When you cruise from Shanghai, check the essential items off the to-do list: See the classical architecture of the Bund neighborhood and walk among the smell of tea and incense in the fortified Old City. Then, if you have extra time, see the nearby Qibao Ancient Town — check out the pagoda-like bell tower, see Qibao Template (it dates back to the 900s) and snap pics of the photogenic bridges and buildings along the Puhui River.

It may be hugged by a beautiful bay and misty mountains, but Kobe’s roots run a lot deeper than its natural good looks. Japan’s busy harbour town first opened its doors to the international trade world in 1868. As a result, the city is teeming with multicultural charm and one-of-a-kind urban experiences. Today you can snack on dumplings in Chinatown. Practice your swing on the greens of Japan’s first golf course. Admire the amazing beauty of a mosque. Unwind in an authentic Japanese hot spring (onsen). And, no doubt, dine in some of the most amazingly diverse restaurants in the country. Also, if you visit in the springtime, you’ll get an extra bonus – cherry blossoms!

It may be hugged by a beautiful bay and misty mountains, but Kobe’s roots run a lot deeper than its natural good looks. Japan’s busy harbour town first opened its doors to the international trade world in 1868. As a result, the city is teeming with multicultural charm and one-of-a-kind urban experiences. Today you can snack on dumplings in Chinatown. Practice your swing on the greens of Japan’s first golf course. Admire the amazing beauty of a mosque. Unwind in an authentic Japanese hot spring (onsen). And, no doubt, dine in some of the most amazingly diverse restaurants in the country. Also, if you visit in the springtime, you’ll get an extra bonus – cherry blossoms!

The gentle seaside city of Maizuru will win you over with its quaint collection of mountainside temples, pristine beaches and historical museums. Cruise to Kyoto and check out Maizuru Red Brick Park, a series of warehouses that today serve as a museum, and be transported to a Cold War-era spy thriller. See the nearby Amanohashidate sandbar, a 3-kilometer-long isthmus that connects the bay in a picturesque stretch of white sand and pine trees. Or head into central Kyoto, about a 90-minute drive from port — walk among the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, or climb to the top of Kyoto Tower for the area’s best views.

Yokohama is the central gateway to exploring Tokyo, a once-humble fishing village that is now one of the world’s biggest, most densely populated cities. You’ll find an eclectic mix of traditional shrines and soaring skyscrapers lining these neon-lit streets. Walk the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay alongside the Yurikamome Rail Line, a futuristic, operatorless train system. Then, see old Tokyo at the Imperial Palace, an Edo Castle surrounded by moats and gardens perfect for strolling. Cruise to Tokyo and head to iconic Sensoji Buddhist Temple and pass below the massive red paper lantern of the Thunder Gate. Then, unwind in Yoyogi Park, a literal forest in the heart of the city, complete with Zen gardens and a gingko tree forest.

When you cruise from Shanghai, check the essential items off the to-do list: See the classical architecture of the Bund neighborhood and walk among the smell of tea and incense in the fortified Old City. Then, if you have extra time, see the nearby Qibao Ancient Town — check out the pagoda-like bell tower, see Qibao Template (it dates back to the 900s) and snap pics of the photogenic bridges and buildings along the Puhui River.