Vancouver, Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard glacier, Kodiak, Dutch harbor, Cross International Dateline, at sea -, Kushiro, Hakodate, Sendai, Yokohama

Cosmopolitan Vancouver, British Columbia, a natural harbour at the most southern part of Canada on the Atlantic, near the Coast Mountains, is the capital of the verdant British Columbia, characterized as the most livable city for 2014. It spreads along a peninsula and is divided in 3 zones: Downtown commercial and financial district, including the historic area of Gastown, Stanley Park, with 1,000 acres of forests, gardens, lakes and lawns and vibrant Chinatown), Westside Vancouver (which includes Kitsilano and South Vancouver) and East Vancouver, with the Punjabi Market. Enjoy one of the mildest climates in Canada, pass a day strolling in the amazing Butchart Gardens near Victoria or do some winetasting at the province's wine country Okanagan Valley. Last but not least, follow in the footsteps of the millions of visitors who have crossed Capilano Suspension Bridge since 1889, the biggest suspending pedestrian bridge which connects the two sides of Capilano bridge, in North Vancouver.

Ketchikan, the Salmon Capital of the World, clutches the shores of the Tongass Narrows, with many shops and houses, which are built on stilts, right out over the water. The main attractions are Creek Street, the Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Bight State Park and Saxman Native Village. Of the popular activities is the flightseeing trip to Misty Fjords National Monument, home of the indigenous Tlingit Indians and the largest totem collection in the world. In the land of the legends, you can watch totem pole carvers and get an idea of their rich culture.

Sitka, one of the most beautiful seaside towns in Alaska, was once capital, cultural and political hub of Russian America, seat of the bishop of Kamchatka and the most important port on the West Coast for the first half of the 19th century. A living proof of the town's key position as a Russian settlement, is St. Michael's Cathedral, an active Russian Orthodox Church with the distinctive onion- shaped domes. You will be greeted by native Tlingit people, who have lived continuously in Sitka for over 50 centuries, you will see totems carved by the masterful hands of Tlingit and Haida Indians at Sitka National Historical Park and you can enjoy a performance by the New Archangel Dancers, who preserve the heritage by delivering spirited dance renditions that represent the cultures of Russia and surrounding areas.

Hubbard Glacier, on the northern part of Yakutat Bay, measures 122,3 kilometers long and plunges 365,76 meters into the depths of the bay, the longest river of ice in North America and also one of its most active glaciers. Its calving face is 10 kilometers wide and up to 130 meters tall, making it the largest tidewater glacier in Alaska.The area around Hubbard Glacier is also renowned for its wildlife. Look around and you might spot whales, harbor seals and otters swim, brown bears, moose and black-tailed deer roam ashore, and a wide variety of seabirds soar gracefully across the sky.

Kodiak island is the largest in Kodiak Island Archipelago, a large group of islands about 30 miles from the Alaska Peninsula and 158 miles across the Gulf of Alaska from Homer, Alaska. Downtown, picturesque St. Paul Harbor is active with fishing and sightseeing boats. Three museums, the Baranov Museum, a history museum with emphasis on southwest Alaska’s Russian era (1741-1867) and early American era (1867-1912), the Alutiiq Museum, dedicated to exploring 7500 years of Kodiak's cultural history and Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, which provides habitat for brown bear, salmon and other wildlife, are also in the heart of downtown Kodiak. The shopping square is lively with visitors looking for treasures at Kodiak’s unique gift shops or dining at one of Kodiak’s great restaurants.

Dutch Harbor is a harbor on Amaknak Island in Southwestern Alaska. It was the location of the Battle of Dutch Harbor during World War II

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.

Sendai is the largest city in island of Honshu, Japan. It is a pleasant city, close to both the sea and the mountains. It is called the "Forest City", because of its lush vegetation. The main avenues around the city are wide and tree-lined and the main shopping street is pedestrianised and covered, so it feels like a mall. Visit the Miyagi Museum of Art with its great collection of modern art, the Osaki Hachiman Shrine, with displays of metal ornaments and colorful woodwork and Rinnoj, an ancient shrine with a big captivating garden.

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.