Kamakura is a coastal city located near Tokyo. It is much smaller and quieter than the capital and is known mainly for its history, its temples, and its relationship with the samurai.

It has around 173,000 inhabitants, so it offers a much more relaxed atmosphere than Tokyo. Despite its size, it receives many visitors due to its monuments and its proximity to the capital.

It belongs to the Kanagawa region and has its own mayor and city hall. Like the rest of Japanese cities, it is part of the national political system based on a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary government.

Its most famous monument is the Great Buddha of Kamakura, but the Hase-dera temple and the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine also stand out. Being located by the sea, it also has beaches and coastal areas.

A well-known curiosity is that you can go inside the statue of the Great Buddha. Additionally, Kamakura was for centuries one of the most important political centers of Japan, especially during the samurai era.

Aomori is located in the north of the main island of Japan and is a city surrounded by nature. It has a quieter atmosphere than other large cities in the country and stands out for its proximity to the sea, its landscapes, and its local products.

It has approximately 275,000 inhabitants, so it is a medium-sized city. It is the main city of the area that bears its same name and concentrates a good part of the administrative and commercial activity of this part of northern Japan.

The city has its own mayor and city hall, which are in charge of local management. Furthermore, due to its geographical position, Aomori has traditionally been an important point of connection between the main island of Japan and Hokkaido.

One of the most important activities in the area is agriculture. Aomori is especially known for its apples, which are one of its most representative products. Fishing, seafood, and port activity are also quite important.

One of the best-known events in the city is the Nebuta Festival, which is held in summer. During these days, huge illuminated floats travel the streets with figures of warriors, historical characters, and traditional Japanese creatures.

As a curiosity, Aomori is also known for its cold winters with plenty of snow. This makes its landscape change a lot depending on the time of year and gives it a very different image from cities in southern Japan.

Muroran is a city located on the island of Hokkaido, in northern Japan. It is a city linked to the sea and industry, and for many years it has had great importance thanks to its port and steel production. Unlike other more touristy destinations on the route, Muroran shows a more industrial and quiet part of Japan.

It has around 72,000 inhabitants, so it is a much smaller city than Tokyo, Kyoto, or Busan. This gives it a quieter and less crowded atmosphere.

Muroran has its own mayor and city hall, which are in charge of the local management of the city. It is part of Hokkaido, one of the main regions of Japan.

In addition to its industrial activity, Muroran stands out for its coastal landscapes. One of the best-known places in the area is Cape Chikyu, from where you can enjoy wide views of the ocean. It also has the Hakucho Bridge, one of the symbols of the city.

As a curiosity, in the nearby waters you can take excursions to observe dolphins and whales. The night views of the illuminated factories also draw attention, which have become a characteristic image of Muroran.

Hakodate is located in the south of Hokkaido and is one of the best-known cities in this area of Japan. Its location by the sea has greatly marked its history and its development, and for years it was an important point of contact with other countries.

It has around 260,000 inhabitants, so it is a medium-sized city. Although it does not have the dimensions of Tokyo or Busan, it has considerable tourist and cultural importance within Hokkaido.

The city is administered by a mayor and a city council and is part of Hokkaido. Historically, Hakodate was one of the first Japanese ports that opened to trade with other countries, something that can still be appreciated in some Western-style buildings and neighborhoods.

Among the best-known places are Mount Hakodate, from where a great panoramic view of the city is obtained, the morning market, the historic neighborhood of Motomachi, and the Goryokaku fortress. It is also a city very well known for fresh fish and seafood.

One of its most striking curiosities is that the Goryokaku fortress is star-shaped, something very unusual in Japan. Additionally, the night views from Mount Hakodate are one of the most famous images of the city.

Hakodate also stands out for the mix of Japanese and Western influences that can be seen in some religious buildings and old merchant houses. This gives it a different appearance from many other cities on the route.

Sakaiminato is a small city located on the western coast of Japan, in the Tottori region. It is a much quieter destination than Tokyo, Kyoto, or Busan and stands out above all for its relationship with the sea, fishing, and manga culture.

It has around 30,600 inhabitants, making it one of the smallest cities on the tour. Despite its size, its port is quite important for fishing and for the arrival of seafood products.

The city is administered by a mayor and a city council, who are in charge of local management. It is part of the Tottori region, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan.

Fishing is one of the most important activities in Sakaiminato and that is why it is a good place to try fresh fish and seafood. It also has commercial areas and promenades near the port, where you can get to know a more local and less touristy part of Japan.

One of the best-known places is Mizuki Shigeru Road, a street dedicated to the famous cartoonist Shigeru Mizuki, born in this area. Along the street there are numerous statues of manga characters and traditional Japanese creatures called yōkai.

As a curiosity, these characters appear throughout the city and can be seen in statues, shops, trains, and even in some elements of urban furniture. This gives Sakaiminato a very original image that is different from other cities on the trip.

Busan is a large city located on the southeast coast of South Korea and is the only stop on the tour that is located outside of Japan. It is a modern city, closely linked to the sea, and combines large buildings, beaches, traditional markets, and shopping areas.

It has around 3.3 million inhabitants, which makes it the second largest city in South Korea, after Seoul. It is also one of the main economic and commercial centers of the country.

South Korea is a presidential republic, and Busan also has its own mayor and local government. The city has great importance at a national level for its economic activity and for its port.

One of the most important elements of Busan is precisely its port, one of the most prominent in Asia. Thanks to it, the city has great commercial and maritime activity. It is also known for its beaches, especially Haeundae, and for its fish markets.

Among the best-known places are Haeundae Beach, the Jagalchi market, and Gamcheon Culture Village, a neighborhood built on a hill and full of small colorful houses.

As a curiosity, Busan celebrates an important international film festival every year, which attracts visitors and professionals from many countries. Additionally, the Jagalchi market is one of the most famous fish markets in South Korea.

Nagasaki is located on the island of Kyushu, in southern Japan. It is a city with a very particular history because for centuries it was one of the main points of contact between Japan and other countries. For this reason, it still preserves buildings, neighborhoods, and customs with a certain foreign influence.

It has approximately 400,000 inhabitants, so it is a medium-sized city within Japan. In addition to being an important tourist destination, it also has commercial and maritime activity thanks to its port.

The city is administered by a mayor and a city council and is one of the most important cities in its region. For a long time, it had a fundamental role in commercial relations between Japan and other countries.

Among the best-known places are the Peace Park, the Atomic Bomb Museum, Dejima, and Glover Garden. Its port also stands out, which has had great historical importance for the city.

Nagasaki is known worldwide because on August 9, 1945, it suffered the dropping of an atomic bomb. Currently, many spaces in the city are dedicated to the memory of the victims and to transmitting a message of peace.

As a curiosity, during a time when Japan greatly limited contact with the outside world, Nagasaki was one of the few places where foreign merchants could enter. For this reason, today European influences can be found in some buildings and areas of the city.

Kagoshima is located in the south of Japan, on the island of Kyushu. It is a city known for its natural environment, its mild climate and its proximity to the Sakurajima volcano, which is located in front of the bay and forms part of the usual landscape of the city.

It has around 591,263 inhabitants, making it one of the most important cities in southern Japan. In addition to its tourist activity, it also has commercial and administrative weight within this area of the country.

The city is administered by a mayor and a city council. It is also one of the main centers of its region and concentrates a good part of the economic and service activity of the area.

Kagoshima is known for its gastronomy, especially for products such as Kagoshima black pork, fresh fish and some dishes prepared with local ingredients. The Sengan-en garden also stands out, a historical place from which good views of the bay can be enjoyed.

One of its most representative elements is Sakurajima, a volcano that remains active. Its presence has marked both the landscape and the daily life of the inhabitants of Kagoshima.

As a curiosity, on some occasions the volcano expels ash that can reach the city. The inhabitants are used to living with this situation and there are special measures to clean the streets when ash accumulates.

Kyoto is one of the most important cities in Japan to get to know its history and its traditional culture. It was the capital of the country for more than a thousand years, so it preserves a large number of temples, shrines, gardens, and historical neighborhoods.

It has around 1.45 million inhabitants, so it is a large city, although it has a very different atmosphere from that of Tokyo. In many areas, a more traditional and quiet image is maintained.

The city is administered by a mayor and a city council and has great cultural and tourist importance within Japan. It also has universities, shops, and an important activity related to tourism.

Among the best-known places are the Golden Pavilion, Fushimi Inari, the Arashiyama bamboo forest, and the Gion neighborhood. It is also famous for its gardens, its tea ceremonies, and its traditional gastronomy.

One of its best-known curiosities is that Fushimi Inari has thousands of red gates called torii, which form long paths through the mountain. Additionally, the Golden Pavilion has part of its exterior covered in gold.

Another curiosity is that in the Gion neighborhood, the tradition of geishas and maikos is still maintained, so it is one of the best-known areas to discover a very traditional part of Japanese culture.