Tokyo is a city of contrasts: centuries-old shrines and neon streets, serene gardens and bustling crossings. Sensō-ji anchors historic Asakusa, while Meiji Shrine rests in a forested sanctuary between Harajuku and Omotesandō. Shibuya Crossing buzzes, Akihabara glows with pop culture, and Tsukiji tempts food lovers. From Skytree to Ueno Park's cherry blossoms, Tokyo blends tradition with modern wonder.

Aomori blends deep tradition with striking natural beauty on Japan's northern tip. The Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse showcases the artistry and energy of the region's famous illuminated floats year-round, while the Sannai-Maruyama Site reveals life from the 5,500-year-old Jomon period. Just an hour away, Hirosaki Castle charms in every season, framed by gardens and views of Mount Iwaki. Fresh seafood markets and sweeping vistas over Mutsu Bay complete Aomori's mix of culture, history and quiet charm.

Eastern Hokkaido's Kushiro offers open skies, pristine wetlands and rare wildlife. Red-crowned cranes glide over reed plains and dance on snow in winter, while Lake Akan reflects forested hills and marimo algae. Hosooka Observatory looks over the winding Kushiro River, and nearby Lake Mashu-one of the world's clearest lakes-rests in volcanic calm. In town, seafood markets, sunsets at Nusamai Bridge and Ainu culture enrich this tranquil corner of Japan.

Rugged, remote, and unforgettable, Dutch Harbor on tiny Unalaska Island drew Captain Cook twice and now hosts TV crews for Deadliest Catch. In the Aleutians, summer brings emerald hills and blueberry trails. Visit Mount Ballyhoo and WWII Fort Schwatka, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, the Aleutian Museum, and feast on king crab and halibut in the U.S.'s busiest fishery.

Seward offers big nature and bigger adventures, with calving glaciers and seabirds as the soundtrack. Sail Kenai Fjords National Park for waterspouts, tailfins, epic icefields, and tufted puffins on shale cliffs. Hike past glacial waterfalls, tackle the Harding Icefield trail or the easier Exit Glacier loop, and take in stunning views of Resurrection Bay's deep glacial waters and towering cliffs.

Encircled by mountains and waterfalls, Valdez is called the "Switzerland of Alaska." See Valdez, Columbia, and Worthington glaciers flow into Prince William Sound, hike lush forest trails, paddle with puffins, or raft the chalk-blue Lowe River. Wildlife includes bears, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, and rufous hummingbirds-some migrating from Mexico.

Sitka is known for fishing, whale and wildlife sightings, and legendary battles between Russian fur traders and the Tlingit. Explore vast wilderness-volcanoes, forests, islands, and glaciers-on scenic trails lined with Tlingit and Haida totem poles. Visit the Raptor Center, kayak Sitka Sound, see WWII sites and Mount Edgecumbe, and end at St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral, where Russia handed Sitka to the U.S.

Victoria, on Vancouver Island's southern edge, is British Columbia's capital, set near the Olympic Mountains. Its history reaches pre-colonial times; in 1849, Vancouver Island became a British crown colony, reflected in Victorian architecture like Craigdarroch Castle. Indigenous legacies endure in festivals, ceremonies, dance, and art. Nearby are rugged Pacific coastlines, rainforests, gardens, lakes, waterfalls, fishing villages, and rich marine life, including four whale species.

Vancouver, surrounded by mountains and the ocean, is a vibrant haven for outdoor lovers and cosmopolitan travelers. Its neighborhoods-Stanley Park, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, and Chinatown-blend scenic pathways with rich arts, food, and culture. Famous as a filming location, it offers old-growth cedar forests, dramatic landscapes, and abundant wildlife: a big city perched on the edge of wilderness.