Es difícil imaginar Tokio como un diminutivo pueblo pesquero llamado Edo. Tokio es ahora el área metropolitana más grande del mundo, una ciudad apasionante con una oferta aparentemente ilimitada de tiendas, restaurantes, museos, templos y jardines que visitar.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Busan es el primer puerto de comercio, junto al estrecho de Corea y Japón, hace que sea una metrópolis internacional, pero sus hermosas vistas al mar hacen que sea un lugar encantador para relajarse. Disfrute de la serenidad del Templo Beomeosa, o suba a la Torre de Busan en el Parque Yongdusan y rejuvenezca en el Spa en Hurshimchung.

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.

Esta «ciudad del agua y de la paz» tiene ambos honores está construida en uno de los puertos más resguardados en el Mar Interior de Seto y es mucho más que el doloroso pasado que desafía. Reflexione y toque la campana de la paz en el Parque Peace Memorial, luego en ferry vaya a la isla sagrada de Miyajima, famosa por su santuario Itsukushima y el Torii flotante.

On the Seto Inland Sea, looking out over the Sanuki mountain range, sits the island of Shikoku and the old castle town of Takamatsu, Japan.

Now a vibrant city, Takamatsu has been an economic hub of the region since the Edo period. To get a sense of its history, visit Tamamo-koen Park. The 16th century Takamatsu Castle had been destroyed, but there’s still plenty to explore: ruins, water moats, and classic Japanese-style yagura or turrets.

Famous for the beef that bears it name, Kobe is headquarters for numerous Japanese and international firms, and has long been an important port. It is also a short bullet train ride from Kyoto, ancient capital of Japan from the 8th to the 19th century.

Here vestiges of the past are easier to find than in many of Japan’s modern, high-tech cities: countless temples and shrines, the palaces and castles of shoguns and emperors, and narrow lanes paved in stone and lined with wooden buildings housing shops and restaurants that have been serving travelers for centuries.

Famous for the beef that bears it name, Kobe is headquarters for numerous Japanese and international firms, and has long been an important port. It is also a short bullet train ride from Kyoto, ancient capital of Japan from the 8th to the 19th century.

Here vestiges of the past are easier to find than in many of Japan’s modern, high-tech cities: countless temples and shrines, the palaces and castles of shoguns and emperors, and narrow lanes paved in stone and lined with wooden buildings housing shops and restaurants that have been serving travelers for centuries.

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.

Es difícil imaginar Tokio como un diminutivo pueblo pesquero llamado Edo. Tokio es ahora el área metropolitana más grande del mundo, una ciudad apasionante con una oferta aparentemente ilimitada de tiendas, restaurantes, museos, templos y jardines que visitar.

Es difícil imaginar Tokio como un diminutivo pueblo pesquero llamado Edo. Tokio es ahora el área metropolitana más grande del mundo, una ciudad apasionante con una oferta aparentemente ilimitada de tiendas, restaurantes, museos, templos y jardines que visitar.