Southern Japan

The wide ocean, the harbour with its special atmosphere, the hill which stands in a row of steep slopes, a Chinatown which is full of exotic moods – there are so many “postcard scenes” in Yokohama. Not surprisingly, many movies have been made here. Visit Kamakura with its temples and 35-foot-high Great Buddha. Take a bullet train to see Mount Fiji, or pack an overnight bag and set out for the ancient cities of Japan: Kyoto and Hakone.

Kobe begins your exploration of the cultural fountainheads of Classical Japan. From here, ride the rapid bullet train to the classical pavilions and calm temples of Kyoto, capital of Japan until 1868.
Kyoto is notable for its elegant timber buildings, and imbued more than any other Japanese city with the divine spirit, Kami. There are countless Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples here.

Kochi is the capital of the Kochi Prefecture, which is located on Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands which make up Japan, in a region scattered with temples and forested mountains.
One of Kochi’s main sights is the castle complex, whose main tower, or donjon, is one of just twelve to remain intact across Japan. Its origins lie in the early 1600s, even if most of the buildings were rebuilt after a devastating fire in the mid-1700s. Several points make it unique, notably that its donjon served not just a military function, but as a residence too. Wooden interiors show how the castle would have looked during the Edo Period, and its lookout point offers fine views over the city.

Busan is South Korea’s second largest city and seaport, and it’s a laid-back, metropolitan destination. Its pace is slower, and its diversity more pronounced, than the country’s capital city of Seoul.
Busan has an intriguing medley of culture and history, beautiful natural settings and exciting adventures. It’s also near South Korea’s cultural capital, Gyeongju, and the fortress of Jinju.

Japan’s first real contact with the West was through Portuguese explorers and Jesuit missionaries, and then Dutch merchants. Apprehensive Shoguns thus closed Japan to foreign trade except at Nagasaki.
Stop by Peace Park for a moment of serenity, or visit the Confucian Shrine to see the influence that the Chinese community has on Nagasaki.

With moving peace monuments to the end of World War II, Hiroshima is a modern city that has emerged from its defining days with purpose and confidence. This is a forward-looking yet traditional city.
Beyond the evocative Atomic Bomb Dome, you’ll find the landscaped Shukkeien Garden, the Mazda Museum, and the okonomiyaki, a batter and cabbage pancake topped with octopus, shrimp or pork.

The wide ocean, the harbour with its special atmosphere, the hill which stands in a row of steep slopes, a Chinatown which is full of exotic moods – there are so many “postcard scenes” in Yokohama. Not surprisingly, many movies have been made here. Visit Kamakura with its temples and 35-foot-high Great Buddha. Take a bullet train to see Mount Fiji, or pack an overnight bag and set out for the ancient cities of Japan: Kyoto and Hakone.