Discover Iconic Cities and Hidden Gems: Tokyo to Osaka

Tokyo, located on the eastern side of the main island of Honshu, is the core of the most populated area in the world (urban area 38M). The small fishing village of Edo was fortified in 1457 with Edo Castle (The Imperial Palace now stands at this location) and became one of the largest cities in the world by the 18th C. Its stringent policy of seclusion ended in 1854 and opened Japan to outside trade. Read more about Tokyo, Japan

Shimizu is located on the coast of Suruga Bay, 140km SW of Tokyo, on the island of Honshu, facing the Pacific Ocean. Shimizu-ku is actually a ward or sub-division of the city of Shiuoka. The Kakita River flows through the town. Read more about Shimizu, Japan

Kumano is a coastal city on the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, 100 km south of Osaka, facing the Pacific Ocean. Kumano City (pop. 20,000) is of interest to travelers for its trails, rock formations, and shrines. Read more about Kumano, Japan

Kobe is the capital of the Hyogo Prefecture and lies on the southern side of the main island of Honshu, Japan. A cosmopolitan port city with an international flavour it is hemmed in by Mt. Rokko, and it constantly comes up number one in expatriate rankings of the best place to live in Japan. Read more about Kobe, Japan

Kobe is the capital of the Hyogo Prefecture and lies on the southern side of the main island of Honshu, Japan. A cosmopolitan port city with an international flavour it is hemmed in by Mt. Rokko, and it constantly comes up number one in expatriate rankings of the best place to live in Japan. Read more about Kobe, Japan

The capital of the prefecture of the same name, Hiroshima, situated at the centre of the Chugoku region in western Honshu – Japan’s largest island – is possibly best known for being the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon. Today, though, it is a modern cosmopolitan city with wide boulevards and criss-crossing rivers. Many of the famous attractions are connected to the horrific split second of the bomb blast on August 6, 1945, and are truly well worth visiting. Read more about Hiroshima, Japan

Kitakyushu is a major port on the northern tip of the island of Kyushu at the western entrance to the Inland Sea of Japan. Across a narrow strait is the larger island of Honshu. Kitakyushu was formed in 1963 by joining five smaller cities. Read more about Kitakyushu, Japan

Fukuoka, the capital of the Prefecture of the same name, is located on Kyushu Island in Japan, and spreads out around scenic Hakata Bay. It is an interesting city with its attractive coastlines, shrines and relics of the aborted Mongolian invasion. Surrounded by mountains and sea and an untouched natural environment, interestingly its attractions are contemporary rather than traditional, but they are still very much worth seeing. Read more about Fukuoka, Japan

Hagi is a small city (pop. 50,000) lying on the SW coast of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. Across the Sea of Japan it faces Pusan, South Korea, 220 km distant. Read more about Hagi, Japan

Busan (formerly Pusan), the second largest city and principal port of South Korea, is situated in the SE of the peninsula on the Korea Strait. The city has many steep hills, creating a delightful mix of mountains and ocean. While Busan was relatively untouched during the Korean War, the flood of refugees has shaped the city. Read more about Busan, South Korea

Tsushima is an island located in the Tsushima Strait, situated between Japan and South Korea. It lies within the Nagasaki Prefecture of Japan. The island serves as a strategic point in the sea route between the two countries and is known for its beautiful landscapes, rich history, and unique wildlife. Read more about Tsushima, Japan

Nagasaki City, on the island of Kyushu in Japan, lies at the heart of Nagasaki-hanto Peninsula. As one of Japan's closest port cities to the Asian mainland, Nagasaki has played a prominent role in foreign trade relations for many centuries. This is a port city that developed up the steep slope of a mountain, while also stretching horizontally to hug the Nagasaki Gulf. Read more about Nagasaki, Japan

Kagoshima lies on the southern tip of the island of Kyushu in Japan. It is the picturesque capital of the Prefecture of the same name. Due to its active stratovolcano Sakurajima – Kagoshima's Vesuvius, seen east of the port – and its 'excitable' inhabitants, it is often compared to its Italian sister city, Naples. Read more about Kagoshima, Japan

Read more about Aburatsu, Japan

Uwajima city is located in Ehime Prefecture, on Shikoku the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It faces Bungo Channel that separates Kyushu from Shikoku.Shikoku is south of Honshu island, with the Inland Sea in between; and it is the only island with no volcanoes. In 1945 the centre of the city was largely destroyed by bombing. Read more about Uwajima, Japan

Beppu, a city that overlooks Beppu Bay and is backed by mountains, is located in the Oita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. It is considered to be Japan’s hot springs capital as it has the second largest volume of hot water in the world - after Yellowstone in the United States - and the largest number of hot spring sources in Japan. This tourist town has nine spectacular geothermal hot springs that are referred to as the ‘nine hells of Beppu’, certainly the major attraction for visitors. Read more about Beppu, Japan

Matsuyama (“Pine Mountain”) is the capital of Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku island of Japan. This city of half a million people is known for its hot springs and bath houses. Dogo-onsen Hot Spring that is said to have a 3,000 year history, is the oldest spa in Japan, The good quality of the spring, its noteworthy tradition, and easy access from downtown have made Dogo-onsen the most popular destination of newcomers. Read more about Matsuyama, Japan

The modern Japanese city of Takamatsu, facing the Seto Inland Sea, is the main gateway to Shikoku Island. While the downtown is relatively easy to navigate on foot, many visitors choose to rent a bicycle. Takamatsu has a number of long arcade-style shopping streets, giving the city's shopping a more traditional feel. Read more about Takamatsu, Japan

Himeji, population 535,000, is the second largest city of Hyogo Prefecture after Kobe. It lies on Honshu Island facing the Inland Sea of Japan. One of the local sites worth visiting is Mount Shosha, 30 minutes from the city by bus and ropeway. Read more about Himeji, Japan

Osaka, the heart of the Greater Osaka Area, is located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, and is the third largest city in Japan. Historically it is also regarded as the commercial capital of Japan, as evidenced by its daytime population being over a million greater than its night time population. From above ground and underground shopping malls and specialised shopping complexes, to the unusual America Mura which offers both new and used clothing, as well as flea markets, and the Asia Pacific Trade Centre with its international wholesale market, shopping here truly is a fascinating experience. Read more about Osaka, Japan