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.

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.

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.

Kodiak Island is raw, wild Alaskan wilderness: the USA's second-largest island, with 3,670 square miles of rugged scenery. Grizzlies, brown and black bears, eagles, fir-covered mountains, and still lakes make it a dream for wildlife photography and documentary crews. Clouds and fog are common, and locals say they once helped deter WWII attacks. Take a seaplane to track bears with a guide, and don't miss the island's world-class fishing on its productive waters.

Valdez, Alaska, "Little Switzerland," sits on Prince William Sound, ringed by the 5,000-foot Chugach Mountains and glaciers. It is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the most northerly ice-free port in the Western Hemisphere. Gold-rush boom in 1897-98, nearly destroyed by the 1964 earthquake, then rebuilt 4 miles away. Today its economy mixes oil, tourism, fishing, seafood processing, and shipping, with hiking, rafting, kayaking, glacier trekking, and winter sports.

In Seward, Alaska, monumental scenery surrounds you: glaciers calve, whales cruise icy waters, and Kenai Fjords National Park rises with fjords, peaks, and the Harding Icefield. Visit Holgate Glacier by kayak or boat for striking blue-white ice and dramatic calving. Nearby Anchorage offers a stark city contrast, and the region also invites you to learn about the culture and heritage of Alaska's First Nation peoples.