Vancouver, Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard glacier, Kodiak, Dutch harbor, Cross International Dateline, at sea -, Kushiro, Hakodate, Sendai, Yokohama, Akita, Nigata, Tsuruga, Sakai, Busan, Takamatsu, Kobe

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.

The area of present-day Akita was part of ancient Dewa Province, and has been inhabited for thousands of years. The Jizōden ruins within the city limits are a major archaeological site with artifacts from the Japanese Paleolithic period through the Jomon and Yayoi periods. During the Nara period, the Yamato court established Akita Castle in 733 AD to bring the local Emishi tribes under its control. The area was ruled by a succession of local samurai clans in the Sengoku period, before coming under the control of the Satake clan of Kubota Domain during the Edo period. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, a castle town developed around Kubota Castle. This representative summer festival began 350 years ago, with similar to tanabata festivals held elsewhere in Japan. During this festival, participants balance 15 meter poles with 230 lanterns on their chins; the main event is held during the evening and night hours, between the 3rd and 6th of August each year.  During the festival, Kanto stunt events are held in Senshu Park during daylight hours involving many amateur participants. This event was first held in 1931 and every subsequent year, except between 1935 and 1946 and in 1953 and 1965.[citation needed] Overseas exhibitions of the festival were performed in Hamburg, Germany, in 1988, Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2002, London, UK, in 2004, and as an opening event at the 2001 World Games.

Sakai is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan on the edge of Osaka Bay at the mouth of the Yamato River. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the Medieval era. The current city was legally founded on April 1, 1889 according to the laws of Imperial Japan. Sakai became a designated city in April 2006 giving it a greater measure of self-determination in governmental affairs. It is divided into seven districts. Sakai is known for its keyhole-shaped burial mounds, or kofun, which date from the 5th century. The largest of these, Daisen Kofun, is believed to be the grave of the Emperor Nintoku and is the largest grave in the world by area. Once known for samurai swords, Sakai is now famous for the quality of its kitchen knives; most high-quality Japanese cutlery originates in Sakai, and its production is a major industry in the city.

Busan is a port city located at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula in South Korea. It is known for its mountains and beaches, hot springs, nature reserves and seafood. Busan International Film Festival is held here each fall. If you are looking for something traditional and tranquil visit the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a 6th Century Bhuddist Temple, perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. Otherwise wander around Centum City, the world’s largest shopping complex and feel the pace of modern Busan.

Takamatsu is a city located in central Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan, and is the capital city of the prefectural government. It is designated a core city by the Japanese Government. It is a port city located on the Seto Inland Sea, and is the closest port to Honshu from Shikoku Island. For this reason it flourished under the Daimyo (feudal lords) as a castle town in the fiefdom of Takamatsu, during the Edo Period. Takamatsu is a city with a large concentration of nationwide companies' branch offices, which play a large role in its economy, and it contains most of the national government's branch offices for Shikoku. The castle tower formerly used as the symbol of the city was destroyed during the Meiji Period. In 2004, construction of the Symbol Tower, the new symbol of Takamatsu, was completed. The Symbol Tower is located in the Sunport area of the city. The Symbol Tower is the tallest building in Takamatsu, and is right next to another tall building The JR Clement Hotel (formerly the ANA Clement Hotel), which is also part of the Sunport complex.

Kobe is located on the southern side of the island of Honshū, on the north shore of Osaka Bay, Japan. The city is perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea and is considered one of Japan's most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. Kobe is small and quite compact, so most sights can be reached on foot. Meriken Park, located near the waterfront, has modern art installations, park areas and an impressive memorial to the recent devastating Hanshin Earthquake that killed thousands of people. Travellers should pay a visit to Port Tower in order to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.