Incheon is rising to new heights, literally. The city is developing metropolitan real estate with dramatic results, including a district called Songdo International City, home to the world’s tallest twin tower buildings and South Korea’s tallest building, the North Asia Trade Tower. Visit Independence Memorial Hall commemorating General MacArthur, who turned the tide of the Korean War, while farther afield the Incheon Islands are favored by hikers and beachgoers.

As Japans only access to the West, Nagasaki flourished during a period of national isolation in the 16th century and continues to be influenced by the ideas and technology of other cultures. Must-see attractions include Japans oldest gothic-style wooden church, the inspirational Peace Park, and the stately Glover Mansion, an impressive hideaway which was the legendary setting of Puccinis opera, Madame Butterfly.

Home to one of the few medieval castles remaining in its original form in Japan – Matsue Castle, or “the Black Castle” – Sakaiminato is a relatively young city. Officially founded in 1956, the city has a deceptive amount of ancient history to explore. Visit the castle, completed in 1611, as well as the Izumo Taisha, or Grand Shrine, and explore its mysterious beginnings that trace beyond the 8th century.

It rivals Kyoto in historical significance and is virtually unrivaled in its beauty. Kanazawa is home to Japan’s most celebrated garden, Kenrokuen, an elaborate natural landscape of tranquility and color. A remarkably preserved samurai quarter, Higashi Chaya geisha district and Ninjadera temple with secret doors and traps juxtaposed with busting dining and shopping areas make this charming modern city an epicenter of intrigue.

Aomori is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the city had an estimated population of 278,964 in 136,457 households, and a population density of 340 people per square kilometer spread over the city

Whether you reach the spectacular summit of Mt. Hakodate by gondola or invigorating hike, sprawling vistas of the town below offer a beautiful reward. Venture further into the rich natural wonders to Lake Onuma Park, where trails in every direction lead to adventure and tiny lake islands are just a canoe quest away. In town, the local fish market, modern Motomachi neighborhood and Russian Orthodox Church express the storied past and varied present-day culture of Hakodate.

From the timeless beauty of the Meiji Shrine to the glittering Ginza District and impressive Tokyo Tower, Tokyo is a complex blend of East and West where houses of wood and paper stand beside soaring steel skyscrapers while kimono-clad women stroll along trendy teenagers. Here in this city of more than 11 million people, the timeless Imperial Palace bears testament to Japan’s enduring traditions, existing in a verdant parkland of isolation.