Yokohama, with 3.6 million-plus residents, is Japan’s second most populous urban area after Tokyo, and is also one of the country’s major ports.

Toba, located at the northeastern end of the Shima-hanto Peninsula in Mie, flourished as the castle town of the Kuki family who ruled this region from the 16th century. It was also a landing spot for visitors on the sea route to Ise-jingu Shrine and belongs to Ise-Shima National Park.

Wakayama is a Japanese prefecture in the Kansai region, on Honshū island’s Kii Peninsula. Its namesake capital is home to Wakayama Castle, an Edo-period replica set in a hilltop park with city views. Pilgrimage routes connect a trio of Shinto shrines collectively known as Kumano Sanzan.

Boasting the second warmest temperatures in Japan, Miyazaki offers a playground of outdoor activities that take full advantage of its balmy breezes and aquamarine waters. A resort atmosphere permeates Miyazaki, fragranced by blooms from local botanical gardens. Emerald green golf courses, some of the best surfing in Japan, and a zoo with the largest number of flamingos in captivity in all of Japan add to the festive atmosphere. A Peace Tower, built with stones from throughout Asia anchors the city and Heiwadai Park and is one of the most noted landmarks. Visit Haniwa Gardens where over 400 replica haniwa (burial statues) make for wonderful photo opportunities, and see Miyazaki’s history and culture on display at The Miyazaki Prefectural Museum of Nature and History, located on the same grounds as the picturesque Miyazaki Shrine. For a change of pace, stop into the Miyazaki Science Center where an animatronics “Dr. Cosmo” welcomes you to this hands-on museum. Looking for a little adventure? Try a side trip to Aoshima, a small island just off the coast of Miyazaki City, and enjoy the charming Aoshima Shrine and over 400 species of subtropical plants. The options are endless in Miyazaki to soak up local color…or just soak up the sun!

For most travelers, Nagasaki is a symbol of the horrors of war. But this beautiful city on Kyushu offers timeless charm as well. Often described as the San Francisco of Japan, the city occupies verdant hills surrounded by a deep-water bay. The city is also celebrated as the setting for Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly.”

In 1945, an estimated 75,000 people perished when the city became the second target of a nuclear attack. Today, Nagasaki’s Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum draw visitors from around the world.

The second largest city in South Korea, Busan is your gateway to a fascinating land whose culture is a unique amalgam of old and new. Modern high-rise towers dwarf ancient Buddhist temples. The city’s bustling business district offers a stark contrast to the serene grounds of Yongdusan Park. In short, Busan is a microcosm of South Korea, a nation whose startling economic success often obscures one of Asia’s most sophisticated and venerable cultures.

Busan was the scene of bitter fighting during the Korean War. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery marks the final resting place for the troops from 16 nations who gave their lives during the conflict.

Now a modern city of broad avenues, the Peace Memorial Museum opens a window on the somber reality of Hiroshima’s tragic past. Today Hiroshima is a monument not only to the destructive forces harnessed by men, but also to the indomitable will of the human spirit to overcome tragedy.

On August 6, 1945, human history was irrevocably altered when the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Its detonation left half the city in ruins and aflame. At the heart of the city lies the Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome that commemorates this day. The gutted walls of the city’s old Industry Promotion Hall and the skeletal remains that support its copper dome—vaporized in the blast—are instantly recognizable symbols of Hiroshima.

Hiroshima is also the jumping-off point for the picturesque island of Miyajima, known for its Itsukushima Shrine.

Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi’s reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son – a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma – played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service had become a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration.

Kochi is one of the wettest places in Japan – and a frequent target for cyclonic storms or typhoons. Southeast of the city, warm oceans currents washing against the Aki Mountains create a subtropical landscape of hibiscus, palm and ficus at Muroto-Anan Quasi-National Park.

A mesmerizing landscape, a revered cultural history, and Japan’s most sacred volcano are just a few of the many delights beckoning you to come and explore this ancient city. While Shimizu may have the reputation as being bustling and modern, its cultural and spiritual side is on display in the form of ancient and enthralling shrines. Of course, it may be the sacred and snow-capped Mount Fuji that garners the most attention. Towering over the region at approximately 12,388 feet above sea level, the active volcano, designated a “place and source of artistic inspiration” by UNESCO is just one of the many unforgettable adventures Shimizu inspires.

Yokohama, with 3.6 million-plus residents, is Japan’s second most populous urban area after Tokyo, and is also one of the country’s major ports.

Skyscrapers form a glistening forest of steel and glass, junks and sampans ply the busy harbor waters, and the green, dragon-crested hills of Kowloon beckon. This is Hong Kong.

Now a semi-autonomous region of China, Hong Kong has lost none of its excitement or exoticism. Explore the narrow streets crammed with vendors. In the duty-free capital of the world, the endless array of shops offer the visitor everything from hand-tailored suits and antique Chinese porcelain to the latest electronics.

The former British colony has plenty of things to do and see. Take in the entire spectacle with a panoramic view from Victoria Peak. Enjoy lunch on one of the city’s floating restaurants. Walk the crowded streets to feel the rapid pulse of the city. Shop the old-world markets and modern-day malls and don’t forget to ride the famed Star Ferry.

Chan May Port is located in the south-east corner of Thừa Thiên–Huế Province, Vietnam. It is operated by the Management Board of Chan May-Lang Co Economics Zone. Ownership of the Chan May Port may be assumed by the Vinashin Group in early

Over three decades have passed since the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon. Today, the name of this bustling metropolis on the Mekong River is Ho Chi Minh City. Yet, the essence of the city, a major trading center since the 18th century, remains unchanged. The air is filled with the cries of street hawkers and honking horns. Bicycles, motorbikes and automobiles fly down the boulevards at dizzying speeds. And everywhere, friendly faces and warm greetings meet you.

The port of Phu My (pronounced “Foo Me”) is your gateway to Ho Chi Minh City and the seaside resort of Vung Tau.

The commercial center of Southeast Asia, this island city-state of four million people is a metropolis of modern high-rises, Chinese shop-houses with red-tiled roofs, Victorian architecture, Buddhist temples and Arab bazaars. It is a melting pot of people and cultures — Malay, Chinese, English and Tamil are official languages; Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are the major faiths. Ever fascinating, Singapore boasts diverse cultures, luxurious hotels, and some of the finest duty-free shopping in the world.