Osaka, Japan's third-largest city, is a neon-soaked, food-loving spectacle of giant signs, bustling restaurants, shopping, and glittering temples. Dotonbori Bridge glows above the canal, while Kuromon Ichiba Market-"the nation's kitchen"-has served street food for nearly 200 years, from pufferfish and okonomiyaki to octopus. Visit 16th-century Osaka Castle for history and city views, and cherry blossoms in spring. Kyoto's temples are a short train ride away.

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.

Yakushima is a round subtropical island off southern Kyushu, in Kagoshima. One-fifth was designated a Natural World Heritage Site in 1993. It is famed for its cedar forests and Yakusugi, a term for cedars over 1,000 years old; the oldest may be over 7,000 years. With mountains near 2,000 m and heavy year-round rain, it offers rich flora from coral reef to alpine plants.

Drift into the subtropical beauty of Japan's Amami Islands, where emerald hills, mangrove forests and white-sand coves create a peaceful escape from the bustle of the mainland. This island chain is known for its clear seas, vibrant coral life and distinctive Ryukyu-influenced culture, with plenty to discover in local cuisine, crafts and gentle coastal scenery.

The Kerama Archipelago offers a blissful escape into one of Japan's most beautiful island settings, where turquoise waters, white-sand beaches and coral reefs create a paradise for swimming and snorkeling. With its relaxed pace, pristine scenery and abundant marine life, this chain of islands promises a refreshing taste of tropical Japan.

Remote and wonderfully unspoiled, Calayan in the Babuyan Islands offers a glimpse of the Philippines at its most natural and serene. Expect lush green scenery, clear waters, quiet beaches and dramatic coastal landscapes, with opportunities to enjoy the relaxed pace of island life and the warm welcome of a close-knit local community.

San Luis, Capul is a living museum where history lives. The island got its name from Acapulco, Mexico, reflecting its role in the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade during the Spanish era. Its well-preserved Spanish Colonial church complex, dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola, is enclosed by a square fort with varied bulwarks. At the island's northern tip is Faro de Capul, a lighthouse fortified by Japanese forces in World War II. Today, coconut farming is a major source of local income.

Bohol is a Philippine island province made up of Bohol Island and 75 smaller islands; its capital is Tagbilaran City. It is the country's 10th largest island, with a land area of 1,589.7 sq mi and a 162 mi coastline. Jesuits brought Christianity in the 1600s and built heritage churches, many damaged by the 2013 magnitude 7.2 earthquake and now being restored. Bohol is known for beaches, historic sites, the Chocolate Hills, world-class diving in Panglao, and the native Philippine tarsier.

The Philippines has over 7,600 islands, but tiny Kalanggaman Island, between Cebu and Leyte, is often called the most beautiful. Its white sand, palm trees, and clear blue sea feel like paradise. Only 750 metres long, it can be walked in under an hour. At low tide, its sandbar is perfect for photos. Visitors enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and diving among coral gardens, tropical fish, and sea turtles. Quiet and secluded, it offers peaceful beaches, sea breezes, and spectacular sunsets.

Donsol and Ticao Islands thrived in the 1500s as shipyard centers, rich in hardwood and skilled shipbuilders. With modernization and steel vessels, they declined: Donsol became a quiet fishing town, while Ticao shifted to cattle raising for Spanish haciendas. In the late 1990s, Donsol changed when whale sharks were discovered nearby. Once seen as pests, they are now protected through eco-tourism. Donsol offers near-certain whale shark sightings from November to June.

Our stay in San Fernando will present a unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in the traditional ways of Sibuyan Island.

Apo Reef Natural Park is a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site in the Philippines, made up of a reef and three islands. Its main feature, Apo Reef, lies east of Apo Island, the largest island, with mangroves and beach vegetation. Snorkelers can see crystal-blue waters, about 400 coral species, and many reef fish. Apo Island also has a shallow lagoon, mangrove forest, nearly 50 bird species, and rare Nicobar Pigeon records.

Manila, the "Pearl of the Orient," is the Philippines' bustling capital, rich in culture, creativity, and food. Friendly locals add to its charm. Baywalk offers famous sunsets; Intramuros is the historic Spanish-era core, with colonial architecture, cobbled streets, horse-drawn carriages, and Fort Santiago. Despite war and disasters, Manila endures. For calm, visit Rizal Park, a green oasis and national symbol honoring José Rizal.