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Hiroshima is a city of peace and resilience. The Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, vividly portrays the aftermath of the atomic bombing. Designed by Kenzō Tange and inaugurated in 1955, the museum serves as a global symbol of peace, featuring a solemn cenotaph bearing the victims' names and the Flame of Peace, lit in 1964. The Genbaku Dome stands as the sole original structure left at the blast site.

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Uwajima, a bustling coastal city, is anchored by the elegant Uwajima Castle, one of twelve Edo-period survivors, with spectacular cityscapes for hikers ascending to its keep. The Tensha-en Garden is a tranquil space with bamboo groves, towering culms and seasonal blooms. In the nearby village of Uchiko, the Old Quarter's streets are lined with well-preserved wooden houses and merchant buildings, frozen in time from the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Kagoshima, on the southwest tip of Japan’s Kyushu Island, is home to several glassmakers and potteries where artisans specialise in making Satsuma pottery and delicately cut Kiriko glassware. This city is a mix of classic Japanese architecture, modern high-rises and a spattering of Art Deco buildings. Observation points around the city provide dramatic views of Mount Sakurajima, an active volcano on a nearby island that regularly smokes.

History and Art of Satsuma

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Visit one of Japan’s most prestigious pottery kilns, where the refined “White Satsuma” ceramics, once favored by samurai elites, originated. Explore the museum gallery and shop for exquisite handcrafted pieces
Wander through the beautifully landscaped Iso Gardens and the historic Goten residence, once home to the powerful Shimadzu clan, with stunning views of Sakurajima volcano as a backdrop
Marvel at the intricate beauty of Satsuma Kiriko, a vibrant cut-glass art form born from 19th-century modernization efforts, showcased in the Shoko Shuseikan Museum

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Sakitsu Village, on the Amakusa Islands in western Kumamoto, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site tied to Japan’s Hidden Christian history. Once a secret hub of worship during prohibition, it’s home to Sakitsu Church, known as the “Church of the Sea,” with a European Gothic exterior and rare tatami-mat interior. The village’s story is further told at the Minato-ya Museum, which displays artefacts used to practice the faith in secret.

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Though devastated by an atomic blast in 1945, this resilient harbour city of Nagasaki still stands. The Atomic Bomb Museum and adjoining Peace Memorial Hall document the tragic history. A cable car ascends Mount Inasa for sweeping city views, while leafy Glover Garden features historic Western mansions. On tiny artificial Dejima Island, reconstructed 17th-century warehouses recall the former Dutch trading post.

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Busan, South Korea's second city, blends beaches and mountains with boutiques, lively cafes and delicious seafood in food alleys. The 120m-tall Busan Tower offers a sense of the skyscraper cityscape. Six beaches, including Haeundae and Gwangalli, attract visitors year-round. Gamcheon Culture Village, previously a slum, is now a kaleidoscopic haven of art nestled on the coastal mountain foothills, affectionately dubbed the "Machu Picchu of Busan."

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A haven for seafood lovers, manga fans and nature enthusiasts, Sakaiminto’s offerings are fairly eclectic for the seemingly slow-paced port town. Fish markets and world-class seafood restaurants line the streets, offering delights including local delicacy, Matsuba snow crab. You can also feast on Pacific bluefin tuna, Sakaiminto salmon, Natsuki rock oysters, swordtip squid and plenty more. The city was also once home to local hero, Shigeru Mizuki, a celebrated manga comic artist. Visit the Mizuki Shingeru museum for a fascinating insight into his life and the world of manga. Stretch your legs and enjoy a hike up the volcanic Mount Daisen, the highest mountain in the region (1730m). Or you may wish to take a gentler trek though the tranquil and restorative beech and cedar forests whilst connecting with nature and indulging in the Japanese pastime of ‘forest bathing’.

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Sailing through the Kanmon Strait is challenging with strong currents and an S-shaped bend. One of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, the strait cuts a dramatic 38 km (24 mi) channel, narrowing to 700 m (0.4 mi) at its tightest point. The graceful Kanmon Bridge, a 1,068-m (3,504-ft) suspension bridge, spans the waterway between Honshu and Kyushu. Shimonoseki overlooks the strait from Honshu, while Moji district stands watch from Kyushu.

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In Japan's feudal era, Hagi was governed by the powerful Mori Clan. Many old buildings are open to the public, bearing witness to the samurai who played a role in Japan's Meiji Restoration. Hagi is rich in shrines, temples, and historical artefacts. Hagi Castle's ruins are in Shizuki Park, famous for its spring cherry blossoms and the wooded slopes of Mt. Shizuki. Hagi Uragami Museum exhibits ukiyo-e woodblock prints and ceramics.

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Beppu is best known for Jigoku Meguri ("Boiling Hells") - seven vivid geothermal springs too hot for bathing but offering stunning colours, bubbling mud and soaring steam. Nearby, Mount Takasaki's 1,500 wild Japanese macaques can be seen up close at Takasakiyama Monkey Park. A short trip away, Usuki features 60 stone-carved Buddhist statues in peaceful park grounds with feudal castle ruins and 1,000 cherry trees.

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On the Seto Inland Sea, Itozaki Shrine serves as an 8th-century guardian of the sea with rich local legend. Nearby Onomichi offers stunning beauty and culture, known for its Temple Walk connecting 25 Buddhist temples along a 2.5 km path and the Path of Literature with 25 natural stone monuments engraved with passages on Mount Senkoji. This charming city is also the starting point of the Shimanami Kaido, a world-famous 70 km cycling route.

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Hiroshima is a city of peace and resilience. The Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, vividly portrays the aftermath of the atomic bombing. Designed by Kenzō Tange and inaugurated in 1955, the museum serves as a global symbol of peace, featuring a solemn cenotaph bearing the victims' names and the Flame of Peace, lit in 1964. The Genbaku Dome stands as the sole original structure left at the blast site.