Seoul to Tokyo

Inchon, located on the west coast of South Korea, is regarded as part of the greater Seoul metropolitan area due to its close proximity to the city. During the Korean War, Inchon was the site of the Battle of Inchon, when United States troops landed to relieve pressure on the Pusan Perimeter and to launch a United Nations offensive northward. The city was also the site of a Japanese POW camp during World War II.

Jeju Island is often called the “Island of the Gods,” for its breathtaking landscape. UNESCO deemed the island’s dormant volcano Hallasan as a Biosphere Reserve because of the abundance and diversity of plant and animal species. Enjoy delicious fare, such as fresh fish, squid, octopus and sea cucumber, as well as its famous Shitake mushrooms and honey, which has a distinct taste.

Nagasaki is a Japanese city on the northwest coast of the island of Kyushu. It’s set on a large natural harbor, with buildings on the terraces of surrounding hills. It is synonymous with a key moment during World War II, after suffering an Allied nuclear attack in August 1945. The event is memorialized at the city’s Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park.

Kagoshima is Japan’s southernmost major city, and is nicknamed the “Naples of the Eastern World,” based on its caldera bay location, hot climate, and volcano. The majestic view of Mt Sakurajima, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, dominates the city’s landscape, towering over the beautiful Kinko Bay. The city abounds in historic sightseeing spots such as the memorial site of St. Francisco Xavier, who landed in Kagoshima and first introduced Christianity to Japan.

Beppu is a city and spa resort on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Set between Beppu Bay and volcanic mountains, it’s home to more than 2,000 onsen (hot springs). Kannawa Onsen district has facilities for bathing in nutrient-rich water, mud and sand. The 8 Hells of Beppu—6 in Kannawa, 2 in outlying Shibaseki—are dramatic landscapes of thermal pools. To the west is Mount Tsurumi, accessible by cable car.

Cities have destinies to fulfill too—Hiroshima is the largest city located on the Honshu Island in Japan. Its modern, industrialized demeanor has a military past since ancient times and the unforgettable atomic bombing in recent times. Tiding over its turbulent history to now being known as the “City of Peace,” Hiroshima has a lot to offer: visit The Peace Memorial Park, a world heritage site, museums resplendent with renaissance art and more.

Kochi boasts beautiful and abundant natural landscapes, from an expansive coastline running with the Kuroshio Current to the clear Shimanto River and the deep green forests that surround it. Located in the south of Shikoku, Kochi is ringed by rugged mountains to the north, and its arc-like southern coastline traces the outline of Tosa Bay. To the east is Cape Muroto, and to the west, Cape Ashizuri, with gently undulating sandy beaches stretching between these two extreme points. The prefecture also boasts the mystical limestone caves of Ryu-ga-do, and the beautiful sands and green pines of Katsura-hama Beach.

Osaka is the third largest city in Japan and the central metropolis of the Kansai region. Osaka dates back to the Asuka and Nara period. Under the name Naniwa, it was the capital of Japan from 683 to 745, long before the upstarts at Kyoto took over. Even after the capital was moved elsewhere, Osaka continued to play an important role as a hub for land, sea and river-canal transportation. In a nation of obsessive gourmands Osaka is known as an excellent place to eat.

Yokohama is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture and, with a population of 3.6 million, is Japan’s largest city after Tokyo. It is centered on an inlet on the western side of Tokyo Bay, to which it is connected by a half-dozen railway lines as well as expressways and surface streets via Kawasaki. A major industrial zone known as the Keihin Industrial Area stretches along the reclaimed coastline to the north of the central area towards Kawasaki and Tokyo beyond.