Kobe
An attractive city set on a hillside next to the sea, Kobe is sandwiched between the water and Mount Rokko, which rears up behind it. A historic port, the city´s small stature belies the cosmopolitan feel about its streets. When wandering around, you can find religious buildings dedicated to every major religion. With some excellent restaurants and cool cafes on offer, as well as lively nightlife, Kobe is great fun to explore. If you use the city as a gateway, many amazing sights are just a short train journey away.
Sapporo
The capital city of the island of Hokkaido, Sapporo is a chilled-out place to visit, with all the trappings of a typical Japanese city. While most people see it as a stop-off point on their way to the island´s delightful mountains and hot springs, the city itself has more than enough to keep guests entertained for a while – with fantastic restaurants, gigantic shopping malls, and lively nightlife. While people often visit during the summer, when Sapporo has a number of great festivals, the highlight of the year is during the renowned Snow Festival, when hordes of tourists descend upon the city to see the amazing sculptures.
Beppu
A charming and welcoming place, visitors to Beppu invariably stop by to relax and soak in the hot springs that populate the city. A popular ‘onsen’ (Japanese hot spring) resort, the city has over three thousand springs and life in Beppu is heavily geared towards the tourism sector. The steam and mist that floats through the streets lend a magical air to the town, which is located on the coast and backed by mountains. With some impressive architecture on the show and a quaint, laid-back feel to the place, Beppu is a lovely city in which to sit back and relax.
Hiroshima
Lying in western Honshu, Hiroshima´s history will forever be linked to the atomic bomb which flattened the city on August 6th, 1945. Almost completely destroyed, Hiroshima has remarkably been reconstructed and is now a bustling modern city, full of life. While many visitors come to pay their respects at the Peace Memorial Park and Museum and visit the chilling A-Bomb Dome ruins, the city has many other sights for visitors to enjoy. It also serves as a gateway to some beautiful nearby islands including famous Miyajima.
Nagasaki
A picturesque place, Nagasaki´s lovely location nestled peacefully amidst hills overlooking a harbor, obscures the fact that the city was tragically devastated by an atomic bomb. While many visitors come to wander around the memorials and museums dedicated to the bombing, Nagasaki has much more to offer; it is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with lots to see and do. Once the only port open to foreign traders, this openness is still evident; there is a mix of Western and Eastern influences here, as demonstrated by the churches, temples, and cuisine on offer.
Fukuoka
The largest city in Kyushu, Fukuoka used to be two towns before the different areas joined to form the city we know today. A friendly, welcoming place, what Fukuoka lacks in terms of actual sights, it more than makes up for in its charm and pleasant atmosphere. With a couple of great museums, some great architecture, delicious ramen, and the chance to see their famous baseball team in action, Fukuoka is well worth a visit for all that it has to offer. Lying on the banks of the river running through it, there are some lovely temples dotted around the city and its surroundings. Many people use Fukuoka as a base from which to explore the rest of Kyushu.
Kanazawa
With beautiful temples, ancient shrines and a range of fantastic museums, this charming city lying on the Sea of Japan is not to be missed. Wonderfully preserved, its ancient neighborhoods are lovely to wander around, with the old geisha and samurai districts being particularly delightful. In fact, Kanazawa rivals Kyoto in the number of historical and cultural attractions that it has on the show. Although seldom visited by westerners, Japanese tourists flock to this city. The highlight is undoubtedly Kenroku-en, an impressive castle with idyllic gardens surrounding it.