Located only 45 minutes from Tokyo, the scenic port of Yokohama merges a cosmopolitan history with modern attractions, creating a waterfront district that's as relaxing as it is entertaining. Walk Yamashita Park and visit the Nippon Maru and Hikawa Maru, museum ships that detail centuries of Japan's maritime heritage. Tour the country's largest Chinatown for delicious flavors and make time for world-class shopping in this city that's a contrast to Tokyo's intensity.

Aomori's top sights include 17th-century Hirosaki Castle and its cherry-blossom park; Nebuta Matsuri, the floats at Nebuta Warasse Museum, and Aomori Art Museum, with modern art including Yoshitomo Nara. Nearby are the 6,000-year-old Jomon site Sannai Maruyama, the Hakkoda Ropeway and Hakkoda Mountains with trails and Sukayu Onsen, and UNESCO-listed Shirakami-Sanchi, home to East Asia's largest virgin beech forest, waterfalls, and wildlife.

Hakodate, on southern Hokkaido, blends Japanese and Western influences from its early role as one of Japan's first open ports. Visit the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse district, now full of shops, restaurants, and galleries, and the star-shaped Goryokaku Fort with its moat and cherry trees. Don't miss the Morning Market for fresh seafood and local products. Hakodate is known for squid dishes like ikameshi and kaisen-don. For great views, ride up Mount Hakodate, especially beautiful at night.

Kodiak Island, Alaska, offers rich culture, stunning scenery, and abundant wildlife. Popular activities include hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Don't miss Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, home to bears, eagles, and sea otters, or the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, which highlights Alutiiq history and culture. Enjoy fresh seafood like salmon, halibut, and crab, plus local favorites such as smoked salmon, crab cakes, and chowder.

Perched on Kachemak Bay at the edge of the Kenai Peninsula, this weathered fishing town offers wildlife, bustling docks, art galleries, and frontier charm. Watch charter boats seek halibut while bald eagles soar and seals bark from the floats. Browse local art inspired by the northern lights and dramatic scenery, then relax in saloons serving king crab, rockfish, and halibut chowder before sailing out under the midnight sun.

Whittier, at the head of Prince William Sound, is a great base for Alaska's wild beauty. Boat or kayak through icy fjords for glaciated inlets and possible sea otters, seals, and whales. Hike to nearby mountains and waterfalls. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, one of North America's longest, links the rugged wilderness to Whittier's harbor. The Prince William Sound Museum tells the town's history as a military outpost, naval port, rail terminal, and its role in WWII and the Cold War.