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!

Feel your heart thump at first sight of Japan's most heavenly vision: Mount Fuji, its snow-capped cone rising through the haze. One of the world's most famous natural landmarks, this perfectly symmetrical, iconic volcano is a beloved symbol of Japan and a picturesque backdrop for Shimizu. Visit the slopes, serene shrines, tea plantations, Shiraito Falls, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, or Nihondaira Plateau for panoramic views of Fuji and Suruga Bay.

Nagoya, home to Toyota, Lexus and Mitsubishi, is Japan's fourth-largest city and an industrial powerhouse. Often overlooked between Tokyo and Kyoto, it still offers plenty: notable museums, temples, shopping, gardens, and cuisine like hitsumabushi and tebasaki. Highlights include Nagoya Castle, the Tokugawa-era history, the Port Tower, the modern aquarium, and 2,000-year-old Atsuta Shrine, one of Japan's most revered.

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.

Kobe is best known for its famous beef, but the city has much more to offer. Its port history and 98 nationalities have created one of Japan's most diverse food cultures, with exceptional seafood, sushi, bread, bakeries, and sake. Historically important, Kobe was renamed in 1889 and was once known as Owada no Tomari. Set between Osaka and Kyoto on the Inland Sea, it appears in classic literature and is near Himeji Castle, one of Japan's most beautiful feudal castles.

Nagasaki was devastated by the second U.S. atomic bomb on Aug. 9, 1945, killing more than 50,000. Today, the city honors its past while promoting peace and hope. Visit the Atomic Bomb Museum, hear Hibakusha survivor stories, and see the Memorial Hall, Peace Park, and Hypocenter Park. Nearby Suwa Shrine's scarred torii and trees survived the blast. From Mount Inasa, reached by ropeway or bus, you can overlook the harbor and the city's resilient beauty.

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.

Sakaiminato is a small city almost surrounded by water: the Sea of Japan, Sakai Channel, and Lake Nakaumi. Across the lake, Matsue and Yasugi offer notable sights. Matsue, the "Town of Water," is beside Lakes Shinji and Nakaumi and has one of Japan's few remaining wooden castles; castle tours and boat rides on the Horikawa River and moat are popular. Yasugi's Adachi Museum of Art is famous for contemporary Japanese paintings and a 165,000-square-meter garden, often named Japan's best.

Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, once rivaled Kyoto and Edo for cultural wealth. Spared in World War II, it preserves old districts well. Its best-known site is Kenrokuen, beside Kanazawa Castle, one of Japan's Three Great Gardens, with a pond, hills, historic tea house, and Japan's oldest natural-pressure fountain. Nearby Higashi Chaya Gai is a major geisha district and National Cultural Asset. The city is also known for lacquerware, Kutani pottery, gold leaf, and silk kimonos.

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.

Aomori, on Honshu's northern edge, is one of Japan's most enchanting destinations: dark, forested peaks, cherry-blossom castles, soaring temples, and dramatic scenery. It's best known for Nebuta Matsuri, a summer fire festival of huge illuminated floats, lanterns, and pounding drums. See Hirosaki Castle in spring, Sannai-Maruyama's Jomon history, and UNESCO-listed Shirakami Sanchi, a beech-forest wilderness of waterfalls and black bears.

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.