Majestic Japan - W460C

Yokohama is located on the western coast of Tokyo Bay, less than half an hour's train journey directly south of Tokyo. It is the second largest city in Japan and one of the cities most visited by foreigners. Despite being devastated by bombings in WWII it remains a maritime city and retains an international flavour. Read more about Yokohama, 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

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

Kochi is the capital of Kochi Prefecture on the southern coast of Shikoku Island, Japan. The city is small and friendly, with a casual atmosphere and a dose of southern flair. It boasts several attractions of interest to travellers. Read more about Kochi, 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

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

Sakaiminato is an important fishing port facing Mihio Bay and the Sea of Japan to the east, and inland Lake Nakaumi to the west. It lies in the middle of West Japan. South of the port is the sweeping 15km Yumi-ga-Hama Beach, and 30km to the ESE rises the great snow-capped summit of Mt. Read more about Sakaiminato (for Matsue), Japan

Kanazawa, situated on the Sea of Japan between the Sai and Asano Rivers, was founded as a castle town in 1583, but today is a typical peaceful Japanese city of traditional crafts. It is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture. Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japanese Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. Read more about Kanazawa, 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

Ishigaki is the largest city for the Yaeyama Island Group, and is located on Ishigaki Island, as is the area's major boat terminal, Ishigaki Port. It is the southernmost of the Ryukyu (or Nansei) Islands chain, of which the largest is Okinawa. The island enjoys a thriving culture steeped in traditions that are a mixture from Japan, China, nearby Taiwan (230km to the west), and its former trading partners. Read more about Ishigaki, Japan

Naha is the capital and main city of the Okinawa Prefecture in Japan, and is located on Okinawa Island, the largest of a long stretch of islands between mainland Japan and Taiwan. With the only sub-tropical climate in all of Japan it is a major tourist destination for the Japanese. Till recently there were not many foreign tourists to these shores, but this is quickly changing. Read more about Naha, Japan

The volcanic island of Iwo Jima is part of a chain that makes up the southern end of the Ogasawara Islands of Japan. It actually lies 1100 km SE of the main islands of Japan. (In 1779, the island was charted as Sulphur Island, the literal translation of its official name Iwo Jima, during Captain James Cook's third surveying voyage.) The island is just 21 sq.km., with highest point Mount Suribachi at 169m. Read more about Iwo Jima, Japan

Nawiliwili is a large beach park and port on the SE of the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. One of the wettest spots on Earth, with an annual average rainfall of over 11 meters, it is located on the east side of Mount Wai'ale'ale. The high annual rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central mountains resulting in canyons with many scenic waterfalls. Read more about Nawiliwili, USA

The birthplace of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the Unites States, Honolulu is the cultural, industrial, commercial, and governmental centre of Hawaii, with Waikiki Beach the epicentre of the tourist industry. It is a thriving world-class city, with nearly one million people in its metropolitan area. Oahu is the most popular of the Hawaiian Islands, and as the city is packed with sights, activities, and tourist attractions, it is easy to understand why there is so much to do in this southernmost major U.S. Read more about Honolulu, USA

The birthplace of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the Unites States, Honolulu is the cultural, industrial, commercial, and governmental centre of Hawaii, with Waikiki Beach the epicentre of the tourist industry. It is a thriving world-class city, with nearly one million people in its metropolitan area. Oahu is the most popular of the Hawaiian Islands, and as the city is packed with sights, activities, and tourist attractions, it is easy to understand why there is so much to do in this southernmost major U.S. Read more about Honolulu, USA

Located just two hours south of Vancouver, Canada, the city of Seattle in USA is an international port that boasts three professional sports teams, hundreds of restaurants, a myriad of cultural venues and a lifestyle that is unique to the Pacific Northwest. It is known as Emerald City due to the lush evergreen forests in the area. Well known for its impressive musical history, from jazz to the rock music style of grunge, to this day Seattle hosts a diverse and influential alternative music scene. Read more about Seattle, USA