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.

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.

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.

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.

Time moves at a much slower clip here on Jeju-do. Blessed with tangerine groves, swaying palm trees, white sand beaches, and a verdant landscape, Korea's southernmost volcanic island has long been a favored holiday and honeymoon retreat for natives and neighbors. Still relatively unknown to Western travelers, Jeju's recent title as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is bound to bring Jeju up on quite a few radars.

Shanghai is China's dazzling showpiece: a 24-million-and-growing global city of skyscrapers, neon, and nonstop energy. Yet colonial streets, temples, and gardens still survive beneath the skyline. The Bund, Lujiazui, the Pearl Tower, and Shanghai Tower define its futuristic face, while street food, luxe bars, tai chi parks, and the Jade Buddha Temple keep it grounded. Extreme, intense, and surprisingly welcoming.

Shanghai is China's dazzling showpiece: a 24-million-and-growing global city of skyscrapers, neon, and nonstop energy. Yet colonial streets, temples, and gardens still survive beneath the skyline. The Bund, Lujiazui, the Pearl Tower, and Shanghai Tower define its futuristic face, while street food, luxe bars, tai chi parks, and the Jade Buddha Temple keep it grounded. Extreme, intense, and surprisingly welcoming.

Shanghai is China's dazzling showpiece: a 24-million-and-growing global city of skyscrapers, neon, and nonstop energy. Yet colonial streets, temples, and gardens still survive beneath the skyline. The Bund, Lujiazui, the Pearl Tower, and Shanghai Tower define its futuristic face, while street food, luxe bars, tai chi parks, and the Jade Buddha Temple keep it grounded. Extreme, intense, and surprisingly welcoming.

Just 27 km from Seoul, Incheon is a historic coastal city opened to foreign trade in 1883 and granted "English Status" in 2007. Known for its business skyline, it has a vibrant Chinatown, where jjajangmyeon is said to have originated, and nearby Sinpo Market. During the Korean War, MacArthur's UN forces liberated the city; his victory is marked in Jaya (Freedom) Park. First recorded in 475 CE as Michuhol, it was renamed Incheon in 1413.