20-night World Cruise: Spring Circumnavigation Of Japan

Many visitors find this city to be one of the most appealing cities in Taiwan. Visitors come here to enjoy the scenery and fresh air and also to tour the famous Taroko Gorge, which is located a few miles north of the city. Not to miss is the Hualien Ocean Park, which features a ferris wheel, cable car, and eight different zones that introduce aspects of ocean and marine life. Hualien is an excellent place to purchase hand woven cloth in traditional aboriginal designs. Dining options are endless, and visitors will want to try Muaji, a rice dish filled with sweet sesame paste and various fruits.

Ishigaki Island is the main island of the Yaeyama Islands. The island offers visitors calm beaches, snorkeling, and diving in the surrounding coral reefs.  Visitors can also explore the jungle like scenery around the rivers by taking a river kayak tour. At Tamatorizaki Observation point the platform offers lovely views of the cape.  Ishigaki also has the highest mountain in the region, which afford visitors great hiking trails throughout the island's hilly interior.

Situated off the coast of Kagoshima, this picturesque island is blessed with a subtropical climate, beaches with "star sand," and an abundance of flora and fauna. But there is more to this island than just its scenic beauty. Amami Oshima has inspired an arts and crafts culture that is as rich as its heritage. The cultural center at Amami Park is usually one of the first places visitors come to, as it contains the Museum of Amami where you can find detailed information about local customs, traditional culture, and the history of the Amami Islands. Another popular site is the Tanaka Isson Memorial Museum, which celebrates this famed Japanese painter's career and his ties to the island. Other artistic endeavors woven into the culture include the richly dyed tsumugi textiles, which date back more than 1,300 years. These fabrics are famous for being used to make high-quality kimonos. Music is a large part of the island's identity and it is known for its shimauta (island songs), accompanied by the sanshin, a three-stringed musical instrument. A mouthwatering variety of tropical foods can be found in the restaurants and local markets, particularly the passion fruit and mango, cultivated in the warm southern climate, are exceptionally delicious.

Takamatsu is the capital of Kagawa Prefecture, Japan's smallest prefecture. The Matsudaira Clan, relatives of the Tokugawa, controlled the former castle town and surrounding region, then known as Sanuki, during most of the Edo Period.

Beppu is one of Japan's most famous and most touristy hot spring resorts. It is a good place to try out different types of hot springs including sand baths. In addition, there are a few spectacular hot springs, called the "Hells of Beppu", which are for viewing rather than bathing.

Akita is a prefecture in the north of Japan's main island known for it's natural beauty and old world charm.

From November to March it's a winter wonderland with deep drifts, icicle sheets hanging off every roof and superb skiing and snowboarding. Winter festivals celebrate ancient traditions like the building of snow shrines, or kamakura, complete with offerings of sake and fruit.

A city for all seasons, Aomori attracts visitors from afar for its beauty and events. In the spring, Hirosaki Castle Park is one of Japan’s most famous sites for viewing the cherry blossoms. The Nebuta Festival is held in the summer time and is one of the largest and most colorful summer events in Japan. Lake Towada is famous for the changing of her leaves in the autumn, and the winter months bring glorious snow for skiing, skating and snowboarding. Aomori is also home to the largest outdoor Buddha’s in Japan – weighing over 220 tons.

This island has an excellent reputation for its beauty. Miyako is the main island among a chain of eight islands, with its main city located in Hirara.  Visitors will enjoy the coral sand beaches, and emerald green sea, perfect for swimming. The island also has a beautiful coastline fringed with the coral reefs.  The scale of coral reefs far outshines others. Travellers will also enjoy visiting the many historical sites symbolizing the life of the island.