A three-tiered UNESCO-area waterfall set deep in a subtropical forest canyon. A short boardwalk leads to the dramatic 22 m first drop, where water plunges into a clear emerald pool ringed by moss-draped cliffs. One of Jeju's most iconic natural landmarks and a genuinely beautiful walk.

Striking hexagonal basalt columns rising directly from the sea, sculpted over millennia as ancient lava flows cooled against the ocean. A 1 km coastal footpath traces the cliff edge with open ocean views. The geometric precision of the columns is extraordinary up close.

A lively covered daily market brimming with Jeju black pork skewers, fresh haenyeo-caught abalone and conch, homemade citrus teas, and tangerine-based products unique to the island. Communal seating, a festive local atmosphere, and an ideal spot for a light lunch before returning to the ship.

Japan's sole trading link with the outside world during 200 years of enforced isolation. A fully reconstructed fan-shaped artificial island with period-accurate warehouses, merchant quarters, and detailed exhibits on the unique Japanese–Dutch cultural exchange that quietly shaped modern Japan.

The 10 m bronze Peace Statue by sculptor Seibou Kitamura presides over tranquil memorial gardens. The adjacent museum holds deeply moving exhibits — a stopped pocket watch, shadow burns on stone steps, scorched lunch boxes, and survivor testimony from August 9, 1945. A visit that stays with you.

A hillside open-air museum of beautifully preserved 19th-century Western-style mansions with sweeping harbour views over Nagasaki Bay. Thomas Glover's home reportedly inspired Puccini's Madama Butterfly. A moving walkway eases the uphill climb through the terrace gardens.

Kagoshima's finest viewpoint atop a 107 m forested hill, offering a panoramic sweep of Kinko Bay, the city skyline, and the dramatically smoking cone of Sakurajima — especially striking in the clear morning air. Short walking trails wind through an ancient cedar forest filled with birdsong.

Feudal garden of the powerful Shimadzu clan, intentionally designed so that Sakurajima serves as 'borrowed scenery' across the bay. Stroll past stone lanterns, bamboo groves, a traditional tea house, and a shoreline path where the volcano is always perfectly framed against the water.

A 15-minute ferry to one of Japan's most active volcanoes. Walk across black lava fields formed in the 1914 eruption, soak feet in the free volcanic hot-spring footbath at the Visitor Centre, and gaze up at the smouldering summit crater from Yunohira Observatory. Eruptions visible on clear days.

Walk the iconic park: the skeletal A-Bomb Dome (UNESCO World Heritage), the Children's Peace Monument draped in thousands of paper cranes, the Flame of Peace (burning since 1964 until all nuclear weapons are eliminated), and the Memorial Cenotaph framing the Dome across the Motoyasu River.

One of the world's most important museums. Exhibits include a stopped pocket watch, warped roof tiles, a victim's scorched lunch box, reconstructed shadow burns, and recorded survivor testimonies from August 6, 1945. Plan a full 75 minutes and allow quiet time for reflection before moving on.

Laid out in 1620 by feudal lord Asano Nagaakira as a miniature Chinese landscape. Winding paths cross arched bridges over islands, passing a traditional tea house reflected in the central pond. In November the garden turns vivid crimson and gold — among the finest autumn foliage in western Japan.

Kochi's most beloved covered market hall, packed with stalls offering the city's signature dish — katsuo no tataki, seared bonito with citrus and ginger — alongside fresh oysters, local craft beer, and regional sweets. Communal seating and a festive morning energy that is absolutely unique to this city.

One of only 12 original, never-reconstructed feudal castles remaining in Japan. The authentic 17th-century keep retains steep original wooden staircases, low-slung doorways designed to slow attackers, and a rooftop observation deck with panoramic views across the city and surrounding mountains.

A hillside garden dedicated to Dr. Tomitaro Makino — the self-taught botanist who catalogued over 1,500 new Japanese species and is revered as the 'Father of Japanese Botany.' Over 3,000 labelled species across 8 hectares of landscaped grounds, ablaze with vivid autumn colour throughout November.

Stroll the vast outer grounds past 30 m stone walls and a broad moat lined with maples before entering the reconstructed castle keep. Eight floors of samurai armour, battle maps, and Toyotomi-era history lead to a panoramic observation deck with views stretching to the Kii Mountains on clear days.

Osaka's most iconic entertainment district along the Dotonbori canal. Photograph the illuminated Glico Running Man sign, graze on freshly made takoyaki, hot ramen, or crispy gyoza from canalside stalls. The 2 km walk south from Osaka Castle through Shinsaibashi's covered arcade is a shopping feast in itself.

'Osaka's Kitchen' — a bustling 600 m covered market with 170 stalls selling bluefin tuna blocks, wagyu beef skewers, whole puffer fish, Osaka-style sushi, and fresh tropical fruit. The ideal final stop before heading back to the terminal, with subway just steps away.

One of Japan's finest aquariums, directly at the pier. Home to killer whales, beluga whales, and bottlenose dolphins with daily shows, plus a stunning Pacific Ocean exhibit featuring sea turtles, giant manta rays, and the largest colony of king penguins in Japan. Plan a full 90 minutes to do it justice.

Board Japan's first and most celebrated Antarctic research vessel, now permanently docked as a museum. Fascinating displays cover polar exploration history, life aboard an icebreaker in pack ice, Antarctic wildlife, and the stories of the expedition teams who wintered on the continent. Walk the engine room and captain's bridge.

One of Japan's three most revered Shinto shrines, set in an ancient cedar forest of over 1,000 trees within the city. Said to enshrine the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi — the legendary sword among Japan's three Imperial treasures. Deeply atmospheric and serene, visited by over 9 million worshippers annually.

A lively working fish market a short walk from the pier, with fresh sashimi, hand-pressed sushi, and grilled seafood landed directly from Suruga Bay each morning. One of the finest fish breakfasts in Japan — eaten at counters overlooking the catch being sorted by the fishermen just feet away.

UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan's most iconic landscapes. A 7 km coastline of ancient Japanese black pine trees — some over 700 years old — frames unobstructed views of snow-capped Mount Fuji across the mirror-calm waters of Suruga Bay. The pine-needled shoreline path is one of the great walks in Japan.

Descend from the Nihondaira plateau by ropeway through ancient forest to a 400-year-old Tokugawa shogun shrine whose ornate gold-leaf carvings rival the famous shrines at Nikko in grandeur. Sweeping views over Suruga Bay and the Izu Peninsula from the hilltop approach path.