Japan and Alaska

The Japanese port city of Yokohama to the south of Tokyo on the main island of Honshu. It is a starting point for excursions to Tokyo, Mount Fuji or the Hakone National Park, but the local attractions are worth a visit as well.In addition to bars and restaurants, the former lighthouse at the port of Yokohama has an observation deck which offers a beautiful view of the city and the surroundings. If weather permits, you can even see Mount Fuji in the distance.

Hakodate is one of the most popular city destinations in Japan. Here you can experience diverse dynastic architecture, the last Shogun battlefield and enjoy shimmering night views from Mount Hakodate. The Motomachi buildings from the Edo period and Meiji era of the late 19th century blend with western-influence to create an exciting cultural concoction. In Goryokaku Park, where the last battle of the Japanese civil war was fought, you can now enjoy peaceful contemplation amongst the fragrant blossom of 1600 cherry trees.

Home of the famous Manga ghost author, Mizuki Shigeru, hauntingly beautiful Sakaiminato suggests many fascinating ways to spend time ashore. Begin by visiting Izumo Taisha’s grand shrine to marriage. Then enjoy an invigorating outdoor natural spa, bathing in the Kaike Onsen hot springs. Or maybe visit one of the many museums and the rare original Japanese Matsue Castle

Busan is South Korea’s second largest city and seaport, and its a laid-back, metropolitan destination. Its pace is slower, and its diversity more pronounced, than the countrys capital city of Seoul. Busan has an intriguing medley of culture and history, beautiful natural settings and exciting adventures. It’s also near South Korea’s cultural capital, Gyeongju, and the fortress of Jinju.

Japan’s first real contact with the West was through Portuguese explorers and Jesuit missionaries, and then Dutch merchants. Apprehensive Shoguns thus closed Japan to foreign trade except at Nagasaki. Stop by Peace Park for a moment of serenity, or visit the Confucian Shrine to see the influence that the Chinese community has on Nagasaki.

Shimizu is a bustling modern port with ancient roots and many a revered shrine to visit. You’ll no doubt find your gaze repeatedly drawn to the beautiful snow-capped cone of nearby Mount Fuji. A fitting starting point here is Sumpu Castle, where you can contemplate the moats, remaining stone walls and restored buildings dotted around this 400-year-old site. After all, this is the building that, to some degree, put Shimizu on the map. In becoming shogun, or supreme military dictator in 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate which would last until the Meiji Restoration of 1868; this was known as the Edo Period. Tokugawa Ieyasu himself built Sumpu Castle, then retired there in 1605, even though he remained leader of Japan until his death in 1616.

The Japanese port city of Yokohama to the south of Tokyo on the main island of Honshu. It is a starting point for excursions to Tokyo, Mount Fuji or the Hakone National Park, but the local attractions are worth a visit as well.In addition to bars and restaurants, the former lighthouse at the port of Yokohama has an observation deck which offers a beautiful view of the city and the surroundings. If weather permits, you can even see Mount Fuji in the distance.

Hakodate is one of the most popular city destinations in Japan. Here you can experience diverse dynastic architecture, the last Shogun battlefield and enjoy shimmering night views from Mount Hakodate. The Motomachi buildings from the Edo period and Meiji era of the late 19th century blend with western-influence to create an exciting cultural concoction. In Goryokaku Park, where the last battle of the Japanese civil war was fought, you can now enjoy peaceful contemplation amongst the fragrant blossom of 1600 cherry trees.

Located in the Kodiak archipelago, Kodiak is the largest of Alaska’s islands, separated from the mainland by the Shelikof Strait. Even today, almost two thirds of the island is inaccessible by road, while of the 13,500 people who reside in Kodiak, almost half live in Kodiak City. It’s here that Kodiak connects with the world beyond its icy shores, and the disembarking point for all Cunard voyages calling at the Island. If you’ve ever wondered why this part of Alaska is known as the Emerald Isle, prepare to have your curiosity sated. Kodiak’s mountains more or less glint with the same luminous green as the stone they resemble. While the water that laps the island’s shores is positively sapphire in its blueness.

Nestled on an inlet in the Kenai Peninsula, against a landscape of forested mountains and sapphire sea, the Southern Alaskan city of Seward is an outdoor adventurers’ playground. Your guide to Seward. Follow one of many scenic hiking trails, try your hand at zip-lining or venture to the glacial wonderland of Kenai Fjords National Park on a visit to this stunning city. If less active pursuits appeal, downtown Seward offers ample galleries and museums to advance your appreciation of the Alaskan way of life. Admire the artful murals decorating the streets of this historic city or observe seals gracefully swimming below the water’s surface at the ever-popular Alaska Sealife Centre.

Get up close and personal with the gigantic Hubbard Glacier, North Americas largest tidewater glacier. Its 1350 square miles of blue ice and one of the most active in Alaska.Witness the grace and brilliance of glacial formations and towering icebergs in action as you sail by a highlight of Alaska’s many coastal wonders. Learn the history its created and take in the view. Hubbard Glacier has dictated local geography and human endeavour over millennia. This is your chance to get close to one of Earth’s majestic giants of slow-moving ice.

Beneath an ice field that never melts, on a waterway that never freezes, Juneau is the unusual and disarmingly beautiful capital of Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier is the not-to-be-missed attraction. Look for orca and humpback whales as we sail into Juneau. There’s plenty to entertain and intrigue in the city. If you’re feeling fit, explore the glaciers by kayak or trek with crampons and an axe.

Sitka is a hidden beauty on the east coast of Baranof Island in southeast Alaska. Towered over by snowy mountains in the distance, it has previously been known as the Indian River Park and Totem Park. Sitka’s National Historical Park is the oldest national park in Alaska, and along with the town’s warm welcome, its many natural wonders combine for a remarkable experience.

The capital of British Columbia, Victoria, possesses a unique blend of historic charm and contemporary charisma. It offers a wide variety of exquisite sights that draw visitors from around the world. Notable landmarks include Craigdarroch Castle and the elegant Empress Hotel, which contrast with the shops and restaurants. There’s ample opportunity for whale watching and wildlife viewing, too.

Tiny Ketchikan is just three miles long and three blocks wide, but here you can be sure to find Alaska’s busiest waterfront buzzing with boat planes, fishing boats, pleasure craft, and busy fishermen. Local trawlers bring delicacies like king crab, octopus, shark, prawn and rockfish to Ketchikan, known as Alaska’s First City for its location and its figurehead status for outstanding natural beauty.

Gateway to the Klondike, with highlights including White Summit Pass and the cable Yukon Suspension Bridge. The gold rush coastal town of Skagway, Alaska, was previoulsy a lawless Wild West outpost. It’s now a national historic park, so the town’s restored boardwalk, shops and streets provide the perfect setting for actors to bring the town’s colourful past to life.

Beneath an ice field that never melts, on a waterway that never freezes, Juneau is the unusual and disarmingly beautiful capital of Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier is the not-to-be-missed attraction. Look for orca and humpback whales as we sail into Juneau. There’s plenty to entertain and intrigue in the city. If you’re feeling fit, explore the glaciers by kayak or trek with crampons and an axe.

Get up close and personal with the gigantic Hubbard Glacier, North Americas largest tidewater glacier. Its 1350 square miles of blue ice and one of the most active in Alaska.Witness the grace and brilliance of glacial formations and towering icebergs in action as you sail by a highlight of Alaska’s many coastal wonders. Learn the history its created and take in the view. Hubbard Glacier has dictated local geography and human endeavour over millennia. This is your chance to get close to one of Earth’s majestic giants of slow-moving ice.

Sitka is a hidden beauty on the east coast of Baranof Island in southeast Alaska. Towered over by snowy mountains in the distance, it has previously been known as the Indian River Park and Totem Park. Sitka’s National Historical Park is the oldest national park in Alaska, and along with the town’s warm welcome, its many natural wonders combine for a remarkable experience.

The capital of British Columbia, Victoria, possesses a unique blend of historic charm and contemporary charisma. It offers a wide variety of exquisite sights that draw visitors from around the world. Notable landmarks include Craigdarroch Castle and the elegant Empress Hotel, which contrast with the shops and restaurants. There’s ample opportunity for whale watching and wildlife viewing, too.