Tokyo to Vancouver

From the timeless beauty of the Meiji Shrine to the glittering Ginza District and impressive Tokyo Tower, Tokyo is a complex blend of East and West where houses of wood and paper stand beside soaring steel skyscrapers while kimono-clad women stroll along trendy teenagers. Here in this city of more than 11 million people, the timeless Imperial Palace bears testament to Japan’s enduring traditions, existing in a verdant parkland of isolation.

Aomori is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the city had an estimated population of 278,964 in 136,457 households, and a population density of 340 people per square kilometer spread over the city

Nature’s splendor is on full display in this vibrant fishing port on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Among its most famous natural attractions is Kushiro Marsh, an expansive wetlands area where you might spot deer, sea eagles and red-crowned cranes. Along the coast, a host of eateries at Fisherman’s Wharf offers the chance to savor freshly caught seafood. For an appreciation of the works of local artists and photographers, check out the Kushiro City Museum of Art.

Often called “Alaska’s Emerald Isle,” Kodiak Island is indeed magnificently green thanks to plentiful summer rains. It is also one of North America’s largest commercial fishing ports; both fish and wildlife are abundant in the area. Hikers will find the area a paradise as well, with a choice of splendid trails inside Kodiak’s National Wildlife Refuge. Several fascinating museums exist here, including the Alutiiq Museum, which illuminates the cultural traditions of the indigenous Alutiiq people.

Snow-capped mountains reaching thousands of feet skyward and glistening glaciers combine to create a dramatic backdrop for Homer on the southern Kenai Peninsula. Take a cruise to one of Alaska’s largest marine sanctuaries where thousands of seabirds come to nest. Paddle among the sea otters at Otter Cove. There’s halibut fishing, of course, along with galleries of local artists, interpretive hiking with a naturalist … even a world-famous Alaskan cooking school. Name your flavor, it’s all here in Homer.

Kenai Fjords National Park, Resurrection Bay, the SeaLife Center research aquarium, not to mention the charm of the town itself, all conspire to make Seward one of the most appealing destinations in Alaska.

Seward began inconspicuously enough as a fishing village and point of arrival for those visiting Alaska. Now locals and visitors alike have discovered that there is enough to see and do here to merit a multi-day, if not indefinite, stay. You might paddle a kayak on the lookout for sea otters, hike one of the many beautiful hiking trails near town, embark on a fishing expedition or ride a wheeled sled pulled by a team of 12 spry and intelligent dogs. In town, visit the aforementioned SeaLife Center, where you can hold starfish and view puffins, seabirds, harbor seals and sea lions. Also investigate the Iditarod Trailhead and explore the quaint Seward Museum where you will learn the history of Seward as told by bits of memorabilia.

Hubbard Glacier is a glacier located in eastern Alaska and part of Yukon, Canada, and named after Gardiner Hubbard.

The symmetrical cone of Mount Edgecumbe and countless green-tufted islands welcome Crystal Symphony to picturesque Sitka. In its heyday, it was referred to as the “Paris of the Pacific” and knew great prosperity. Although founded by Alexander Baranof in 1799, it wasn’t until 1867, when Alaska was purchased by the United States, that the Stars and Stripes replaced the Russian flag. As Russia’s former capital in the New World, Sitka still retains its exotic heritage, boasting proud architecture and unique historical sites.

Glaciers, mountains, islands and rainforest, Wrangell is gateway to the scenic Stikine River – “Great River” in Tlingit – a photographer’s dream and haven to extraordinary birds and wildlife. A true frontier town from where gold rush adventures were once launched, today’s discoveries might find you searching for prehistoric carvings at Petroglyph Beach, exploring Tlingit culture and Totem Park or venturing to Anan Creek Bear Observatory in the nearby Tongass National Forest.

Paddle a kayak on sheltered waters, take a floatplane to a remote mountain lake or try your hand at sportfishing in Ketchikan, salmon capital of the world and a paradise for fishermen and nature-lovers alike. A quiet city with rich Indian heritage, it hosts the world’s largest collection of authentic totem poles at Totem Bight as well as a rustic boardwalk, quaint restaurants perched on stilts above the water, and scores of fascinating shops and spectacular views from every vantage point.

Discover the vibrancy of this British Columbia cosmopolitan. Vancouver has eclectic neighbors to explore, exquisite seafood, and the largest natural park in North America.