Seattle, Juneau, Cross International Dateline, at sea -, Kushiro, Aomori, Yokohama

Seattle is a coastal seaport city, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of North America and the northernmost city and the fastest-growing major city in the United States. The city lies on several hills and has over 2.242 ha of parkland. Among its highlights, visit Pike Place Market, its downtown public market which has been in business since 1907, Space Needle, the vertical icon of the city looks like a spaceship on stilts and gives a great view of the city from the top, the Olympic Sculpture Park, an outdoor sculpture garden. which spreads over 9 acres of a seaside bluff north of downtown, transformed from an industrial backwater into the home of artwork, Seattle Art Museum and Seattle’s Chinatown, which is almost as old as the city, emerging in the 1880s. Take a long walk at downtown waterfront, a broad sidewalk along the harborfront with shops, eateries (fish and chips is always a favorite) and wooden piers, make a stop at Seattle Aquarium and take a ride on Seattle Great Wheel, a 175- foot tall Ferris wheel, which offers magnificent views.

Juneau is the capital city of Alaska, one of America’s most beautiful capital. There’s also a wealth of cultural attractions, including museums (Juneau-Douglas City Museum), historical sites (the house of Alaska's Pioneer Judge, James Wickersham, built in 1898 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places), art galleries, events, festivals and plenty of local shopping. Visitors can also experience incredible outdoor activities, like
glacier flightseeing, whale watching, fishing and kayaking amidst the stunning Alaskan landscape. Don't miss a photo with Patsy Ann, a Bull Terrier, born i 1929 stone deaf (from birth), but she somehow "heard" the whistles of approaching ships -long before they came into sight- and headed at a fast trot for the wharf, to welcome them. Hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit Juneau from cruise ships are encouraged to "greet her and touch her and in leaving, carry with them the blessings of friendship through their life's journey".

Kushiro is located in Hokkaido, Japan. The Kushiro area is volcanically active and small tremors from off-shore earthquakes occur regularly. Kushiro is a rural area and home to Japan's largest marshland. The city is very popular to bird lovers because it offers them the chance to watch the endangered Japanese cranes all year-round. It is worth visiting the Kushiro City Museum with the unique architecture, where many excellent exhibits representing the natural history of the area can be found.

Aomori is located on Mutsu Bay, at the northern tip of Honshu, Japan. The city pumps much of its beauty from the famous apple orchards and cherry blossoms that encompass its landscape. The Hakkoda Mountains that are always covered with snow can be seen from a distance. Aomori is probably best known for its famous Nebuta Festival, an elaborate yearly event. The city has many sights to offer including the Hirosaki Castle and the Oirase River, its beautiful mountains and seas. The city’s port is a quiet, peaceful harbor and combined with the buildings and parks surrounding it, the bay area makes a lasting impression.

Yokohama is one of the most visited cities in Japan. It is located on the western coast of Tokyo Bay, directly south of Tokyo. The Yokohama Port is set in the heart of the city and all tourist destinations are within walking distance. It is a cosmopolitan city, where the old and the new, the East and the West blend harmoniously. Minato Mirai is a seaside urban area in central Yokohama with large high-rises, including the Landmark Tower and a wealth of attractions such as shopping centers, hotels, amusement parks, a relaxation center with hot spring baths and museums. It is worth visiting the Sankeien Gardens, a vast genuine Japanese garden that will enchant you with its colors and shapes,its ponds and pagodas.