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!

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.

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.

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.

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!