats, shops, museums, and galleries that was modeled after Beijing’s forbidden city. The former seat of power for the Nguyen dynasty—feudal lords of much of Vietnam from 1802-1945—the citadel was badly damaged during the Vietnam War. Nonetheless, many buildings survived, and many have been refurbished and offer a fascinating glimpse into the past.

Neon signs galore, dim sum, and amazing temples are a few of the favorite experiences in Hong Kong. Take is as much as you can of this thrilling city with its endless shopping and towering skyscrapers. Your agenda for Hong Kong should include Victoria Peak, an Aberdeen Fishing Village, the Man Mo Temple and Sheung Wan Dried Food and Herbal Market. Be certain to have extra room in your suitcase for the bargains you are bound to discover.

Neon signs galore, dim sum, and amazing temples are a few of the favorite experiences in Hong Kong. Take is as much as you can of this thrilling city with its endless shopping and towering skyscrapers. Your agenda for Hong Kong should include Victoria Peak, an Aberdeen Fishing Village, the Man Mo Temple and Sheung Wan Dried Food and Herbal Market. Be certain to have extra room in your suitcase for the bargains you are bound to discover.

Enjoy the contrasts of Taipei, located just 18 miles from the port of Keelung: lively clubs and ancient temples; skyscrapers and small street markets; bustling streets and peaceful gardens. As expected for a city surrounded by ocean, the seafood is spectacular. Visit the National Palace Museum to view the world's largest collection of Chinese art treasures. And for an unsurpassed view of this city, visit a mountainside tea house.

Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu. It's known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, which has undergone several restorations, is its main historical landmark. It's surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.

Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu. It's known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, which has undergone several restorations, is its main historical landmark. It's surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.

Kochi Prefecture, on Japan’s Shikoku Island, is a largely rural area known for its mountains, rivers and Pacific beaches. Capital Kochi City has one of Japan’s best preserved feudal castles, Kochi-jo, established in the 1600s. The city's centuries-old Sunday market has hundreds of vendors selling food and other wares. Summer's Yosakoi Matsuri is a festival in which colorfully attired dance teams fill the streets.

This "city of water and peace" is built in one of the most sheltered harbors on the Seto Inland Sea and is much more than the painful past it both honors and defies. Reflect and ring the bell of peace at Peace Memorial Park, then ferry to the holy island of Miyajima, famed for its Itsukushima Shrine and floating torii.

Merged from five smaller cities in 1963, Kitakyushu is the gateway between the islands of Honshu and Kyushu—where the city sits on its northern tip. During WWII, the fate of the city could have been forever changed, if not for bad weather and smoke from the previous day’s bombing. It was the intended target of the Fat Man atomic bomb, but was passed over due to poor visibility in favor of Nagasaki.

Sasebo is a city on Japan’s Kyushu Island. It's known for Huis Ten Bosch, an amusement park modeled after a Dutch town, with canals, replica buildings, windmills and flower gardens. Kujukushima Aquarium has dolphins, coral reefs and many jellyfish. Off the coast, boats cruise among the forested Kujukushima Islands, part of Saikai National Park. To the south, Saikai Bridge is a popular spot to view cherry blossoms.

It is Pusan's premier trading port, adjacent to the Korean Straits and Japan, that makes it an international metropolis but its beautiful sea vistas that make it a charming place to unwind. Experience the serenity of Beomeo-sa Temple, climb the Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park and rejuvenate at Hushimchung Spa.

Sakaiminato’s history is steeped in fishing tradition. Now the base of Western Japan’s fishing industry, Sakaiminato has been an open trading port with the U.S. and U.K. since 1899. Today the port town continues to be a haven for seafood lovers with fish markets and world-class restaurants scattered along its streets, making it the perfect place for visitors to taste the catch of the day.

Tucked in between the Sea of Japan and the Japanese Alps, flanked by the Sai and Asano rivers, Kanazawa might be an unfamiliar destination, but it’s sure to become an unexpected favorite. Translated literally Kanazawa means "marsh of gold," and the city produces approximately 98% of the gold leaf in Japan. Find a small jar to take home or try it sprinkled on ice cream. Gold aside, Kanazawa is also a jewel in Japan’s historical crown. Founded in the late 1500s as a castle town, the city has been relatively untouched from the ravages of World War II and natural disasters. Once a powerful and strategic city for the Maeda clan, it is now a comparatively small city with a calm, comfortable feel.

A perfect contrast of old and new, where ancient traditions meet modern experiences—you’ll find Niigata prefecture, the largest city on Honshū's Sea of Japan coast. Start your journey with a relaxing stroll through Niigata’s first citizen park, Hakusan-kōen. Well-manicured gardens, two large koi ponds, the most vibrant cherry blossoms, and the ancient Hukasan Shrine. An inviting space—you’ll find no reason to be “koi” here. Make your way to the bustling Bandai City where you can catch a 360-degree view Niigata and its distant snow-capped mountains from the 20th floor of the Nippō observation deck.

Akita Prefecture is situated in the north-eastern part of the Japanese main land, east of the Sea of Japan, flowing rivers, and expanses of fertile farmland. Majestic mountain ranges, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Shirakami - Sanchi Mountains, surround the northern, southern, and eastern sides and make for incredible views.

Found on Japan’s main island, Honshu, Aomori City spends most of the year offering visitors a taste of a sleepy, seaside city mixed with forward-looking developments and modern art. Combining the history of an established port town with modern facilities and attractions, the city has been called the economic and cultural center of the area.

It’s hard to imagine Tokyo as a tiny fishing village named Edo. Tokyo is now the largest metropolitan area in the world, an exciting city with a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, restaurants, museums, temples, and gardens to visit.