Far East Marvels

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. In 1869, the 17-year-old Emperor Meiji moved to Edo, and the city was renamed Tokyo (meaning Eastern Capital). Read more about Tokyo, Japan

Nagoya, the fourth-largest city in Japan and one of its major ports, is located on the Pacific coast in the Chubu region on central Honshu. One of the two most famous sightseeing spots is the reconstructed Nagoya Castle that was built in 1612 with two golden carp on the roof, and that today is also home to an interesting museum that contains an ancient Atsuta shrine as well as some 4,400 national historic treasures. The Atsuta Shrine is known as the second-most venerable shrine in Japan, after Ise Shrine. It is said to enshrine the Kusanagi sword, one of the three imperial regalia of Japan. Read more about Nagoya, 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. The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, with its collection comprising sculptures, prints and paintings, built following the horrific earthquake in 1995, is a tribute to the spirit of mankind. 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. Today, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park commemorates the 1945 event. Read more about Hiroshima, Japan

Shanghai, at the mouth of the Yangtze River on the mid-coast of mainland China, is the most populous city in the People's Republic. It is the largest centre of commerce and finance on mainland China, and the show-piece of the world's fastest-growing major economy. It is a major cruise port rivalling Hong Kong and Singapore, and the largest container port in the world. Check your visa requirements. Read more about Shanghai, China

Shanghai, at the mouth of the Yangtze River on the mid-coast of mainland China, is the most populous city in the People's Republic. It is the largest centre of commerce and finance on mainland China, and the show-piece of the world's fastest-growing major economy. It is a major cruise port rivalling Hong Kong and Singapore, and the largest container port in the world. Check your visa requirements. Read more about Shanghai, China

Hong Kong, situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea, is a kaleidoscope of life, a sophisticated fusion of East and West, a city of diversity where new and old meet at every turn. Hong Kong offers a host of memorable tourist attractions within its compact area. Victoria Harbour and the Giant Buddha are among the most awe-inspiring. Then take the famous Escalator and the Tram to the Peak, the tallest point on the island, with some of the most expensive homes to be found anywhere. Read more about Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Hue is the former Imperial capital of Vietnam and is intimately connected to the imperial Nguyen Dynasty that ruled from 1804 to 1945. The Perfume River is the main landmark and distinctly divides the city in two, with the old city on the north side and the newer city, including most hotels and restaurants, on the south side. Much of the riverside has wisely been done up as a pleasant promenade and park dotted with most unusual sculptures. The Citadel in the old city is of great historical interest. Read more about Hue, Viet Nam

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the largest city of Vietnam in SE Asia, is situated on the banks of the Saigon River which flows into the Mekong delta, in the south of the country. Phu My, 70km to the SE, is one of the many ports used by tourist ships bringing visitors to this rapidly developing and dynamic city with more than 6 million citizens. Ho Chi Minh City’s architecture and lifestyle is a combination of American and Chinese influences. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Chinese style pagodas and food stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban area in a very special sense. Read more about Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the largest city of Vietnam in SE Asia, is situated on the banks of the Saigon River which flows into the Mekong delta, in the south of the country. Phu My, 70km to the SE, is one of the many ports used by tourist ships bringing visitors to this rapidly developing and dynamic city with more than 6 million citizens. Ho Chi Minh City’s architecture and lifestyle is a combination of American and Chinese influences. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Chinese style pagodas and food stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban area in a very special sense. Read more about Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Singapore is an island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 km N of the Equator, just south of the Malaysian state of Johor. One of the few remaining city-states in the world, Singapore is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is brimming with diversity and has a multiplicity of culture, language, arts and architecture and a world famous variety of cuisine. You'll find historic sites like the Thian Hock Keng temple, superlative shopping, including gargantuan malls, and numerous beaches. Read more about Singapore, Singapore