Circle Hokkaido & Southern Islands Cruise -

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. Nissan and city of Yokohama have launched Japan’s first-ever car-sharing program with ultra-compact EVs (electric vehicles). Read more about Yokohama, Japan

Aomori is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, situated on the northernmost tip of the main Japanese island facing Hokkaido. It has a cold maritime climate with short cool summers and has heavy snowfalls in winter. It is a World Heritage Site, as it has the world's largest virgin forest of beech trees. Also fascinating are the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins, the largest historic site in Japan, said to have revealed structures of a traditional village dating back some 5,500 years. Read more about Aomori, Japan

Kushiro is the capital city of the Kushiro Subprefecture and the most populous city in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. It is situated along both banks of the mouth of the Kushiro River, facing the Pacific Ocean. The natural year-round ice-free harbour has been transformed into a very large commercial and fishing port that serves the nearby coalfield. Fifteen kilometres north of the port is Kushiro Marsh, Japan's largest marshland, a year-round home to endangered Japanese cranes, making it popular for birders. Read more about Kushiro, Japan

Korsakov is a fishing port town with a population of 35,000, situated at the southern end of Sakhalin Island, just east of the Asian mainland. Sakhalin and the adjacent Kuril Islands are administered by Russia. The Korsakov History Museum presents its local frontier history and record of Japanese occupation (1905-1945). Korsakov is drab with its main street lined by small stalls, but do try the summer strawberries and Korean delicacies. Read more about Korsakov, Russian Federation

Otaru is a small city and port on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, NW of the larger city of Sapporo. It faces on the west the Sea of Japan and mainland China. The original inhabitants were indigenous Ainu people. Otaru is for many a commuter town for Sapporo. Read more about Otaru, Japan

Hakodate is the largest city and port in southern Hokkaido, Japan. It is considered to have – as seen from Mt. Hakodate – one of the world's most impressive nightscapes, particularly from June through March, when the bright lights emitted from the squid fishing vessels add a touch of romantic inspiration. Take a trip to Mount Hakodate, and on the drive be impressed by the agricultural area that feeds most of Japan. Read more about Hakodate, Japan

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. Nissan and city of Yokohama have launched Japan’s first-ever car-sharing program with ultra-compact EVs (electric vehicles). Read more about Yokohama, Japan

Okinawa Island is the largest of a group of one hundred and fifty islands, the Ryukyu islands, scattered over a wide area in the southernmost prefecture of Japan. The city of Okinawa is second to the capital Naha, 22km to the SW. It has a separate history from the rest of Japan, having originally been an independent kingdom (Ryukyu), then under the power of China, followed by the US military which still has many occupied military bases there. Today there continue struggles between the local residents and the Japanese government. Read more about Okinawa, 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. Much of the island and surrounding waters including Mount Omoto and Kabira Bay are protected as part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Read more about Ishigaki, Japan

Hualien City is located on the east coast of Taiwan, on a strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Central Mountain Range, and is the capital of the Hualien County. Tourists visit the city for its own beauty and interest, and it is also the base for a tour to the famous Torako Gorge, just a short distance north of the city. Hire a motor scooter or take a taxi to visit the numerous tourist spots. Visit the scenic area of beautiful greenery along the full length of the city's foreshore, made up of three separate parks. Read more about Hualien, Taiwan, Province of China

Taipei, located on the Danshui River, is the largest city and the capital of Taiwan, in the Republic of China. It lies 25 km SW of the Pacific Ocean port Keelung in northern Taiwan. Now a sprawling metropolis, for those who love the hustle and bustle of a big city, it truly is a great place to visit. It is renowned for its Shopping Malls, among the most popular being Core Pacific City. Read more about Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, Province of China

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. Nissan and city of Yokohama have launched Japan’s first-ever car-sharing program with ultra-compact EVs (electric vehicles). Read more about Yokohama, Japan