Yokohama, Japan's second-largest city, is just a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo. Once a fishing village, it quickly grew after opening its harbor to international trade. Today it offers waterfront strolls, a warm welcome, and a bustling urban skyline. Its huge Chinatown is a highlight, with colorful shops and 250+ eateries. Landmark Tower and a giant Ferris wheel overlook the bay, with Mount Fuji in the distance. Yokohama is a great base for exploring Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto, and the rest of Japan.

Osaka, Japan's third-largest city, is a neon-soaked, food-loving spectacle of giant signs, bustling restaurants, shopping, and glittering temples. Dotonbori Bridge glows above the canal, while Kuromon Ichiba Market-"the nation's kitchen"-has served street food for nearly 200 years, from pufferfish and okonomiyaki to octopus. Visit 16th-century Osaka Castle for history and city views, and cherry blossoms in spring. Kyoto's temples are a short train ride away.

Kochi is a small, friendly castle town dating to the early 17th century, home to one of only 12 Japanese castles that survived the feudal era. Though half the city was destroyed in a 1945 bombing, the original castle remained, a fine Edo-period example. A lively market nearby offers local and international food, including sugar tomato and rice omelette. Kochi is also known for scenic landscapes, varied hot springs, beaches, katsuo no tataki, and the Harimayabashi love legend.

Hiroshima is a city of remembrance and peace. Devastated by the 1945 atomic bombing, it now honors the past through the UNESCO-listed Peace Memorial, Peace Memorial Park, and the Flames of Peace, which burn until all nuclear weapons are gone. The Children's Peace Monument commemorates Sadako Sasaki and her 1,000 paper cranes. In cherry blossom season, the city is especially beautiful.

Busan, South Korea's second city, is a lively port framed by mountains and sea. Highlights include cliffside Haedong Yonggung Temple, lantern-lit Beomeosa, and the colorful, art-filled Gamcheon Culture Village. Feast on bibimbap and seafood, then unwind on Haeundae or Gwangalli beach, with city skyscrapers, sand festivals, and the glowing Gwangan Bridge completing Busan's quirky urban-coastal charm.

Sitting at the southern east point of Japan, Sasebo went from being a small fishing port in Japan's early years to a tactical naval base location during Japan's Meiji period, The town's proximity to China and Korea allowed it to play a central role in both Sino-Japanese Wars as well as during the Russo-Japanese War. Today, Sasebo thrives in tourism thanks to its beautiful coast line, parks...

Kagoshima, one of Japan's southernmost major cities, is dominated by Sakurajima volcano, an active peak that often sends ash over Kinko Bay. The 1914 eruption created new land. Visitors can try a black sand bath, enjoy views from Senganen Garden (built in 1658 and long owned by the Shimadzu family), and explore museums on Feudal-era and Satsuma history, plus WWII kamikaze squadrons. Nearby Lake Ikeda is said to be home to the Issie monster.

Lights, sushi, manga ... one word : Tokyo! Set sail on our luxury cruise ship to this incredible city that is known to be sprawling, frenetic, and endlessly fascinating as Japan's capital of contrasts!

Miyako, on Japan's eastern coast in Iwate Prefecture, is a coastal city of about 50,000, some 600 km from Tokyo. Known for scenic beauty, one of Japan's best beaches, and excellent seafood, it was once a major Edo-period seaport. Repeated tsunamis and seismic risk erased much of its history, so natural attractions dominate. Bordering Sanriku Fukkō National Park, it has rich flora and fauna, including Japan's only breeding grounds for the band-rumped storm-petrel.

From Mount Hakodate, see the city spread between twin bays and the sea. One of Japan's first open ports, Hakodate shows Western and Russian influence in its architecture, from redbrick warehouses to the Orthodox church domes. Nearby, star-shaped Goryokaku fortress and its tower offer views, especially in cherry blossom season. Ride the ropeway at sunset for one of Japan's best night panoramas, then enjoy Hakodate's famous squid, seafood, and the lively Morning Market.

Sitka offers bears, wild landscapes, icy adventures, and rich wildlife in the Inside Passage: eagles, whales, sea lions, and Pacific salmon. See St. Michael's Church, a reminder of Russian rule before the 1867 Alaska purchase, and visit Sitka National Historical Park for Tlingit culture and totem poles marking the 1804 clash with Russians. Mount Edgecumbe rises like Fuji, Kruzof Island offers scenic hikes, and you can also fly, fish for king salmon, or dine on Northwest frontier cuisine.

Ketchikan, Alaska-the "Salmon Capital of the World"-is a gateway to the Inside Passage and Misty Fjords National Monument, best seen by cruise or scenic flight. Spot grizzlies, black bears, whales, seals, eagles, and more in the rainforest and rugged inlet landscape. Visit the Heritage Centre for the world's largest collection of Tlingit and Haida totem poles, then explore historic Creek Street, once the city's red-light district, plus Dolly's House and the Married Man Trail.

Join us to enjoy Vancouver's juxtaposition of urban sophistication and on-your-doorstep wilderness adventure! With Silversea cruises you'll be able to enjoy one of the world's most livable cities.