Grand Japan – Tokyo to Kobe, Japan

Yokohama, a Japanese city south of Tokyo, was one of the first Japanese ports opened to foreign trade, in 1859. It contains a large Chinatown with hundreds of Chinese restaurants and shops. It’s also known for Sankei-en Garden, a botanical park containing preserved Japanese residences from different eras, and the seaside Minato Mirai district, site of the 296m Landmark Tower.

Shimizu-ku is the easternmost of the three wards of the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Shingū is a city located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1933. As of October 1, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 28,749 and a population density of 110 persons per km². The total area is 255.43 km².

Kagoshima, une ville côtière de l’île japonaise de Kyushu, est la capitale de la préfecture de Kagoshima. Elle est surtout connue pour le Sakurajima, un volcan actif qui fait face à la baie de Kinko. À sa base, la piste de lave Nagisa serpente à travers des champs de lave remplis de rochers. Une fois installé sur une île isolée, le volcan a été relié à la péninsule d’Osumi après une éruption en 1914.

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.

Busan, a large port city in South Korea, is known for its beaches, mountains and temples. Busy Haeundae Beach features the Sea Life Aquarium, plus a Folk Square with traditional games such as tug-of-war, while Gwangalli Beach has many bars and views of modern Diamond Bridge. Beomeosa Temple, a Buddhist shrine founded in 678 A.D., is at the base of Geumjeong Mountain, which has hiking trails. ― Google

Karatsu is a coastal city on Japan’s Kyushu island. The reconstructed 17th-century Karatsu Castle offers bay views. Thousands of pine trees form the nearby Nijinomatsubara pine grove, first planted in the 1600s. The Kawamura Museum displays both Western and Japanese art, with a special focus on the early-20th-century painter Shigeru Aoki. To the north, at Nanatsugama, is a series of basalt caves carved by the ocean.

Hiroshima, une ville moderne de l’île japonaise de Honshu, a été en grande partie détruite par une bombe atomique pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Aujourd’hui, le parc commémoratif de la paix d’Hiroshima commémore l’événement de 1945. Dans ce parc se trouvent les ruines du dôme de Genbaku, l’un des rares bâtiments qui subsistait près du point zéro. Parmi les autres sites importants, citons Shukkei-en, un jardin japonais formel, et le château d’Hiroshima, une forteresse entourée de douves et d’un parc.

Takamatsu is a port city on Japan’s Shikoku Island. It’s known for the sprawling Ritsurin Garden, with a teahouse, koi ponds, landscaped hills and pine forests. To the east, atop Mount Yashima, Yashima-ji Temple offers panoramic views over the Seto Inland Sea. Nearby, Shikoku Village is an open-air museum with a collection of historical buildings from around the island. To the south are the hot springs of Shionoe.

Kobe is a city on Osaka Bay in central Japan. It is known for its signature marbled beef and scenic setting of mountains framing the harbor. The Ikuta Shrine, dating to the 3rd century, is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines. Antique cable cars connect Kobe to Mt. Rokko, which offers panoramic views over the port. Beyond the Mount Rokko hills are the outdoor hot springs of Arima Onsen.