Tokyo to Osaka

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.

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.

Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak, overlooks this beautiful port town at the Northern end of the Izu Peninsula. One of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains,” Mount Fuji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, and is one of Japan’s official Historic Sites. Shimizu’s mild climate makes it perfect for exploring nature, like Miho-no-Matsubara, four miles of pine grove on the town’s seashore.

Discover the natural beauty of seaside Kagoshima, a city surrounded by beautiful mountain backdrops and dozens of local hot springs. While nearly all visitors make their way to see the volcanic heights of Mt. Sakurajima, attractions such as the historic village of Chiran and the Kagoshima Botanical Garden prove equally compelling places to stop and take a deep breath.

Historically rich Nagasaki features beautiful seaside scenery and fabulous nighttime views from its mountain slopes. Secluded hot springs, fascinating museums, and ornate temples live side by side in this exciting city. Ten natural parks grace the area, and unique festivals can be experienced throughout the year. Walk through streets influenced by both Chinese and European cultures in fascinating Nagasaki.

Warm oceanic climate. Island dotted coast. Brilliant night lights. Nestled between verdant mountains, Yeosu has small town charm with big city potential. This hidden gem on the southern coast of South Korea is on the verge of becoming a world-class vacation destination.

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.

Cochin provides a variety of unexpected experiences: A tiny synagogue, and a Jewish presence some claim dates back to the time of Solomon. St Francis Church, where Vasco de Gama was once buried. Mattancherry Palace, with a series of remarkable murals painted on its wooden walls. Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, gracefully silhouetted against sky and sea. An opportunity to sail the “backwaters,” a network of rivers, streams, and canals, for a peek at traditional rural lifestyles. And of course the spellbinding Kathakali dance, with its highly stylized performances and elaborate makeup and costumes.

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.